Being one of the most popular tourist destinations in KL, Petaling Street is the place where you can find almost anything, from shirts to souvenirs, shoes, bags, and food. Also known as Chinatown, it is unsurprising to find some of the best Chinese dishes being served here.
Having said that, finding the hidden gems with delicious food could be a difficult task, as there are uncountable eateries in the street. Today, we will be compiling a list of the great food at Petaling Street, so you would not miss them out the next time you’re there!
1. Kim Lian Kee Hokkien Mee
Kim Lian Kee bills itself as the birth place of Hokkien Mee in KL. Serving the well-known dish for more than 100 years, locals say that it is one of the best Hokkien Mee joints in the city. Although this restaurant’s menu is fairly extensive and includes typical Chinese dish, what really draws the crown is still the fat Hokkien mee noodles stir-fried and doused in delicious and thick soy sauce gravy that draws in the crowd. Trust Kim Liam Kee to serve you Hokkien Mee with the right amount of “wok hei” and plenty of fried pork lards!
Address: 56, Jalan Petaling, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Operating Hours: 11am – 10pm (Daily)
2. Kedai Kopi Lai Foong
A favourite local lunch spot, Kedai Kopi Kai Loong focuses on their lala noodles, which is one of their top seller. Their lala noodles dish is served in a bowl, which consists of rice vermicelli in superior clam soup with a dash of Shao Xing wine and ginger. Many would go purposely to have a taste of their lala noodles, so be prepared to wait up to 45 minutes on peak timing. Our advice? Go before 11am or after 3pm to avoid the crowd!
Address: 138, Jalan Tun H S Lee, City Centre, 50050 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Operating Hours: 6:30am – 8:30pm
3. Hon Kee
Having been around for more than 60 years, Hon Kee is famous for their smooth silky porridge. They offer a wide variety of porridge such as Pork Innards Porridge, Steamed Chicken Porridge, Century Egg Porridge, Frog Leg Porridge and many more. Their signature is the Raw Sliced Fish Porridge, where you dip the fish slices into the porridge and they will cook within a minute. Order a plate of yao char kuay to go with your porridge, as the both complement each other REALLY well.
Address: 93, Jalan Hang Lekir, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Operating Hours: 4am – 2:30pm
4. Koon Kee Wan Tan Mee
Well known for its Wan Tan Noodles served with BBQ pork, choy sum and wan tan, Koon Kee has been serving the staple dish to many generations of locals. Their noodles are thin and light with a springy texture, whereas the sweet BBQ glaze on the pork with the slight charred sides will make you want more with every bite. You can also opt for other toppings like chicken slices, roasted pork and braised chicken feet with mushroom. Pair them with the springy noodles and you’ll have one of the most unforgettable meal.
Address: 95, Jalan Hang Lekir, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Operating Hours: Sunday – Friday: 10am – 10pm ; Saturday: 10:30am – 10pm
*Closed on Tuesday
5. Hong Kee Claypot Chicken Rice
Located near KK mart at one end of Petaling Street, Hong Kee prepared claypot rice dishes that are made to order using charcoal fire. As each of the claypot rice is prepared and cooked individually using charcoal stoves, there will be crunchy bits of rice crusts at the bottom. Make sure you stir the rice and chicken properly for a balanced flavour, and to get a crunch of rice crust! Other than claypot chicken rice, they also serve Portuguese grilled fish, with flavourful sauce that bring it to a whole new level.
Address: 83, Jalan Sultan, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Operating Hours: Monday – Saturday: 4:30pm – 10pm
Sunday: 6pm – 10pm
*Closed on Wednesday
6. Madras Lane Yong Tau Foo
One of the busiest stalls you can find here in Petaling Street, you can find a wide selection of Yong Tau Foo to choose from, such as lady fingers, fried, dumplings, red chilli, fu cuk, fish balls and many more. You can choose to have your Yong Tau Foo boiled with soup or deep fried. Moreover, the ingredients are stuffed with flavourful fish paste that will not disappoint you at all. What’s worth mentioning is the taste of the soup, which was flavourful and more decent the most Yong Tau Foo broth. Be sure to give it a try!
Address: Madras Lane Yong Tau Foo, Lorong Bandar 20 ,Off Jalan Petaling, Kuala Lumpur
Operating Hours: Wednesday – Sunday: 11am – 3:30pm; Tuesday: Open 24 hours
*Closed on Monday
7. Ho Kow Hainan Kopitiam
Founded from a humble stall along Lorong Panggung, Ho Kow Kopitiam is one of the old names in the businesses in KL with over 60 years of history. Even though they have shifted to a brick and mortar shop, it still keeps it old school vintage flair. Here, you’re able to get all sorts of Hainanese food like kaya butter toast, soft boiled egg, curry mee, nasi lemak and so on. We would recommend their toasted bread slices, which are lathered in a delectably rich peanut-butter and smooth kaya.
Address: 1, Jalan Balai Polis, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Operating Hours: Tuesday – Sunday: 7:30am – 3pm
*Closed on Monday
8. Sweet Potato Balls
Having been selling sweet potato balls for nearly 30 years, these sweet potato balls are made fresh daily. They are first steamed and mashed, and then mixed with sugar and flour to form into balls before being fried until golden brown. With a nice crispy exterior encasing a warm and soft interior, these balls are to be eaten hot, accompanied by a steaming mug of coffee. Make sure to give it a try after appetizer, or even dessert!
Address: 21, 27Jalan Hang Lekir, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
Operating Hours: 8am – 4pm (Daily)
With this list of great food to eat at Petaling Street, you now know where to head to for a delicious meal the next time you’re there! However, if you find it a hassle to eat out, you can always order your meals via foodpanda and have them delivered to your doorstep.
Besides the good food in Petaling Street, you can also read on good food in Seri Kembangan and Kepong.