Blue Boy Vegetarian Food Centre
Kuala Lumpur
Run by Chung Ching Thye and his son since the mid 1970s, this remarkable hawker-style cafe at the base of a backstreet apartment block serves only…
Must-see restaurants in Malaysia
Syarikat Kim Guan Huat Trading
Sarawak
Sharing signage with an electronics shop next door, this friendly Chinese-owned kopitiam (coffee shop) is Belaga's best place for breakfast before a…
Kuching
Run by the same folks who operate the Barber and the Junk, this stylish, bright restaurant produces light and spicy Thai fish cakes, tom yum goong (hot…
Sabah
This family-run joint on Bavang Jamal Beach is popular for its nasi goreng, fresh fish, chicken wings and barbecued food. Whatever's been caught finds its…
Kuala Lumpur
At lunch, pick from the steamed baskets of dim sum being wheeled in carts at this classy, old-fashioned Chinese joint. The extensive menu includes…
George Town
In a city with such amazing local food it feels wrong to recommend a Mexican restaurant, but the folks at Holy Guacamole are doing an admirable job…
Kuala Lumpur
Mohamed Zaini comes from a long line of satay-stall owners – his grandfather was known as the 'King of Satay' in the 1960s – and these days KLites…
Kuching
Six food stalls, run by members of the Teochew Chinese community, serve up an eclectic assortment of native bites, including rice porridge with pork (3am…
Penang
Located at the top of Penang Hill, this restaurant has an open-air terrace that's probably the island's most atmospheric destination for colonial-style…
Kuala Lumpur
Stalls at this market kopitiam (coffee shop) include Sisters Crispy Popiah, famous for its delicious wraps. The eponymous vendor Ah Weng Koh sells kaya …
Johor Bahru
You can't go wrong with the yellow rice topped with spicy chicken curry at this clean, open-air, often-packed and long-standing curry joint that's open…
Miri
Come midmorning this atmospheric covered courtyard, known locally as Old Folks' St, is full of men of a certain vintage, who congregate to drink coffee,…
Green House Vegetarian Restaurant
Melaka City
This restaurant serves tasty vegetarian versions of traditional meat dishes such as Hong Kong roasted goose and char siew. If you don't fancy mock-meat…
Kuala Lumpur
A car park by day turns into a decent open-air hawker stall area by night. All the usual hawker favourites are here, as well as a stall selling fresh amra…
Kuala Lumpur
This family-friendly partially open-air cafe in a residential house serves all-day breakfasts, homemade pizzas, salads and homemade cakes to go with…
Pulau Perhentian
Awatif is a good, inexpensive choice for breakfast: juice, lassi, muesli, pancakes and eggs are available. Red umbrellas shade tables set right on the…
Kuala Lumpur
This long-standing Italian joint serves a range of solid appetisers, pastas, risottos and of course pizzas in a chic, partly open-air dining room.
Cameron Highlands
Steamboat is the quintessential Cameron Highland experience, and May Flower is one of the most reliable places to huddle around a steamy vat of broth…
Kuala Lumpur
Lot 10 was the first mall to encourage top hawkers to open branches in its basement food court. Popular stalls include Soong Kee, which has served beef…
Kuala Lumpur
You can see the fresh bread being taken out of the oven at this appealing bakery, cake shop and cafe in a quiet part of the city centre. The outdoor patio…
Kuala Lumpur
A popular operation from Singapore, Wild Honey's KL branch conjures up the kind of chic living room environment that is just made for leisurely all-day…
Kuala Lumpur
Self-taught French chef Nathalie has built a solid reputation over the years for her inventive, fusion and nouvelle cuisine dishes. Her cooking studio is…
Ipoh
Occasional visitors to Ipoh head to Lou Wong and other famous purveyors of chicken bean sprouts, but ask a local and they might just direct you to Cowan…
Gunung Mulu National Park
The Good Luck 'Cave'fe' Mulu (geddit?) is located right outside the park gates and stays open later than the park cafe, making it a good dinner option if…
Kuching
This laid-back restaurant serving delicious Sarawak food is decorated with photos of Bario, the highland 'capital'. Although it no longer specialises in…
Kuala Lumpur
If you're hankering for onion soup topped with gruyere cheese, lobster bisque or beef tartare, this authentically styled bistro is a good choice. A pot of…
Pulau Tioman
This restaurant (part of ABC Chalets) at the north end of the beach is packed most nights with travellers who flock to enjoy ABCD’s BBQ special (RM20), a…
Kuala Lumpur
Specialising in east coast Peninsular Malaysian dishes such as nasi kerabu (blue rice), this is a good place to dine inexpensively on the main Kampung…
Kuala Lumpur
The national theatre's cafe offers an appealing serve-yourself buffet of Malay and mamak (Indian Muslim) favourites such as fish-head curry, as well as…
Kuching
This old-school kopitiam (coffee shop) makes the most delicious laksa in town. There's also a stall here selling excellent popia (a kind of spring roll…
Semporna
This unassuming place is always a good bet for such Indian-Malaysian standards as roti kosong (crispy, flaky roti with curry to dip it in), murtabak …
Sarawak
An atmospheric Chinese seafood specialist with seating in a semicovered outdoor courtyard, selling fresh fish and seafood (per kilogram RM40 to RM80),…
George Town
Crowd-pleasing dishes such as stir-fried noodles, ginger stewed duck and sweet-and-sour pork are very competently done here, but it's primarily the…
Malaysia
With an open-sided, Balinese-style wooden dining room, backed by jungle and overlooking a golf course, Tamarind Springs makes for a romantic setting for a…
Sarawak
A casual eatery on the waterfront with breezy outdoor seating, Escobar offers plenty of fresh seafood options accompanied by rice or noodles, as well as…
Sandakan
Bedecked with vintage posters, this bright cafe serves upmarket takes on kopitiam (coffee shop) food: slipper lobster nasi lemak, a kick-ass tom yum with…
Kuala Terengganu
Divided into Chinese and Malay sections, Chinatown’s outdoor hawker centre is a prime pick for grazing on soy-sauce chicken, fried noodles, spicy soups…
Penang
Everyone falls in love with the Ferringhi Garden's outdoor setting, with its terracotta tiles and hardwood surrounded by bamboo – not to mention the…
Kuantan
Located in an old shophouse along Jln Besar, friendly Pickers is a decent cafe and spot for Vietnamese coffee and buns in the morning or roti or nasi…
Kota Kinabalu
Delightful Italian cuisine in a stylish restaurant with deep-red walls and an alfresco terrace with sea views. Dishes span homemade ravioli stuffed with…
