Named after the famous entrepreneur, public official, and founder of Malaysia’s first locally owned departmental store, Chow Kit is a lively suburb in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. It draws visitors from all over the map with its popular wet market – Bazaar Baru Chow Kit, countless eateries, and many cultural attractions.
Best Things to Eat & Do In Chow Kit, Kuala Lumpur
From exciting walking tours to dynamic stalls with spirited vendors, from local kedai makan to refined dining, let’s find out what Chow Kit, KL, has to offer!
How To Get There
As is the case with many places in KL, parking can be a bit of a challenge here. Fortunately, Chow Kit is easily accessible via the Medan Tuanku Monorail Station and the Sultan Ismail LRT Station connecting visitors to KL Sentral and beyond. Of course, there are always e-hailing apps too!
Where To Stay In Chow Kit
The Chow Kit – an Ormond Hotel
Dubbed ‘Malaysia’s Best Boutique Hotel 2023’ by World Travel Awards, The Chow Kit – an Ormond Hotel has also been featured in the MICHELIN Guide’s ‘Best Hotels in Malaysia’. With a design that marries 70’s luxury with contemporary comforts, this travellers’ sanctuary is located in the heart of old Kuala Lumpur and is perfect for rest, relaxation, and exploration.
The Chow Kit is conveniently located in proximity to Bukit Bintang and Petaling Street – the hub of shopping and commerce in the city while also being the perfect home-away-from-home.
Address: The Chow Kit – an Ormond Hotel, 1012, Jln Sultan Ismail, Chow Kit, 50100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Phone: 03-2778 6666
Top 5 Best Things To Do In Chow Kit
This part of Kuala Lumpur is an absolute hive of activity! With so much to do, we’ve narrowed down the list to the Top 5 best things to do on your next trip to Chow Kit, KL.
1. Stay and Dine at The Chow Kit – an Ormond Hotel
The best way to experience Chow Kit is to stay in the area. One establishment that offers more when you stay is The Chow Kit – an Ormond Hotel. Throughout January 2024, the hotel offers a Stay & Dine package where guests receive RM150 in dining credits for every night’s stay. This allows you to save more on food while staying at Malaysia’s Best Boutique Hotel 2023!
Moreover, The Chow Kit also offers a Private Dining experience – where you can share an intimate dining experience with your loved one in an exclusive private space.
For more information, visit their website.
2. Visit Bazaar Baru Chow Kit
This wet market (or morning market) is a mish-mash of colours, cultures, and foods. The chaotic mix is spread out over a large area including stalls, old buildings, and narrow streets. From colourful varieties of fresh fruit to meats, vegetables, and even toys and clothing – this market has it all. After all that walking, visitors will be glad to learn there are kopitiams here for some refreshments too!
3. Join the Chow Kit Walking Tour
The best way to get to know Chow Kit, KL is to hit the streets! The starting point of the walking tour is at The Chow Kit – an Ormond Hotel. From there, your local guide – Fuad – will take you on a leisurely 90-minute to 2-hour walk through the streets and alleys of Chow Kit with stories and facts being shared along the way.
Price: RM 129 (Hotel Guests), RM139 (Non-Hotel Guests) – Inclusive of complimentary beverage redeemable at The Chow Kit Kitchen & Bar.
Booking via this link.
4. Visit the Sudirman Mural
Mural artist Syamsul Haffiz Addenno spent 200 hours creating a mural in honour of the late great pop singer, Datuk Sudirman Arshad. Chow Kit has a special connection with Sudirman for his famous Chow Kit Road Concert in 1986. On the 14th of April that year, “The People’s Singer” performed for free in front of 100,000 people at the same location now graced by his mural.
Location: 465, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman (beside Bazaar Baru Chow Kit).
What To Eat In Chow Kit
Chow Kit is a foodie’s paradise with options ranging from the Nasi Kandar – a crowd favourite – to elegant meals fit for the discerning traveller. Here are our five picks for where to eat in Chow Kit!
1. The Chow Kit Kitchen & Bar
If the kitchen is the soul of any home, then The Chow Kit Kitchen and Bar is the elegant heart of this hotel. They take pride in serving classic Malaysian favourites with a twist; elevating them to the next level.
Portions are generous and each dish is prepared with great care and the finest, most authentic, locally sourced produce.
In addition to local cuisine, The Chow Kit Kitchen & Bar also serves Western dishes, which include their seasonal and festive menus. This December, they’re offering a 4-course dinner Seasonal Menu featuring Scallop Tartare, Laksam, and Grilled Rack of Lamb. Do note that while they do not serve pork and no alcohol is used in their food, alcoholic beverages are served at the bar.
Address: 1012, Jln Sultan Ismail, Chow Kit, 50100 Kuala Lumpur
Business Hours: 7am – 11pm (Daily)
Contact: +603 2778 6688
Further Info: Website | Facebook | Instagram
[No Pork, No Lard, Serves Alcohol]
2. Yut Kee Restaurant
This popular KL restaurant has been serving delicious Hainanese cuisine for breakfast and lunch since 1928! Among their most popular dishes are their Hainanese Chicken Chop and Roast Pork Roll (served with their in-house apple sauce!) which bring in large crowds – especially during the weekends. The food is well worth the wait so get there early and expect a queue!
Address: 1, Jalan Kamunting, Chow Kit
Business Hours: 7:30am – 3pm (Daily)
Contact: +603-2698 8108
[Non-Halal]
3. Restoran Kin Kin
A long-time favourite of KL-ites, Restoran Kin Kin is famous for its Chilli Pan Mee which it claims to have invented in 1985! For nearly three decades, they’ve been serving springy wheat noodles topped with crispy anchovies, minced pork, spring onions, fried garlic, and a soft-boiled egg with a side of soup. The final touch is their delicious and fiery fried dried chillies which you can add to your heart’s desire – be warned, it packs a punch!
Address: 40, Jalan Dewan Sultan Sulaiman, Kampung Baru
Operating Hours: 6:30am–6:30pm (Daily)
[Non-Halal]
4. Sin Hua Bee Bakery
For more than 60 years, the family behind Sin Hwa Bee Bakery have been producing and selling traditional Chinese biscuits and pastries. They are most famous for their ga lui bing (wedding biscuits). It’s becoming increasingly rare to find treats such as these being sold the traditional way – in large glass jars on stepped shelves. Sin Hwa Bee proudly continues the tradition and will hopefully continue giving us our dose of nostalgia – and tasty cookies – for decades to come.
Address: 72, Lengkok Raja Laut, Chow Kit, KL
Business Hours: 9:30am – 6pm (Closed on Sundays)
[Non-Halal]
5. Kudu Abdul Nasi Kandar
Restoran Kudu Bin Abdul is an iconic Nasi Kandar joint with a wide variety of curries and dishes to select from. It’s another long-time establishment in Chow Kit having been in operation since 1969! Regarded by its fans as “the real deal” of Penang nasi kandar, its plates of rice topped with generous ladlefuls of curries and gravies are sure to please. We recommend their Ayam Bawang and Daging Hitam!
Address: 335, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman Chow Kit, KL
Business Hours: 10.00am – 10.00pm (Closed on Sundays)
Contact: +603-2697 7082
[Halal]
Where to Stay, Eat, and Explore in Chow Kit
In conclusion, Chow Kit is one of KL’s most exciting neighbourhoods that you absolutely must visit! Whether you’re searching for a nice place to stay, looking for activities to do with friends, planning a dinner date, or looking for good food, this historic spot has it all!
Save this list and don’t forget to check out the amazing food and activities from The Chow Kit – an Ormond Hotel! Enjoy Foodies!
Link(s): Website | Facebook | Instagram
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