In today’s fast-paced life, which often also includes fast-paced holidays and itineraries packed with as many sights as possible, there is one place where time slows down and where our taste buds dictate the pace: sitting down to a relaxing lunch or dinner.

Asia has made its name in the gourmet world over the decades and many travellers make it a point to include culinary experiences as a highlight of their holiday. Thailand is at the forefront of Asian foodie destinations, with a well-deserved global reputation.

Visitors to the Kingdom can enjoy everything from inexpensive street food eaten on a plastic stool at a lively street corner to sophisticated Michelin-starred dinners in restaurants competing for the highest number of stars.

Bangkok is full of trendy restaurants, some leave their mark forever, while others disappear a few years after opening, paving the way for the next eatery – but whether one spends five or 500 dollars, a delicious meal is almost guaranteed.

One country that gets little attention as a culinary destination is Malaysia, in particular, Kuala Lumpur. Penang is firmly on the foodie map, especially for lovers of noodle dishes like laksa, a personal favourite of mine, but the rest of the country often gets, at best, a footnote in foodie conversations.

During my recent visit to Kuala Lumpur, Emir Cherif, our Managing Director for Malaysia and Singapore, spoiled me with an amazing array of restaurant visits, where we tasted dishes that are still engraved in my memory. Emir knows how much I love sampling local dishes in simple restaurants, but also how much I enjoy a culinary experience where every dish is an explosion of tastes and spices.

I usually do not mention names of restaurants or hotels in my stories, since I do not want to favour one over another, but I’ll make an exception here with the restaurant Bol. Situated in a local neighbourhood away from the skyscrapers, Bol is housed in a colonial-era terrace shophouse that has been converted into a charming and stylish venue.

To put it simply: I would travel again to Kuala Lumpur just to eat at Bol. This fine-dining place offers a modern twist on Peranakan cuisine, a rich blend of Chinese, Malay and Indonesian influences. Every dish is an explosion of flavours, unique in its taste, and honestly, I find it difficult to find the right words to describe it.

This is not fusion cuisine or a mix of tastes where you are unsure what you are eating. The flavours are distinct and unlike anything else. With impeccable service, a large choice of boutique wines and meticulous attention to detail, dinner at Bol is truly an evening to remember. It is also probably one of the best value-for-money fine dining experiences in Asia.

Another restaurant worth mentioning is Dewakan. If I’m not mistaken, it was the first restaurant in Malaysia to receive a Michelin star and today – more than ten years after opening – it remains one of the most unique dining experiences in the country.

This is also a fine-dining establishment, but with a more down-to-earth culinary approach. Focusing on Malaysian cuisine, which some may perceive as limited in flavour, Dewakan uses hard-to-find ingredients to create truly special dishes. Though a bit rough around the edges, the dishes are deeply flavourful and unlike any other Malaysian food I’ve eaten.

Today in Kuala Lumpur, one is truly spoiled for choice. In addition to fine dining options featuring cuisines from Malaysia and around the world, local restaurants are in abundance. One of my all-time favourites remains a humble chicken rice venue in the heart of the city.

The family has been serving the same dish for generations. Queues can be long, and yes, it is ‘just’ chicken rice, but my goodness, what a tasty meal this is. I often come across international articles celebrating such traditional venues in Bangkok, but how many of you have read about places like this in Kuala Lumpur? Very few, I’d say.

Last but not least, I would like to say that for vegetarians, Asia offers a wide range of choices. In some major cities like Beijing, there are specialised, fine-dining restaurants offering exclusive vegetarian tasting menus, which for non-vegetarians like me are definitely worth a detour.

Has this story sparked your interest in Kuala Lumpur’s diverse dining scene? Our Malaysian offices will help you with restaurant recommendations in Kuala Lumpur and elsewhere in the country. Likewise, all Asian Trails offices are equipped with the same in-depth, local culinary knowledge to curate gastronomic experiences tailored to your clients’ individual preferences.

There is always a good time to eat in Asia!

Laurent Kuenzle
CEO, Asian Trails