Itineraries for Your Trip to Kuala Lumpur
3 Days in Kuala Lumpur for Foodies
When I first visited Kuala Lumpur, I was struck by the ubiquity of street food. At the time, I lived in Delhi where street food is integral to the cultural fabric, and I’d spent a lot of time in Bangkok, known the world over for its tasty street snacks. But, somehow, KL street food scene still took the cake—with street food stalls seemingly on every corner. While there are plenty of staple snacks on offer that are ubiquitous in Southeast Asia, from satay skewers to fried noodles, there are also tons of more unusual treats to try.
The sheer diversity of culinary options in KL can be overwhelming, but this guide should help you narrow things down on your 3-day trip.
Bring an umbrella—October through January are especially wet, but Kuala Lumpur gets year-round rainfall.
If you only have time for one thing, make it a meat on the famous food street of Jalan Alor.
Start your first day in Kuala Lumpur with a visit to the Chow Kit neighborhood with a strong food culture. Go with a guide to learn about local specialties, or join a food tour that includes samples.
In the evening, visit the famous Jalan Alor food street to try more local fare. Go with a guide for an insider’s view of local food culture; a private, customizable food tour offers you the most flexibility.
It’s time to try cooking Malaysian food yourself. Sign up for a cooking class that includes not only lessons on how to prepare local favorites but also takes you to a local market so that you can learn about ingredients and how to select them. You'll get to dine on your creations at the end of your class.
In the evening, heighten your senses with a dinner-in-the-dark experience, where you'll be served a 4-course mystery dinner and a welcome drink, all in complete darkness.
Treat yourself to something special on your final day with a buffet lunch at Atmosphere 360, an elegant revolving restaurant inside the Menara Kuala Lumpur skyscraper. While the options are always evolving, you can expect a noodle station, a dessert section, and a variety of main courses to choose from.
Make sure to save room for dinner—we recommend going back for another round of street food, this time at the Little India area of Brickfields, where you can try Indo-Malaysian specialties.
