CHINESE
HEUN KEE CLAYPOT CHICKEN RICE, No.59, Ground Floor, Jalan Yew, Pudu, Kuala Lumpur (Tel: 03-9200 1603). Business hours: 11am-9pm (Fri-Wed). Non-halal. Nearby the Pudu Wet Market lies this eatery that has made a name for itself over the past 30 years. The owner uses a two-way heating system by cooking the rice in a claypot and placing more hot coals on the lid to help lock in moisture and the chicken’s flavours. A secret marinade sauce is also used for the chicken pieces.
LOI FATT RESTAURANT, No.168, Jalan 7, 9th Mile, Cheras New Village, Kajang (Tel: 016-677 9519). Business hours: 11.30am-3pm; 5.30pm-9.30pm (Mon-Fri), 11.30am-10pm (Sat-Sun). Non-halal. The family-run business keeps to traditional recipes and uses only premium quality seafood. Recommendations include jumbo river prawns cooked in two styles, wild snakehead fish soup, sweet and sour crab, signature beancurd and Hakka deep-fried pork.
SEAFOOD
SOUTH SEA SEAFOOD RESTAURANT, No.229, Jalan Dua A, U 5, Shah Alam (Tel: 012-782 2830). Business hours: 11.30am-11pm daily. Pork-free. The restaurant has been serving quality seafood since the 1980s, with exotic items such as geoduck, Australian lobster, Estuary tiger garoupa, Sri Lankan crab, Japanese escargot, fresh abalone, mantis prawn and Empurau fish.
INDIAN
MEAT THE PORKERS, No.9M, Jalan Medan Setia 1, Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur (Tel: 019-987 1945). Business hours: Noon-2.30pm, 5.30pm-9.30pm (Wed-Mon). Closed on Tuesdays. Non-halal. Dubbed the Asian porky Indian restaurant, it serves classic Indian favourites and small plates of Indian starters, tapas style. Specialities include Siew Yoke Briyani, Tandoori Pork Ribs, Bacon Cheese Naan, Pork Varuval, and Pork Vindaloo as well as South Indian favourites such as Butter Chicken and Palak Paneer.
MALGUDI CLASSIC INDIAN CUISINE, 17, Lorong Universiti C, Section 16, Petaling Jaya (Tel: 03-7932 3599). Business hours: 11.30am-10.30pm daily. Mondays closed. Pork-free. Dedicated to the imaginative and creative cuisine of southern and northern Indian cuisines, with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options available. Touted to serve one of the best briyani in the Klang Valley.
JAPANESE
KURIYA, T2, 3rd Floor, Bangsar Shopping Centre, Jalan Maarof, Taman Bukit Bandaraya, Kuala Lumpur (Tel: 018-236 0188). Business hours: 11.30am-3pm, 6pm-9pm (Mon-Thurs), 11.30am-3pm, 5.30pm-9.30pm (Fri-Sun). Kuriya means “aristocratic kitchen” in Japanese and the restaurant offers a memorable Japanese fine-dining experience with a wide range of special and authentic dishes. The menu also features seasonal ingredients air-flown from various parts of Japan. Seafood is flown in from Tokyo and Kyushu fish markets once a week.
HYOTAN JAPANESE RESTAURANT, No.63, Jalan SS15/5A, Subang Jaya (Tel: 03-5613 0358). Business hours: 11.30am-2.30pm, 5.30pm-10pm, daily.Pork-free. The restaurant is one of the few in Subang Jaya that claims to provide diners an authentic Japanese experience. It is run by the Watanabe family, and the family head – Shuzo – himself leads the kitchen. There’s Japanese hotpot, exquisite dishes and super fresh sashimi.
KOREAN
THE CHOI’S, The Hub, Jalan 17/47, Section 19, Petaling Jaya ( 011-2374 8500). Business hours: 11.30am-10.30pm daily. The restaurant serves genuine flavours from the award-winning chef and co-owner Choi Myeong Hun’s hometown Busan, keeping to the Korean palate and offering authentic flavours. Besides favourites like spicy grilled chicken and chicken tangsuyuk, there is the Korean mainstay dishes such as doenjang, jjamppong and kimchi jiggae.
THAI
AROI MAK MAK, No.1, Jalan 17/45, Section 17, PJ (Tel: 011-1887 8870). Business hours: 11.30am-2.30pm, 5.30pm-9pm daily. Closed on Mondays. Non-halal. Dishes are made from scratch, right from the various pastes such as tom yam, green curry, red curry and even Thai dipping sauces. Signature dishes include Pomelo Salad, Tom Yam Pork Ribs.
KIN RAI DEE, No.173A, Jalan Aminuddin Baki, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, KL (012-261 8510). Business hours: Noon-2pm, 6pm-11pm daily. Closed on Tuesdays. The name means “don’t know what to eat” in Thai, and it offers the solution by featuring a slew of specialties ranging from cockle and salmon salads, crispy fried chicken tendons, and raw shrimp in Thai Spicy Seafood sauce to crab meat omelette. Cooking style is Esan Thai, which means you can expect fiery concoctions and be prepared to cry unless you tell the chef to tone it down.
NYONYA
BIG BABA RESTAURANT, No.34, Ground Floor, Jalan 2/109E, Desa Business Park, Taman Desa, Kuala Lumpur (Tel: 03-7987 7755). Business hours: 11am-3pm, 5.30pm-9pm (Tues-Sun). Pork-free. The idea behind setting up the Perakanan restaurant was to ensure Peranakan food would be around for future generations. Signature dishes include Kari Ayam Keluak, Ayam Pong Teh, Udang Lemak Nenas, Peranakan otak-otak and ju hu char. For desserts, try the bubur cha-cha and cendol, with brown sugar served on the side.
SRI NYONYA RESTAURANT, No.14, Jalan 22/49, Petaling Jaya (Tel: 03-7875 1031). Business hours: Noon-2.30pm, 6pm-9.30pm (Tues-Sun). Closed on Mondays. Family recipes like the Sri Nyonya Fried Chicken and perut ikan span four generations.
ITALIAN
VIA PRE KL ITALIAN, No.25, Lorong Setiabistari 2, Bukit Damansara, KL (03-2011 2003). Business Hours: 11.30pm-3.30pm, 5.30pm-10.30pm (Tues-Thurs), 11.30am-3.30pm, 5.30pm-11pm (Fri-Sun). Closed on Mondays. A charming diner with alfresco dining on the patio just at the edge of KL city centre, the restaurant offers authentic Italian fare ranging from antipasto, pizzas and handmade pasta like gnochi, to hearty main courses such as fish steak as well as tempting desserts, not to mention a good range of wine selection.
ARIA ITALIAN DINING & WHISKY BAR, No.44, Plaza Damansara, Jalan Medan Setia 2, Bukit Damansara, KL (Tel: 03-2011 1384). Business hours: 11am-3pm, 6pm-10pm (Tues-Sun). Closed on Mondays. A charming and cosy restaurant with tasteful ambience, known for its pizzas and pastas. Linguine Alio Olio with Smoked Duck, Cod Fish with Asparagus and Nere Sauce, Pasta Alla Aria and Diavola Pizza are some of the house recommendations.
SPANISH
EL CERDO, No.43&45, Changkat Bukit Bintang, KL (Tel: 013-309 4197 – Bukit Bintang, 012-322 0654 – TTDI). Business hours: 6pm–12am daily.
Non-halal. This restaurant is known for its Roasted Suckling Pig, Crispy Pork Knuckle, Grilled Pork Shoulder Steak, Mountain Paella, Oven Roasted Iberico Spare Ribs and Spanish Whole Roasted Baby Lamb Leg. Most of the food here is meant for sharing. Reservations are advised.
WESTERNSTOKED RESTAURANT AND BAR, No.120, Jalan Kasah, Medan Damansara, KL (Tel: 03-2096 1645). Business hours: Noon-2.30pm, 5.30pm-11pm (Tues-Sun). Closed on Mondays. Non-halal. Central to the cooking of many of Stoked’s dishes is the Bertha charcoal oven, which is fuelled by a combination of charcoal and firewood. Grilled meats take centre stage in its menu with offerings such as chilled prime cuts of steaks and off-cuts. A selection of pork ribs is also available.
