Four days to eat in Kuala Lumpur

From street food to fine dining, you could spend several days eating your way through Kuala Lumpur’s dazzling food scene. And if you have a bit more time, it’s well worth it to savor this city. 

Yi Jun Loh offers an extended version of his one-day itinerary for those looking to spend a little more time in Malaysia’s capital sightseeing, shopping and eating all the street food possible

Hi, I’m Jun. I’ve been living and breathing food in Kuala Lumpur – the capital of my Malaysian motherland – for all of my 30 years. I write about Asian food for publications like Food52 and Saveur, run the Take a Bao podcast about food and routinely explore the nooks and crannies of my city – usually for the express purpose of eating good food. So I’m here to take you on a sensory explosion of a journey through my city.
 

Why you should visit Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia is renowned for its lush rainforests, sandy beaches and divine dive spots – yet its bustling capital of Kuala Lumpur, a confluence of culture, metropolitan modernity and glorious, glorious food, might allure most. From modern mosques to decades-old hawker centers (Malaysian-Chinese food halls where many independent food carts gather), quaint museums to skyscraping architecture, nasi lemak to banana-leaf rice, the city is wildly, proudly multicultural, drawing from the best facets and flavors of disparate cultures, then blending them together into a stunning, lip-smacking city unlike any other.

Start with Kuala Lumpur’s key sights – and irresistible street eats
 

Start your day in one of the many hearts of Kuala Lumpur, Petaling St. Go bright and early for a classic Malaysian kopitiam breakfast of kaya toast (two thin pieces of toast with a thick smear of coconut jam and chunks of cold butter), half-boiled eggs and coffee at Ho Kow Hainan Kopitiam. Once you’re fully fueled, explore the surrounding Chinatown and Masjid Jamek area, a historical melting-pot area of the city where the Malay, Chinese and Indian communities coalesce, and where mosques, churches and Hindu and Chinese temples stand within close proximity to one other. Be sure to peek into Kwai Chai Hong (Little Ghost Ln), taking photos with the Chinatown-themed murals and decor there, followed by a lick of pandan (Asian vanilla) soft serve from Pandan Republic. Next, walk toward Central Market and through its stalls selling snacks, traditional Malaysian batik and artsy paraphernalia. Pass through the market to…