The Starhill may be best known for luxury shopping, watches and Eslite Spectrum, but food has long been an important part of this Bukit Bintang destination.
Located directly opposite Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, The Starhill offers a relatively compact but diverse collection of restaurants. You can find contemporary Kerala cuisine, Japanese robatayaki, Chinese dim sum, Middle Eastern food, an international buffet, immersive fine dining, cafés and cocktails—all without leaving the building.
Unlike Kuala Lumpur’s larger malls, where you might have dozens of casual restaurants to choose from, dining at The Starhill tends to lean towards sit-down experiences and special-occasion meals.
If you’re wondering what to eat at The Starhill, here are the restaurants and dining experiences to look out for.
Restaurants at The Starhill at a Glance
| Restaurant | Cuisine / Concept | Good For |
|---|---|---|
| Coast by Kayra | Modern Kerala / Indian | Seafood, special occasions |
| XUYAN | Immersive Chinese fine dining | Unique dining experience |
| Okaju | Contemporary Japanese robatayaki | Japanese dinner, date night |
| Shook! | International / Asian | Groups, lunch, variety |
| Luk Yu Tea House | Chinese / Dim sum | Dim sum, family meals |
| Jogoya | International buffet | Buffet, groups |
| Tarbush | Lebanese / Middle Eastern | Middle Eastern food, late dining |
| Cafe Marais | Café | Coffee, light meals |
| Opera Cafe | Middle Eastern / Western café | Coffee, desserts, casual meals |
| The Alchemy | Bar / Lounge | Cocktails, evening drinks |
The dining line-up can change, so check directly with individual restaurants for current opening hours, menus and reservations before making a special trip.
1. Coast by Kayra
One of the most notable restaurants currently at The Starhill is Coast by Kayra, a contemporary Kerala restaurant built around the flavours of India’s Malabar Coast.
The restaurant takes a sea-to-plate approach, combining seafood with spices, ingredients and traditional cooking techniques associated with coastal Kerala. Its menu includes dishes such as Kerala fish curry, prawn mango curry, seafood moilee, squid kanthari and Vembanad grouper.
Coast by Kayra has also received Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand recognition, making it one of the more notable restaurants in The Starhill’s current dining collection.
The restaurant is particularly worth considering if you enjoy Indian food but want to explore beyond the more familiar North Indian dishes commonly found around Kuala Lumpur.
Good for: Seafood, Kerala cuisine, dinner, special occasions
Location: Ground Floor
2. XUYAN
For something completely different, XUYAN turns dinner into an immersive cultural experience.
Instead of operating like a conventional restaurant, XUYAN combines a 90-minute performance with a 12-course Chinese fine-dining experience. Costume rental and makeup are also part of the concept, creating an environment inspired by traditional palace settings and Chinese culture.
The current experience incorporates storytelling, music, costumes and visual elements alongside the meal.
The Starhill describes the 12-course dining experience as halal, making XUYAN particularly unusual among immersive Chinese fine-dining concepts in Kuala Lumpur.
This isn’t necessarily somewhere you’d visit for a quick meal between shopping. Think of it as an attraction and dinner combined—particularly suited to celebrations, visitors looking for an unusual Kuala Lumpur experience or anyone interested in immersive dining.
Good for: Special occasions, immersive experiences, celebrations
3. Okaju Japanese Grill
Japanese food lovers should look for Okaju, a contemporary Japanese restaurant specialising in robatayaki.
Robatayaki is a Japanese grilling technique where ingredients are cooked over fire, and Okaju builds its menu around this style while incorporating dishes from other parts of the Japanese kitchen.
The restaurant was founded by Chef Eddie Ng, whose professional experience spans London and Japan.
Expect grilled meats and seafood alongside contemporary Japanese dishes, with sharing menus and omakase-style experiences also available.
The interiors are another part of the experience: Okaju received Tatler Malaysia’s Best Restaurant Interior Design Award in 2023.
If you’re looking for a more refined Japanese dinner around Bukit Bintang rather than sushi from a casual mall restaurant, Okaju is one of The Starhill’s most interesting options.
Good for: Japanese food, robatayaki, date night, dinner
Location: Ground Floor
4. Shook!
Shook! has been part of The Starhill dining story for years and remains one of its most recognisable restaurants.
Rather than focusing on a single cuisine, Shook! takes a broader international approach.
Its current offering brings together Western and Asian influences, with dishes ranging from grills and seafood to Malay, Thai and Japanese preparations.
The restaurant’s grill programme focuses on meat cuts and seafood, while other sections of the kitchen explore dishes inspired by different culinary traditions.
This versatility makes Shook! particularly useful when dining with a group where everyone wants something different.
It is also closely integrated with the hospitality experience surrounding The Starhill and JW Marriott Kuala Lumpur.
Good for: Groups, business lunches, international food, hotel dining
5. Luk Yu Tea House
For Chinese food, Luk Yu Tea House is one of The Starhill’s longstanding dining institutions.
The restaurant takes its inspiration from Lu Yu, the Tang Dynasty writer associated with The Classic of Tea, and incorporates Chinese tea culture into the dining experience.
The menu focuses on Chinese comfort food and includes Hong Kong-style dim sum, Cantonese dishes and Chiu Chow specialities.
Naturally, tea plays an important role too, with selections sourced from Taiwan and China designed to accompany the meal.
Luk Yu works particularly well for family lunches, yum cha or a leisurely Chinese meal after shopping around Bukit Bintang.
If you’re visiting earlier in the day, this would be one of our first places to consider for dim sum at The Starhill.
Good for: Dim sum, Chinese food, family meals, tea
6. Jogoya
If you’d rather have a little bit of everything, Jogoya is The Starhill’s major buffet option.
The restaurant has been associated with Starhill for many years and offers a large international buffet covering several cuisines.
Its selection extends across Japanese, Chinese, Western and Malaysian food, with hundreds of dishes represented across the various stations.
Jogoya is particularly popular with larger groups and diners who enjoy variety rather than committing to one cuisine.
As of 2026, the restaurant continues to operate separate daily lunch and dinner sessions. Buffet prices vary depending on weekday, weekend and festive periods, so check the latest rates before visiting.
Good for: Buffets, large groups, celebrations, families
Location: Lower Ground Floor
7. Tarbush
Tarbush brings Lebanese and Middle Eastern food to The Starhill.
The menu covers many of the classics associated with the region, including hummus, mezze, grilled meats, shawarma, kebabs, mandi and rice dishes.
There is also a substantial selection suitable for sharing, making Tarbush particularly practical when dining as a family or group.
Another advantage is its relatively late operating schedule compared with many conventional mall restaurants, making it an option to consider after an evening around Bukit Bintang.
If you’re craving Arabic or Lebanese food rather than Asian cuisine, Tarbush provides one of the clearest alternatives within The Starhill itself.
Good for: Lebanese food, grilled meats, groups, late meals
Location: Lower Ground Floor
8. Opera Cafe
If you want something more casual, Opera Cafe combines café culture with Middle Eastern and Western influences.
Its elaborate interiors are part of the attraction, with a highly decorative setting that lends itself to coffee, desserts and leisurely meet-ups.
Food options extend beyond cakes and drinks to mezze, grilled dishes, pasta and other café-style meals.
Opera therefore works across several occasions: stop by for coffee during a shopping break, meet friends over dessert or settle in for a casual meal.
It also operates later than many conventional cafés, making it useful for an evening stop in Bukit Bintang.
Good for: Coffee, desserts, casual dining, meet-ups
Location: Ground Floor
9. Cafe Marais
Another option for a lighter break is Cafe Marais.
Its café format provides a contrast to The Starhill’s more elaborate sit-down restaurants and makes it convenient when you don’t necessarily want a full multi-course meal.
This is the kind of place to keep in mind after browsing the luxury boutiques or spending an hour inside Eslite Spectrum.
For more coffee options beyond the mall, explore our guide to the best cafés in Kuala Lumpur.
Good for: Coffee, light bites, shopping breaks
10. The Alchemy
If food isn’t the priority and you’re looking for an evening drink instead, head to The Alchemy.
The bar and lounge is particularly associated with gin, alongside cocktails and other beverages.
Its setting within The Starhill and JW Marriott environment gives it a noticeably different atmosphere from the bars found elsewhere around Bukit Bintang.
Consider stopping here after dinner at one of The Starhill’s restaurants or as the beginning of an evening in central Kuala Lumpur.
Good for: Cocktails, gin, after-dinner drinks, evening meet-ups
What Should You Eat at The Starhill?
The relatively small restaurant collection actually makes choosing easier than at some of Kuala Lumpur’s mega malls.
For a special meal
Start with Coast by Kayra for contemporary Kerala cuisine or Okaju for Japanese robatayaki.
For something unusual
Choose XUYAN if you’re looking for an experience rather than simply dinner. Its combination of performance, costumes and a multi-course meal makes it one of The Starhill’s most distinctive dining concepts.
For Chinese food and dim sum
Head to Luk Yu Tea House, particularly for a leisurely lunch or family meal.
For Japanese food
Okaju is the standout choice for contemporary Japanese grill, while Jogoya offers Japanese dishes as part of its much larger international buffet.
For a buffet
Choose Jogoya when variety matters more than settling on one particular cuisine.
For Middle Eastern food
Tarbush is the most straightforward choice for Lebanese and Middle Eastern dishes, while Opera Cafe provides a more casual café-style alternative.
For coffee or a lighter break
Try Cafe Marais or Opera Cafe, especially if you’re taking a break from shopping or visiting Eslite Spectrum.
For drinks
Finish the evening at The Alchemy for cocktails and gin.
Where to Eat at The Starhill for a Special Occasion
The Starhill’s restaurant mix is particularly well suited to occasions when you want something more substantial than an everyday mall meal.
For a date night, Okaju combines Japanese robatayaki with striking interiors.
For a seafood-focused dinner, Coast by Kayra provides a more unusual option through the flavours of coastal Kerala.
For an anniversary or birthday where the experience matters as much as the meal, XUYAN offers something quite different from a conventional restaurant.
And for groups with very different tastes, Shook! or Jogoya provide considerably more variety.
Where to Eat with a Family at The Starhill
Families have several options depending on what everyone feels like eating.
Luk Yu Tea House is an easy choice when dishes will be shared around the table, while Tarbush works particularly well for groups ordering mezze, grilled meats and rice dishes.
Jogoya is useful when everyone wants something different because of its extensive buffet selection.
Shook!’s multi-cuisine menu can similarly make choosing easier when dining with a group.
More Places to Eat Around The Starhill
One of the advantages of The Starhill is that you’re in the middle of one of Kuala Lumpur’s biggest dining districts.
You certainly aren’t restricted to the restaurants inside the mall.
Pavilion Kuala Lumpur
Directly opposite The Starhill is Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, which offers a significantly larger collection of restaurants, cafés, food courts and dessert shops.
The two malls are so close that it’s perfectly reasonable to shop at The Starhill and cross over to Pavilion for dinner—or vice versa.
Bukit Bintang
Step outside The Starhill and you’re already in Bukit Bintang, surrounded by restaurants ranging from hotel dining rooms to cafés, Japanese restaurants and casual Malaysian food.
Our complete Bukit Bintang guide can help you explore the wider neighbourhood.
Jalan Alor
For something considerably more casual, walk towards Jalan Alor in the evening.
Instead of polished mall restaurants, you’ll find an entire street filled with restaurants, grills, seafood and outdoor tables.
Read our Jalan Alor food guide if you’re planning to visit.
The Exchange TRX
Take the MRT one stop from Bukit Bintang and you’ll reach The Exchange TRX, another of Kuala Lumpur’s major dining destinations.
Its enormous F&B collection offers everything from quick meals and cafés to restaurants overlooking TRX City Park.
See our complete guide to what to eat at The Exchange TRX for our recommendations.
KLCC
You can also walk from the Pavilion area towards KLCC using the covered pedestrian walkway.
There you’ll find restaurants inside Suria KLCC, around the surrounding hotels and at newer destinations such as Ombak KLCC.
Our guide to what to eat at Ombak KLCC covers its growing restaurant and café line-up.
About The Starhill
The Starhill is a luxury shopping, dining and lifestyle destination at 181 Jalan Bukit Bintang, directly opposite Pavilion Kuala Lumpur.
Formerly known as Starhill Gallery, the property underwent a major redevelopment that transformed it into a more curated retail and hospitality destination.
Today, The Starhill combines luxury watch and jewellery boutiques, fashion, lifestyle concepts, restaurants and Eslite Spectrum with the adjoining JW Marriott Hotel Kuala Lumpur.
If this is your first visit, read our complete The Starhill Kuala Lumpur guide for shopping, Eslite Spectrum, transport, parking and nearby attractions.
How to Get to The Starhill
The Starhill is located at:
181 Jalan Bukit Bintang
55100 Kuala Lumpur
By MRT
Take the Kajang Line to Bukit Bintang MRT Station.
From the station, The Starhill is a short walk along Jalan Bukit Bintang.
Our Kuala Lumpur MRT guide explains the network if you’re travelling around the city using public transport.
By Monorail
The nearest KL Monorail stop is Bukit Bintang Station, also within easy walking distance.
Read our complete KL Monorail guide for the stations and attractions along the line.
From KLCC
From Suria KLCC, follow the KLCC–Bukit Bintang Pedestrian Walkway towards Pavilion Kuala Lumpur.
The Starhill is directly opposite Pavilion once you reach Jalan Bukit Bintang.
Frequently Asked Questions About Eating at The Starhill
What restaurants are at The Starhill?
Restaurants and dining concepts currently listed at The Starhill include Coast by Kayra, XUYAN, Okaju Japanese Grill, Shook!, Luk Yu Tea House, Jogoya, Tarbush, Cafe Marais, Opera Cafe and The Alchemy, among others.
What is the best restaurant at The Starhill for a special occasion?
The Starhill has several restaurants suitable for special occasions. Coast by Kayra offers contemporary Kerala cuisine with a strong seafood focus, Okaju specialises in contemporary Japanese robatayaki, while XUYAN combines a multi-course meal with an immersive cultural performance.
Is there Japanese food at The Starhill?
Yes. Okaju specialises in contemporary Japanese robatayaki, while Jogoya’s international buffet includes a substantial Japanese selection.
Is there dim sum at The Starhill?
Yes. Luk Yu Tea House serves Hong Kong-style dim sum alongside Cantonese and Chiu Chow dishes.
Is there a buffet at The Starhill?
Yes. Jogoya operates an international buffet with Japanese, Chinese, Western, Malaysian and other dishes. Lunch and dinner prices vary according to the day and season.
Is there halal food at The Starhill?
The Starhill describes XUYAN’s 12-course Chinese fine-dining experience as halal. Diners with specific dietary or certification requirements should check directly with individual restaurants before visiting, as policies and certifications can change.
Are there cafés at The Starhill?
Yes. Cafe Marais and Opera Cafe are among the café options, while Eslite Spectrum also adds to the wider lifestyle experience inside The Starhill.
Can I eat late at The Starhill?
Some establishments operate later than standard mall retail hours. Tarbush and Opera Cafe are among the options that may operate into the evening, although you should check current opening hours directly before visiting late.
The Starhill doesn’t have the enormous restaurant directory you’ll find at some of Kuala Lumpur’s newer mega malls—and that isn’t necessarily a disadvantage.
Its dining scene is more concentrated.
You can explore the coastal flavours of Kerala at Coast by Kayra, sit around the robata grill at Okaju, have dim sum at Luk Yu Tea House, choose from hundreds of dishes at Jogoya or turn dinner into an immersive experience at XUYAN.
Then there are longstanding names such as Shook! and Tarbush, alongside cafés and The Alchemy for drinks.
The location makes the selection even stronger. If you can’t find what you’re looking for inside The Starhill, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur is directly opposite, while the rest of Bukit Bintang and Jalan Alor are within walking distance.
That makes The Starhill less of an isolated dining destination and more of a useful starting point for eating your way through one of Kuala Lumpur’s most food-packed neighbourhoods.
