Kuala Lumpur Restaurants and Dining

CENTRAL

Check out the city’s central area, from Jalan Bukit Bintang to premier shopping center Suria KLCC to Jalan Sultan Ismail, for some of the city’s finest restaurants, cafes and famed local delicacies.

Frangipani Restaurant & Bar
[25 Changkat Bukit Bintang, 2144-3001] Still one of the hottest places to dine at in KL, this Modern French restaurant is where KL’s trendiest set can be seen in-whether savouring exclusive French cuisine that’s beautifully prepared, or having a cocktail on the second floor, which also boasts an extremely plush interior. Prices are pretty reasonable too, considering that the setting here is pretty exquisite.

Madam Kwan’s
[4/F, Lot 420-421, Suria KLCC, 2026-2297]. A must-try if you are in KL, the always-packed Madam Kwan’s serves a variety of Chinese, Malay and Peranakan that will please even the most jaded foodies. Try the infectious basi bojari, fragrant rice served with chili prawn, beef and chicken drumstick, and steamed pomfret-one of the best we’ve had.

Marmalade
[IF-18, First Floor, Bangsar Village 11, No. 1, Jalan Telawi Dua, Bangsar Baru, 2282-8301] Marmalade boasts of a healthy menu of salads, sandwiches, stews and healthily prepared rice and pasta. Using fresh ingredients such as pine nuts, alfalfa sprouts and more, dine here if you are watching your diet. But you probably won’t be able to say no to Marmalade’s popular carrot cake with cream cheese topping, which is to die for.

Outback Steakhouse
[G112, BB Park Low Yat Plaza, Jalan 1/77, Off Jalan Bukit Bintang, 2144-9919; also at 1, Jalan Telawi 1, BangsarVillage, 2287-7850]. This popular American chain restaurant is a must if you’re a lover of ribs, steaks, seafood and other barbecued dishes. Guaranteed to get you drooling over its wide selection and fast yet amiable service, this is a great place for both families and professionals alike.

Shook!
[LG/F, Starhill Gallery, 181 Jalan Bukit Bintang, 2719-8535]. The menu selection is one of the biggest in KL-simply because it offers a smorgasbord of Japanese, Chinese, Western and Italian cuisine that you can mix and match with. We recommend the signature spiced rack of lamb, which is juicy and tender; and snow white dancing prawns, stir-fried prawns served with honey-glazed walnut.

The Olive Tree
[G-06 & G-07, Menara Hap Seng, Jatan P. Ramlee, 2031-7887J. This modern contemporary fine dining North Indian restaurant seats approximately 160 people, with a stage and dancefloor to boot. We especially like the place for its weekday buffet lunch, featuring an assortment of dishes, as well as a good selection of ala carte meals. And on Saturday evenings, take a walk on memory lane as you enjoy live Bollywood music courtesy of the house band.

HOTEL RESTAURANTS

Some of KL's finest and best restaurants are located inside the city's top hotels-like the opulent Chynna at the Hilton, and "Fhird Floor at JW Marriott. The food is exquisite and the setting is always relaxing and inviting.

Chynna
[5/F, Hilton Kuala Lumpur, 3 latan Stesen Sentral, 2264-2515]. Authentic, innovative Cantonese delicacies are served with a touch of Shanghai theatrics here. The decor is striking and eye-catching-flaming red walls coupled with an open dim sum kitchen and bar that invites one to partake in the quality and dramatic meals, including sauteed sliced beef tenderloin in Mongolian sauce, beautiful barbecued ribs and goose liver dumplings.

Third Floor
[3/F, JW Marriott, 183 Jalan Bukit Bintang, 2141-3363]. Who knew such an ultra-hip restaurant could exist within the confines of a hotel? The chef does marvelous French-Asian creations, which are served in the stylish, minimalist space.

To a Tea

There is always time for a bite in between all that shopping, especially during this period. If you want to get away from the afternoon heat, what. better way than to into a mouth-watering tea affair? Here are some of KL’s top-notch high tea havens:

The Carcosa Seri Negara
Treat yourself to a traditional farmhouse E.nglish afternoon tea. served at the hotel’s Drawing Room or shaded veranda. Rated the best of its kind in the country, you will an exquisite selection of fine teas, savouries, pastries and scones complete with clotted cream and jam. Served in a quiet and luxurious ambience of the colonial English era. Available from 3-6 pm; call 2295-0888 for reservations. Taman Tasik Perdana, Pesiaran Mahameru.

Concorde Hotel KL
The Melting Pot Cafe has an exciting high tea sPread with mouth-watering local, internation.al favourites. Watch chefs prepare dishes a la minute-making them tasty and fresh all the same. Noodle lovers can choose mee rebus, nyorwa laksa or Jpoh hor fun Hainanese chicken rice. Other sumptuous dishes you must not miss are Indian rojak, roti canai, stir-fried radish cake with belacan, popiah and the huge international selection of desserts. Available from 12.30-4pm every Sat-Sun; call 2144-2200 for reservations. 2 Jalan Sultan Ismail.

Crowne Plaza Mutiara KL
The Planters’lnn Restaurant offers a unigue Australian BBQ fare for its high tea featuring splendid seafood, meats, salads and desserts. Feast on smoked salmon platters, fresh oysters poached Tiger Prawns, prime cuts of Australian lamb and beef and much more. Available from 12-4pm every Sun; call 2146-3891 for reservations. Jalan Sultan Jsmail.

Shangri La Hotel KL
The hotel’s lobby Lounge presents its sig!)ature Malaysian Afternoon Tea and Classic Afternoon Tea. Guests yearning for the classic fare can feast on an ensemble of finger sandwiches, ‘French pastries, chicken with Pommery mustard, smoked salmon on. granary bread, chocolate strawberry mille-feuille, tiramisu and more. Those favouring herbs and spices can opt for the Malaysian Afternoon Tea featuring fresh turmeric infused chicken perchik, cucur udang with deep-fried tiger prawns, tandoori chicken wrap, crispy Punjabi samosa, traditional desserts with local drinks like cendol and teh tarik. Available from 2:30 to 6 pm; call 2074-3901 for reservations. 11 Jalan Sultan Ismail.