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. Bijan

    $$$

    Taking its name from the Malay word for sesame, Bijan is a top pick for many Malaysians when taking out-of-towners to sample authentic local cuisine. Head chef Zulkifli Razali brings a haute touch to classic Malay dishes, such as beef rendang (a dry meat curry) and kerabu pucuk paku (fiddlehead fern salad). Book a spot on the chef's Saturday morning tours through Chow Kit's markets to discover many of the quintessential ingredients of Malay cooking. Homemade ice cream is served in local flavors, including durian ( the "king of fruits"), so save room for dessert.

    3 Jalan Ceylon, Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, 50200, Malaysia
    032-031--3575
  • 4. Brass Monkey Café & Bar

    $$$

    About 10 minutes' drive outside the city center, this is hands-down the best steak house in KK, but it's Raja Sagaran, the owner, who probably deserves credit for people coming back. He's around almost every night, often mingling with diners. The beef and lamb is flown in from Australia and New Zealand, and the portions are generous, so order light. The inside of the restaurant is filled with bric-a-brac and monkey paraphernalia—there are even masks on hand if you cannot resist the photo opportunity. Weekend visitors should make a reservation, as this place fills up fast.

    Lorong Lintas Plaza 4, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, 88300, Malaysia
    088-261--543
  • 5. Capitol Satay

    $

    Deservedly popular with both locals and tourists (so expect to wait in line) this hole-in-the-wall joint specializes in satay celup—raw and semi-cooked food on bamboo skewers that you dip into a pot of boiling spicy peanut sauce to cook. From a refrigerated display case, you choose from several dozen skewers of meats, quail eggs, vegetables, and seafood, including squid and prawns; each skewer costs RM1.10, with some "gourmet" choices running slightly more. There are only 12 tables, so get there early and avoid weekends if you want to get in faster.

    41 Lorong Bukit Cina Bandar Hilir, Malacca, Melaka, 75100, Malaysia
    062-835--508

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon., Reservations not accepted, No credit cards
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  • 6. 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
  • 7. Dining in the Dark KL

    $$$

    Does the loss of one sense heighten the others? This is the question you'll be answering as you eat in total darkness, in order to boost your senses of taste and smell. No light sources are allowed at all, so even your phones, watches, and cameras will be stowed away (safely) in lockers. After a few warm-up games, the waitstaff, all of whom are blind or visually impaired, guide you to your table for a four-course prix-fixe menu. Dinner is always a surprise, and the menus change monthly. There's a standard menu, a vegetarian menu, and a wine-pairing option; no pork is served, and the kitchen skillfully accommodates allergies and dietary restrictions. Reservations are taken for 90-minute time slots.

    50A Changkat Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, 50200, Malaysia
    032-110--0431
  • 8. El Centro

    $

    Serving a mix of Western and local fare, El Centro attracts a range of tourists and expats with open-mic sessions, quiz nights, and arts events. The open storefront allows for those cocktail-in-hand minglers to spill out onto the street, while diners can take a seat at one of the tables made from repurposed driftwood, under lights made from old jars. The menu includes everything from tacos and Caesar salad to fried mee hoon and laksa. Katie, the owner, is sharing recipes she has picked up throughout her travels. As a former tour guide, she's a great asset to those looking for advice about travels around Borneo.

    Lot 32 Jalan Haji Saman, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, 88000, Malaysia
    019-893--5499
  • 9. 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
  • 10. 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
  • 11. Georgetown Wines

    $$

    This wine bar built in a former horse stable is a oenophile's delight. Each day, there is one red, one white, and one rosé available by the glass, and then a full cellar through which you can stroll and choose a full bottle. During happy hour, house wines by the glass are buy one, get one free and select bottles are 20 percent off. While you enjoy your wine, you can munch on local clams in a fragrant broth; crostini with ricotta, anchovies, shaved fennel, and quail egg or refreshing grilled watermelon with feta and mint. Georgetown Wines also serves Penang's best churros, paired with dark chocolate sauce.

    19A Lebuh Leith, Georgetown, Penang, 10200, Malaysia
    042-621--011

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Tues.
  • 12. Gurney Drive Hawker Center

    $

    Some will argue that Gurney Drive is not the best hawker center in Penang (having an opinion on the best place to eat is a Malaysian pastime), but it's hard to deny that this is a prime spot to catch the sunset along the coast and to tuck into hawker fare. Stalls are set up one after the other, each specializing in a unique dish. Try the char kway teo (stir-fry flat rice noodles with whole prawns), popiah (fresh spring rolls), and Penang rojak (a tart fruit-and-vegetable salad mixed with crushed peanut and shrimp-paste sauce). All stalls are self-service, and plastic tables and stools are set up in the center for diners to claim as they wish.

    Solok Gurney 1 Persiaran Gurney, Georgetown, Penang, 10250, Malaysia

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No credit cards
  • 13. 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
  • 14. 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
  • 15. Mangoes Bar and Grill

    $$

    Set up under a thatched roof and surrounded by a tropical garden and views of the Andaman Sea, Mangoes offers a laid-back vibe. Run by an Australian and German couple, it's a popular expat spot, and where travelers come for hearty portions of European comfort food. Classic dishes (think shepherd's pie, rib-eye steak, and lasagna) are best paired with a cold beer. Mangoes also serves Sunday brunch, where you can feast on classic eggs Benedict or a full English fry-up.

    Jalan Kuala Teriang, Kedah, 07000, Malaysia
    017-589--8117

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues.
  • 16. 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
  • 17. Melayu Malay Cuisine Restaurant

    $$

    Here you'll find tasty Malaysian food that's a great value for your money, and with seating inside and out. No alcohol is served, but you can bring your own wine or beer, and you'll need something cold to drink after slurping up big, spicy bowls of laksa (noodle soup). Among the standout dishes are ikan tumis (fish braised in a tangy red sauce) and piquant prawn sambal (garlic shrimp with chili sauce).

    Jalan Teluk Baru, Langkawi, Kedah, 07000, Malaysia
    012-647--6958
  • 18. 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.
  • 19. 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
  • 20. 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.

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