Kuala Lumpur is a fertile food haven that’s constantly spawning fresh eateries to sample, whether it’s a restaurant steeped in haute-cuisine, a hipster café trending on Instagram or a simple pop-up kiosk offering unbeatable grab-and-go fare. We’ve rounded up a few of the latest outlets making waves on the culinary radar so if you’re looking for new flavours, you’ve come to the right place!
Krung Thep
You don’t have to look far to find a Thai restaurant in KL, but you do have to put in some effort to find one that sticks out and offers something other than the ubiquitous pad thai or tom yam. Krung Thep takes a step away from the standard and serves up an authentic selection of regional specialities spanning north, northeast, central and southern Thailand.
Each of the flavour profiles of spicy, sweet, sour and salty are well represented in Chef Gug’s menu, from the Yum Tua Plu – a wing-bean salad with sea prawns, drenched in a sweet and sour coconut milk dressing – to the fiery Pad Ped Gai, a southern-styled dry curry with Ipoh kampung chicken, green peppercorns, wild ginger and holy basil.
The range of noodle dishes, some of which are only available during the day, are also exquisite and will do much to open your taste buds. Dine here and experience the culinary bliss of the Land of Smiles.
Krung Thep
WHERE Lot G05, Republik Damansara Heights, 1 Jalan Medan Setia 1, Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur
WHEN 11:30am-2.30pm, 5.30pm-10.30pm
TEL 03 7622 8760
krungthep.my
SPG By Bijan
From its playful name – SPG being an acronym for ‘sarong party girl’, a term referencing local women on the prowl for British officers during colonial times – to the novel and sometimes amusing items on the food and drinks menu, this new outlet on Jalan Ceylon puts its own fresh spin on Malaysian fare.
It sits right next to its sister Bijan and is divided between tapas bar, lounge and private room, each equally as cosy, colourful and inviting. Start with one of the many unique cocktails, like the Stinkini which pairs gin and vermouth with pickled petai (the infamous stink bean!) and then move to the innovative tapas like the Ah Ran Sini – a remixed nasi lemak in the form of deep-fried rice balls served with anchovy mayo.
The mains don’t disappoint with options like Sekinchan, where quinoa, tricolour rice, pulled chicken, Asian pesto, crispy chicken skin and rice crackers come together in harmony, or the flavour-packed Angus Oyster Blade.
SPG By Bijan
WHERE 3A, Jalan Ceylon, Bukit Ceylon, Kuala Lumpur
WHEN 12am-12pm
TEL 03 2022 3575
fb.com/SPG-by-Bijan
Vogue Lounge
Perched on the rooftop of Menara SuezCap in the trendy quarter of Bangsar South, Vogue Lounge promises food for the fashionable in a setting that befits the elite pedigree of the magazine it’s named after. Spread out over 18,500 sq ft, this elegant Condé Nast restaurant, lounge and rooftop bar boasts teardrop pendant lights, high ceilings, a catwalk-like floor where you can strike a pose or two, sleek accents, iconic Vogue covers and unobstructed panoramic views of the Klang Valley.
The cuisine matches the impeccable aesthetics and is the work of Chef Kazuhiko Kojima, who delicately blends Japanese and French culinary sensibilities for a fusion that is non plus ultra. Japanese wagyu carpaccio, Saiko misomarinated European black cod, Hokkadio sea urchin with consommé jelly, roasted French duck magret and the coveted Gargouillou created by Chef Michel Gras in the 1980s are some of the exquisite dishes that adorn the menu here.
A sommelier will help you choose a wine from the 800-bottle cellar or match your dish with one of the signature cocktails that rival the best you can find in downtown KL. For a night like no other, dress up like the crème de la crème and hit Vogue Lounge in the spirit of pure decadence.
Vogue Lounge
WHERE Level 38, Menara SuezCap 1, KL Gateway, Jalan Kerinchi, Bangsar South, Kuala Lumpur
WHEN 5pm-1am (Tue-Thur, Sun), 5pm-2am (Fri & Sat),
TEL 03 2771 1530
voguelounge.my
Wildflower
The bustling streets around Chinatown have recently seen a surge of new attractive eateries that are causing a stir, one of which is Wildflower. The brains behind this new venture also lay claim to one of KL’s most iconic café-restaurants, Merchants Lane (located around the corner from Wildflower), and are set to mirror their success with this new, fusion-focused space.
The first floor of this airy restaurant is flush with greenery and natural light that streams in from the translucent ceiling, making it ideal for photography. Meanwhile, the kitchen draws on global influences with local undertones so you have a diverse flavour profile with items like Assam Unagi Nori Sushi Rice, Sambal Red Wine Risotto, and Kimchi Pasta.
We highly recommend leaving space for dessert here, especially the Coconut Panna Cotta which is a study in contrasting flavours and textures; fresh berries, baked custard and Oreo-cookie base come together for a delicious dish. The other must-try is the Deconstructed Tiramisu, an irresistible combo of cream cheese, soju-dipped ladyfingers, chocolate tuile and Ipoh Old Town coffee jelly.
Wildflower
WHERE 153, Jalan Petaling, Kuala Lumpur
WHEN 12pm-10pm
TEL 03 2856 3369
fb.com/wildflowers.kl