The 10 Best Street Foods in Kuala Lumpur

In a city like Malaysia’s capital, the street food options, vendors, and stalls seem endless. 

You get your classic Malaysian street food offerings (which you can find all over the country). But in a city like this one, which loves keeping up to date with the latest food trends, much like Bangkok, you’ll discover many of the best street food in Kuala Lumpur that are not necessarily full-on Malaysian. 

This, coupled with its multicultural communities, and you’ve got a treasure trove of diverse and different street foods to try. 

So this list is kind of a mix of all the above, and includes some of our personal favorite street foods we return to time and time again when visiting Kuala Lumpur. 

1. Stinky Tofu 

If you can handle Durian or even a super strong, aged cheese, there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy stinky tofu. 

Hailing from Taiwan, you find it all over the streets in the country. And it’s made its way to Malaysia, now among the best street food in Kuala Lumpur. Unlike regular tofu, the (extra) stinky kind is fermented, appearing much darker than the silken version. Some places add their renditions to the dish, like sauces and various toppings. 

In the last two or three years, stinky tofu blew up in the city when it hit social media platforms like TikTok. 

Best place to try stinky tofu in KL: Chew Chew Chow Tofu

2. Pisang Goreng 

The name of this next best street food in Kuala Lumpur has always fascinated me. In Malay, ‘pisang’ means banana. It’s the same word for banana in Afrikaans (a South African dialect similar to Dutch), just with a slightly different spelling: ‘piesang.’ If you didn’t know it prior, Malaysians were sent over to Cape Town during the 1600s. 

Don’t you find that so interesting…Two languages from opposite ends, yet they share similarities…I just love languages! 

Now, a pisang goreng is pretty much a banana fritter. Laddled with batter, the whole banana is deep-fried, and voila. It’s crunchy, a touch sweet, a little savory, and oh-so-moreish. I especially love piesang goreng in the morning, or as a late evening after-dinner snack (with ice-cream). 

Best place to try pisang goreng in KL: Brickfields Pisang Goreng & Azmi Goreng Pisang Shah Alam

3. Char siew 

I’ve always enjoyed pork, but it was only once I lived in Southeast Asia that I fully realised how popular the meat is. No matter the country, whether Vietnam, China, Singapore, or multicultural Malaysia, you find pork-heavy dishes everywhere. 

Char siew is Chinese BBQ pork, thinly sliced. The slithers should melt in your mouth, have a slight char-taste from being cooked over flames, be sticky, and served with rice, over noodles, or even just with veg like bok choy. I always judge char siew by the fat-to-meat ratio (because let’s be real, that’s the yummiest part). 

As it’s a Chinese dish, find this one at Chinese street vendors, local street food-type restaurants, and Chinatown. One of the most famous places to try char siew is at Wong Mei Kee food stall. With its Michelin Bib Gourmand status, expect to wait in line. Some have complained quality has gone down since reaching popularity post-Michelin. 

Best place to try char siew in KL: Restoran Char Siew Yoong

Foodie tip: Another must-try of the best street food in Kuala Lumpur featuring this roasted pork goodness is wantan mee noodles, topped with char siew.

I hear amazing things about the dish. Two spots to try wantan mee with char siew are Yulek Wan Tan Mee & Feng Yang Noodles at the ICC Pudu hawker center.

4. Nasi Lemak

If it’s not your first time in Malaysia, or you’ve done your homework, you’re probably wondering where the nasi lemak is?! Not to fear, the country’s national dish is one of the most iconic Malaysian street foods, so of course, I have it on this list of the best street food in Kuala Lumpur — obviously! 

Comprising a collection of ingredients centered around rice steamed in coconut milk, these are typically fried anchovies, crispy chicken (but not always), or chicken curry, salted peanuts with skins on, a hard-boiled egg, cucumber slices, and a Malaysian sambal (careful, it’s supposed to be SPICY). 

Enjoy it at any time of day. Most traditional street vendors serve nasi lemak in a pandan leaf. Discover endless spots around KL selling the national dish! 

Best place to try nasi lemak in KL: Nasi Lemak Heritage of Viral Knowledge; NALE – The Nasi Lemak Company & 100 Years Nasi Lemak Kuala Lumpur

5. Dosa

Vegetarians, is there a more flavorful veggie-friendly cuisine than Indian? Okay, maybe Middle Eastern comes in at a close second. During my time as a veg-eater, one thing I noticed lacking was fragrance, variety, and PUNCH IN YOUR FACE flavor bombs. You never feel like this is missing with vegetarian Indian cuisine. One of our favorite vegetarian dishes of the best street food in Kuala Lumpur is the humble but delicious dosa. 

Wandering around the city, notice how many Indian restaurants there are, too. We love love love MRT 1924, one of KL’s best South Indian restaurants! This spot has earned the Michelin Bib Gourmand status (an award for the more street-style, affordable eateries). 

A classic dosa is a thin crepe, and it’s either rolled or shaped into a triangle. The filling is spicy potatoes and onions — much the same as inside a samosa. Dosas sometimes come with a side serving of chutney dipping sauce, and/or sambar (a lentil-based veg stew). I’ve also tried the sweet version with condensed milk! 

Best place to try dosa in KL: MRT 1924

6. Claypot chicken rice 

Did you know that around 40% of KL’s population is Chinese? One of my best friends is Singaporean (she’s half Chinese, half Indian), and she loves this dish! Apart from being one of the best street food in Kuala Lumpur, it’s a popular dish in other places with a strong Chinese community (like Singapore). 

So, what’s the deal with claypot chicken rice? It must be cooked in a traditional clay pot, over charcoal flames. This is what gives the dish its unique flavor. The bottom of the rice must also be slightly burned and crispy, adding contrasting textures. It also contains lap cheong (Chinese sausage) and a variety of sauces.

It’s all about the cooking methods that make claypot chicken rice the dish that it is! Don’t confuse this dish with Hainanese chicken rice either. 

Best place to try claypot chicken rice in KL: Heun Kee Claypot Chicken Rice (Michelin Bib Gourmand winner) 

7. Kaya toast 

If you know me, you’ll know I adore a good back story. I mean, half the reason why I love traveling is because of all the stories you learn in between, right? So, kaya toast is a Singaporean original. It’s believed to have traversed the waters, over the pond, when the Brits ruled Singapore, as well as when Chinese communities worked on British ships. My nan is from England, and every morning I’d enjoy a soft-boiled egg and soldiers, with an extra slice of toast with strawberry jam. 

Kaya toast is like a long-lost relative of the morning toast. It’s golden, buttery, and the spread was localized, replacing jam with a coconut spread (kaya). Bread is often toasted over charcoal, one of the most popular cooking methods across SEA. I mean, how divine does it sound?? 

The yummy snack is popular in Kuala Lumpur, and many argue that kaya toast is a Malaysian OG, not Singaporean. Whichever way, I’m so glad it’s part of the best street food in Kuala Lumpur. You now find all sorts of renditions. It goes down a treat with a coffee or cup of tea.  

Best place to try kaya toast in KL: Yut Kee & Butter Kaya Kopitiam

8. Bao buns 

I’m a bao bun fiend. Not only do I order them whenever possible, but I love them so much that we recreate them at home at least once a week. 

The most popular types of bao buns in Kuala Lumpur contain pork or chicken. You find the more traditional baos (served in steaming baskets), and then the trendy “burger” kind, where the bao is split open down the middle and stuffed — Taiwanese-style. 

For example, you’ll find bao buns filled with pork char siu, or other versions filled with chicken curry. Some spots make a boa bun with Chinese yellow rice wine-basted chicken. It all depends on the vendor and area. I always eat the best in Chinatown. One thing I always judge a bao bun on is the bun itself. Made from rice flour, the bun should be a touch sweet, but only just. 

Best place to try boa buns in KL: Da Bao Restobar & Bunn Choon

9. Roti 

I love how diverse roti is. Use it to wipe up a delicious curry, as a side accompaniment to dahl, or order one that’s rolled and filled with yummy curried foods. You even get sweetened versions of roti. In Malaysia, each one has a different name, like roti canai and roti telur bawang.

As mentioned, there are plenty of Indian restaurants all around KL. Roti is one of my ultimate best street food in Kuala Lumpur — but that’s because I’m a big fan of the cuisine and always eat at an Indian restaurant in the Malaysian capital. 

So, what sets a good roti apart from an amazing one? Hand-rolled, a fresh roti should be soft, with a slight char on the outside, and simply fall apart in a flaky way (but not to pieces). 

Best place to try roti in KL: Mansion Tea Stall 

10. Muah Chee 

There’s only one place to munch down on muah chee, i.e., peanut-covered mochi, in KL, and that’s from Madam Tang. 

This institute has graced endless lists of the best street food in Kuala Lumpur, and the street vendor stall is somewhat legendary. 

Unfortunately, the original owner, who grew the sweet treat to such popularity and worked here till the end, passed away circa 2023. But her family ensures her achievements live on. 

Never eaten mochi? It’s a sweet Japanese dessert made from rice flour and has a glutinous texture. 

Best place to try muah chee in KL: Madam Tang Machi Popo

Whilst we’re on this delicious culinary journey, don’t you want to know more about the capital’s food scene (which is amazing, FYI)? For the best brunch spots in KL, look no further than these 10 spots! As a buzzing metropolis, KL boasts many skyscrapers. Whether it’s day or night, here are my favorite rooftop bars with city views. 

Moving away from Kuala Lumpur, did you know Penang is considered Malaysia’s food capital?! Or, if you happen to be adventuring to Langkawi (easy to reach from Singapore-side), and are vegetarian, tuck into these five spots for a meat-free menu. 

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