Malaysia Restaurants

We’ve compiled the best of the best in Malaysia - browse our top choices for Restaurants during your stay.

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  • 1. 1885

    $$$$

    The Eastern & Oriental Hotel's colonial charm is displayed in top form in its much revered restaurant, 1885, named for the year in which the hotel was established. The classic afternoon tea is served with scones, cucumber sandwiches, and cakes presented on an elegant three-tier plate, along with clotted cream. The dinner menu is always changing but offers top cuts of meat and fresh seafood served in contemporary Western style. The real draw is the classic fine-dining setting, which includes glowing candles, white linen, and fresh flowers. Try and score a table by the windows for a view of the surrounding architecture and manicured lawns.

    10 Lebuh Farquhar, Georgetown, Penang, 10200, Malaysia
    042-222--000
  • 2. Balin Roofgarden Bar & Bistro

    $$

    Up on the eighth and top floors of the 60s-era Nak Hotel, the bistro serves classic European comfort food. It's heavy on the meat and potatoes, with burgers and fries, meatballs and potatoes, chicken and chips, and some hearty seafood pasta dishes and salads. A popular brunch (7 am–5 pm) includes all the usual suspects: pancakes, sausage, eggs, etc., for those who like their breakfast at any time of the day. A big draw are inventive fresh juice cocktails and better-than-average coffee, not to mention the spectacular wrap-around terrace with sweeping ocean views.

    Jalan Pelabuhan Lama, Sandakan, Sabah, 90000, Malaysia
    089-272--988

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Reservations essential
  • 3. Central Market

    $

    Don't let the bustling and rather pungent fish, meat, and produce market on the first floor put you off—the hawker food stands on the market's second floor offer a mix of authentic Malay, Indonesian, and Chinese fast food and the best prices in town. It's a good choice for breakfast or lunch and a touch of local flavor. Stands close mid-afternoon.

    Jalan Dua, Sandakan, Sabah, 90000, Malaysia
  • 4. Enak KL

    $$

    On the ground floor of the designer-dress-filled Starhill Gallery, Enak KL has become the hot spot for creative interpretations of classic Malay fare. Try the kerabu asparagus, tender stalks tossed in red chili, lime juice, and freshly roasted coconut; or the grilled prawns in udang bakar serai enak (soaked in lemongrass and served alongside a mango salsa). Finish off the meal with the dessert tasting menu, which comprises a rich sampling of delicious traditional local desserts—each with an in-house twist, of course. Seating options vary, with traditional small intimate tables, floor cushions, and long dining tables among your choices.

    188 Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, 55100, Malaysia
    032-141--8973
  • 5. English Tea House and Restaurant

    $$

    A throwback from the colonial days, this prim setting beautifully recreates the upper crust experience: sprawling main house with wraparound terrace, manicured croquet lawn, and afternoon high tea on wicker lawn chairs with a lovely view of the bay. For lunch and dinner you'll find a melange of British stalwarts—fish and chips and shepard's pie—Malaysian-influenced dishes, vegetarian choices, and large salads. For dessert, try the "comforting British pudding."

    2002 Istana St, Sandakan, Sabah, 90000, Malaysia
    089-222--545
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  • 6. Kak Nong Restaurant

    $$

    Always bustling, this kopitiam—a traditional-style coffee shop found through much of Southeast Asia—is one of the most widely regarded in the region. While often times the service can be lacking, the quality of the budget bites makes up for it. It serves arguably the best fish soto nyonya (noodle soup) in town, and the fried kuey teow (flat rice noodles) are also worth a try.

    Harbour City Off Jalan Coastal, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, 88100, Malaysia
    088-487--411

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No credit cards
  • 7. Lot 10 Hutong

    $

    You don't typically think of a mall food court as can't-miss dining, but Lot 10 Hutong has something special going for it. Each of the 30-odd hawker stalls has been handpicked based on its previous success and reputation on the streets of KL. For visitors who find the city's heat and humidity oppressive, but want to experience real Malay street food, Lot 10 is a godsend. Slurp up beef ball noodles, fried oysters, roast pork, and Hokkien mee (stir-fried rice noodles and egg noodles with egg and prawns) in the glorious comfort of air-conditioning. Myriad food options make this a good choice for families and if your kids are picky eaters, they'll at least go for ais kacang, shaved ice with various sweet toppings.

    50 Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, 50250, Malaysia
    032-782--3500

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No credit cards
  • 8. Marco Polo Steakhouse

    $$

    Many consider the steaks served here to be the best in town, making this a great choice for anyone wanting a change from the local cuisine (although there's a reasonable selection of Chinese food too). Marco Polo also offers other Western dishes such as lamb chops and steamed fish, many served with French fries and vegetables. The prices are relatively inexpensive, but this is nevertheless regarded as the place to "splurge" for a nice dinner, and it's popular with expats and visitors.

    BDA Shahida, Bintulu, Sarawak, 97000, Malaysia
    8-633–2458
  • 9. My Own Café

    $

    Inside a fully restored shophouse, My Own Café has a beautifully tiled floor and a mix of traditional dark wood carved furniture and retro coffeehouse seating. The restaurant serves just one dish: laksa in two sizes. It's Penang assam laksa, of course, so the stock is fish-based, with nice springy noodles and sweet and sour finishes. Before you head back into the heat, grab a coconut ice cream, served in a half shell with chunks of coconut. On the walls you'll see creative street art designs, much like what you'll find on neighboring Armenian Street.

    2 Cannon St, Georgetown, Penang, 10200, Malaysia
    016-485--1050

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Wed.
  • 10. Nam Restaurant

    $$

    This open-sided restaurant at Bon Ton Resort is located within an old coconut grove beside a freshwater lagoon filled with water lilies. The menu is a bit all over the place—spaghetti bolognese, hummus, and Indian food are all served here—but the kitchen staff are skillful and the setting is gorgeous. The Nyonya laksa—a prawn, chicken, and noodle spicy coconut soup—is fragrant and satisfying. For a little taste of everything, go with the Nonya Tasting Platter; presented on a tray of banana leaves with nine small dishes to sample, components include tamarind fish, beef with peanuts, and ladies' fingers in sambal filled with herbs and spices. The smaller lunch menu includes Nyonya-style fried rice, itself a small feast of chicken satay, chili prawns, beef rendang, acar (spicy pickled vegetables), and egg.

    Jalan Pantai Cenang, Langkawi, Kedah, 07000, Malaysia
    049-553--643
  • 11. Nancy’s Kitchen

    $$

    In an old house close to Jonkers Street, you'll find one of the most popular places in Malacca to try Nyonya (also called Nonya or Peranakan) cuisine, a unique, tasty, and often spicy mix of Malay and Chinese influences. The restaurant's interior is short on style and rather cramped, but you're here for the food. Recommended dishes include laksa (spicy noodle soup), sambal prawns, popiah (spring rolls), otak-otak (fish, coconut, chili paste, and herbs wrapped in a banana leaf), and pie tee (pastry shell filled with spicy-sweet prawns and veggies).

    Jalan KL 3/8 Taman Kota Laksamana Seksyen 3, Malacca, Melaka, 75200, Malaysia
    062-836--099

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Reservations not accepted, Closed Tues.
  • 12. Old China Café

    $$

    Step through the battered wooden swing doors at this restaurant–cum–antiques shop for a meal that's served with a generous portion of history. One of the oldest restaurants in KL, it's set up on the edge of Chinatown along a street of slightly run-down pre–World War I shophouses. Formerly an old guild hall of the Selangor & Federal Territory Laundry Association in the 1930s, many architectural details remain, and framed black-and-white photographs on the wall tell the building's story. Traditional Nyonya (Chinese-Malay) cuisine is served—must-try dishes include the classic beef rendang, cincaluk (salted krill) omelet, and pie tee ("top hats"), crispy pastry shells that arrive with a plate of savory fillings that you choose yourself.

    11 Jalan Balai Polis, Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, 50000, Malaysia
    032-072--5915
  • 13. Privilege Restaurant & Bar

    $$

    A welcome escape from the resort-style dining that monopolizes the island, Privilege is set up on the second floor with large windows that face the marina and a glass wall that allows a peek into the kitchen. There you can see chef Anuar Hassan combining the traditional flavors of Malay cuisine with modern techniques to inventive results. Try the spicy sea bass curry with okra, tomatoes, and sweet beans (it comes with pillowy roti canai), or the roasted five-spice duck breast with fried white-radish cake. Make sure to leave room for dessert; the homemade ice cream trio—coconut, gula melaka (palm sugar), and pickled nutmeg—is a must. The menu also has plenty of dairy-free, vegetarian, and gluten-free dishes.

    B8 Perdana Quay Jalan Pantai Kok, Langkawi, Kedah, 07000, Malaysia
    049-561--188

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
  • 14. Sea.Fire.Salt

    $$$

    If steak and seafood are on your list of vacation indulgences, this picturesque waterfront dining spot ticks all the boxes. Dine with a view of the beach, or sit next to the show kitchen for some culinary theater. The extensive wine list is recommended, as is the caviar selection supplied by local brand T’lur, the first-ever caviar harvested from coldwater fish in a tropical climate.

    90 Desaru, Johor, 82200, Malaysia
    60-7828--0888

    Known For

    • Grilled seafood platters
    • Local caviar T'lur
    • Romantic beachfront setting
  • 15. Seribu Bintang Restaurant

    $

    A local favorite, this casual restaurant serves a mix of Malay, Chinese, Indian, and Indonesian food, whic can be enjoyed indoor or outdoors. Be sure to try any of the traditional dishes cooked with belachan, a ubiquitous salted sun-dried shrimp paste. Steamed or fried fish, butter prawns, and black pepper beef also come highly recommended. As with many other Bintulu restaurants, you can take to the stage for karaoke if you'd like, or just listen to the locals crooning their favorite songs.

    Jalan Sebiew, Bintulu, Sarawak, 97000, Malaysia
    13-836–9792
  • 16. Tek Sen Restaurant

    $$

    What opened in 1965 as a humble rice stall is today a wildly popular shophouse restaurant with bright street art on the back wall. Tek Sen serves an amalgam of four types of Chinese cuisine: Cantonese, Teochew (also known as Chaozhou), Hakka, and Peranakan. The resulting menu of small plates is a most toothsome introduction to the myriad groups of Chinese cultural groups who have so heavily influenced Penang and Malaysia at large. Two people with reasonable appetites could polish off three or four dishes. Balance heavier options like the tender and sweet double-roasted pork with chili padikang with the kong sambal and prawn. In the latter, Chinese water spinach gets a quick fry in the wok before being tossed with sambal (spicy chili sauce made from shrimp paste). Reservations are recommended.

    18 Lebuh Carnarvon, Georgetown, Penang, 10100, Malaysia
    129-815-117

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Tues.
  • 17. Turmeric

    $$

    Head to this all-day restaurant for an all-out breakfast spread or for one of the themed buffets centered around Thai and Malaysian cuisine. If you enjoy your meal and want to re-create the experience back home, ask about their Spice & Spoons cooking classes where you’ll learn to re-create signature dishes like ikan bakar (spicy Malaysian-style grilled fish), kari laksa (laksa curry) with lobster, and khao soi gai (Northern Thai-style coconut curry noodles)

    90 Desaru, Johor, 82200, Malaysia
    60-7828--0888

    Known For

    • Buffet spreads
    • Lagoon pool views
    • Both Malaysian and Thai specialties
  • 18. Veggie Planet

    $$

    Although not in the center of Malacca, local vegetarians make the short trip here for traditional Chinese, Nyonya, and Thai dishes free of meat, fish, and added MSG. Food is fresh and full of flavor, with the kitchen eschewing faux-meat dishes to better highlight the quality of its produce. Sip a cup of chrysanthemum tea as you pore over the menu, which includes highlights like fragrant Nyonya vegetable curry, house-made steamed tofu, cubes of fried tempeh, and Hoi Lok Feng, a smartly presented plate of diced vegetables, nuts, and seeds paired with a bowl of vegetable broth.

    41--43 Jalan Melaka Raya 8 Taman Melaka Raya, Malacca, Melaka, 75000, Malaysia
    062-922--819
  • 19. Yu Kee Bak Kut Teh

    $

    Located along Gaya Street, this scruffy stall serves what is argued by many to be the best bowl of bak kut teh. Literally translated as "pork bone tea," this Chinese dish is a staple through much of Malaysia. The soup, filled with meaty pork ribs and a long list of herbs and spices, is served with rice and strips of fried dough. For those interested in tasting more than just ribs, the pork liver, pork belly, and various other intestines are available as well. Plastic tables are set up on the street outside and all of the offerings go down well with a large bottle of Tiger beer.

    74 Jalan Gaya, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, 88000, Malaysia
    088-221--192

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No credit cards

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