Best Food in Setapak
Ask anyone about the most famous food in Setapak and the first few that come to mind are usually the popular Tawakkal dai chao or grilled fish at Prima Setapak Food Court. However, if you grew up in Setapak, you’ll know that the suburb offers way more for the foodies.
Here are 10 food stalls or Chinese restaurants that serve the best food in Setapak!
1. Sin Onn Restaurant
One look at the smokiness of the dishes and you can rest assured that Sin Onn Restaurant serves plates of wok hei goodness. The restaurant is well-known for its Hokkien mee served with a distinct charred aroma and studded generously with pork slices and pork lard.
Another must-try dish here is their fried rice that comes with bits of char siew, prawns, and crispy pork lard cracklings. The wok hei of their fried rice will surely be approved by Uncle Roger himself. Go ahead and add some sambal to get a delectable mix of spicy and savory flavors.
📍 6778, Jalan Langkawi, Kampung Kuantan, 53000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
⏰ 8.30am – 4pm, closed on Monday
2. Restaurant Chuan Kee Bak Kut Teh
Chuan Kee is arguably one of the best bak kut teh in Setapak. The soup is packed with aromatic herbal notes and features tender pork ribs, mushrooms, beancurd skin, cabbage, and also pork intestines upon request.
While you’re here, you should also try their vinegar pork trotter. The black vinegar gravy marries well with the fluffy grains of rice and tender meat.
The restaurant may often have a long queue but the waiting time is brief, thanks to the efficiency of their staff.
📍 90, Jalan 2/23a, Taman Danau Kota, 53300 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
⏰ 8.30am – 2.30pm; 6.30pm – 10pm, closed on Monday
3. Yi Ji Seafood & Steamboat Restaurant
Nestled in the neighbourhood of Taman Setapak, Yi Ji is popular among families due to its fresh ingredients, rich soup base, and reasonable price.
The restaurant offers different sets that can be selected based on the number of pax. You can also choose between tom yam or pork soup bases, or even have both at once. Both the soup bases are equally rich in flavor and get increasingly tasty as more ingredients are added.
📍 Jalan Cengal, Taman Setapak, 53000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
⏰ 5pm – 11pm, Everyday
4. Ah Long BBQ Chicken Wing
In Malaysia, the best BBQ chicken wings are not found at fancy bars or restaurants but rather, street hawker stalls.
Ah Long BBQ Chicken Wing is one such hidden gem among the residents of Setapak. The 20-year-old stall boasts flavorful marinated chicken meat. Cooked over charcoal, the wings here are infused with exceptionally strong barbecue fragrance.
A long waiting time is usually expected at the stall. To avoid the long wait, be sure to call or WhatsApp 017 887 1138 to make a reservation.
If chicken wings are not enough to fulfill your hunger pangs, complete your meal with the pan mee or the curry mee next to Ah Long’s stall.
📍 32, Jalan 45/26, Taman Sri Rampai, Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
⏰ 7pm – 10pm, Everyday
☎️ 017 887 1138
5. Aik Yuen Hokkien Noodle
Commonly referred to as “Tawakkal dai chow” due to its location right behind Tawakkal hospital, Aik Yuen is one of the top dai chow Chinese restaurants in Setapak. Most people flock here for their Hokkien mee, but we think their lor mee deserves the spotlight too.
What we like about the lor mee is its thick gravy that has a good consistency to it. Add a drizzle of vinegar and a dollop or two of sambal chili and the dish is close to perfection.
📍 61, 43, Jalan Sarikei, Pekeliling, 53000 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
⏰ 6pm – 12am, closed on Monday
6. Thai Food Home Recipe
Thai Food Home Recipe is a humble house-slash-restaurant that’s often flooded with office workers and uniformed students. Founded by a Thai Chinese, you can expect to get authentic yet affordable Thai food here.
A few must-tries are the stir-fried pork curry and fiery red or clear white tom yam soup, which you can choose to pair with different types of noodles or rice. If you feel like trying something new, you can also opt for green curry spaghetti.
📍 NLot 5909, Lorong Chong Hwa 2, Batu 3 1/2, Gombak, 53000 Kuala Lumpur
⏰ 9.30am – 3.30pm, closed on Sunday
7. Prima Setapak Food Court
Hosting more than 40 stalls, first-time visitors here usually face the common problem of not knowing what to eat. Our top recommendations for you are the grilled fish stall and the Gombak Fried Chicken Rice stall.
The grilled fish stall serves fresh fish marinated with various spices and seasoning, grilled till tender, moist, and packed with flavors! You can also order vegetables and rice to go with the dish.
On the other hand, Gombak Fried Chicken Rice offers well-marinated fried chicken that’s crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Each set costs only RM6.50, and comes complete with soup, fried chicken, and seasoned rice.
📍 Jalan Prima Setapak, Taman Setapak, 53100 Kuala Lumpur
⏰ 9am – 5pm, closed on Monday
8. Stinky Tofu @ Pasar Malam Sri Rampai
It is said that the smellier a stinky tofu, the better the flavor. We assure you that you can smell the stinky tofu at the Sri Rampai night market from miles away.
The stinky tofu here is fried till crisp, topped with pickled cabbage and finally, drenched in thick chili sauce. The first bite is always magical, as you experience the unique texture of the tofu’s crispiness and softness together.
📍 35, Jalan 45a/26, Au 1, 53300 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
⏰ 5pm – 10pm, Thursday only
9. Hawkers Centre @ Hot Spring
Hidden in this food court is Kedai Makanan Mr. Bom (stall no.9), yet another of our go-to places for Hokkien mee in Setapak.
The dish is infused with rich pork flavor thanks to the generous servings of deep-fried pork lard. Compared to Sin Onn Restaurant, the texture of the Hokkien mee here is thicker and chewier, perhaps due to the use of homemade noodles.
📍 Jalan Ayer Pusing, Taman Air Panas, 53200 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
⏰ 7am – 4pm; closed on Wednesday
10. Jalan Genting Klang Wet Market
If you’re in Genting Klang and you’re unsure of what to eat, head over to the wet market located at Jalan Prima Setapak for some curry mee or char kuay teow.
A bowl of curry mee (RM6.50) here is filled to the brim with creamy curry broth and ingredients such as char siew, cockles, taufu pok, beancurd skin, bean sprouts, and egg!
As for the char kuay teow, we think it would taste better if tossed in the wok longer to make it less “wet”, but overall, the dish is flavorful and doesn’t lack wok hei.
📍 Jalan Prima Setapak, Taman Setapak, 53100 Kuala Lumpur
⏰ 7am – 7pm (differ based on different stalls)
A Malaysian foodie who’s proud of our local hawker culture. Always on the hunt for the best char kuay teow and nasi lemak.