There’s no place like home. More importantly, there’s no cuisine quite like the food we have at home. No matter how far we travel, we will always yearn for some rendang, nasi lemak, daging masak lemak cili api, and the rest of the scrumptious food we grew up with. Malaysian cuisine is world-famous for a reason! Although we trust that you can make most of your favourite Malay dishes at home, why not indulge at some of the best restaurants for modern Malay cuisines in the Klang Valley? Sure, they can’t beat your mom’s cooking, but we bet these amazing eateries will come pretty close.
The Best Restaurants For Modern Malay Cuisines in Klang Valley
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1. Kitchen by OpenHouse
If you can’t tell by the name, Kitchen by OpenHouse is an ode to Malaysia’s culture of hosting family and friends (sometimes even strangers) to our homes to eat and drink, better known as an “open house”. At this modern Malay cuisine restaurant with outlets in Bangsar Shopping Centre and Kuala Lumpur International Airport, customers can attend an open house every day! Feast on delicacies like Masak Lemak Beef Salai, Udang Salut Keledek, Grilled Neraka Tiger Prawns, and so much more. There’s also a variety of sharing platters and dishes to choose from in true open house fashion.
For more information or to make a booking, click here.
| Address | Kitchen by OpenHouse BSC: G9A Bangsar Shopping Centre, Jalan Maarof, 59000 Kuala Lumpur Kitchen by OpenHouse KLIA T1: Departure Level, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, 64000 Sepang, Selangor |
| Operating Hours | Kitchen by OpenHouse BSC: Sunday to Thursday (10:00am – 10:30pm) Friday to Saturday (10:00am – 11:00pm) Kitchen by OpenHouse KLIA T1: Opens daily (8:00am – 10:00pm) |
| Contact Details | +603 2011 8988 |
2. Bijan
The Malay word “bijan” means sesame in English, but this modern Malay restaurant located close to the KLCC Twin Towers serves way more than just that. Having been around since 2003, Bijan Bar & Restaurant is the ultimate destination for fine Malay cuisine. Here, you can find traditional village food from Ayam Masak Merah and Kerabu Mangga to more extravagant fare like Kambing Berempah Sambal Dendeng and Sotong Hitam Manis. Bijan also offers traditional desserts with a twist, including Durian Cheesecake and Pandan Pudding. If you partake in alcohol, have you ever paired fine wines and craft cocktails with Malay food before? At Bijan, here’s your chance to experience it for the first time.
For more information or to make a booking, click here.
| Address | No.3, Jalan Ceylon, Bukit Ceylon, 50200 Kuala Lumpur |
| Operating Hours | Opens daily (4:30pm to 11:00pm) |
| Contact Details | +603 2031 3575 |
3. De.Wan 1958
Malaysia’s most beloved celebrity chef, Datuk Dr. Redzuawan bin Ismail, better known as Chef Wan, is the mastermind behind De.Wan 1958. This outstanding restaurant that spotlights Malaysian cuisine on the world stage has been named on The Michelin Guide’s Bib Gourmand list for two years in a row, in 2023 and 2024. Given De.Wan’s many accolades and awards, you know you’re in for a wild ride when ordering one of their many tantalising dishes, like their recommended Steamed Nyonya Style Fish, Ayam Kapitan, and Kambing Kurma. The best part about this restaurant is that the main dishes are made to be shared, so we definitely recommend dining here with your friends and family.
For more information or to make a booking, click here.
| Address | De.Wan 1958 by Chef Wan Kuala Lumpur: The Linc KL, Lot 2 – 2, Level 2, No.360, Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur De.Wan 1958 by Chef Wan Bangsar Shopping Centre: F1 & F6, Level 1, Bangsar Shopping Centre, 285, Jalan Maarof, Bangsar, 59000 Kuala Lumpur De.Wan 1958 by Chef Wan Bangi: Bangi Resort Hotel, Off Persiaran Bandar, Bangi Golf Club, 43650 Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor |
| Operating Hours | Opens daily (11:00am to 3.30pm, 6:00pm to 9:30pm) |
| Contact Details | +603 2935 9375 |
4. Hot Pindang Kitchen
Hot Pindang Kitchen is a popular authentic Malay cuisine restaurant located in Shah Alam. This eatery is beloved by locals for its affordable prices — who said you’d have to spend an arm and a leg to taste elevated Malaysian cuisine in the Klang Valley? Imagine getting to feast on the Udang Galah Tempoyak depicted above for just a little over RM50, what a dream come true. At Hot Pindang Kitchen, it’s no longer a dream but a reality, so head over to Shah Alam and order one of their popular Dulang Kampung that feeds two to three people. Choose between fish, beef, or tiger prawns cooked the Malay way.
For more information or to make a booking, click here.
| Address | No. 13, Jalan Cheong Sam 10/11, Seksyen 10, 40000 Shah Alam, Selangor |
| Operating Hours | Opens daily (11:00am – 10:00pm) |
| Contact Details | +603 5523 1259 |
5. Sudu House
The word “sudu” means spoon in English — as in, get ready to be very familiar with your spoons when dining at Sudu House. Or chuck your spoons away altogether as Malays eat with their hands, but we digress. Sudu House is nestled in a bungalow at Kuala Lumpur’s Kampung Berembang for that extra dose of authentic atmosphere while enjoying masterfully-made Malay cuisine. Known for their Johor food, the recipe for Asam Pedas Muo at Sudu House has been passed down from generation to generation, making it a definite must-try. Don’t get the hype? Numerous celebrities and public figures have visited Sudu House and had nothing but praise for their food, including actress Anna Jobling and prime minister Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri bin Yaakob.
For more information or to make a booking, click here.
| Address | 11, Jalan Ampang Ulu 3, Kampung Berembang, 55000 Kuala Lumpur |
| Operating Hours | Tuesday to Sunday (10:30am – 6:00pm) Closed on Mondays |
| Contact Details | +6017 346 2187 |
6. Dancing Fish
You are the dancing fish, young and sweet, only seventeen! Dancing Fish, a Malay-Indo restaurant operating since 2010 at Bangsar Shopping Centre, offers mouth-watering food from two diasporas fused together. Another award-winning entry on our list, amongst Dancing Fish’s many achievements, includes Bib Gourmand in The Michelin Guide 2023. If you’re planning on making a visit, it’s practically mandatory to try their Dancing Fish with Curry Keluak Octopus. Other popular dishes include Bebek Goreng Bali for all the duck lovers and Gulai Pucuk Paku. Don’t leave until you’ve had your fill of one of the best restaurants for modern Malay cuisines in the Klang Valley.
For more information or to make a booking, click here.
| Address | Lot T120 &121, 3rd Floor, Bangsar Shopping Centre, Jalan Maarof, 59000 Kuala Lumpur |
| Operating Hours | Opens daily (11:30am – 10:00pm) |
| Contact Details | +603 2011 2743 |
7. White & Black Kampong Heritage
Another celebrity-favourite modern Malay cuisine restaurant in the Klang Valley is White & Black Kampong Heritage. Their A-List customers include legendary Malaysian singer Dato’ Siti Nurhaliza and her husband, actor Aaron Aziz, and actress Heliza Helmi. With all this free marketing from the stars, good luck getting a table at White & Black Kampong Heritage! Even though it will be a little tough to make your reservations, this restaurant is more than worth it for their kampung-style menu and ambiance alone. The celebrity-favourite dishes are Siput Sedut Masak Lemak, Siakap Sambal Petai, and Daging Salai Masak Lemak. Ask the traditionally-garbed waiters for more recommendations and report back, we’d love to know what Dato’ Siti ate on her visit.
For more information or to make a booking, click here.
| Address | 5, Jalan Kamunting, Chow Kit, 50300 Kuala Lumpur |
| Operating Hours | Tuesday to Sunday (11:00am – 11:00pm) Closed on Mondays |
| Contact Details | +6011 2392 7127 |
Have you dined at any of these best restaurants for modern Malay cuisines in Klang Valley? Let us know and make sure to follow Glitz on Facebook and Instagram for all the latest updates.
