Malay food is rich and comforting, and certainly a beloved cuisine among locals. It’s always a great feeling to dig into a plateful of Nasi Lemak, and wash it down with a sweet treat like Ais Kacang, isn’ it? For those who wish to dine on local favourites, here are the Top 10 Malay Restaurants in KL & Selangor.
1) Gamelan Restaurant
Situated in Ara Damansara, Gamelan serves up delicious traditional Malay meals. This restaurant reflects the simplicity of olden days. You’ll find dishes like Nasi Kerabu, Laksa Terengganu, and various forms of fried rice, some with Thai influences. You can even get classic snacks like Keropok Lekor here.
FB: gamelanrestaurant | IG: @gamelanrestaurant
2) Restoran Bisik Bisik Shah Alam seksyen 7
Each state in Malaysia has Malay food that is distinct, and Johor is no different. If you can’t go all the way there though, just head to Shah Alam to indulge. Bisik Bisik has classic Johorean fare, like Nasi Ambeng, Laksa Johor and Kacang Pol. Besides those dishes, definitely try out their Thai dishes, Nasi Ayam Warisan and Mee Bandong Udang Galah.
bisikbisik.com.my | FB: seleraJohordiShahAlam | IG: @bisik_bisik
3) Bijan Bar & Restaurant Fine Malay Cuisine
Bijan invites you to indulge in Malay cuisine with an exquisite edge, with their beautiful restaurant. Meals are prepared using the best ingredients, including prime imported halal beef and D24 durians. Excess fat is trimmed and the food does not contain MSG. The restaurant is located in the heart of KL City, at Jalan Ceylon.
bijanrestaurant.com | FB: Bijanrestaurant | IG: @bijankl
4) Bunga Emas
For those who are willing to fork out a little bit more, there’s Bunga Emas. Open for lunch and dinner at Royale Chulan, Bunga Emas is actually Kuala Lumpur’s first fine-dining Malay restaurant located within a 5-star hotel. This restaurant has won awards for their dishes, some of which are faithful to traditional Malay recipes, while others are innovations of the chef.
royalechulan-kualalumpur.com/dining
5) Kelantan Delights Restaurant
Brought to you by the culinary team of Chef Muslim Sadil and Chef Izzat, Kelantan Delights Restaurant has two branches currently – one in Subang and another at Sooka Sentral. Along with Kelantanese Malay dishes, they also have a range of other recipes that follow ancestral methods, including southern Thai dishes. They’ve won awards for their food, such as Best Halal Malay Restaurant in 2005 and 2006 by the Halal Journal.
FB: kelantandelights | IG: @kelantandelights
6) Songket Restaurant
Much like the sophisticated songket fabric, Malay food is rich and complex. Songket restaurant offers fine Malay cuisine, cooked with both tradition and modernity in mind. Top it off with live traditional Malay entertainment and this is the perfect place to bring anyone who wants to experience the culture in a unique manner. Songket is at Jalan Yap Kwan Seng.
songketrestaurant.com | FB: songketrestaurant | IG: @songketrestaurant_my
7) Enak
Located at Starhill Gallery, Enak uses traditional family recipes, ensuring “forgotten” dishes are given the spotlight. The restaurant interior beckons you to relax and unwind, and take a walk down memory lane with the delicious food. Reserve a spot online, via their website.
enakkl.com | FB: EnakKL | IG: @enak_kl
8) Serai Group
The Serai Group is the brainchild of a family of restaurateurs, whose passion for food led them to build the brand. Serai has a variety of restaurants serving up authentic mouth-watering dishes from their menu. The menu itself is quite multi-cultural, the perfect reflection of Malaysia. Check out their website for location details.
seraigroup.com.my | FB: seraigroup | IG: @seraigroup
9) Restoran Rebung Chef Ismail
Dato’ Chef Ismail is an icon when it comes to the Malaysian culinary scene. He co-owns Rebung with our first national astronaut, Datuk Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Al Masrie. Rebung has two outlets, in Bangsar and Taman Botani Perdana respectively. Dato’ Chef Ismail’s vision was to ensure that traditional Malay recipes have a legacy, and this is reflected in the menu options.
restoranrebungdatochefismail.com | FB: RestoranRebungChefIsmail | IG: @restoran_rebung_datochefismail
10) The 39 Restaurant
Want lunch with a view? Then The 39 Restaurant is for you. You can opt to take in the views from their outdoor seating, or sit inside for air-conditioned comfort. Either way, you’ll be on a higher level, giving you spectacular views of KL city. It is located at PNB Perdana on the Park, which is an apartment hotel in KL.
pnbperdanaonthepark.com/restaurants
That’s not all! More Top 10s in Malaysia are waiting to be discovered!
The compilation of this list was made from accumulation of Public Votes on TallyPress.com.
