Best workday lunch spots in KL City Centre

Manned by volunteers, the canteen behind the Dharma Realm Guan Yin Monastery serves up a huge selection of vegetarian as well as mock meat dishes. Besides mixed rice, there are also stalls on the side selling vegetarian curry mee, wantan mee, porridge and lei cha (every Friday). A meal here will cost you around RM6, which explains the horde of office workers during lunchtime.

The 40-year-old building houses one of the cheapest zhap fan places in the city. If you crave Chinese, Sweet Home restaurant offers daily lunch menus that consist of rice dishes priced at less than RM10. If you want Western instead, you can get a burger for RM4 at Sharina Art. And on the sidewalks in front of the entrance, there are food trucks selling rice, apam balik and coconut shakes too.

Located on the 12th floor of Menara AmBank, the food court offers a wide selection of food to choose from. You can take your pick from the Malay, Chinese or Indian mixed rice stalls. You can get chee cheong fun topped with ingredients such as sausages, fu chuk, crab sticks and more. You can opt for a shepherd’s pie at the Western food stall. Or, you can go for the chicken rice; be prepared for a queue though as this stall is the go-to choice for regulars.

Menara Public Bank’s open-air food court on the fourth floor offers just a handful of options, but despite this, the place is usually packed with hungry customers come lunch hour. Zhap fan and nasi campur stalls are aplenty, but you’ll also find noodles, Western food and fresh fruits – all of which won’t cost you more than RM10. There’s also a stall that cooks up your favourite roti dishes if you prefer something lighter.

This open-air spot is hidden behind The Mayang Club along Jalan Mayang. Look for a stall tucked under a zinc roof and tables set out in front under some tall trees (for shade). If you manage to find it, you’ll be rewarded with affordable nasi campur, chicken rice, lontong and more. There are over 20 Malay dishes to choose from at the mixed rice spread such as ayam goreng berempah (the crowd favourite), sambal petai, etc.

Santa Chapati House has gained legendary status in KL, so don’t be surprised when you find yourself waiting for a seat at lunchtime. The chapatti is cheap and good, and you get your meal instantly, so don’t worry about being back to the office late.