Best restaurants in Kuala Lumpur

What is it Malaysia’s top restaurant according to Asia's 50 Best and the Michelin Guide. No biggie. 

Why we love it To best understand the depths of Malaysian ingredients and food, Dewakan is where you can find the answer. Over the past eight years, Dewakan has been constantly riffing on Malaysian food culture and challenging the boundaries of what Malaysian cuisine means. Chef-proprietor Darren Teoh wrangles locally-sourced indigenous ingredients (think buah keluak, jambul bol, asam keping) into interesting and high-stakes takes, and his obsession is evident - every meal at Dewakan is truly a journey to experience and unravel what Malaysia has to offer as a destination. 

Time Out tip Time your dining reservation to score some spectacular sunset views from Level 48 of the Naza Tower.

What is it Entier refuses to be pigeonholed. Take the French name meaning ‘entire’ or ‘whole’; the Japanese-born Chef Masashi Horiuchi; and a nose-to-tail culinary approach celebrating the best of Malaysian and nearby terroirs. 

Why we love it The kitchen turns out some super intricate yet playful French cooking with subtle Japanese accents, inspired by tradition but never bound by it: think Japanese wagyu tenderloin with unagi, squid ink and truffle sauce, or simply, caviar from Tanjung Malim. There’s considerable style to back up all that substance too. The restaurant’s interiors steer clear of white table linens. Instead, the light-filled space is accented with stone and wood — to say nothing of the stunning city skyline from its perch atop Alila. 

Time Out tip We’re being so serious when we say the bread and butter at Entier are some of the best we’ve ever had. The kombu butter is melt-in-your-mouth, golden-hued and handcrafted with cured kelp — the perfect partner to Entier’s freshly baked cornbread. We’d gatekeep, but it’s too good not to share: the bread and butter are also sold as gifts, or simply, pantry essentials.

What is it In the heart of Kuala Lumpur, Nadodi has an excellent reputation for fancy Southern Indian and Sri Lankan fare. 

Why we love it It's a tribute to the early settlers of this country and their food. Think thosai, biryani, and banana leaf rice, all familiar flavours that continue to shape our culinary landscape, now reimagined at Nadodi. Standouts on the menu are the brined and roasted spring chicken featuring chilli leaves in thovaiyal and chicken skin crispies; Nomad’s Globe, the signature biryani course with blue swimmers salna, yoghurt, and pineapple salad; and a delightful mango dish with charcoal-cooked Aomori scallops, topped with cemiti clams. When you feel certain you cannot fit in another bite, a tempting roselle ice cream appears. 

Time Out tip We’ll give you two. Tip one: For the meatless folk, there’s a vegetarian version of the main menu. Tip two: post-dinner, sojourn to Nadodi’s sister bar and lounge, Vér, for inventive craft cocktails with impeccable service.

What is it A sleek twelve-seater sushi-ya serving authentic Edomae-style omakase. If the name rings a bell, Sushi Masa by Ishibashi is an outpost of Michelin-starred Chef Masakazu Ishibashi’s sushi restaurant, first set up in Tokyo’s exclusive Ginza district.

Why we love it It’s a taste of a 200-year-old tradition spotlighting only the freshest ingredients flown in from Japan. Chef Hisaki Yoshinagai, also known as Yossy, crafts every course with care and precision. He may start you off with rich, velvety monkfish liver encased in a crisp monaka shell, creating a perfect balance of taste and texture. 

Another standout appetiser is the botan ebi with caviar and egg yolk sauce. For the rest of the show, expect sushi nigiri and seasonal dishes such as kobako-gani risotto made with female snow crabs fished only two months out of the year, steamed awabi abalone, white truffle and more. Book for a one-of-a-kind omakase experience. 

Time Out tip If you’re a small eater or simply wish to not break the bank, spring for lunch at RM488+ instead of the dinner menus from RM988+.

What is it Only 15 diners are admitted per seating to this inimitable barbecue bistro powered by a binchotan grill, where Chef Lau Ka Hong sets the stage with big flavours and tableside theatrics. 

Why we love it The menu is a succinct all-killer-no-filler one-pager, refreshed every so often. Come for the flame show and the meats and grills; the Hanwoo ribeye steak is sure to impress, as is the wagyu. We’d suggest you don’t overlook the rest of the menu though, from the pork slider starter with pillow-like buns and a smoky, pink-centered patty, to the golden pomfret with gooseberries, and the duck breast with watermelon and preserved mandarin peels. On our last visit, we ordered not one but two desserts: a pistachio and cherry tart and pulut hitam ice cream, as recommended by our hostess. Life is short – eat two desserts. 

Time Out tip Five years on, Atelier Binchotan is still one of the hottest tables in town. Make your reservations up to two months in advance.

What is it A solid date-night spot over an Italian-inspired menu helmed by Chef Daniel and his skilled team. 

Why we love it Whether you’re here for the chef’s selection dinner or a casual weekend lunch, you can count on exceptional handmade pasta and mains cooked with fresh and seasonal local produce. Add-ons like foie gras and spring truffle are available and we believe it’s worth splurging on. 

Time Out tip End the meal on a sweet note with Gooddam’s tiramisu. Coffee, mascarpone, a dash of alcohol? We’ll be back again. And again.

Note: After six years in operations, Gooddam closed on 11 November due to tenancy issues. Keep an eye out for pop-ups as the team figures out their next move.

What is it Expect dry-aged meats, vegetables and seafood grilled to perfection at this cool spot in Taman Tun. This Michelin-selected restaurant’s style is not defined by its dishes, but rather by what’s locally available in the markets, and how this allows the kitchen to practise sustainability. 

Why we love it Refined, creative, and sophisticated sums up the flavours at Ember. Take a seat at the bar where it puts you right where the action is and places you even closer to the head chef to chat more about food. The protein-forward menu is designed for sharing, so make a reservation with a friend or two. 

Time Out tip A must-order is the smoked beef tartare that’s grounded to order. Wash it down with a house red.

What is it A cosy neighbourhood restaurant highlighting local flavours and ingredients with a modern twist.

Why we love it There’s a story behind everything they dish out such as ingredients sourced from local farms and paddy fields, dishes inspired by the chef’s childhood and crafted cocktails to pair with the meals. Come lunch and find comforting rice bowls, and at nightfall, look forward to small and large plates of familiar dishes, but elevated by modern techniques, to share.  

Time Out tip Before you order, always check out the specials on the blackboard, which often change. The signature pork toast with chilli mayo is a must-order.

What is it The name says it all. This little farm nestled in the outskirts of KL has their own airy dining space, where they serve the freshest organic produce, homemade jams and house-smoked meats, all varying by the season. This is the kind of space Singaporeans can only dream of. 

Why we love it  The weekend communal lunches at A Little Farm On The Hill (ALFOTH) are one of our favourite dining experiences in Malaysia, and we don’t say that lightly. It’s an escape from the city. It’s a beautiful farm-to-table experience. It’s the magic of having a relaxing meal of sophisticated yet comforting dishes in the likes of slow roasted organic meats with prunes and apricot, baked pumpkin goat cheese with toasted almonds, homemade flatbreads and dips and baked trout with bunga kantan (ginger flower in Malay), all while breathing in clean, fresh mountain air. 

Time Out tip Their deceptively simple specialty salads will change your mind about salads. 12 types of leaves and herbs all carefully foraged from their farm, prepped, and dressed in a tangy dressing. It’s a dish worth making many pilgrimages for.

What is it In a town full of good Chinese food, Cheras’s institution of a dai chow - Fatt Hei Len is a standout with its stellar Cantonese fare, all at reasonable prices. 

Why we love it Props must be given to the chefs’ unflashy precision as they bring refined cooking reserved for swanky restaurants to a neighbourly scale. The sticky-sweet pork ribs, steamed rice in lotus leaf, fried pork belly with macadamia nuts, and salted egg prawns easily qualify as wedding banquet platters if you pay no heed to the plating. Fatt Hei Len adheres to the principles of modest cooking while delivering bold flavours, but you can also trust the restaurant to whip up a showstopper occasionally, like their claypot shrimp porridge – a comforting, shareable dish that makes everyone at the table huddle around. 

Time Out tip Don’t miss the tofu dishes here, all masterfully executed. And to pay heed to the heady scent of siu heng wine in the restaurant, a must order is the claypot steamed fish in Chinese wine. 

What is it Casual, family-friendly restaurant serving up hearty sharing plates for the table.

Why we love it Simple ingredients but executed in an absolutely tasty way – there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Let the hospitable crew take care of you as they patiently take you through the menu. The signature buckwheat fried chicken is what the crowds keep coming back for.

Time Out tip The drinks list is just as impressive. Take your pick between wines, craft beers, sharing pitchers of refreshing coolers and crafted drinks – the earl grey milk tea is a lightly sweet and floral concoction to go with your meal.

What is it An unassuming South Indian Chettinad restaurant located on the second floor of a busy street in the heart of KL, Betel Leaf has been consistently serving up delicious and authentic dishes. 

Why we love it It’s always a happy meal at Betel Leaf. Just around the corner from the Masjid Jamek LRT station, this long-standing and much-loved joint always delivers fuss-free, satisfyingly delicious dishes at reasonable prices. Must-orders: Gobi manchurian, freshly prepared soft chapatis, chicken lollipop and kutthu paratha. The thalis sets (for one or two people) are a great way to sample the full repertoire.

Fun fact: Some of their produce is sourced from their farm in Mantin, Negeri Sembilan. 

Time Out tip Order the mango lassi and thank us later.