Chow Kit food guide
Just a 5-minute drive from the heart of Kuala Lumpur, Chow Kit has never really been established as a destination for food hunters. But in recent years, the neighbourhood has quietly evolved, with a growing number of cafes and restaurants popping up alongside long-standing favourites.
As the scene gets livelier, here are 16 cafes and restaurants in Chow Kit where you can enjoy everything from hearty meals and indulgent desserts to kopitiam classics.
Table of Contents
1. Tapestry
Go-to brunch spot at Chow Kit
Image adapted from: @tapestrymy via Instagram
If you are looking for a space that feels like an escape from KL, Tapestry in Chow Kit delivers just that. With high ceilings, lush greenery, and industrial brick accents, the space offers a thoughtfully curated interior that feels both airy and inviting.
Image adapted from: @tapestrymy via Instagram & @惟 via Xiaohongshu
Come nighttime, the ambience shifts into something more intimate with dimmed lights, perfect for dates or special occasions.
Image adapted from: @tapestrymy via Instagram
Breakfast dishes for brunch start at RM22, while mains start at RM30. Their cakes and pastries are especially popular, alongside a wide selection of drinks.
2. Kooky Plate
Dine with a view of the Petronas Twin Towers
Image adapted from: @kookyplate via Instagram
At Kooky Plate, everyone goes kooky over their cakes. Donning a signature blue and orange palette, the space feels playful and inviting, paired with comforting meals and delicious desserts.
Image adapted from: @kookyplate via Instagram
While their cakes are the main highlight, their menu also features fusion mains that cater to a variety of tastes.
Image adapted from: @kookyplate via Instagram
Before you leave, don’t forget to snap a photo by their outdoor wall, with the Petronas Twin Towers peeking in the background.
3. 103 Coffee
Award-winning coffee drinks
Image adapted from: @103coffee_official via Instagram
Not every cafe has awards under their belt, but 103 Coffee proudly boasts six Malaysia Latte Art Championship wins, along with a world latte award title.
Image adapted from: @103coffee_official via Instagram
At 103, latte is not only a drink, but it is also an art form. You can choose between different animal designs that have won championships, priced at RM15.90 per cup.
Their innovative brews also offer something unexpected yet refined, with fruit elements incorporated into coffee.
Image adapted from: @103coffee_official via Instagram
103 Coffee also serves mains like Grilled Prawn Chazuke (RM39.90), alongside shareable plates like the Unagi Pizza (RM30.90).
4. Licky Chan & The Poke Guy
Alcoholic & non-alcoholic gelato flavours
Image adapted from: @hendihindarto via Instagram & Ming-Xuan
Ice creams are meant to be licked, and at Licky Chan & The Poke Guy, their flavours will surely lick you off your feet.
Image adapted from: @hendihindarto via Instagram
Their ice cream ranges from non-alcoholic (from RM10.80) to alcohol-infused (from RM15.80) flavours, each quirkily served with a fortune cookie.
Image adapted from: @hendihindarto & @lickychan via Instagram
Inside, dim lighting and immersive decor create a surreal vibe, complete with a ball pit for lounging. Adding to the uniqueness, there is even a tattoo artist operating within the space, making it part dessert bar, part creative hub.
5. Osteria Gamberoni
Traditional Italian restaurant
Image adapted from: @lxn915 via Instagram
For a slice of Italy in KL, Osteria Gamberoni serves up authentic Italian fare with freshly made pasta and Roman-style thin-crust pizza. Tucked beneath Yap Ah Shak House, the restaurant feels like a cosy European escape rather than a casual dining spot in the city.
Image adapted from: @osteriagamberoni via Instagram
Beyond date nights, head here for lunch, as they also offer set lunches that are perfect for office crowds or anyone craving a hearty meal in the area. Priced at RM32 for a 2-course set, the menu changes monthly, keeping things fresh.
6. Silverfox Cafe
A cafe with a photobooth
Image adapted from: @min不过敏 via Xiaohongshu
For monochrome baddies and silver lovers, Silverfox Cafe is a dream. The entire space features black, white, and silver tones, creating a sleek and calming environment.
Image adapted from: @路上雪花酥 & @Dvo朵朵 via Xiaohongshu
The food adds pops of colour to the otherwise muted space, from matcha latte to hearty rice bowls.
Image adapted from: @Dvo朵朵 via Xiaohongshu
Outside, a telephone booth-style photobooth offers a fun add-on experience, with prints priced from RM15.
7. House of Wheat
Cave-inspired cafe
Image adapted from: @houseofwheat.cafe via Instagram
House Of Wheat stands out with its cave-inspired interior, featuring textured walls and earthy tones that create a cosy, tucked-away feel.
Image adapted from: @houseofwheat.cafe via Instagram
While best known for their bread and pastries that switch out each day, the cafe’s menu highlights include Sourdough with Chicken Hummus (RM25) for their mains.
8. Cheevit Cheeva
Dessert shop from Thailand
Image adapted from: @随风 via Xiaohongshu
To beat the Malaysian heat, Cheevit Cheeva brings Thai-style desserts to Chow Kit, with its first outlet here spanning two floors.
The cosy space features cushioned seating and playful bingsu-themed decor.
Image adapted from: @cheevitcheeva_malaysia via Instagram & @白学公主（自学美甲版）via Xiaohongshu
Their signature Royal Thai Tea Bingsu (RM36, large) is perfect for sharing among 3–4 people, while the Toast Pandan Sang-ka-ya (RM32) is another must-try.
Read our review of Cheevit Cheeva.
9. Joloko
Afro-Caribbean cuisine
Image adapted from: @jolokokl via Instagram
Malaysia is known for its multicultural food scene, and Joloko is one of those spots to discover it. This restaurant-bar serves Afro-Caribbean cuisine, earning a spot on the World’s 50 Best Discovery list for their scrumptious lineup of dishes.
Image adapted from: @jolokokl via Instagram
Expect bold, surprising flavours like Chef Susu’s Jollof Rice (RM20) and Jamaican Jerk Chicken (RM80).
All dishes are shareable, so come ready to explore new flavours and go on an adventurous dining experience.
10. Padangs On Wheels
Big Breakfast plate with Malaysian flavours
After a long list of many fusion cuisines and dishes, Padangs On Wheels, serving Indonesian dishes, is also another restaurant worth trying in Chow Kit.
Image adapted from: @padangsonwheels via Instagram
At Padangs On Wheels, there are breakfast options and also the local comfort food that everyone knows of, such as their Big Breakfast (RM35), a plate of Malaysian fusion dish that feeds 3 to 4 people, and their Nasi Uduk.
Vegetarian options are also available here, such as their Fried Tempe Set (RM15.80).
11. Listen HiFi
Vinyl cafe with over 100 records
Tucked above Padangs On Wheels, Listen HiFi is a vinyl cafe that turns music into a whole experience to have beyond your home.
You can enjoy 90-minute listening sessions here, listening to a vinyl from their collection of over 100 records and sipping on iced coffee drinks. Each session is priced RM25.
Daily pastries can be seen on their countertops, and their drinks like Matcha Strawberry (RM16.50) and Black Yuzu (RM13.50) are good complementary drinks to go with your listening session.
Read our review of Listen HiFi.
12. Kwong Cheung Loong Kopitiam Bar
Kopitiam-inspired bar with unique drinks
Kwong Cheung Loong Kopitiam Bar may not be for the faint-hearted.
This bar at Chow Kit serves unconventional drinks that cater to a niche audience, such as Century Egg Latte (RM18.50), an ungodly creation mixing the traditional Chinese century egg and coffee, and Fermented Bean Curd Latte (RM13.50), mixing, you guessed it, fermented bean curd and coffee.
For visitors who are not willing to go on this adventure of a lifetime, not to worry, they also serve familiar Malaysian dishes like wantan Mee, classic coffee drinks, and alcoholic beverages, so there is something for everyone.
Read our review of Kwong Cheung Loong Kopitiam Bar.
13. Kingu Kongu
Fresh sushi & Japanese mains
Image adapted from: @阿里下蛋🍳via Xiaohongshu & @kingukongu.my via Instagram
Chow Kit is filled with eateries that bustle with different flavours. Kingu Kongu is the area’s resident Japanese restaurant.
Image adapted from: @kingukongu.my via Instagram
Order authentic and fresh sushi from RM24, and other Japanese mains such as Volcano Beef Don and Yaki Soba from RM26. Their Yakitori options are also crowd favourites for light bites to go along with drinks.
14. Gavel
English meals, including Sunday Roast
Image adapted from: @KKY & @布莱恩李 via Xiaohongshu
A long-standing name in Chow Kit, Gavel has been serving hearty English meals from the same spot since 2018.
Image adapted from: @gavel_kl via Instagram
A few dishes worth mentioning here are their Gavel Beef Wellington (RM170), Whole Roast Seabass (RM70), and on Sundays, their iconic Sunday Roast at RM95 per pax, a four-course meal that changes weekly.
They are also known for their selection of craft beers, making it a great dinner spot.
15. Yut Kee
Kopitiam from the 1920s
Image adapted from: @小Q在英国 via Xiaohongshu & @yutkee1928 via Instagram
A true KL classic, Yut Kee brings traditional Hainanese kopitiam-style breakfast to its customers, with decades of history behind it. They’ve been serving Hainanese-style breakfast in the city since 1928.
Image adapted from: @一直饿的jinjhujhuuu via Xiaohongshu
They are known for their traditional flavours, serving breakfast staples that all Malaysians know and love, Toast (RM4.40) and Egg (RM4.40), paired with a cup of coffee (RM3.15), and also their signature Hailam Mee (RM11) and Chicken Chop (RM19).
The queue tends to start once they open their doors to the public at 7.30am, so do come early to avoid the crowd.
16. Pekin Duck & Grill
Refined Chinese cuisine
Image adapted from: @pekinduck_grill via Instagram
For a more upscale dining experience, Pekin Duck & Grill serves refined Chinese cuisine in a stunning, drama-like setting. With elements like bonsai trees, koi ponds, and traditional wooden screens, dining here feels like stepping onto a movie set.
As for food, their Signature Pekin Duck (RM238), seasonal fish, and sets fit for an emperor, the Emperor’s Choice set, priced at RM238 per guest, with a minimum of 4 paying guests, are all worth ordering.
Image adapted from: @pekinduck_grill via Instagram
Their signature Pekin ducks and curated set menus make it ideal for family gatherings and special occasions, though it does come at a premium price.
Do make a reservation on their website before heading over to Pekin Duck & Grill.
Cafes and restaurants at Chow Kit
If you’re wondering where to go for your next food hunt in Klang Valley, Chow Kit might just surprise you. Home to a diverse mix of cafes and eateries, the area is easily accessible by public transport and offers plenty of parking options for a fuss-free visit.
From hidden gems to unique dining concepts, it’s a neighbourhood that’s slowly carving out its own identity, so skip the usual spots and give Chow Kit a visit.
Cover image adapted from: @103_official via Instagram, @gavel_kl via Instagram, @随风 via Xiaohongshu