After scouting over the authenticity of Chinese dishes, let me take you downtown for the best Chinese restaurants in KL that’ll tempt you to try everything within a week or even less!
You might have drooled over the delicious delicacies listed in the best food in Klang, but don’t stop now!
With long years of expertise in flavours and cooking, some of these restaurants are dedicated to running their business from carts into big restaurants to make more room for avid Chinese foodies like you and me.
However, if you are not in the mood for Chinese food, there are other best restaurants in KL that are worth your visit, too.
Sek Yuen Restaurant @ Pudu – A Culinary Time-travel
Cantonese | $$$
Must-Try Dishes
- Pei Pa Duck – The duck is simmered in boiling water before being roasted in a traditional charcoal way. This roasting technique undoubtedly gives out crispy duck skin, which is flavourful and addictive with the tender duck meat.
- Cold Jelly Chicken – The unusual cold sensation of jelly-coated chicken is mouthwatering. Its gooey taste of jelly is sweet and irresistibly divine when served with the icy cool steamed chicken.
- Fried Pork Belly – My favourite place for the perfect fried pork belly. The satisfying sound of the crunch from the skin and chewing of the soft meat is another level of indulging. These pork pieces are coated with saporous fermented tofu paste that enhances the flavour of the meat.
- Salad Shrimp – The fresh shrimp is coated with flavourful batter, fried till golden brown, and glazed with dulcified homemade mayonnaise. I like it better when eaten together with cucumber slices.
Without the fancy embellishments of a restaurant, this 70-year-old best Chinese restaurant in KL has been dedicated to serving authentic Cantonese dishes even before independence in Pudu.
Founded by three brothers, the restaurant has become a sensation for its simple yet scrumptious delicacies, proving their cooking expertise that has been passed down for decades.
The main highlight is its Pei Pa duck, which has juicy meat inside and crispy, sizzled skin on the outside. The affordable rate of every dish welcomes customers every day for a hearty dinner.
Operating Hours:
Mondays (Closed)
Tuesday – Sunday (11:00 AM – 2:30 PM & 5:00 PM – 9:30 PM)
Old Shanghai – Modern Fusion
Shanghainese | $$$
Must-Try Dishes
- Curry Spaghetti with Salmon – The dominating flavours of Asians and Westerners can be simplified within one slurp of this dish. The astringent taste of curry is cooked with thick coconut cream topped with fresh vegetables and tofu. The highlight is its huge chunk of salmon to be savoured with the spaghetti.
- Chicken Satay Flat Bread – Honestly, this pizza is the best I’ve ever had. It looks like a pizza and has a thin and crispy texture of the dough topped with shredded chicken and peanut sauce that is nutty and spicy, which is just divine after one bite.
- Beijing Winter – A refreshing glass of cocktail to enhance your lavish dining experience here is a must! The maestro bartenders mix whiskey, orange skin and a dash of lemon juice to smooth this cool, briny sip.
Immerse yourself in the ancient realm of Shanghai with exquisite fine dining cuisine here at Old Shanghai, Bukit Bintang. It takes you back to mafia movie scenes with wooden tables, lantern lights and tons of red adornments.
This best fine-dining Chinese restaurant in KL has a serene ambience with dimmed lights, offering you and your partner a romantic yet bountiful meal with a fusion of Asian and Western delights.
Be sure to check out the menu on their website for more!
Operating Hours:
Monday – Thursday (5:30 PM – 1:00 AM)
Friday (5.30 PM – 2:00 AM)
Saturday (6:00 PM – 2:00 AM)
Sunday (5:30 PM – 1:00 AM)
Restoran Hoo Yee, Cheras – Seafood Galore
Cantonese | $$
Must-Try Dishes
- Kam Heong Prawns – An essential choice when you pay this restaurant a visit. The freshwater prawns are cooked in the savoury and aromatic Kam Heong seasonings. The fragrance from curry leaves and crunchy cashew nuts perfectly blend with these juicy prawns.
- Nyonya Steam Fish – My favourite pick for the spicy Nyonya gravy that is smothered over the steamed fish and sizzles. This dish is cooked with long beans and brinjals and garnished with fresh coriander leaves, which are irresistibly delicious when served with rice.
- Fried Salted Egg Squid – A generous amount of squid pieces is fried to perfection till golden brown. The salty taste that coats the squids is not overpowering; rather, it gives a mellow and dulcified flavour.
Hoo Yee Restaurant is by far the most affordable and best Chinese seafood restaurant in KL that I’ve been to.
Located in Cheras, many old-timers from all races must come here for the perfect Cantonese cuisine.
They’ve got more seafood dishes for your gastronomical seafood galore. Not only does it have fresh seafood, but its preparation and cooking methods are authentic, especially with its handmade ingredients.
The simple yet delightful meals never fail you for the hearty dinner, especially with the generous portions and low prices.
Operating Hours:
Weekdays & Weekends (11:00 AM – 3:00 PM & 5:30 PM – 9:30 PM)
Nature’s Vegetarian Restaurant – Vegetarian Heaven
Cantonese | $$
Must-Try Dishes
- Fried Butter Mushrooms – A savoury replica of your usual Chinese order of fried butter prawns. The mushrooms are so chewy with the right seasoning and fried till golden brown for the crunchy texture on the outside.
- Homemade Noodles – The general menu item from this restaurant serves the best kicap mee, topped with cabbage and crispy foo chuk pieces that break the suspense with your satisfying slurp. Doused in a wok of dark soy sauce and other saucy ingredients, each strand is flavourful for the vigorous stir-frying motions of the chef on this dish!
- Deep Fried Yam Dumpling – Give it a little blow as it is served piping hot to your table. The soft yam is boiled on point before deep frying into the hot oil, which explains the immaculate taste that melts perfectly in your mouth.
Nature’s Vegetarian Restaurant in Bangsar is the right haven for avid vegan foodies and non-vegans to endeavour vegetarian Chinese delicacies.
This place is always packed at night, so make sure you come early to get a taste of the dishes prepared by ‘skilled wok masters’.
I must highlight the inescapable sight of the astounding statues of Buddha, both big and small, with Chinese folklore writings on the wall that take you back to a phenomenal ancient dining experience in China. This place clearly takes pride in proving the authenticity of Cantonese dishes.
Indeed, it is the right entitlement of the best Chinese vegetarian restaurant in KL!
Operating Hours:
Weekdays (9.30 AM – 9:00 PM)
Weekends (8:30 AM – 9:00 PM)
Porkees Noodle House Pandan Indah – Noodle Lover’s Delight
Hokkien & Sichuan | $$
Must-Try Dishes
- Spicy Pork Noodle Soup – The flaming attack from the steam gets you prepared for a gustatory feast. The Sichuan soup is at the highest peak of spicy level with succulent pork belly meats that enhance the greatness of the flavour.
- Pork & Lala Mee – Nothing can ever go wrong with a wild combination of pork and seafood. The fresh Lalas are perfectly boiled in the pork broth with tender meatballs and served with fresh Bok Choys for an addictive bite!
- Fried Fish Skin – A compulsory side dish to ensure a delightful noodle feast! The crispy edges and well-seasoned fish skin have a salty flavour that amplifies the flavours of your soup, or you can simply snack on it on its own!
What else could satisfy your week with ‘pork-fect’ noodles at Porkees Noodle House? This best Chinese restaurant in KL with various pork noodle soups just warms my soul, especially on a cold and rainy day.
Step up your game from regular hawkers to this paragon of porky delights! From simple interiors to bursting flavours of pork noodles, this place has won the hearts of many for the fresh handmade noodles from scratch, which give noodles a remarkable texture, especially its Mi Xian.
Operating Hours:
Weekdays & Weekends (9:00 AM – 9:30 PM)
Halley at Mandarin Palace – The Authentic Flavour
Cantonese, Hokkien, Sichuan, & Jiangsu | $$
Must-Try Dishes
- Stir-Fried Radish Cake – This Lo Bak Go dish is the best I’ve had in KL for its perfectly harmonised flavours of spicy seafood sauce, dried shrimp, fresh bean sprouts, sauces and generous radish cakes. The fiery flavours and sweet taste of the sweet soy sauce are of the best quality.
- Swan Taro Puff – This deep-fried taro puff stuffed with Chili crab is wrapped on the body of the Swans-shaped porcelain dish. The delicate, soft texture of the sweet taro is deliciously cooked with fresh crab meat. It’s just the perfect flavour combination.
- Imperial Roast Duck – The authentic pecking duck is glazed with sweet and tangy roasted flavours for a subliminal taste. The duck meat is so tender and moist. It is even better with the premium sauce of Orange sour plum for dreamy citrusy juicy meat.
Except in Halley Mandarin Hotel, the golden phoenix of 1000 engraved dragons is nowhere to be found in KL. With outstanding meals at an affordable rate, it gives you every opportunity to visit this place every week for a lavish culinary adventure.
This restaurant has great expertise in authentic Chinese cuisine with a combination of Cantonese and Sichuan flavours, among others. With parquet flooring and wooden dining tables, this magnificent restaurant sets the right mood for expensive Beijing fine dining in the 80s.
Operating Hours:
Weekdays & Weekends (10:00 AM – 3:00 PM & 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM)
Restoran Yan Yan A One – Dim Sum Destination
Cantonese & Hakka | $$
Must-Try Dishes
- King Prawn Dumplings – The silky and smooth texture of the gyoza wrappers instantly melts in your mouth, especially with salty seasoned fresh prawns for an exceptional taste.
- Custard Bun – The most gustatory delight is sinking your teeth into this hot and dulcified slurry custard bun. The rich and nectarous flavours are creamy and smooth with the perfect steamed buns.
- Xiao Long Pau – This delicious pau has bursting flavours of sweet and herbal from the pork simmered in the broth before being stuffed into the steamed dumpling. The wonderful flavours of the minced pork filling are just a satisfying bite for me.
- Yi Yong – A savoury bowl of seafood wonders and egg noodles is a top pick to pair with dim sum among the regulars here. The fried and crispy Yee Mee is smothered with thick egg gravy, tons of seafood and vegetables to warm the soul with the rich flavours of the ingredients.
Plan to ditch Mamak this time round for supper? Head over to Yan Yan A One Restaurant for endless servings of cheap and savoury RM 3.20 dim sum the whole day!
The most reviewed restaurant for freshly made dumplings has been running for over 20 years at Old Klang Road with the same authentic flavours and expertise of pork fillings.
The unmodified handmade dumpling sheets make this place different from other dim sum restaurants. The smooth and satisfying chew of the dumpling sheets is another level of culinary talent.
You don’t have to plan a time to go because this best Chinese restaurant in KL is open all night!
Operating Hours:
Weekdays – Weekends (9:00 AM – 4:00 AM)
Li Yen Restaurant – Chinese Fine Dining
Teo Chew & Hokkien | $$$$
Must-Try Dishes
- Baked Spare Ribs – This signature dish has a reflective shine after being glazed with their homemade sweet sauce and is garnished with Chinese tea leaves that intensify the aroma and flavours of the ribs. The succulent, juicy meat is baked to perfection.
- Beef Siew Mai – The rare type of siew mai with beef is found in this hidden gem. The savoury minced beef is seasoned and steamed for a tender texture to melt in your mouth easily.
- Wagyu Beef with Pearl Onions – The amplified flavours of sweet pearl onions and smokey beef are compulsory chef’s kiss palate here! I love the chewy beef, which is pre-cooked before stir-frying with extra sauces and pearl onions that give a full-bodied delight.
- Bird’s Nest – Don’t forget to indulge in this nourishing desert at this luxurious restaurant. The warm soup is double-boiled, an authentic method to release more flavours for a magnificent taste with pieces of rock sugar.
Li Yen Restaurant is a paradigm for a splendid experience of the best fine-dining Chinese restaurant in KL with an elegant setting. With expert chefs behind the scenes preparing the traditional style of Teo Chew and Hokkien dishes, you’ll never doubt the taste within your first delicious bites from the 5-course meals.
Li Yen lives up to modern interior inspiration while maintaining the authenticity of cooking delectable Chinese platters. I admire their baking methods of cooking, which are much healthier and taste perfectly divine!
Operating Hours:
Weekdays – Saturday (12:00 PM – 3:00 PM & 6:30 PM – 10:00 PM)
Sunday (10:30 AM – 3:00 PM & 6:30 PM – 10:00 PM)
Xiao Long Xing Jiang Hu – Sichuan Sensation
Sichuan | $$$
Must-Try Dishes
- Signature Spicy Butter Soup Pot – Tons of dried chilli and Sichuan peppers are cooked with butter for a fiery and rich taste of Mala soup. The aromatic smell from the herbs and coriander leaves keeps you coming for a more flaming sensation of this broth.
- Mushroom Soup – Pair this soup with the Mala pot for a perfect combination of rich and savoury flavours. This is definitely everyone’s favourite, too, for the sweet and caramelised mushroom flavours of a steamboat banquet.
- Ba Wang Beef – This Taiwanese delicacy is just full of spicy flavours, with the juicy meat taking your hot pot feast to endless spicy levels! The silky smooth dumpling sheet is imbued with a great portion of minced beef and soy sauce.
- Rose Pork Balls – The tender and juicy pork balls are irresistible. These savoury pork balls are too pretty to eat for the cute rose intricacies on top.
The astringent smell of spicy peppercorns is so sharp you could even recognise the shop within 100 metres away. Xiao Long Xing Jian Hu is where you can find the epitome of the best Sichuan-flavoured dishes.
Besides authentic pepper seeds, ingredients, and presentation styles to prepare scrumptious meals, the interior is exquisite and inviting with its golden and brown walls for an exceptional Beijing vibes dining experience.
Operating Hours:
Weekdays – Weekends: (12:00 PM – 12:00 AM)
Nam Heong Ipoh – Traditional Teahouse
Malaysian | $$
Must-Try Dishes
- Signature Egg Tarts – The crusty pastry with the silky, soft texture of custard filling.
- Signature Mixed Fruit Ice – The ideal bowl on a sunny day to quench your thirst. This shaved ice dessert, drizzled with sugar syrup, is served with fresh mangoes, lychees, and dragon fruits and topped with a delightful scoop of ice cream.
- Coffee Cincau – A combination of refreshments and an excellent brewery. This thick and smooth coffee has Cincau that gives you a boba tea feeling when drinking it.
Every Malaysian loves discounts and promotions. Hence, here at Nam Heong Ipoh, their delicious meals come with continuous deals for you and your friends to enjoy without worrying about burning your wallet dry!
A classic replication of the original Nam Heong Cafe in Ipoh, this teahouse has various savoury, authentic Malaysian Ipoh delicacies.
Check them out for a contemporary vibe and splendid ambience for the best Chinese restaurant in KL!
Operating Hours:
Weekdays – Weekends (10:00 AM – 10:00 PM)
Satisfy Your Craving At These 10 Best Chinese Restaurants in KL Now!
You don’t have to drive all the way to the kampung area to find the most authentic dishes. In the city centre alone, there are so many Chinese restaurants serving quality, traditional dishes.
I’m more for a wholesome and authentic cooking style.
Hence, Restoran Yan Yan A One and Hoo Yee Restaurant will be my top choice for a sudden craving for Chinese food at night with my family. The freshly prepared meals with mouthwatering flavours never failed to satisfy my hungry belly.
However, if you’re looking for a luxurious Beijing setting and environment on special occasions, Old Shanghai and Halley @ Mandarin Hotel is a compulsory visit for the beautiful and astounding decorations of ancient China.
