1. Ho Kow Hainam Kopitiam
The shop opens at 7:30 am but at 7:00 there were already many people lining up waiting.
Ho Kow Hainam Kopitiam is a 67-year-old traditional Hainanese coffee shop that has been attracting a lot of foodies. Although it opens at 7:30am, people are already lining up from around 7am to enjoy the classic Hainanese breakfast of soft-boiled eggs, kaya butter toast...
Some of the featured dishes at Ho Kow Hainam Kopitiam.
Ho Kow Kopitiam's menu is quite extensive, typically featuring some familiar local breakfast dishes, such as Fried Bee Hoon with Curry Chicken, Chee Cheong Fan Dried Shrimp Curry, and fried rice. Dim sum, Nyonya Kuih, and Tong sui are also on the menu. In addition, there are Hainanese-style pastries such as croissants. All dishes are reasonably priced.
The new Ho Kow Hainam Kopitiam is located along Jalan Balai Polis, a 5-minute walk from Petaling Street and two blocks away from Pasar Seni MRT Station. We recommend taking public transport or a taxi to get here so you don’t have to waste time looking for parking.
Interior space of Ho Kow Hainam Kopitiam.
Address: 何九海南茶店1, Jalan Balai Polis, City Center, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Opening hours: 7:30 AM – 3:30 PM daily
2. Restaurant Pik Wah
Hidden in the basement of a building, Restoran Pik Wah may be difficult to find for tourists but is no stranger to local diners thanks to its Bib Gourmand title awarded by Michelin in 2023. Rest assured that your efforts to find this restaurant will be rewarded, with the most authentic Chinese dishes in the area.
Restoran Pik Wah is truly a Hidden Gem in Malaysian cuisine.
Pik Wah’s extensive menu offers a wide range of dishes with different cooking styles for seafood, pork, poultry, vegetables, noodles, and even desserts. Most dishes come in small, medium, and large portion sizes to cater to different groups of customers. In addition to the familiar dishes found in most Cantonese restaurants, this long-standing brand also serves special dishes that cannot be found elsewhere, such as frog and venison.
Special dishes at the restaurant.
Restoran Pik Wah is a long-standing Chinese restaurant in Kuala Lumpur, opened in 1971. The dining area is spacious, clean and fully carpeted. There are also private rooms available for diners outside the main dining area. If you plan to visit on weekends, it is advisable to make a reservation as the restaurant is usually full at this time.
Address: Basement Level, Maba Building, 6 Jalan Hang Jebat, 50150 Kuala Lumpur.
Opening Hours: 12:00 – 15:00 & 18:00 – 22:30
3. Yut Kee Restaurant
If you are looking for a standout eatery in Kuala Lumpur, Yut Kee Restaurant is one of the best options to try. It is famous for its traditional Hainanese cuisine, as well as local Kuala Lumpur cuisine. It is a popular place for locals to have breakfast or brunch.
Yut Kee began operations nearly a century ago.
Yut Kee is one of the most popular places to eat when it comes to traditional eateries in Kuala Lumpur. Yut Kee serves up old favorites like chicken ribs, toast, kaya toast, soft-boiled eggs and coffee. For decades, Yut Kee has been serving up its famous kaya swiss rolls as well as chicken ribs and Hainanese pork.
Space inside the restaurant.
Yut Kee has been in operation since 1928, originally famous as a local Hainanese coffee shop. It later changed its form of operation, serving both coffee and food. The restaurant is painted red and decorated in a traditional style. Marble tables and wooden chairs, as well as newspapers on the walls, give the restaurant a nostalgic atmosphere.
Famous dish at the restaurant.
Address: 1, Jalan Kamunting, Chow Kit, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: 7:30 - 15:00 (closed on Monday)
4. Sin Kiew Yee Shin Kee Beef Noodles
Shin Kee Beef Noodles is one of the famous beef noodle stalls in Petaling Street. The stall has been around since the 1930s and their original Hakka beef noodle recipe is still preserved by the current third generation owners. It is almost always crowded, so if you want to enjoy the food comfortably, you can avoid the peak hours of 12:00 - 14:00.
The restaurant is usually very crowded during peak hours 12:00 - 14:00.
Although they only serve beef noodles, there are some ways to vary the dish. For example, the toppings will have options like fresh sliced beef, beef, offal. As for the noodles, there are meehun (vermicelli noodles), Mee (yellow noodles), Loh Shee Fun (rice noodles) or Horfun (flat rice noodles). You can also choose between soup noodles and dry noodles (noodles and broth separately).
The restaurant is currently being continued by the third generation of descendants.
Despite the emergence of similar eateries, Shin Kee remains a local favorite after some 90 years in business. While newer beef noodle establishments may offer more extensive menus and more comfortable dining areas, Shin Kee continues to serve delicious bowls of beef noodles with traditional flavors, plus a touch of nostalgia in their “humble” business space.
Address: 7a, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, City Center, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Opening hours: 10:30 - 19:00 (closed on Wednesday).
