Kuala Lumpur’s rich culinary heritage remains steadfast with loyal customers consistently keeping their favourite businesses going.

The two-year pandemic has forced the F&B industry worldwide to change and adapt to all kinds of restrictions to operations while still providing an important service. What has been revealed throughout this global ordeal is how much the food we love means to us, and what many cities have done to keep traditions intact and to come out thriving.

Eater.com‘s release of where they consider to have the best destination meals include cities that have proved their resilience in providing for their customer base. And the only Southeast Asian city to make the list is none other than Kuala Lumpur!

Eater.com, a website under US-based Vox Media, published its list of 13 cities that are enjoying a thriving food scene post-pandemic include: Guadalajara, Mexico; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Saint-Martin, Caribbean; San Antonio, Texas; Markham, Canada; St. Louis, Missouri; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Clarkston, Georgia; Mallorca, Spain; Orange County, California; Nantes, France; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Berkshires, Massachusetts.

CELEBRATING THE HUMBLE HAWKER

Kuala Lumpur’s melting pot of hawker fare extends well into suburbs like Damansara and Cheras, while coastal areas like Klang, Kapar, and Sekinchan offer a host of local restaurants offering delicious family style home cooked dishes we can never get enough of.

Although not all these establishments have survived the pandemic, much of Kuala Lumpur’s rich culinary heritage remains steadfast with the daily streams of loyal customers consistently keeping these businesses going.

“Another city that never sleeps, the capital of Malaysia boasts an overwhelmingly diverse culinary scene,” says Eater.

“Most days the streets reverberate with hawkers exchanging friendly banter, utensils ricocheting off woks, chendol trucks rumbling by, diners chatting excitedly at tables spilling out of open-air restaurants.”

Eater also made it a point to highlight the impact the food and nightlife scene had to endure during the country’s Movement Control Order (MCO) back in 2020.

“Lockdowns caught the food and beverage industry off guard, and even as businesses pivoted to delivery, they faced shortages of containers and delivery riders, followed by more challenges,” they said.

But if there’s one thing that brings KL folk together, it’s our vibrant food scene and the city has bounced back stronger than ever with many new businesses in the mix, having started out during the pandemic.

“The smells, sights, sensations, and of course tastes returned too, as locals and expats fill the streets again, not only in the city center but in lively suburbs and coastal enclaves. From the sound of it, Kuala Lumpur is hungry for visitors.”