31 Best Restaurants in Malaysia

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

Though it's set up more like a stall than a restaurant—with plastic chairs in what is essentially a parking lot—Pak Putra is known throughout Malacca as the top choice for fresh Pakistani cuisine. Think tender tandoori chicken, fragrant curries, butter chicken, mango lassis, and the restaurant's namesake pillowy naan, either plain or cheese, garlic, or Kashmiri, with nuts and raisins. Arrive soon after it opens at 5:30 pm to increase your chances of getting a table.

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.

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.

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.

After a day of shopping in the ParkCity Mall, you won't even need to leave the building to refuel at this sleek, brightly lit restaurant—a popular choice for Taiwanese dishes. Try the Taiwan beef noodles or pancakes stuffed with scallions, lamb, pork, chicken, or beef. There’s also a decent selection of vegetarian choices. Wash it all down with refreshing Taiwanese beer or bubble tea.

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)

Chef Katsuji Takabayashi, who has cooked in the kitchens of five-star hotels around the world, serves up top-notch sushi at this hillside, seafront venue. Diners can choose to be seated at Western-style tables on the first floor, Japanese-floor cushions on the second, or at tables touched by the sea breeze in the garden terrace. The wine cellar is stocked with a wide selection of wine and sake, and you can pick out fish for the chef to prepare from an on-site aquarium. It's a great spot to watch the sunset while dining on an assortment of fresh sashimi.