KL Food Trip: The Street Food of Jalan Alor Night Market
Jalan Alor Night Market
My friends and I stayed at the area of Bukit Bintang, the shopping and entertainment district of Kuala Lumpur (KL). Our location was so strategic because it was near Jalan Alor, a street that is full of hawkers and restaurants. Yes, I consider a location strategic if its near a foodie destination! LOL.
Jalan Alor, which translates to Alor Street in English, used to be a red light district. It has gone through several facelifts until it became to what it is today—a food haven for locals and tourists alike. It’s a quiet street in daytime and transforms into a night market, hustling and bustling with activity. You’ll encounter people of different nationalities, local performers, and interesting beggars (you’ll know what I mean when you go there).
Granted, it’s a touristy area so prices are higher than usual. But the quality of the food remains superb. Here are the food we tried and recommend:
Coconut Ice Cream at Sangkaya
Coconut Ice Cream is a common dessert in Jalan Alor. It’s basically scoops of ice cream placed in a coconut shell.
Sangkaya Ice Cream
There are a few ice cream vendors in the night market. But we went to Sangkaya because it has a nice stall (I later learned that it’s a famous chain). They have 6 ice cream flavors: Chocolate, Coconut, Green Tea, Gula Melaka (palm sugar), Mango, and Teh Tarik (pulled milk tea). You can also put toppings such as nuts and sprinkles, and it’s unlimited!
Chicken Wings and Satay at Restoran Wong Ah Wah
Restoran Wong Ah Wah (W.A.W.) is perhaps the most popular restaurant in Jalan Alor. They’re famous for their grilled chicken wings, which are plump, tender, juicy, and nicely charred (how many descriptions did I give?). The flavor is simple, reminding me of Filipino barbecue. But what makes it special is the chilli dip, which is spicy and citrusy. It makes the wings W.A.W.! LOL.
Restoran Wong Ah Wah
Chicken Wings (left) and Satay (right)
Another W.A.W. bestseller is satay, which is skewered meat served with peanut sauce and cucumber on the side. It’s available in beef, chicken, and mutton varieties. I like the beef the most because of the fat.
Operating Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 5:30PM-4AM; Friday & Saturday, 5:30PM-4:30AM | Facebook: W.A.W Restaurant Sdn Bhd
Colorful Dimsum
I was skeptical when I saw these colorful dumplings, arranged beautifully in huge steam baskets. I thought it was just trendy and lacks flavor. But to my surprise, they tasted good.
Colorful Dimsum
Each color represent a flavor. We got many varieties but I forgot how most of them tasted. I only remember the purple (yam) and black (pepper).
Durian Fritters
If you love the King of Fruits like I do, then you shouldn’t miss this one. It has a crispy batter and a creamy durian filling.
Durian Fritter (RM4)
Lamb Barbecue at Dina’s R.E.C.I.P.E.
Don’t ask me what R.E.C.I.P.E. stands for. LOL.
When you enter Jalan Alor’s southern tip, you will immediately notice the stall selling barbecue lamb. How can you miss the smoke of the roasted baa baa goodness?!
Dina’s Lamb Barbecue (100 grams: RM15; minimum of 300 grams)
The lamb is grilled to a nice char and brushed with barbecue sauce. It’s also fatty and tender, with a nice barbecue sweetness. I think it’s the halal counterpart of baby back ribs.
I haven’t done an extensive foodventure at Jalan Alor. So when I return to KL, I hope to try more restaurants and street food there. So what food or restaurant should I try next? Comment them below!
Other entries in the KL Food Trip series: The Amazing Local Food of Kuala Lumpur | The Search for the Best Nasi Lemak