12-Hour Kuala Lumpur Street Food Binge

By Mark Wiens 43 Comments

Nasi Campur - Malaysian Food — Nasi Campur – Kuala Lumpur Food

A few months ago I landed in Kuala Lumpur with a smile on my face.

In fact, every time I land in Kuala Lumpur, I’m immediately in happy spirits, knowing that what I’m about to fill my belly with will be out-of-this-world delicious!

With only a 12 hour layover this time, I didn’t have time to tackle all the best Malaysian foods or even make the trip to the Durian buffet (heartbreaking),

but…

I was able to fit in a few plates of ridiculously tasty Kuala Lumpur food!

Delicious Plate of Nasi Campur — Ikan Bakar – Grilled Fish

Meal #1 – Malaysian Nasi Campur

I can’t think of any better way to get the party started with food in Kuala Lumpur than with a heaping plate of Nasi Campur.

Nasi Campur means “mixed rice,” and that’s exactly what it is.

Upon entrance to any joint serving nasi campur, you are handed a pile of rice in a banana leaf and from there you get to go crazy on the buffet of mixed toppings.

This time around I got some fried fish, a giant piece of chili tofu, tempe soybean cakes, fried eggplant, and a few heaping spoons of the chili sauce.

Ikan Bakar - Grilled Fish — Irresistible Grilled Fish

Then I saw the grilled fish, known as Ikan Bakan, and without any sort of hesitation the waitress was bringing it to our table.

This is a bold statement for me to make, but Nasi Campur to me is just about as good as it gets in the culinary department. Eating is one of the best things to do in Kuala Lumpur.

Address:

Kedai Nasi Padang Minangkabau
No. 5, Jalan Raja Abdullah, Kg. Baru, 50300 Kuala Lumpur
[email protected]

Meal #2 – Another Ikan Bakar

Meal #2 was completely unplanned.

Merely a few moments after finishing the first meal, I remembered a place located near Little India that should never be missed on any trip to Kuala Lumpur.

It’s a little food-court, and by that I mean it’s a bumping series of stalls with crowds of people in the middle devouring huge plates of food and heavenly aromas luring everyone in.

Ikan Bakar - Grilled Fish #2 — Ikan Bakar – Grilled Fish #2

It was the Ikan Bakar (grilled fish) that caught my attention, and even though I had just eaten one not long ago, it was my call to eat another.

This one was meaty and big, lathered in rich chili tomato sauce and splashed with a salty vinegar. I was ecstatic.

Address:

Ika Nasi Campur
Located near Masjid Jamek on TAR street

Malaysian Teh Tarik - Milk Tea — Malaysian Teh Tarik – Milk Tea

Tea Time – Malaysian Teh Tarik

By this early afternoon time the tropical rain was threatening, and I decided to dip into Restoran Yusoof Masakan Kari, a huge Halal restaurant located across the walkway from Kuala Lumpur Central Market.

This place is famous for their Indian influenced Malaysian food, but I opted for just a few cups of Teh Tarik, or tea loaded up with condensed milk.

Address:

Restoran Yusoof Masakan Kari – Central Market
No. Syarikat Istinewa 000554423-U

Meal #3 – Nasi Kandar

Ever since I visited Kuala Lumpur for the first time in 2009, I have been a religious fan of a restaurant called Hameed’s.

Come to realize now, there are probably hundred’s of restaurants in KL with the name Hameed’s, but this one is located right below the Pasar Seni LRT Station.

They make Nasi Kandar and they make it well.

Nasi Kandar is basically the Indian version of Nasi Campur (eaten at Meal #1). You get a big pile of rice and then get to choose what toppings you want to smother your rice in.

I couldn’t resist the mutton curry, a piece of chili chicken, curried cabbage, and some kind of pickled cucumbers.

Hameeds' Tandoori Chicken — Hameeds’ Tandoori Chicken

Hameed’s also makes killer Tandoori Chicken.

Though it may look overcooked on the outside, somehow the meat remains tender, juicy, and busting with spices.

Meal at Hameed's in Kuala Lumpur — Meal at Hameed’s in Kuala Lumpur

Of course, this meal just wouldn’t have been the same without a few pieces of naan – straight from the clay oven.

Hammed’s shouldn’t be missed on any Kuala Lumpur food excursion!

Address:

Hameed’s Restoran
outside Pasar Seni LRT station

Meal #4 – Nasi Lemak

Yet another Malaysian food you will fall in love with is something known as Nasi Lemak.

Now by this time my belly was swelled almost to its maximum capacity, not to mention I had to jump back on the bus to the airport in just a short time.

I didn’t have much choice of where to get this plate of Nasi Lemak, so I just stopped into the nearest location that served it.

Nasi Lemak is coconut infused rice served with a pile of sambal hot sauce, an egg, dried anchovies, peanuts, and sometimes a piece of fried chicken on top. It’s normally served in a banana leaf.

This wasn’t the best Nasi Lemak that I’ve ever had, but it was in a convenient location. If you have more time in KL and are looking for some really good Nasi Lemak, go check out Nasi Lemak Daun Pisang.

Address:

Maulana Food Court
No. 90, Jalan Pudu, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel 03 2070 5248

And with that, I completed a 12 hour Kuala Lumpur food binge!

Want to see this food adventure of video? Watch my Malaysian food video now!

The name of the food you need to try here is Nasi Lemak, and it is one of the most well loved dishes in the entire Malay Peninsula

43 comments. I'd love to hear from you!