Anyone who googles where to go and what to see in Kuala Lumpur ends up landing on a list with Petaling Street on it. It’s a bright, lively, bustling area full of shops and food stalls that at first glance looks like a ‘must visit’ here. When I first moved to Kuala Lumpur I asked my local friends though and every single person told me to avoid it like that plague because it is a tourist trap. And for the most part I 100% agree, unless you go at 7am and walk a gastronomic food tour path! This is my Local Breakfast Insider Guide to Petaling Street.
Yeah okay, the name doesn’t roll off the tongue but it’s basically what it is. My friend Jenn Khoo who runs Chasing Food Dreams setup an awesome itinerary and dragged me and TY Ooi (my mate who owns Crab Factory) out at an ungodly hour to start on a 4 hour insider tour of all the amazing breakfast foods that locals eat when Petaling Street is still basically closed down. Food stalls open at 4am but we arrived just after 7am.
IMPORTANT TO NOTE: many of the places Jenn took us close by 2pm or 5pm. This is truly an Insider’s Guide because most tourists go at night to beat the heat. For dozens of pics, check out my blog: http://j2c.fce.myftpupload.com/asia-travel/american-tries-malaysian-breakfast-insider-tour-petaling-street-in-kuala-lumpur/
What & Where To Eat Like A Local
- Hon Kee Fish and Pork Porridge (Breakfast, open 4am – 2:30pm)
- Kim Lian Kee Chee Cheong Fun (Breakfast, open 7am – 4pm, closed Wednesday)
- Hakka Mee & Fresh Noodle (Breakfast/Lunch)
- Sze Ngan Chye Salted Roast Duck (Breakfast/Lunch, open 6am – 4pm, closed Monday)
- Lai Foong Beef Noodle
- Madras Lane Laksa, YTF and Chee Cheong Fun (Brunch, YTF 11am onwards, closed Monday)
- Bunn Choon Pastry (Snack, non-halal, open 9am – 5pm, closed Monday)
- Kim Soya Bean (Beverage/Dessert, open 11am – 10pm)
- Air Mata Kuching Mou Tak Ding (Beverage/Dessert)
- Sweet Potato Balls beside Tang City Food Court (Snack, 8am onwards)
ALSO, you should eat a simple curry puff from beside Tang City Food Court (either normal or sardine)! We bought them but I somehow forgot to try it. But if it’s on Jenn’s list than I swear it’s a must 🙂
As the morning grew later and Petaling Street started to open up all of the kitchy shops it really transformed, and not in that good way. I loved the early morning food tour because it felt authentic and 100% Malaysian. And with no other tourists in sight. I know it was experiencing something real and not a tourist trap and that made waking up at 5:30am totally worth it!
XOXO Angela
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