Peruvian cuisine, Indonesian staples, and many more — we’ve picked out what we think are some of the best new restaurants in Kuala Lumpur from 2024.
Kuala Lumpur’s dynamic culinary scene continues to evolve in 2024, with an exciting wave of new restaurants redefining dining experiences in the city. From contemporary fusion concepts to upscale fine dining, these new establishments offer something for every palate, showcasing bold flavors, innovative techniques, and a captivating ambience.
Among the standout newcomers is Tanba Japanese BBQ at The Exchange TRX Mall, a haven for Japanese cuisine enthusiasts. This stylish yakiniku spot promises premium cuts of meat, expertly grilled at the table, paired with a curated selection of sake in a sleek setting underneath deep hues of dramatic orange and red.
On the other end of the spectrum, MICHELIN Opening of The Year awardee Molina KL has set the precedent this year for Scandi-sophistication. Occupying the 51st floor of The Face Style hotel, be prepared to be led along a culinary journey that skirts ocean foam and deep earth, curated by Chef Sidney Schutte of Amsterdam’s Spectrum.
Mesa on 51, newly located in Permata Sapura Tower, offers a fresh take on the Marini’s Group’s approach to contemporary European dining. Combining Latin and Asian flavors, Mesa’s dishes are as artful as its setting, complete with sweeping views of the Kuala Lumpur skyline.
As for steak lovers, Asador V in Menara Hap Seng is an unmissable new addition to the city’s dining scene. This Argentinian-inspired steakhouse specializes in premium wood-fired cuts, complemented by a robust library of wines amid a truly opulent atmosphere in the city’s beating heart.
These are just a taste of what’s new in KL’s gastronomic landscape from 2024. Spanning innovative interpretations of regional fare to global influences, the city’s latest eateries promise unforgettable culinary adventures that cater to a spectrum of tastes. Whether you’re after upscale elegance or bold new flavors, these best new restaurants in Kuala Lumpur from 2024 are sure to tantalize the tastebuds.
Our picks for the best new restaurants in Kuala Lumpur from 2024
Jump To / Table of Contents
- 1 Pickle Dining
- 2 Bistro Léa
- 3 Asador V
- 4 BAR.KAR
- 5 Coast by Kayra
- 6 Molina KL
- 7 Mesa on 51
- 8 Tanba Japanese BBQ
- 9 Feliz KL
- 10 Betawi
Our Top Picks
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Aged Bidor Duck with Tamarind Sauce & Pickled Vanilla Snake Fruit:
Slices of deliciously tender Bidor duck are aged for four weeks to deepen its flavour, paired with the tartness of tamarind sauce and pickled vanilla snake fruit
Jump to Review -
Boeuf Bourguignon:
Succulent wagyu beef cheeks simmered with baby carrots, pearl onions, and morsels of earthy Swiss brown mushrooms in a rich, indulgent sauce.
Jump to Review
Pickle Dining
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A time-honoured method of extending the longevity of food that also imparts an additional dimension of flavour enjoyed throughout the globe, pickling has evolved far from a medium of necessity into an art in itself. And there is no better place to experience its multifaceted virtues in cuisine than at Jalan Tun Tan Chen Lock’s Pickle Dining. A masterful, open-fire ode to both pickling and fermentation, it has swiftly earned a place of eminence on this list with creations such as the excellently tender Aged Bidor Duck with Tamarind Jus, which impresses in both texture and tempered tartness.
Operating hours:
- 6.30pm – 11.30pm
- Closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays
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Bistro Léa
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A new name emerges from the hospitality crop in Sri Hartamas more swiftly than you can keep count throughout the year. This is to suggest that as far as making an impression goes, freshly minted Bistro Léa has managed to accomplish the excruciatingly difficult task of emerging as one of the neighbourhood’s most notable debuts this year. A postcard-perfect interpretation of provincial French charm with its deliberately chic end-lot decorated with a fountain and checkerboard al-fresco dining tables, its qualities are only bolstered by a menu of carefully curated provincial staples, spanning a vividly crisp Niçoise Salad laid with pink slices of tuna, to a sinfully hearty beef bourguignon.
Operating hours:
- 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm (Tuesday to Friday)
- 9am – 11pm (Saturday and Sunday)
- Closed on Monday
Additional Information
Asador V
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For steaks galore, Vantador is easily one of Kuala Lumpur’s most eminent names, having carved a niche for themselves as purveyors of dry-aged steak since 2018. The mothership’s success has since spawned a second outlet, located among the glittering clutch of premium hospitality brands that have taken up residence in Menara Hap Seng along Jalan P. Ramlee. A genuine carnivore’s palace in every sense of the word, Asador V continues in the lineage of its sister brand with equally sublime cuts of exceptional beef, prepared in the South American asado style, as its name suggests.
Operating hours:
- 12pm – 12am (Monday to Saturday)
- 6pm – 12am (Sunday)
What we liked:
- The dry-aged bone-in ribeye represents great value for steak aficionados, with robust flavour and a yielding texture in every bite.
Additional Information
BAR.KAR
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The portmanteau du jour in Kuala Lumpur as of late is BAR.KAR. Those familiar with the Malay lexicon understand it as a verb, ‘to burn’. Appropriately christened with a menu that is built upon the foundations of open-flame cooking, this latest project by co-founder Soh Yong Zhi and head chef Kevin Ng of Eat + Cook fame is already on a surefire trajectory for success. Its appropriately thematic ambience, with an entrance lined with firewood, easily sets the tone for a sumptuous meal while the food easily supersedes all expectations.
Operating hours:
- 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm (Tuesday to Sunday)
- 6pm – 11pm (Monday)
What we liked:
- The Charsiew Wagyu Beef Rice, prepared in a traditional claypot to seal in flavour with intense heat, brings out the best of charred, smoky flavours.
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Coast by Kayra
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Offshoots of successful dining luminaries tend to take after the legacies of their forebearers, as Asador V and BAR.KAR has gone on to prove. In that case, Coast by Kayra falls into step by easily keeping pace with the original Kayra in Bangsar Village, despite diverging from its menu by training its focus on shoreline bounties replete with fresh catches. Parked in The Starhill by commanding an immediately recognisable storefront adorned with beachside influences, be prepared to tuck into the best of what the Malabar coast has to offer.
Operating hours:
- 11.30am – 11pm (opens daily)
What we liked:
- The Fish Moilee Biryani, feeding two to three pax, coats gems of biryani rice in a luscious curry brimming with buttery flavour.
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Molina KL
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Nabbing Opening of the Year at the MICHELIN Guide 2024 awards ceremony, there is no refuting Molina KL‘s place in our list of dining must-visits before we come to the end of December. That is assuming, of course, you can nab a table at your soonest convenience. Co-owned by Sidney Schutte of Amsterdam’s Spectrum fame, this sky-bound dining address serves a carefully balanced menu that skims on the boundaries of both land and sea, poaching rarified ingredients that tempt the Southeast Asian palate to venture beyond the beaten track.
Operating hours:
- 6pm – 12am (Tuesday to Saturday)
- Closed on Sunday and Monday
What we liked:
- The lobster dish from their seven-course degustation menu is a genuine delight, married to the tartness of cherries and tomatoes with a touch of indulgent foie gras.
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Mesa on 51
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Cavaliere Modesto Marini sees things five steps ahead, as those in the hospitality industry know by repute. It was by merit of his entrepreneurial clairvoyance and bold audacity that bequeathed Kuala Lumpur with one of its most distinctive dining experiences – Marini’s on 57 back in 2012. More than ten years on, the Italian hospitality group has no intentions of slowing down. On the contrary, it may even have successfully caught lightning in a bottle a second time with Mesa on 51, its new Latin venture that retains many of the formulaic tenets of its predecessor, including a similarly spectacular vista of prime Kuala Lumpur skyline.
Operating hours:
- 5pm – 2am
- Opens daily
What we liked:
- The Pulpo Canario, or grilled Spanish octopus, deserves a commendation for its springy bite and touch of grilled smokiness.
Additional Information
Tanba Japanese BBQ
Sleek and cast with deep orange and burnt reds, you’ll be forgiven for mistaking Tanba Japanese BBQ in The Exchange TRX for a new cocktail lounge catering to the city’s trendsetters. While that latter part still holds true, you won’t expect to find mimosas and Cosmos here. Instead, let the sizzle of wagyu slices entice you to drop by and tuck into an all-you-can-eat feast that is truly worth your dime. From short plate to karubi, you’ll find them all, alongside a wealth of premium seafood options, for a single price.
Operating hours:
- 10am – 12am
- Opens daily
What we liked:
- Their varied assortment of A5 wagyu beef slices, all available as part of their all-you-can-eat package.
Additional Information
Feliz KL
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Avenue K’s hospitality tiara on the fourth floor gains a flavourful addition with the debut of contemporary Peruvian restaurant Feliz. Part of the Cinnamon Group of restaurants, which includes venerated names such as MICHELIN-approved NADODI, this celebration of Lima’s coastal recipes takes centre stage along the Southeast Asian equatorial belt. Taking its name after the Spanish word for ‘happy’, be prepared to be overjoyed by the spread on offer here, graced by everything from hearty skewers of tenderloin ala Anticuchos de Lomo Fino, to a Nikkei-led serving of Tiradito de Tuna.
Operating hours:
- 12pm – 11pm (opens daily)
What we liked:
- The sprightly Tiradito de Tuna, with its slices of tuna sashimi laid atop a tangy chalaquita de mango salsa, shines as an ideal example of Peruvian excellence at Feliz.
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Betawi
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While we may share enough with Indonesian cuisine for it to be familiar, the differences come down to provincial flavours that are less commonly featured on most conventional restaurant menus. One of TTDI’s most recent entrants this year, Betawi, brings with it an extensive smorgasbord of the archipelago’s best local hits in a setting that is as inviting as it is thematic. From seafood options, ala fried shrimp tossed in finely julienned vegetables in a serving of Udang Ringan Cabe Ijo, to the much-loved crisp round of Tahu Telur that has perfected the art of a tantalising appetiser.
Operating hours:
- 11.30am – 3pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm (Tuesday to Friday)
- 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm (Saturday and Sunday)
- Closed on Monday
What we liked:
- The Tahu Telur, crusted with a crisp omelette and plated on a puddle of bumbu kacang, whets the appetite for dishes to come.
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Written by
Benjamin Wong
Senior Editor, Fashion and Dining
Armed with an Advertising major from Lancaster University, Benjamin is a senior editor who has spent his time oscillating between the social media and digital media landscape since 2018. With a keen interest in haute fashion and gastronomy, he has written for publications such as ERROR Digital, WORLD OF BUZZ, and KL Foodie. Beyond the keyboard, you can find him arms-deep in a thrift pile.
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