Eight restaurants, namely three in Kuala Lumpur and five in Penang — have been added to the Michelin Guide for Kuala Lumpur and Penang.
As of now, these restaurants will not have any designation of Stars, Green Stars or Bib Gourmands yet. It will be announced in the next upcoming annual Michelin Guide ceremony.
In December last year, the inaugural Michelin Kuala Lumpur and Penang guide was announced in a ceremony where 97 restaurants were selected.
The new restaurants announced in this first release are:
Kuala Lumpur
Hor Poh Cuisine
36 Jalan 6/38D, Taman Sri Sinar, Segambut, 52100 Kuala Lumpur.
This simple shop has been selling authentic Hakka food in an unremarkable neighbourhood for over 20 years. The must-try Hor Poh lui cha is a sheeny green soup served with steamed rice. Made with ground sesame seeds, peanuts and mint leaves, the soup is nutty and aromatic. The Hor Poh dumpling with dried tofu, garlic and pickles enrobed in a thin skin is also popular. With a range of tasty offerings at bargain prices, this place is always busy.
Jalan Ipoh Claypot Chicken Rice
Lot 1224, 7 Jalan Batu Ambar, Taman Kok Lian, 51200 Kuala Lumpur.
For over 30 years, this stall has been selling chicken rice cooked to order over charcoal in claypots. The dish comes with Cantonese pork sausage and ginger, and has a crispy crust at the bottom. You can add salted fish, which imparts extra aroma.
Roti by d’Tandoor
82 Jalan Damai, Kampung Datuk Keramat, Off Jalan Ampang, 55000 Kuala Lumpur.
A North Indian brand, d’Tandoor opened in Malaysia in 1990 and has since spread to other countries around the world. Located in a residential area, they offer a hearty range of fine Indian cuisine, featuring a consummate blend of herbs and spices. Highlights include well-seasoned butter chicken masala and soft, chewy naan bread, while Kulfi ice-cream – available in a variety of flavours – adds a final flourish to the meal.
Penang
Ah Boy Koay Teow Th’ng
Lebuh Clarke, George Town, 10050, Penang.
This friendly family-run shop, now in the second generation, specialises in koay teow th’ng, served in soup or dry. The broth is made from chicken and pork bones. The springy tendon balls have a nice ginger flavour. A tasty option is the braised chicken with bean sprouts.
Ghee Lian
Lot No. 39, MBPP Kompleks Makanan Medan Renong Padang Kota Lama, 4 Jalan Tun Syed Sheh Barakhbah, George Town, 10200, Penang.
They serve three noodle dishes: the signature green tom yum, noodle soup and fried noodles. The fresh green tom yum hits the right balance of sour and spicy. The fried fish topping has a crispy outer layer and a succulent centre; the large prawns have a moreish umami flavour.
Hot Bowl White Curry Mee
58C Jalan Rangoon, George Town, 10400, Penang.
White curry mee is served in a coconut milk-based broth with a bowl of curry paste on the side so that you can adjust the heat to your liking. The curry paste is available for sale by the bottle; it takes two hours to hand-stir the spices with dried shrimps and chillies. Optionally, pair your mee with deboned steamed chicken, spiced loh bak or Teochew guang jiang. The clear broth noodle soup with chicken meatballs is also worth trying.
My Own Café
2 Lebuh Cannon, George Town, 10200, Penang.
This charming family-run shop serves Penang asam laksa, Nyonya laksa and fried spring rolls. The light and refreshing red soup of the signature asam laksa strikes the right balance of sour and spicy and is nicely topped off with mint and pineapple. The spring rolls, stuffed with vegetable filling, taste equally good.
Siam Road Char Koay Teow
82 Jalan Siam, George Town, 10400, Penang.
Open for half days, this small store draws long queues – mostly tourists and young customers. They serve just one dish: stir-fried koay teow. The wok-fried flat rice noodles emit a charcoal aroma, are well seasoned and come with quality ingredients that can be spiced to taste.
Check out the rest of the Michelin list for Kuala Lumpur and Penang.
