Looking to explore Kuala Lumpur’s vegetarian and vegan scene, but not sure where to start?
Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered!
If you’re a foodie like me, I can bet your first mission before travelling to a new city is to hunt down the best places to eat. Doing this as a vegetarian can sometimes be frustrating, because it’s often daunting to find places that offer enough vegetarian or vegan options - especially if the local cuisines are notorious for their meaty dishes.
I recently went to Kuala Lumpur (KL), Malaysia to celebrate Lunar New Year with my partner. It was a lovely bustling city, with lots of fun things to see. KL has a diverse blend of cultures, with its population having a mixed heritage of Malay, Chinese and Indian. Much of this heritage and diversity has infused into its culinary scene as well.
Fortunately, there is a wide array of vegetarian and vegan food choices. In fact, there were so many places I wanted to try, but since I was only there for 5 days, I tried to go to as many places as I could - it would be an understatement to say I overATE.
If you are travelling to Kuala Lumpur and don’t know where to start looking, don’t worry! I created this guide to help make your life a little easier. Below you’ll find the 11 Top Vegetarian/Vegan Friendly places I went to. From spicy Malay curries to vegan sushi, this city has got everything.
Vegetarian Friendly Restaurants
Wholey Wonder Damai - Japanese Korean Fusion
We spent the morning working in a café, and were starting to feel hungry - so after a quick google search, we found this hidden GEM. This place is not what you would expect when walking down the main street. It is sort of in a hidden quiet area with not much around it, but when we walked in - we were greeted with a peaceful oasis of greenery at the entrance of the restaurant which created a lovely atmosphere.
Wholey Wonder Damai just opened about 6 months ago, and their menu was their “soft launch” menu, so we were excited to discover what they had to offer.
From a variety of flavorful ramen to hearty rice bowls, and even a Curry Cheese & Katsu Bao Burger - this menu certainly sparked our curiosity. They also have a nice selection of unique drinks to try. We opted for the Mala Ramen and Bulgogi and Kimchi Bao Burger which were both delicious. The Mala Ramen was quite flavorful and the lion’s mane mushroom was the highlight of the dish. The Bao was soft and moist, and came with tempeh chips - which was something I hadn’t tried before, but paired nicely with the Bao.
It’s very affordable with the average price of 24 ringgit (around $5.40) for a main dish.
We would highly recommend this place!
Address: 23, Jalan Damai, Kampung Datuk Keramat, 55000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Opening hours: 11am - 9pm every day
Timothy Cafe - Western Style Brunch
Timothy Cafe is a nice little Melbourne-style brunch spot if you’re craving something a little healthier. It’s located on a small street with some cute cafés along it. The cafe has a laid back and cozy vibe with a variety of vegetarian options on the menu.
With items like shakshuka, granola bowl and french toast on the menu - you’re sure to be satisfied. We had the Mademoiselle Omelette and Chia pudding which hit the spot, since we wanted to rent bikes to go to the Batu Caves that day. The Chia pudding was made with their homemade yoghurt and homemade granola which were extra tasty.
The prices are affordable ranging from 19-30 ringgit ($4.30-$6.80) for the breakfast items.
Definitely try to check out Timothy cafe for a quick brunch.
Address: 24, Jalan Tun H S Lee, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 8am - 9pm (Monday - Thursday), 8am - 10pm (Friday - Sunday)
Tapestry - Western Style Brunch
This is a little higher end brunch spot but is also reasonably priced. We were craving eggs and granola bowls again so we found Tapestry in a little neighborhood in Chow Kit. The area was filled with gorgeous colonial and industrial buildings - and Tapestry has a lovely blend of industrial elements and peaceful greenery, with delicious food and coffee.
The menu offers a vast range of items, from all-day breakfast items to more classic lunch and dinner items - including many vegetarian options to choose from.
We were feeling rather hungry that day - so we got the Horchata Smoothie Bowl, Avocado Toast and the Buddha Sandwich. May have been a little over the top but it was GOOD. The pesto in the Buddha Sandwich added the right level of saltiness while the paneer cheese had a nice chewy texture. The Horchata Smoothie Bowl was a nice twist on the usual smoothie bowls you usually find. The avocado toast was also a decent classic that is always satisfying.
The main dishes are priced around 30 ringgit ($6.80) - which is very reasonable for the quality and vibe.
Great place for a morning coffee/brunch or even a midday lunch.
Address: 28, Jalan Kamunting, Chow Kit, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 8.30am - 4.30pm (Monday - Friday), 8.30am - 5.30pm (Saturday - Sunday)
Bubble Bee Cafe - Asian/Western Fusion
This is another decent place whether you’re craving lunch or brunch on Petaling Street in Chinatown. I know there’s a pattern here, we were always eating brunch in the mornings so we had time to roam around and explore. And there’s nothing more satisfying than a full brunch spread before getting on with a full day of adventure.
Bubble Bee Cafe has a variety of dishes that range from asian-fusion to full western style brunch. If you’re craving a little mid-afternoon snack, they also have bubble-waffle wraps filled with various toppings. We were excited to try the Balance Brekkie to get a little taste of everything. It came with little bowls of granola, fruit, eggs, juice and bread - perfect for a quick brunch.
It was a nice spread and cost around 27 ringgit ($6.10).
Definitely give it a try if you’re walking along Petaling Street!
Address: 139, Jalan Petaling, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 7.30am - 6pm every day
Ching Ching by Pandan Republic - Asian Style Desserts
After walking around Chinatown, we wanted to have a little afternoon tea and snack, and we walked past Ching Ching by Pandan Republic. This was a very trendy place - but totally worth it! A long line of people were queuing to get their instagram picture of the delicious soft pandan ice cream that this place is known for. We thought it was worth a try because the list of dessert choices looked enticing.
Ching Ching by Pandan Republic makes Malaysian desserts with a twist. From soft ice cream to shaved snow and various cakes, this is a must-try. We had no idea what to choose, so we asked the waitress what her favorite was, and she recommended the Calamansi Shaved Snow.
It was SO good, nothing like I’ve had before. The initial taste was a mix of saltiness with pepper, which was confusing. But then suddenly you get the calamansi flavor (which tastes like orange). So you get this sort of salty-sweet vibe which was so addictive, we couldn’t stop eating it. If you’re adventurous and want to try something new - highly recommend the shaved snow.
Address: 6, Lorong Panggung, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 10am - 6pm (Monday - Tuesday, Thursday), 10am - 7pm (Friday - Sunday)
Vegan Friendly Restaurants
Kusa Vegan - Vegan Sushi
We absolutely LOVED Kusa, it was probably our top place we went to. We went there on our last evening and I only wish we had gone there sooner. It is an all-vegan Japanese restaurant with various sushi rolls, ramens and rice dishes.
The staff were friendly and guided us through the menu because we just couldn’t choose from all the amazing options. The strawberry sushi, miso ramen and kusa tempeh were just the tip of the iceberg when it came to their extensive menu.
The restaurant is quite stylish, with low-moody lighting. We wanted to try sushi and ramen, so we chose the sushi assortment platter to share and then both the Kusa Ramen and Miso Ramen - we may have gone overboard again, but it was our last evening so we couldn’t hold it together.
If you like spice, you have the choice of spiciness level on the Kusa Ramen - between Levels 1-5. The waitress suggested I go for level 1 and add on more later. Level 1 was already FIERY. Since the soup base was made from several kinds of chili, it was already spicy enough.
The sushi platter and miso ramen were simple but tasty. Sometimes simplicity is key to good tasting food, and it was the case here.
Very affordable prices for the level of quality - ranging from 10-20 ringgit ($2.30 - $4.50).
If you’re craving sushi - this is 100% the top place to go.
Address: Unit G2, Wisma Noble Land No 2, Lorong Changkat, Lorong Ceylon, Bukit Bintang, 50200 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 11am - 3pm, and then 4.30pm - 9pm (Monday, Wednesday - Thursday), 11am - 3pm, and then 5pm - 10pm (Friday - Sunday)
Minf Houze Vegan Cafe - Malaysian Style
We went to Minf Houze Vegan Cafe on our first evening. It is located on the third floor of the Wisma Cosway Mall. At first, the mall looks completely abandoned with barely any shops open, so it may be a little tricky to find. But as you follow the signs for Minf Houze Vegan, you’ll find it at the end of a corridor. The place was cozy and the staff were friendly.
The menu looks like those old chinese-take out style menus, and you receive a piece of paper to write down your order, which was fun!
There are so many options to choose from, but we were excited to try some of the noodle soups. So we went for the Homestyle Curry Ramen and the Pumpkin Mehun Ramen. Both were so warming and flavorful - topped with lots of vegetables. The Homestyle Curry Ramen was spicy, but exactly what we wanted on a rainy day.
The prices were low, each of the soup were around 17 ringgit ($3.85).
For nice Malaysian style dishes, give Minf Houze Vegan a go.
Address: Lot 3.17 & 3.21, 3rd Floor, Cosway Guesthouse, 88, Jalan Raja Chulan, Kuala Lumpur, 50200 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 10am - 8.30pm every day
The Hungry Tapir - Malaysian Fusion
The Hungry Tapir is a trendy restaurant located on Petaling Street in KL’s Chinatown and another one of our top places on this list. It has both a retro and modern vibe with mood lighting and fun music. The street in the evening time is bustling with music and funky bars, creating a lovely ambiance.
You are presented with many enticing options on the menu - we just wanted to try it all! We were curious to try the Nasi Lemak, since we hadn’t tried this national dish yet in Malaysia. It was incredible, very spicy but totally worth it. There is just something so refreshing about combining a spicy sambal sauce with fresh cucumber, peanuts and rice. Highly recommend the Nasi Lemak if you can eat a decent level of spice.
We also got the Jungle Laksa, which was warming and flavorful, with a variety of delicious toppings which made it extra tasty.
The menu also offers many fun drinks to try, so you could also go visit for just a lovely evening drink.
The prices vary from around 24-34 ringgit ($5.40 - $7.70). So still very affordable for the quality and vibe of this place.
If you’re strolling through Chinatown or just curious to try a unique vegan experience, definitely check out The Hungry Tapir. The charming ambiance, lovely staff and creative dishes makes this one of the most popular spots in the area.
Address: 135, Jalan Petaling, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 12pm - 10pm (Tuesday - Thursday, Sunday) and 12pm - 12am (Friday - Saturday)
Vegan Friendly Cafés
Common Grind Cafe - Coffee
After eating at Tapestry on our second day, we wanted to work at a cafe for a short while. So we headed to Common Grind, in the same neighborhood. It’s a hip and trendy cafe with fast wifi available.
They have a nice selection of coffees and other drinks with vegan milk options. We didn’t get any coffee, just a hot camomile tea - which was lovely. If you’re in the Chow Kit Area and craving a little pick me up, stop by Common Grind Café.
Address: 42, Jalan Doraisamy, Chow Kit, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 9am - 5.30pm every day
Pucks Coffee - Coffee and Pastries
If you’re looking for a trendy café to work at or relax for a short while in the Chinatown area, Pucks Coffee is a nice place. They have some fun card and board games available to play and a nice peaceful mood. Certainly an attraction for the hip youngsters of KL.
We stopped there for a relaxed coffee break. The pastries at Puck’s Coffee aren’t vegan unfortunately, but they have a good selection of coffees and other drink options that can be made vegan. The staff are friendly and there to help if needed.
Address: Back Portion, 180, Jalan Tun H S Lee, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 12pm - 12am everyday (except Tuesday)
Overtime Cafe - Coffee and Food
This is another nice place if you want to work or just enjoy a relaxing moment. The café is located near Intermark Mall, which is a little out of the way, but if you happen to be in the area then I would recommend Overtime Cafe. They have a nice selection of coffees and other drinks with vegan milk options, but sadly the food was not vegan friendly. For vegetarians, the croffles looked very exciting!
They have a playstation and some other card games to play while you’re there. If you prefer a more laid-back vibe, they have couches available to sit on. But if you are more in work-mode, they have nice individual “booths” by the windows.
Address: G-3, KL Trillion, 338, Jln Tun Razak, Kampung Datuk Keramat, 50400 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 8am - 6.30pm (Monday - Wednesday), 8am - 9pm (Thursday - Friday), 10am - 10pm (Saturday - Sunday)
Final Thoughts
I had a fabulous time in KL, and would highly recommend anyone thinking of visiting to give it a go. It is a well developed city with good transportation options, lots of food choices, and many shops to check out. The mix of cultures makes it a fascinating city and exciting place to discover! If you have time, definitely check out the Batu Caves and KL’s vast shopping malls with giant food courts.
CL says
This is sooo helpful thank you! Planning a trip to KL and didn't know where to start with veggie options - added all of these to the google list now :))
Vedanti Shah says
Glad to hear!