The best noodle dishes in Kuala Lumpur

What is it In a corner of Seapark, this speciality-noodle destination is putting modern spins on Malaysian Chinese noodles. 

Why we love it Picture a bowl of handmade egg noodles tossed with pork lard and soy sauce, paired with pork belly braised in beer, an egg marinated in Chinese wine, bok choy, and pickled cucumber. The menu is a showcase of the diversity of Malaysian Chinese dishes, inspired by the cultures of dialect groups such as Cantonese, Teochew, Hokkien, and Peranakan — from Nyonya laksa to noodles tossed with spring onion pesto and pork lard, served with braised preserved kai choi (Chinese mustard) and ching long choi (Chinese chives).

Time Out tip Come for the noodles but don’t leave without trying the eggplants steamed with lychee and prawns, finished with a smoked guava vinaigrette, sesame seeds and spring onions. It’s an all-time crowd favourite.

Address: 19 Jalan 21/11B, Seapark, 46300 Petaling Jaya
Opening hours: Thu-Mon noon-3pm, 5.30pm-9.30pm
Expect to pay: About RM40 for a bowl of noodles and a drink

What is it A family-run eatery serving up fresh chilli pan mee.

Why we love it Every strand of the signature chilli pan mee is a revelation of texture; irresistibly QQ and at once slippery and sticky with pork mince and creamy runny yolk from a poached egg, topped with crunchy ikan bilis and fried onions. It isn’t chilli pan mee without a dollop of chilli. 

Time Out tip These days, Super Kitchen is the finest example of what the city may offer in the way of chilli pan mee. But across the street from its Chow Kit address is Kin Kin, the birthplace of chilli pan mee – and if you’ve never been, it’s certainly worth a visit for a taste of the OG recipe that’s remained unchanged since ’85. In fact, why choose when you can have both?

Address: 31-33 Jalan Dewan Sultan Sulaiman 1, off Jalan TAR, 50300 Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 8am-5.30pm; Sat & Sun 8am-6pm
Expect to pay: About RM20 for a bowl of chilli pan mee and a drink

What is it The stall, famed for beef noodles, has been open since 1949, making it one of the oldest in the city. Over the years, Shin Kee has enjoyed a loyal following: the locals who grew up with the stall still visit today with their children and grandchildren, as well as foodies and tourists from all over the world.

Why we love it From its unassuming beginnings as a street-side stall in ’49, Shin Kee has quietly cemented its place as a culinary mainstay. Its name is now synonymous with beef noodles, whether served in broth or simply dressed in a savoury-sweet sauce, topped with minced meat. The menu offers three choices for noodles: bihun, yellow mee, or hor fun. While the springy beef meatballs and tender beef slivers remain crowd favourites, it’s the tripe – thick-cut and rich in flavour – that stands out as a showpiece. An in-house chilli sauce lends just the right amount of heat.

Time Out tip Its Chinatown location can’t be beat, only a few minutes’ walk from nearby bus stops and train stations. Best to arrive early, before the lunchtime crowd descends.

Address: 7A Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, 50000 Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: Thu-Tue 10.30am-4.30pm
Expect to pay: A small serving of beef noodles and a drink is possible for RM15. Add RM2 for a big serving of beef noodles.

What is it Anyone who calls Kuala Lumpur home knows that no conversation about the city’s culinary soul is complete without a nod to Hokkien mee, a dish as smoky, slick, and unapologetically rich as the capital itself. We say you haven’t tried Hokkien mee until you’ve eaten it at Kim Lian Kee, famed for being the very birthplace of the dish nearly a hundred years ago.

Why we love it As far as comfort food goes, Hokkien mee is high up on our list. Here, the thick noodles arrive presented on a banana leaf-lined plate, lacquered in dark soy sauce, glistening with lard, and kissed with unmistakable wok hei – an indulgence steeped in history and flavour. Best paired with a dollop of red sambal. 

Time Out tip Make your way upstairs to the first floor for air-conditioning. A seat by the windows should also allow you a perch over Petaling Street for people-watching.

Address: 92 Jalan Hang Lekir, 50000 Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: Thu-Tue 11am-10.30pm
Expect to pay: RM18 for a small serving of Hokkien mee and a glass of Chinese tea. It’s a little pricey, but this is Chinatown, baby!

What is it It’s easy to walk past this unassuming stall, simply named ‘咖喱叻沙 CURRY LAKSA | 亞三叻沙 ASAM LAKSA’ tucked within a bustling kopitiam in Taman Paramount — until, that is, you spot the snaking queue of locals patiently awaiting their turn to place an order, or the many tables crowded with bowls of laksa. The mom-and-pop stall has served up curry laksa and asam laksa since 1990. If you can’t choose between the two laksas, there’s a third option: curry-and-asam laksa, a curious, punchy concoction.  

Why we love it The curry laksa is rapture in a bowl – tender shredded chicken, tofu puffs sopping up the creamy broth, taugeh, a tangle of noodles topped with siham cockles. Not to be outdone, the asam laksa is arguably one of the best this side of town (Penang folks, please let us have this). It delivers on three fronts: the savouriness of mackerel, the sharp tang of tamarind, and the unmistakable umami of fermented shrimp paste, or har gou. Don’t waste time bickering over which laksa version is better. One must simply shut up and slurp. 

Time Out tip Here, a 15- to 20-minute wait is less of an inconvenience than a quiet testament to the stall’s reputation – a shared understanding that something worth savouring is never rushed.

Address: 39 Jalan 20/14, Taman Paramount, 46300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Opening hours: Daily 6am-3pm
Expect to pay: Hawker prices! RM15 or so for a main and a drink.

What is it A char kuay teow stall that has quietly earned landmark status in a pocket of Brickfields that’s seen more than its fair share of culinary change. For over three decades, husband and wife have turned out plates of perfectly wok-fried kuay teow.

Why we love it With a name like ‘Best Fried Kuay Teow’, the stall sets the bar high – but remarkably, it lives up to the promise. Each plate is stir-fried to order over high heat. Fresh flat rice noodles, eggs, chives, and taugeh are tossed with cockles, fish cake, shrimp, and lap cheong in soy sauce, chilli sauce, and pork lard. The dish is defined by the prized wok hei, or "breath of the wok," that gives the noodles their distinct charred aroma and depth. It’s a bold name, certainly, but one that regulars — and a growing chorus of newcomers — would argue is earned.

Time Out tip Add a sunny-side up for an extra RM2. Upon request, you can also add-on extra cockles (+RM5), shrimp (+RM6), and lapcheong (+RM2) too.

Address: 19 Jalan Tun Sambanthan 4, Brickfields, 50470 Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11.30am-5.30pm
Expect to pay: RM9 for a small order of char kuey teow, add RM2 to upsize.

What is it Founded by food entrepreneur Datin Isma, Kantan is a confident tribute to the depth and complexity of Kelantanese cuisine – one of Malaysia’s most distinctive regional traditions. Here, east coast staples are rooted in tradition and time-honoured recipes, served in a contemporary and unpretentious atmosphere. 

Why we love it It’s the best laksam in the city. A richly layered dish, rolled rice noodles arrive in a coconut-based fish gravy — equal parts comfort and complexity. Atop, a mosaic of accompaniments: fresh ulam of bunga kantan, daun kesum and kacang panjang, and a dollop of fiery sambal for heat. That’s the standard (and purist) order — but if you’re looking for something more, order the laksam special, which comes with the addition of savoury beef serunding and three quail eggs rounding out each bite. It’s a dish that balances tradition with texture — creamy, herbaceous, and unmistakably Kelantanese.

Time Out tip Pay at the counter after your meal, where you’ll be tempted by an array of provisions such as kerepek, serunding, and even kek batik.

Address: C-0-14 Plaza Damas, Taman Sri Hartamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 11am-10pm
Expect to pay: Approximately RM25 for laksam special and a drink.