- Restoran Yu Ai, Seafood Noodles @ Jalan Segambut Utara, Segambut, Kuala Lumpur Yu Ai's tawny curry is deep and complex, with layers of warm spices like cinammon and cloves and ground coriander, a hint of sweetness from the coconut milk, and a hit of chili that sneaks up from the back of your tongue after about the fifth spoonful.
- New Lay Sin Coffee Shop, Banana Leaf Rice @ Jalan Tun Sambanthan, Kuala Lumpur Rice, curries, and side dishes are "plated" on a large piece of banana leaf.
- Restoran Seng Lee, Char Kuay Teow @ Jalan Batai, Damansara Heights, Kuala Lumpur The coffee shop was packed out and at least one customer at every table (and quite often the entire table) was waiting for a plate of Wang's workmanship. The backlog was about 40 minutes. It is behind Hock Lee Supermarket.
- Ah Koong Eating House @ Jalan Changkat Thambi Dollah, Kuala Lumpur Ah Koong specializes in things fishy.
The fish porridge is a wonderful, soul-satisfying dish, the simplest of elements (rice, water or broth, and a few other ingredients) elevated to heavenly heights.
The fish cake is very tasty and springy.
- Nam Chuan Coffee Shop @ Lucky Garden, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur The Sarawak laksa served here is a family recipe, and that many of her ingredients are flown in from Sarawak.
I believe this laksa is the coconut-less variety, but what make it special is the flavour which is fragrant yet isn't too hot. The garnishing done by this Aunty is truly special, 'hotel quality'
- Padi Prada @ Kota Kemuning, Shah Alam, Selangor Padi Prada's is home style fare. Key ingredients, like spice mixes, betel leaf, kuay teow, and bean curd skin, are flown in from Penang.
- Chun Heong Coffee Shop, Meatball Noodles @ Lucky Garden, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur Satisfyingly slippery noodles topped with green and white scallion slices, nubbins of chewy, crispy pork and a couple of thick slices of succulent, mildly spiced Chinese sausage.
- New Restaurant Ipoh Chicken Rice, Ipoh Chicken Rice @ Jalan 10/1, Petaling Jaya, Selangor Hainan chicken ricce ipoh-style.
The bean sprouts are a bit blanched but not limp, crispy but not snappish enough to shower your shirt with soy goo en route to your mouth. Topped with shreds of scallion, Chinese celery, and a smidge of fresh chili, they're utterly delicious.
- Ampang Food House, Fish Head Meehoon @ Plaza Ampang, Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur A bowl brimming over with deep-fried chunks of fish head, beehoon (thin rice noodles), pieces of tomato, soft tofu, and tender napa cabbage, all in a subtle fish (and pork?) broth flavored with spring onion, thick slices of ginger, and deep-fried shallots, and mellowed with milk. A saucer of fresh chili slices was served on the side.
- Restoran Kin Kin, Chilli Pan Mee @ Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, Chow Kit, Kuala Lumpur A mound of thick round noodles topped with ikan bilis, chopped scallion, a wee bit of table sugar, pork sliced and chopped, and tiny cubes of cracklin', all crowned by a snow-white poached egg. After adding heaped spoonfuls of the la jiao that makes its way from table to table in a plastic tub, we dug in.
Kin Kin's pan mee delivers on its promise -- ultra chewy noodles and a la jiao light on oil and heavy on slow-roasted chili flavor that elicits a sharp tingle, rather than the sort of tongue-searing burn that might overpower the dish's other tasty ingredients.
- New Lay Sin coffee shop, Pork Mee @ Jalan Tun Sambanthan, Kuala Lumpur This pork mee (pork noodle) vendor occupies the front right corner of a Brickields coffee shop. A number of noodle types are on offer, both rice (kuayteow, loh see fun, bee hoon) and wheat (mee and mee sua). Noodles can be had in soup or konlo (dry-mixed), and egg is optional.
Piled atop a gently poached egg and swathed in dark soy and oil-fried garlic, they were accompanied by a tiny saucer of fresh chilies in soy sauce and a small bowl of soup.
- Restoran Ulu Yam, Lam Mee @ Bandar Sri Menjalara, Kepong, Kuala Lumpur A steaming hot concoction of thick yellow noodles and Chinese greens in a thickish (but not gloppy) fish-based gravy flecked with silky threads of egg.
- Hakka Pork Mee Stall @ Jalan Pudu, Kuala Lumpur Lard, of course, is the key, but it's more than fat that draws the crowds to this spot (we drove by at 8am on a Sunday - packed. We returned to eat three hours later - packed).
- Kedai Makanan May King, Lum mee @ Jalan Yew, Kuala Lumpur Cool, relatively quiet, and squeaky-clean respite from the exhaust and grime outside.
However, one of the things that you will have to put up with when you dine here during lunch time is the free smells that comes from the market nearby. Free smells is a euphemism for stink. The area stinks and the shop being air-conditioned gets some of these smells trapped inside the store.
- Restoran Yong Len, Prawn mee @ Taman Tun Dr. Ismail, Kuala Lumpur A veritable hotbed of prawny activity.
- Fun Taipei Teacafe @ Jalan Pudu, Kuala Lumpur The interior is reminscent of Taiwanese style xiaochi (small eat, 小吃): cute and spare, with a tile floor, white walls, and a tiny 'reading corner' featuring bookshelves laden with Taiwanese magazines and books.
- Restoran Argyle @ Jalan Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur A bustling coffee shop.
- Hong Ngek Restaurant @ Jalan Tun H.S. Lee, Kuala Lumpur Hokkien restaurant that's been in the same family, at the same spot, for over seventy years.
- Bakti Woodlands Vegetarian Food Cafe @ Leboh Ampang, Kuala Lumpur Tamil Nadu Vegetarian cuisine.
- Bubur Sumsum @ Jalan Raja Alang, Kuala Lumpur Bubur sumsum a masterpiece of minimalism consisting of just two ingredients (three, if you count water): rice and palm sugar.
- Pecel Jawa Stall @ Pasar Malam Jalan TAR, Jalan TAR, Kuala Lumpur Indonesian food such as pecel jawa (a wonderful (and healthy!) 'salad' of cooked and raw vegetables eaten with a sweet-savory peanut sauce)
- Restoran Sin Kok Thye, Mee mamak @ Jalan Kem, Port Klang, Selangor Old-style chinse restaurant, good for noonday meal at Port Klang.
- Laksa Assam Stall @ Pasar Malam Jalan TAR, Jalan TAR, Kuala Lumpur Penang-style assam laksa and noodle. Stall with table (if no rain).