1. Foo Hing Dim Sum

Dim sum is a traditional Chinese meal made up of small plates of dumplings and other savoury and sweet dishes. It usually comes in a set of three or four pieces and are perfect for sharing and pairs perfectly with a cup of tea. Foo Hing Dim Sum is the latest craze in the city and there is a massive menu to choose from, but do try their traditional soup dumplings, prawn ‘cheong fun’ and the Portuguese egg tarts. Get there early to avoid long queues.

2. Nalé

Nasi lemak is the national dish of Malaysia. A basic nasi lemak is made of coconut rice, fried anchovies, peanuts, egg, spicy sambal sauce and a meaty side dish. There are many restaurants and street food stalls where you can get nasi lemak. However, one particular restaurant called Nalé, nestled inside a shopping mall, is recently making waves with its delicious nasi lemak that is accompanied by traditional Malay style side dishes such as chargrilled fish and squid that is simply delicious.

Location: G(E) 013 Midvalley Megamall 59200 Kuala Lumpur

3. ICC Pudu Food Court

ICC Pudu is the place to go to experience eating like a local. Walk past the shops to get to the food court, which boasts over 30 food vendors serving very distinct Malaysian dishes like curry noodles, nasi kandar and toasted bread with a pandan spread called kaya and the popular claypot coffee.

Going to a busy food court can be daunting. So here are some tips:

• Bring cash.

• Get a table and note the number on the table. Sometimes, it takes the cleaners some time to clear the tables, but grab the seat anyway.

• If you’re going there with someone, one person should stay with the table, whilst the other goes around to look for what they want to order and once that person is done just switch.

• Some vendors take the payment when you order, but most take the payment as they deliver the food to your table. Recently, some have adopted new technology and provide you with an alarm that goes off when your food is ready for collection.

• Order lots of tiny meals to share so you have the opportunity to try different food.

Location: Jalan Kijang Pudu, 55100 Kuala Lumpur

4. Analakshmi

Located on the second floor of the Temple of Fine Arts building, Analakshmi serves as a home away from home for many. Analakshmi was started in 1984 by a Hindu monk who wanted to empower Indian mothers who already cared for their families to care for the community around them. And to this day, the food is still prepared in a home cooked style, made with love and care. To avoid food wastage and to practice moderation, patrons are encouraged to only order what they need and any leftovers will result in a small penalty fee.

Location: Temple of Fine Arts 114-116 Jalan Berhala Brickfields 50470 Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur

5. CQB

Hot pot or steamboat is a Chinese culinary experience where there’s a heat source placed on the table that keeps a pot of soup on constant simmer and you can add in thinly sliced meat and vegetables, which are cooked in the simmering soup in a matter of minutes. You can choose up to two different types of soup - try a delicious Sichuan style soup that can be made really spicy if you’re up for the challenge. Enjoy the meat and soup with either rice or noodles and be sure to try some lotus root, pork slices, fried frog and pork meatballs to enjoy with your soup.

Location: No. 42-G, Jalan Kuchai Maju 9,Kuchai Lama, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

6. Restoran Kin Kin

Experience delicious noodles at one of the earliest chilli pan mee restaurants in KL. This humble restaurant has been popular amongst locals for over 35 years with its simple yet satisfying chilli pan mee recipe that has remained unchanged. With freshly made noodles and a special blend of chilli and shrimp flakes, you can easily eat more than one bowl of the Chilli Pan Mee in one sitting.

Location: Lorong Tunku Abudul Rahman 2 50300 Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur

7. Puchong Mess

This gem of a place is a well-kept secret by locals. It is not a place that you can stumble upon while driving or walking past. Located on the second floor of a shop lot, this living room converted into a restaurant serves one of the best banana leaf rice dishes in the city. So what is banana leaf rice? As the name suggests, it is a staple Indian dish where food is served on a banana leaf with some rice, plus an assortment of curries, vegetables and meats of your choice. The speciality of Puchong Mess is their watermelon yoghurt side dish that helps cool down your tummy after some hot Indian food.

Location: 11, Jalan Puteri 7/9, Bandar Puteri, 47100 Puchong, Selangor 47100 Puchong Selangor

8. SS2 Murni

Mamak restaurants are indoor and open-air food establishments serving simple but delicious and affordable food and drink. Mamak stalls were originally started by Indian Muslim migrants who brought over staple meals from India and have since adapted to the multicultural cuisines in Malaysia. One particular mamak called Murni’s is elevating the mamak experience with its speciality drinks, such as a one litre giant cup of rose flavoured juice, lime and tamarind juice, carrot juice and more. The mamak experience is a humble but unforgettable one. Though it may not be a five star restaurant, you will not be disappointed by the food at a mamak restaurant.

There are now over 10 Murni branches around KL under the name Murni Discovery with one of the branches serving only vegetarian food and also has a mini library inside the restaurant but do visit the original Murni in SS2.

Location: 53, Jalan SS 2/75 47300 Petaling Jaya Selangor

9. The Social

Serving one of the best pints of Guinness in Kuala Lumpur, The Social is the place to go for a fun evening out. This bustling bar/restaurant brings the best of the east and west with a tasty menu of local Malaysian food as well as western food such as burgers and pasta. Look out for special music nights and special offers to make the most out of your evening.

Location: No 57-59 Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar Baru, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 59100 Kuala Lumpur

10. Willy Satay

Kajang is the place to go for fairly priced and really good satays – marinated meat on skewers that are grilled over charcoal. The fresh marinade that goes on the meat mixes ingredients like lemongrass, shallots and curry powder to truly elevate the taste of the satay. The meat is cooked until it is caramelised and charred and is served with a side of cucumbers, onions, crushed rice and most importantly, a mild or spicy peanut satay sauce. The best place to try satay in Kajang is Willy Satay, a restaurant with humble beginnings that now has franchises all over the country.

Location: Jalan Ramal 1 43000 Majlis Perbandaran Kajang Selangor