Kuala Lumpur guide · Where to eat
Places to eat in Kuala Lumpur, with what to order and how comfortable each is for families and older travellers.
Updated
Malaysian food is not vegetarian by default. Nasi lemak is usually served with anchovies and egg, many laksas and noodle soups use shrimp paste or fish stock, and Chinese-run hawker stalls often cook everything in shared woks. Halal is the norm in Malay and Indian-Muslim places, but halal only rules out pork and certain ingredients, so it does not mean vegetarian. Strict Indian vegetarians and Jains should not rely on asking for 'no meat' alone.
The dependable options are Indian vegetarian restaurants in Brickfields and Central Market, and dedicated Chinese-Buddhist or vegan restaurants. We verified The Ganga, which calls itself a pure vegetarian Gujarati kitchen and says it serves Jain food, Annalakshmi and Mr Naan & Mrs Idly (both described as Indian vegetarian), and three fully plant-based restaurants: The Hungry Tapir, Savor and Towzen. Blue Boy offers vegan dishes within a vegetarian food court. For Jain travellers, we found no restaurant that is confirmed as fully Jain, so phone ahead and ask about onion, garlic and root vegetables. Opening days change, so confirm before you go.
A banana-leaf meal in Brickfields is a good lunch, but many such places also serve meat and fish curries on the same counter, so look for a vegetarian restaurant instead. Drink bottled or filtered water; ice in restaurants is normally made from treated water.
Menus and kitchens change. If you follow a strict diet or have an allergy, confirm with the restaurant before you order.
116 Jalan Berhala, Brickfields
A vegetarian Indian restaurant in Brickfields, on the ground floor of the Temple of Fine Arts building, founded in 1984 and known for its buffet meals and Friday onion- and garlic-free menu.
6011-C Jalan Tong Shin, Bukit Bintang
A vegetarian food court in Bukit Bintang serving Malaysian noodles and rice dishes, with a clearly marked set of vegan dishes.
Jalan Tun Sambanthan, opposite Nu Sentral, Brickfields
A vegetarian Indian restaurant opposite Nu Sentral in Brickfields that opened in 2023, with separate stations for Indian, Indo-Chinese, South Indian and tandoor cooking and a four-page vegan menu.
Jalan Thamboosamy, off Jalan Putra, north of the city centre
A Chinese-style vegetarian restaurant off Jalan Putra, north of the centre, with a large menu built on tofu and mock meat, plus Malaysian dishes such as Nyonya nasi lemak and assam laksa.
9 Jalan Telawi 2, Bangsar
A banana-leaf meal restaurant on Jalan Telawi 2 in Bangsar that Wikivoyage lists as a cheaper alternative to the neighbouring Nirwana.
Behind the monastery, 161 Jalan Ampang, near Suria KLCC
A weekday lunch canteen behind a Buddhist monastery off Jalan Ampang, serving a self-service counter of Chinese-style vegetarian dishes, many made with mock meat, at low prices.
No. 42, Ground Floor, Jalan Lazat 2, Taman Gembira
A fully vegan Asian-fusion cafe in Taman Gembira known for homemade tempeh, from a Kelantan-style rice dish to a tempeh platter. Cash only and closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
60 Jalan Tun Perak, city centre
A basic vegetarian restaurant on Jalan Tun Perak serving Chinese-Malay mock-meat dishes by buffet and menu, with a vegetarian bak kut teh among the dishes Spinach recommends.
Jalan Alor, parallel to Jalan Bukit Bintang
A street in Bukit Bintang known for open-air Chinese hawker food at roadside tables, busy in the evening and lively but mostly non-vegetarian.
Unit 1-8, Menara KEN TTDI, 37 Jalan Burhanuddin Helmi, Taman Tun Dr Ismail
A fully vegan Japanese fine-dining restaurant in Taman Tun Dr Ismail with a five-course tasting menu. A special-occasion dinner rather than a quick meal.
Unit G2, Wisma Noble Land No 2, Lorong Changkat, Lorong Ceylon, Bukit Bintang
A fully vegan Japanese restaurant near Bukit Bintang that serves ramen, sushi and small plates. It suits vegan travellers staying in the central shopping district.
Lot 3A-01, 28 Jalan Bukit Bintang
A Chinese vegetarian buffet on Jalan Bukit Bintang where you pick three dishes with rice or noodles for a few ringgit. It is a cheap, quick meal for vegetarians.
Jalan Thambipillay, Brickfields (Little India), near KL Sentral
The Kuala Lumpur branch of the Bangalore-born MTR tiffin house, serving a South Indian vegetarian menu of dosas, rava idli and lunch and dinner thalis in a restored shophouse in Brickfields.
Level 4, Suria KLCC, beneath the Petronas Towers
A Malaysian restaurant on the fourth floor of the Suria KLCC mall, listed by Wikivoyage for local favourites such as nasi lemak, beef rendang and chendol.
190 Jalan Tun Sambanthan, Brickfields, near KL Sentral
A North and South Indian vegetarian restaurant on Jalan Tun Sambanthan in Brickfields, with dosas, idlis, pani puri, chole bhature and a buffet.
1st floor, 5 Jalan Tun Sambanthan, Brickfields
A first-floor vegetarian cafe on Jalan Tun Sambanthan in Brickfields serving Indian food including vegan nasi lemak, thali sets, thosai and idli, with a marked vegan menu.
Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar
A vegetarian Chinese restaurant on Jalan Telawi 3 in Bangsar, known on Spinach for vegetarian dim sum served until 6pm and a menu of mock-meat dishes with clearly marked vegan options.
4 Jalan Delima, Bukit Bintang area
An Indian restaurant at 4 Jalan Delima in the Golden Triangle area, listed by Wikivoyage for northern and southern Indian dishes, with chicken biryani and tandoori recommended.
5th Floor, Menara Citibank, Jalan Ampang
A weekday lunch restaurant on the fifth floor of Menara Citibank off Jalan Ampang, with warm rice, more than ten vegetarian side dishes and fried bitter gourd.
Jalan Tun H S Lee, city centre, near Chinatown
A small weekday Chinese vegetarian buffet on Jalan Tun H S Lee in the city centre, serving mock-duck and curry mee dishes priced by plate size.
Jalan 8a, Taman Selayang, near Batu Caves
A vegetarian cafe in Taman Selayang, near Batu Caves, serving vegetarian biryani, pizza, burgers and ravioli, with some proceeds funding a free dialysis centre.
Lebuh Ampang, city centre
An Indian vegetarian restaurant on Lebuh Ampang, the old Indian trading street near Masjid India, serving rice and curry meal sets and Madras filter coffee.
52 Jalan Maarof, Bangsar
A Saravana Bhavan branch on Jalan Maarof in Bangsar serving South Indian lunch and dinner sets and curd rice made with in-house yoghurt.
38G, Jalan 28/70a, Desa Sri Hartamas
A plant-based restaurant in Desa Sri Hartamas serving Malaysian dishes such as nasi lemak and Sarawak laksa, plus pizzas made with nut cheese.
Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar Baru, south-west of the city centre
A busy mamak-style Indian restaurant on Jalan Telawi 3 in Bangsar Baru, named by several guides for banana leaf rice with a vegetable base to which meat or fish can be added.
Jalan Tun Sambanthan, Brickfields
A banana-leaf rice restaurant on Jalan Tun Sambanthan in Brickfields, listed by Free Malaysia Today for its set meal with vegetable sides, curd and a spicier mutton masala.
Lot G-08, Makan Hall, Central Market, Jalan Hang Kasturi
A vegetarian Indian restaurant with an outlet in the Makan Hall of Central Market. Its site lists Vegetarian, Vegan, Jain, Buddhist, Gujarati and North and South Indian cuisine, and a directory lists a marked vegan menu section.
135 (1st floor), Jalan Petaling, Chinatown
A first-floor vegan restaurant on Jalan Petaling serving Malaysian dishes such as satay, nasi lemak and laksa made with plant-based ingredients.
H-0-1, Plaza Damas, Block H, 60 Jalan Sri Hartamas 1
A fully vegan cafe in Plaza Damas, Sri Hartamas, with tiramisu, pasta, smoothie bowls and garden seating. Open daily from breakfast through to early evening.
Level 1, Annexe Block, Menara Milenium, 8 Jalan Damanlela, Bukit Damansara
A vegan Japanese ramen restaurant in Bukit Damansara whose website says the food is made without animal products or alliums such as onion and garlic.
76 Jalan Kasah, Bukit Damansara
An all-vegan kitchen on Jalan Kasah that sells pizza, pasta, nasi lemak and baked goods for takeaway or delivery only. It is useful when you want a vegan meal back at your hotel.
Lorong Padang Belia, Brickfields
A small Indian vegetarian restaurant on Lorong Padang Belia in Brickfields serving dosa, naan and paneer dishes, with dishes that can be made without onion or garlic on request.
Damansara Utama, Petaling Jaya, about 12 km west of central Kuala Lumpur
A long-queued nasi lemak restaurant in Damansara Utama, just outside Kuala Lumpur proper, known for coconut rice with crispy fried chicken. Several food guides name it, but it is a meat-led menu.
50 Jalan Padang Belia, Brickfields (Little India)
A Sri Lankan restaurant on Jalan Padang Belia in Brickfields, serving Jaffna-style dishes and appam, with spices said to be imported from Sri Lanka.
