The Many Flavors of Kuala Lumpur - Sensations For The Palate

South East Asia is the place where East meets West, and this is definitely true when we look into culinary affairs. All cultures unite in kitchens around this region. For all means we can place Kuala Lumpur In the center of this dining universe.

Whether one is looking for cheap and inexpensive dishes or in search of fine dining adventures, Kuala Lumpur offers the best of all worlds. Prices are reasonable for the quality and services offered. Tips are not expected.

Malaysia’s Food Obsession

Malaysia is truly obsessed with food, it is a food culture and the whole nation evolves around food. In this country one will never go hungry and the variety offered is enormous.

Malaysians love to eat outside, either in well air-conditioned restaurants, mamak stalls, food courts or road side hawkers.

Lets look at the basics first, most Malaysians love to feed themselves on a high carbo based breakfast, which are mostly taken between 8.00 am and 10.00 am. Most favorite dishes are; nasi lemak which is a form of sticky rice with mild to hot sambal, roti Chennai little fluffy pancakes eaten with a curry or Mee Goreng which is a noodle dish. Most people arrive first at work and then go for their breakfast.

Lunch is taken at 1.00 pm, the moment the whole nation goes for lunch, we advise to avoid this time for lunch, unless one loves crowds and waiting in line. Nasi Champur (rice with mixed dishes) is definitely a most favorable dish.

High tea and a coffee break at 4pm, is part of the working day routine. Most people will consume their beloved Kuih, a variety of sweet or deep fried snacks and wash it down with a Tea-O or Kopi the local variety of milky tea or coffee.

For dinner there is no set time, and Malaysians love supper, a last meal of the day around midnight shared with friends preferable at a local coffee shop

Food Paradise Jalan Alor

When talking about food in Kuala Lumpur the first thing that comes to mind is Jalan Alor. Jalan Alor is a bustling side street of Jalan Bukit Bintang during the day, but a 400 meter long stretch of outdoor food festival during the night. A wide array of local and international dishes can be found here; sitting at plastic tables and chairs does not sound very romantic but is an absolute must to have done once in a lifetime. It’s an exciting street with lots of activity and sublime mouth watering bites.

China Town and Petaling Street

Petaling street food paradise is smaller in scale than Jalan Alor but definitely worth a visit, a semi open air food paradise with savory delights from all regions of Mainland China.

Kuala Lumpur Restaurants

Kuala Lumpur has one of the finest arrangements of restaurants to be found anywhere. All countries and cooking styles from around the globe can be found in the heart of K.L. The Middle Eastern influence can be felt, as Malaysia is becoming a more popular travel destination for this region. Culinary food establishments are spread out all over the Golden Triangle, but the main concentrations can be found at

Starhill Gallery – The cluster of restaurants in the basements breaths a welcoming atmosphere once decending down the escalator. Up class dining in a candle light ambiance with soft live jazz music in the back ground, a great place to unwind the day.

Pavilion Shopping Complex – More than fifty high end and mid class restaurants can be found at The Pavilion. The up class food court in the basement is a real treat. The Pavilion is a true paradise for the palate, and a fabulous venue to start the day or evening.

KLCC Suria – On all floors of this immense mall in between the Petronas towers, nourishment for the inner body can be found, a wide range from fast food and budget restaurants to seriously chic establishments can be found here. A visit to the food courts are good value for money.

Berjaya Times Square – In this ten floor shopping arena, restaurants can be found on all floors, the main food court is at the tenth floor, and the main restaurant area at the second and third floor surrounding the entrance of the indoor theme park. Time Square for long and timeless dining.

All 5 star Kuala Lumpur hotels offer multiple fine dining and lunch accommodations which are available to non resident visitors.

Fast Food in Malaysia

All the world renowned fast food brands are found on any corner in the city and on every floor of every mall. Malaysia loves fast food. And the wide variety of chains and franchises are here to tickle the fast food taste buds and truly will not disappoint you.

Outside of Kuala Lumpur fine dining can be found in areas like Ampang, Bangsar, Sri Hartamas, Damansara Utama and Bandar Sunway.

Travel Guide to Nightlife at Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia

This travel guide will show you some of the hotspots in and around Kuala Lumpur’s main city center. Bukit Bintang and Changkat Bukit bintang form part of the Malaysian top party scene.

Kuala Lumpur Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur a modern metropolitan city in Asia offers an abundance of nightlife. We will restrict ourselves to the core of the Bukit Bintang, center of K.L.. Nightlife in Kuala Lumpur is in one word abundant. Good food, haute cuisine, lively music, dancing or just plain pubs and chill out lounges, it can all be found in the vibrant city center of Kuala Lumpur.

Bukit Bintang the area bordering the nearly two kilometer long jalan Bukit Bintang forms part of the vibrant heart of Kuala Lumpur. Let’s take a tour around the Bukit Bintang area at night time.

Changkat Raja Chulan

If you are looking for dinner and a great neighborhood to begin your party, Changkat is the place to be. Just off Jalan Bukit Bintang close to BB Plaza, Changkat Raja Chulan can be found; important landmark would be The Radius International Hotel cornering Changkat Bukit Bintang. It’s a great place to start your evening, the various clubs, bars and restaurants offer a variety of styles and niches. Both Western and Eastern styles can be found and prices are fair to moderate. The Middle Eastern countries start to have a huge influence on the gastronomic industry in this part of the city. Italian, Spanish, Japanese, German, Moroccan, Lebanese and plain old Fish and Chips to name a few can be found among the favorites in this area. Werner’s Porkielicious Elcerdo, Tapas at Pinchoa, Pizza at CioCio, Grill at Pampas, Indian Curries at Sutraa; your taste buds will not get bored while visiting The Changkat.

The clubs are also found in abundance and attract a large expatriate crowd as well as lots of holiday makers, business travelers and local party people. The Envie Pub, The Social and Finnegan’s Irish Pub supply the more contemporary public, It’s Twenty One where trendy sounds, can be heard. Gypsy Bar and The Green Man take you back to the seventies and eighties and Frangipani caters for gay community.

In short this little row of establishments is upgrading, expanding and attractive, it welcomes you Monday to Sunday from after work till late..

You do not have to leave this stretch to find yourself well In the middle of the night before the last club closes.

Jalan Bukit Bintang

When you leave Changkat Bukit Bintang and take a little stroll along Jalan Bukit Bintang in the far distance you can hear the sounds of drumming Latin beats, passing The Opera and Cligue, walking towards The Pavilion Shopping Mall turn right at and you find Q-Ba where hot and temperamental Latin beats make you move, if you want it or not. The large bar and small dance floor offer a great ambiance and hours of hip-shaking enjoyment.

At the Star Hill gallery, which is by far the most exclusive shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur, on the second floor at the entrance we find Star Hill Club M, which maintains its status of most exclusive club in the whole of K.L. When you exit and cross the road toward The Pavilion Shopping Mall, more fine dining and lounges can be found. La Bodega serves wine and tapas, Athena, offers a wide variety of Greek dishes, Michelangelo’s restaurant deli and bar provide Italian fine cuisine, at Carlos Mexican Cantina you can indulge in Mexican styled platters.

Pavilion Shopping Mall also hosts one of the largest cinema’s in town.

Just outside the mall the 6 star Grand Millenium Hotel is located, within it’s premises the Bistro 160 and Pulse Ultra Club can be found.

Outside of the city center there are many areas, where the same quality of nightlife can be found, KLCC, Ampang, Bangsar, Sri Hartamas, Sunway Pyramid just to name a few.

Kuala Lumpur, not a wild party scene, but a relaxing fine, sophisticated and safe party city.

Travel Guide to Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, Backpacking & Cheap Hotels

Malaysia’s currency the Ringgit Malaysia for short RM is worth five times more than your Euro, and six times more than your British pound and three and half times the US Dollar. Malaysia offers the opportunity to live on a couple of Dollars a day.

The city can be a bit confusing at times, because of some hills and small mountains in the city center. Kuala Lumpur maps are available from any convenient store.

Inexpensive and Safe Backpackers Country

Food and travel are seriously inexpensive as long as one stays away form the Star B’s, Mac D’s and KayeFCee’s. Malaysia is a true Walhalla for backpackers hiking around the globe, relatively undiscovered and foremost safe. One of the best features of this country is that people leave each other alone. No hassling in the tourist area’s but friendly people who will make time for you for a courteous chat, helpful in directions or with navigating you around the Muddy City. Kuala Lumpur owes its nickname to the valley where the river Klang and Gombak created their muddy shores, it’s a modern well paved capital now.

Areas to Stay as a Backpacker in Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur offers a wide area of hotels. Where to stay as a backpacker? There are three main areas where cheap hotels, lodges and guest houses can be found, Chow Kit, China Town and Bukit Bintang. Some backpackers hostels and guest houses are found in China Town, but the majority is located in Tingkat Tong Shin and at the end of Jalan Bukit Bintang cornering with Jalan Pudu.

Tingkat Tong Shin is packed with guest house after guest house, and the atmosphere is friendly and relaxed, many nationalities find a safe haven here. Guest houses will make you feel welcome, most offer internet facilities, a locker and breakfast. But breakfasts can be found all around the area, in easy accessible open restaurants or street food stalls offering local delicacies.

Places to Eat in The City Center

Parallel with Tingkat Tong Shin, Jalan Alor which is a local food paradise stretches over 700 meters. The empty street during the day turns into a hustling and bustling open air food festival in the evenings. Local hawkers offer a wide variety of fresh catch. Choices range from Chinese, Malay, Indian or Thai cuisine it all can be found here. The large variety of fresh seafood delicacies is an amazing and tongue inducing temptation. Most restaurants offer a photo album; only an index finger is needed to point out the different dishes. Always ask portion size for one person, and order a variety of dishes. This will definitely offer a colorful variety of tastes and smells. When ordering fish, request a price first, a guest might end-up paying premium prices for average fish. Prices here are cheap for the quality of food offered.

Traveling In And Out of Kuala Lumpur

Backpacking from the Bukit Bintang and China Town area makes traveling easy. Everything is offered in walking distance. The main bus station Puduraya station can be found at Jalan Pudu and lays in between Jalan Bukit Bintang and China Town. Busses will travel anywhere on the Malaysian Peninsular, busses to Singapore leave every 15 minutes, and comfortable luxury sleepers are available for all corners of the country. Chow Kit is a little further from the city center, but easy to reach as there is a Mono Rail station in the heart of Chow Kit. Chow Kit is a great place to pick up some bargains and deals.

Backpacking and hiking in Kuala Lumpur is safe, fun and easy and above all extremely cheap.

Travel Guide for Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, Public Transport

This guide helps the traveler with the next step when arriving in Malaysia's KLIA or LCCT Airport; explaining tourists about the transport options.

When visiting Kuala Lumpur for the first time, traffic might feel chaotic at first, however a traveler will soon feel at home and get a good feel for Kuala Lumpur’s transportation systems.

Kuala Lumpur offers many alternative transport options. Bus, monorail, train and taxi are all fast and safe. Traveling this way also gives more pleasure, enjoyment and the best views of this magnificent city.

Kuala Lumpur by Air

Most people will travel to Malaysia by air, either arriving at KLIA (Kuala Lumpur International Airport), LCCT (Low Cost Carrier Terminal) both located 60 kilometers South of the city center or Subang Airport (Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport) 20 kilometers West of the city center.

From KLIA and LCCT there is a variety of transport options to make it to the city, busses, taxis and the KLIA Express; all take less than one hour to Kuala Lumpur City and the major Kuala Lumpur hotels. From Subang Airport the only option is by road, taxi is the fastest means of transportation and takes about 30 minutes to the booming heart of KL.

Busses Crowded But Fun to Do

Busses are a great way to travel, crowded but cheap in the city center. RM1 or RM2 bus ticket lasts all day. When traveling outside of Kuala Lumpur the bus is the best option. Inexpensive transport travels to any destination within the Peninsular. Buses leave from various bus stations in the city; KL Main Bus station Puduraya at Jalan Pudu, Putra Bus Terminal at Jalan Putra, Duta Bus Terminal at Jalan Duta and Pekeliling Bus Terminal near Titiwangsa. Most operators offer standard or luxury options. With the local bus operators any destination can be reached, Genting, Penang, Melaka, Johor Bahru, Langkawi, Kuala Terengganu, Kota Bahru and all other major cities including Singapore.

Driving a Car in Kuala Lumpur

Driving in KL can be disorientating as highways are not built like other major cities. Road users apply their own set of rules, drive carefully is the best advice. Major car rental dealer can be found at all airports.

Kuala Lumpur’s Unique Monorail System

KL Monorail is a perfect intra-city public transit system. KL Monorail operates from KL Sentral to Titiwangsa over a distance of nearly 9 kilometers. With its 11 stations stopping at major destinations in the city it is the most ideal form of transport. Over rush hour it might be a bit crowded.

Motorbike Not an Ideal Way of Transport

Thousands and thousands of small motorbikes swarm the city. Unless there is no other option renting a motorbike within the city is possible. Owners of cars have no respect for motorbikes.

Taxi Come In Many Colors And Sizes

Yellow cabs, abundant and relatively cheap can be found everywhere in Kuala Lumpur. Two main systems exist, vouchers and general pick-up. Vouchers can be bought at major taxi stands around the city. There is a set price from point of departure to any destination. Taxis should use the meter which should start at RM3 (US$0.90). When a taxi does not drive on the meter, find another one; or agree on a price. After midnight there are no rules.

Local Trains

This is where KL traffic really gets interesting. Five different train companies operate within the Klang Valley. They do not always inter-connect at the same location; hopping from one train to the next might take as much as a 500 meter walk. Monorail, Putra, Star, KLIA express, Komuter KTM are all reliable services and a great means of transport, cheap and pretty efficient.

National Trains Services

KL Sentral train station offers trains to serve the south all the way to Singapore, and the north to Kedah and Kelantan even crossing into Thailand and on to Bangkok. Trains are a magical means of transport; a variety of landscapes passes by while the traveler sits back and relaxes.

Walking The Streets of Kuala Lumpur

Car drivers, taxis, motorbikes and busses offer no respect to pedestrians, our best tip can only be, be careful and stay on the pavement.

Traffic Jams Bring Mayhem to The City

Kuala Lumpur is notorious for its early morning and after work traffic jams, try to avoid these hours as a tourist.

Road Signage Not Clear and Bold

Signage in Malaysia is not always as one may expect, Asian street signs have often no hard rules, bold and clear directions are hard to get. Owning a map is a must for every tourist. Not all signage is in English.

Traveling in Malaysia can be a small adventure. But traveling in and around Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia is a true pleasure.

Religious Architecture Around Kuala Lumpur Malaysia

Malaysia a culture build on religion, and a show case for other nations as religions live here in abundance next to each other.

Kuala Lumpur the fast beating heart of the Malaysia Peninsular and offers a wide variety of religious sites to be visited. Historical site seeing or religious architecture, art galleries and museums, KL, as the locals will refer to it, will tickle your senses.

Since the different nationalities and ethnic minorities descended on Kuala Lumpur since the 1800’s they brought diverse cultures and religions, Malaysia welcomed them with open arms, and let outsiders express themselves in relative freedom.

The Islamic Architecture in Kuala Lumpur

The Islam is the official religion of the country, and that needs to be respected, as politics and religion are not separated in this country. Religion plays a very important part of the daily life in Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur in particular. Be aware of the local rules and regulations, shoes are not allowed inside most mosques and temples. Travelers can freely visit any house of worship; people will be inviting, friendly and ready to explain any questions.

Many Islamic architectural sites are found all around the city; sightseers are welcomed to visit any mosque. Muslims are welcoming and feel proud to show you their house of wisdom and peace. When visiting any mosque you will feel the serenity and stillness, the huge wide open spaces provide for ample free flowing breezes, which create a perfect atmosphere. The mosques provide more to the community than only a house for prayers and worship. Visiting the Friday early afternoon prayers can be quite a spectacle. The national mosque and Jamek mosque close to Merdeka Square are definitely must visit sites while in Kuala Lumpur. People flock from all over the city to participate in one of Islamic pillars, Friday prayer (Solat Jumaat). At the Jamek Mosque it can be so crowded that people find a little space outside the mosque to lay their prayer mats and perform their Solat.

Merdeka Square is the ideal starting point to find your way around the city and visit the many Moorish styled buildings, But KL offers more, and the other ethnic groups brought fantastic architecture too.

Buddhist and Taoist Temples in Kuala Lumpur

The Chinese community is almost half of the Malaysian population and many larger and smaller temples can be found scattered about the city. The Chinese believes split in two main streams Taoism and Buddhism. The Taoist temples and Buddhist temples are very much alike. Most temples will have large festivals throughout the year, which are spectacular to view, information and times can be obtained from the temple complex. The Sin Sze Sin Ya Temple is in walking distance from Merdeka Square close to China town at Jalan Tun H.S. Lee.

Hindi Temples in Kuala Lumpur

The large Indian community brought along their colorful Hindu temples. Places of worship, where prayers inside and outside the temples can be heard all day long. Main attraction would be the largest temple complex in the KL area Batu Caves 15 kilometers north of the city centre.

Christian Churches in kuala Lumpur

Christianity is a large religion in Malaysia too. A large part of the Chinese community are Christians and many foreign workers are too A wide variety of churches can be found all over the city. Some newly build, and some newly restored. Cathedral of St John close to Bukit Nanas is worth recommending.

No matter which religion one practices, any temple, mosque or church will invite you with open arms in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.