So when I moved into KL(Kuala Lumpur) the capital of Malaysia on March 2022, I asked a lot of grab drivers for food recommendations and locals I got to know this.
And the answer I got from them was "Chow Kit" 90% of the time.
What I loved about Chow Kit was the cost performance of the food and its variety🤤
You can taste all the major races in this country, Malay, Chinese, and Indian, but even better, there are more cuisines that are just absolutely tasty.
So here are the places I visited!
Places I visited + Where it is on Google Maps
1. Pakeeza Restaurant
This Pakistani restaurant will be right in front of Chow Kit Station. It was open at 1am!
The staff was very friendly, they didn't speak English very well but they helped me a lot using the English menu and gestures.
Compared to other Pakistani restaurants around, the chicken tikka was smaller but for one person this is a really good size.
Unbelievably tender and juicy!!
I also had beans curry and Alo Nan, which has potatoes in the naan.
The plain, garlic, and cheese naan is usually exceptional with it's smooth but dense texture, and stickiness I would say. The opposite of dryness.
So how it becomes a little dry for having the potato wasn't really exciting for me.
plain paratha or chapati, nan will cost about half, so I'll be happy with it more :)
What I ate and the cost:
- chicken tikka：10RM（2.5USD）
- Alo naan：5RM（1.25 USD）
- beans curry：5RM（1.25USD）
- lassi：5RM（1.25USD）
Total：25RM（6.25USD）
2. Homemade Pan Mee & Yong Tau Foo
I stayed in an Airbnb for the Chow Kit stay, and this pan mee shop was next to the Airbnb house!
The noodles are homemade, which is now a very rare thing in Japan.
But in KL, I see so many shops making their own mee, noodles.
You will have a choice of soup or dry. I prefer the dry.
The ikan or small fish on top is really flavorful and adds a crispy texture to the dish and deeper flavor.
In Japan, we have yakisoba noodles that are close to the dry pan mee. I like pan mee better as the noodles are chewy, and you will have a small soup, too.
3. Tian Ya Ker Pan Mee
Reading the reviews, this seems to be the mother's taste for the Chow Kit locals.
The auntie is making the dough of the mee, also cutting it up to be cooked.
In Singapore, I was so surprised when my friend's mom cooked mushroom soup. So many mushrooms inside! And this pan mee shop reminded me of that.
A lot of the dishes in Malaysia have a strong taste, while this comes to you very gently.
But it has the mushroom umami given off to the soup:)
I realized many individual shops in Malaysia will be selling only 1 drink, and it was the cincao drink here.
It doesn't look tasty as it looks like worms, but the grass jelly is healthy! And the texture is actually a unique jelly and I liked it. Close to our konnyaku in Japan.
What I ate and the cost:
- Pan Mee+egg+cincao 10RM（2.5USD）
4. cendol durian
Malaysians love cendol! Which is shredded ice with syrup.
Not just Malaysians but people in Southeast Asia like it, as it's very hot out.
I'm not a sweets fan but many locals talk about it, and it was still durian season so I gave it a try!
Durian is the light yellow on the left, and the jam looking orange paste is durian paste.
The durian has a strong and rich fruity taste as if it was aged in strong vodka.
I can't take the smell but the taste is very different, and now I know why people are so crazy about the fruit. I think if I keep eating it occasionally I will get addicted, too.
What I ate and the cost:
cendol durian: 20RM（5USD）
＊This shop is not on Google Maps. If you walk around the wet market, you will see cendol shops, and you need to ask around if they have durian ones. It was the third cendol shop I asked that finally had the durian ones, as it was already towards the end of the season!
5. RSMY
As the sign already saids, this restaurant is famous for its naan.
The cheese naan was very tasty. When it came the nice buttery aroma was something I will never forget from this restaurant.
I had the beef curry to go with the naan, but I feel that the daging or beef is smelly, whereas the Ayam or chicken in Malaysia is chewy and has a clean taste.
I believe it was the same price so I should have ordered the chicken curry. Or try the kambing lamb.
I loved the friendliness of this restaurant, too! :)
What I ate and the cost:
- cheese naan:10RM(2.5USD)
- beef keema: 12RM(3USD)
- mango lassi: 8RM(2USD)
合計：30RM（7.5USD）
Where I stayed at Chow Kit
Chow kit Airbnb
This time the room was 60RM/night（15 USD）The hosts are very nice living in the same house. They were saying a lot of Japanese stays here!!
Just 5 minute's walk from Pwtc station and 7~8 minute walk from Chow Kit Station, it was in a residential area that is nice and quiet, but close to the downtown of the area.
Here is the Link for the listing.
I loved Chow Kit!!
Chow Ki is just 20 minutes to walk from where the icon of KL, Petronas Twin Tower is at KLCC. In between KLCC and Chow Kit, half will be the wet market so you can stroll along the market to reach Chow Kit.
I've actually worked in KL for 6 months and lived in the Maluri area, so found Chow Kit to be slightly expensive to stay in. However, the cost performance of the street food will definitely be an amazing experience for you.
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In this blog, I post my food trips worldwide, as insights into Japanese food in comparison to all the different cuisines I encounter through my journey. I also try to share information from Japan that fills our hearts or might help us think about how to better the world!
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