12 Affordable Muslim-friendly restaurants in KL that serve Korean, Chinese, Western cuisine and more! (Some halal-certified!)

Written by Nur Batrisya

Dear young adult Muslims, are you tired of being broke and hungry in Kuala Lumpur? Always dreaming about your favourite Korean Ramyeon noodles, but worried about its halal status? We know how that feels.

It’s easier to find halal Malay or Indian cuisine, and sometimes Western food as well, but how can you satisfy your cravings for Korean, Chinese and Thai cuisine too when more often than not these are not pork-free? And if they are, they might be out of your budget. How can treating ourselves to a good yet affordable meal be so difficult?

Well, here’s some good news for you! We’ve dug out Muslim-friendly restaurants in KL that are not only known for its good quality food, but are wallet-friendly at the same time (mains priced at around RM 15 or less!) and offer variety that’s not just the usual local food! Yes, we are talking about halal dim sum, Thai boat noodles, Korean food and more!

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1. Krunch down on some K-fry – Dokebi Chicken

Here’s one for all the Korean fried food lovers out there – emerging into the scene is the newly opened Dokebi Chicken that’s sure to leave you craving for more.

Having only launched its first branch this year in Cyberjaya, word quickly spread about how tasty and affordable their menu is. You can opt for their Dokebi Bop set for only RM 12.80, which offers rice with 2 wings, 2 drummets, and salad with their choice of sauces such as Yang Nyeom, Spicy Yang Nyeom, Garlic Soy, Spicy Garlic Soy, Dokebi Special or Spicy Dokebi Special.

But if you’re there with a friend, we recommend their famous Dokebi Chicken with Snowing Cheese Powder (RM 29.80) which feeds two! It’s well-portioned and tasty, so go give it a try!

2. Enjoy Thai street style boat noodles from old recipes – Little Rara Thai Noodle

Living up to their motto “Every bowl from the heart”, you get to experience true Thai street style cuisine for an exceptionally low price at Little Rara Thai Noodle. Using a family-old recipe, the crew whips up their sweet boat noodles made up of 100% Thai products that are halal-guaranteed.

Visitors love their open-air concept which makes up for a cool ambience in the middle of the city, and the food is just as superb too.

Their Maggi Tom Yam Talay is perfect if you’re coming in a group, and it’s a popular choice amongst foodies who come by to visit as well, with a starting price of just RM 18! But if you come alone, you can have a taste of their speed boat noodles or noodle soup that range from RM 6 to RM 11.

Mmm, sounds good for the tummy!

3. Chow down halal Japanese Wagyu burgers – Raja Bakor 23 (Doplohtiga)

Do we have any burger junkies here? I know we do!

If you don’t mind getting your hands dirty for food, Raja Bakor 23 is the way to go! Local celebs like Emma Maembong, Wak Doyok, and Dato’ Hj Afdlin Shauki adore this burger joint for its wholesome burgers that come at a good price!

Get a taste of their famous burgers named after superheroes like The Ironman, The Spiderman, The Hulk and The Ronin, and pick your patties and sides as you please!

For just the burger itself (à la carte), you can get a big chunk from RM 15. But if you’re looking to splurge and really chow down, Raja Bakor 23 serves halal Japanese Wagyu burger at RM 88. In fact, it’s actually the first burger joint in KL to offer it! They also have branches in Melaka and Perak for those who are out of town but looking for some sweet burger to sink your teeth into.

Their old KL branch at Titiwangsa is also available as an event space for you to enjoy with family and friends!

So bring your family over for a bite!

4. Get some Seoul food for the soul – EID Authentic Korean Cuisine

Now we know how Malaysians go crazy for everything Korean, including of course, Korean cuisine.

EID Authentic Korean Cuisine restaurant is run by a Korean-Muslim couple, Yu Hyunwoo and Han Narae, and has been featured in several local media such as TV3’s “Jalan-jalan Cari Makan”, TV2’s “Chikiboom” and TV3’s “Borak Kopitiam”.

Many rave about their well-portioned dishes, comfortable setting and value-for-money dishes. If it’s your first visit, try their tasty Original Bulgogi Beef Lunch Set (RM12.90) served with soup and green tea.

And how can you not order some snacks to share if you come in a group? Their Sweet Spicy Soteok (sausage with rice cakes) which costs RM 7.90 per serving is a hit!

5. Halal dim sum from RM 6.90! – My Dim Sum

We know how difficult it is to find halal Chinese food in KL, not to mention halal dim sum!

My Dim Sum at Setapak Central Mall is not only popular for its Muslim-friendly Chinese cuisine, but for its affordable prices as well. Here, you can pick and choose your favourite dim sum served on beautiful traditional bamboo steamers and colourful Chinese porcelain plates.

Our recommendations? Try their Siu Mai, Xiao Long Bao or Salted Egg Custard Bun (with hot custard flowing out when you bite into it)! But if you’re craving for fuller meals, My Dim Sum offers Chinese fried rice and noodles too.

6. Craving for Mexican-Texan food? – Órale

Update: This restaurant is now permanently closed, but you can still order deliveries from their central kitchen.

If you are a fan of burritos, tacos, and all things Mexican, you’ll definitely love this Mexican-Texan Food restaurant, Órale.

The interiors are as attractive as its menu, so don’t forget to snap a couple of #OOTDs for your feed! Try their popular quesadilla which ranges from RM 13 – RM 16 (you can choose from chicken, beef or lamb). You’ll be served with 4 large stuffed pieces that’s bountiful in flavours!

Another item worth noting is their Gael’s Ground Chicken Nachos (RM 12) – how can we say no to cheesy nachos?

Located at Uptown Damansara, parking might be limited in this area, but you can park at Starling Mall which is just next door.

7. Delicious halal dim sum with large variety! – Skaters Dim Sum

Located in eCurve mall, Skater’s Dim Sum restaurant offers more options than My Dim Sum in their menu.

Not only are their dim sum affordable, but service is also fast in a family-friendly ambience.

And guess what, they offer super cheap delicious combos too! Here’s two options (RM 12.90 per set):

Set 1: Stir-fried radish cake, parsley chicken dumpling, Vietnamese skin salted egg with prawn roll and lotus paste bun

Set 2: Fried kuey teow, prawn dumpling, beancurd roll and red bean bun

Also, you can enjoy up to 50% discount if you book for specific timings using the Eatigo app. With such affordable prices for delicious dim sum, how can you say no?

8. Authentic wood-fired pizzas – Pizza Mansion

Mama-mia, itzza pizza! Craving an authentic hand-tossed, wood-fired baked pizza that tastes just as good as it looks? Try Pizza Mansion.

From the decor to the food, every little detail of this restaurant is put together perfectly and definitely worth its hype. You can expect crowds here, especially during lunch or dinner hours, but we assure you the queue is worth the wait.

Once my friends and I came in a group of 5, we ordered 2 regular pizzas, 1 macaroni-and-cheese and 5 drinks (mineral water), which cost us just RM 17+ per person and we were super full after. Honestly, that’s a MAJOR steal.

P.S. The restaurant serves beer, but all their ingredients are halal and are Muslim-friendly.

9. A Thala Vazha Saapadu set for only RM7.95! – Mollagaa Restaurant

This restaurant is temporarily closed during MCO.

At this authentic South Indian restaurant, their popular Thala Vazha Saapadu set will only cost you RM7.95, and will definitely fill you up!

If you’re looking for some finger food, try their Cheesy Mutton Kola Urundai, which is basically Chettinad meatball made of mutton and cheese and seasoned with freshly ground masala. Yum!

10. Fill your tummy with delicious banana leaf rice – Sri Nirwana Maju Restaurant

Looking for affordable yet awesome banana leaf rice and South Indian cuisine? Sri Nirwana Maju Restaurant is a popular hotspot for both locals and foreigners alike, especially for its banana leaf rice that goes for RM 8.50. It also offers a vegetarian option that’s only RM 8!

If you’re looking for a heartier meal, try their Chicken Biryani Set (RM12)! They also offer other popular Mamak favourites such as Maggi Goreng Mamak.

Due to its popularity, you can expect that the place would be packed during lunch and dinner hours, but it’s spacious as they have both indoor and outdoor sitting areas.

11. Dig into breakfast before you take off your day – Departure Lounge

This restaurant is temporarily closed during MCO.

Hands up if you agree with me – there’s nothing better than starting your day with a good meal, or having the luxury of an all-day-breakfast at any time! The Departure Lounge is an all-day cafe located not too far from Órale.

It’s main attraction is it’s fun build-your-own-breakfast option which you can choose up to 7 items on a plate. If you’re not too hungry, 5 items on a plate is already quite filling, and it will only cost you RM 15.90. If you are eating for two, we recommend the Travel Platter which comes with free drinks for only RM39.90.

This restaurant is also halal, so they only use Beef Bacon and Turkey Bacon. So, how would you like your breakfast served?

12. Authentically Thai, straight from Mom’s kitchen – Restoran Udon Thani Thai Style Foods

Run by a Malaysian-Thai couple (Ahmad, who’s Malaysian, and his Thai wife Aisyah), Udon Thani’s customers get to fully indulge in an authentic Thai culinary experience whipped up from traditional Thai family recipes passed down from Aisyah’s mother.

Their must-tries include Seafood Tom Yam (RM 12.90), Nasi Goreng Udon Thani (RM 8.90), Pulut Mangga (also known as Mango Sticky Rice) (RM 6.90), Daging Bakar (roast beef) (RM 11.90) and green curry (RM 10.90).

Tasty and affordable is what most of us young adults look for, and this restaurant seems right up our lane. Most of their mains start at RM 7.90 and if you’re wondering what’s good, Aisyah suggests that you try their Pad Kra Pao (Thai basil chicken served with rice) or Pad Prik Gaeng (chicken breast cooked with red curry paste and long beans) as these dishes are common dishes amongst Thais.

Think you’ve found your next go-to Muslim-friendly foodie hotspot? Don’t forget to tag your friends and share your hidden gems!

PLEASE NOTE: All the above information is correct at the date of publication. If you come across any changes or updates, please let us know and we will update the information accordingly. Thank you! Tell us

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