Kuala Lumpur’s competitive food scene has always been a layered one. These are two sprawling locations where heritage flavors, big-city aspirations, and cultural mashups co-exist. The Michelin Guide’s picks capture that duality perfectly: star-studded fine dining sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with Bib Gourmand neighborhood gems that prove good food doesn’t always need a hefty price tag. RADII shares eight spots that showcase the breadth of what KL and PJ are cooking up right now.
Dewakan Kuala Lumpur
At its core, Dewakan is all about Malaysia. Chef Darren Teoh builds a cuisine rooted in Malaysia’s indigenous landscapes, such as wild herbs, forest ingredients, fermented fruits, and hyper-local produce, and reimagines them through a modern lens. The room is softly lit and almost reverent, letting the dishes shine. It’s the kind of dining that makes you think about where Malaysian food has been, and where it could go next.
Address: Platinum Park, Level 48, Skyviews, Naza Tower @, Persiaran KLCC, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50088 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
Accolade: Two Stars + Green Star
DC. by Darren Chin
One of KL’s most polished fine-dining rooms, DC. by Darren Chin blends French technique with Japanese precision and Malaysian hospitality. You’ll find the freshest seafood, delicate vegetables, and luxe touches like abalone and lobster woven through seasonal tasting menus. The stunning restaurant is tucked away from the busyness of Kuala Lumpur city center in a charming storefront in the suburbs of Taman Tun Dr Ismail, showcasing a dining experience that’s both rare and refreshing.
Address: 44, Persiaran Zaaba, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Accolade: One Star
Beta KL
Beta’s tasting menu is a “Tour of Malaysia” in narrative form, a reworking of heritage dishes and street flavors into something sleek, elegant, and full of finesse. The dark, dramatic room, with its apothecary-style bar and batik-inspired details, adds to the sense of wonder. Chef Raymond Tham pulls from every corner of the country. Think Sarawakian rice and East Coast spices, with each dish essentially a postcard from Malaysia represented on a plate.
Address: Lot 163, 10, Jalan Perak, Kuala Lumpur, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Accolade: One Star
Chim by Chef Noom
Chim brings contemporary Thai fine dining into KL’s culinary circuit with a fresh, quietly luxurious mood. Think warm wood, minimalist lines, and dishes that blend Thai flavor profiles with modern technique and premium ingredients. It’s expressive without being loud, a place where familiar flavors like Thai curry and papaya salad show up in ways you’d never expect.
Address: L2-03, TSLAW Tower, 39, Jalan Kamuning, Imbi, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Accolade: One Star
Molina
Molina’s approach is calm, precise, and beautifully understated. A marriage of French technique and Nordic flair sprinkled with some Asian inventiveness, the dishes here lean into clean flavors intentionally pared back so each ingredient is highlighted. Meanwhile, the location is clearly Nordic-inspired with clean lines, soft lighting, and muted tones.
Address: Level 51, THE FACE Style, 1020, Jln Sultan Ismail, 50250 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Accolade: One Star
Coast by Kayra
Coast by Kayra brings Kerala’s coastal flavors into an airy, modern space that’s perfect for a date or a feast between good friends. Their fish curry is tangy with raw mango and rounded with fresh yogurt, which is the kind of dish that’s made for digging through bowls of rice. The cooking is refined yet deeply rooted in family recipes. Best of all? Prices are reasonable for the area—a reminder that “Michelin-recognized” can still be approachable.
Address: Lot G03-G05, Ground Floor, The Starhill, 181, Jln Bukit Bintang, Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Accolade: Bib Gourmand
Foong Lian
A nostalgic restaurant elevated by consistency, Foong Lian’s call to fame is its steaming-hot claypot chicken rice. Though simple in concept, the chefs are meticulous to a fault, using two types of rice to achieve a unique bite while their watchful eyes keep the flames at a steady pace so every pot tastes the same day in, day out. Amongst the many Chinese restaurants in downtown, this stands out as KL street food at its finest hour. That means lines can be long—but worth the wait.
Address: 55, Jln Yew, Pudu, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Accolade: Bib Gourmand
MTR 1924
MTR 1924 is a vegetarian South Indian institution with decades of heritage packed into its recipes. The KL outpost doesn’t stray from its roots at all. Think crisp dosas, hearty thalis, and homestyle classics served in a casual, no-fuss dining room. What makes it special isn’t the reinvention of any kind, but the consistency of keeping things authentic, providing patrons of all walks of life comforting flavors that feel both simple and quietly extraordinary.
Address: 69, Jalan Thambipillay, Brickfields, 50470 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Accolade: Bib Gourmand
Taken together, these restaurants show how wide the dining spectrum in Kuala Lumpur really is. You get fine-dining rooms pushing techniques and local ingredients, places reworking Malaysian flavors for a new audience, and long-standing neighborhood spots that continue to anchor the city’s everyday eating habits. Michelin’s picks don’t define the scene, but they do offer a clear snapshot of how tradition, ambition, and comfort all coexist here.
If you’re planning a foodie tour around KL and want to know where to best spend your time in between your Michelin meals, here’s a link that helps with both highlighting and booking activities around the city.
Cover image via The World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
