The mamak is the great equaliser of Klang Valley life. It is where students cram for exams over teh tarik, where football fans crowd the TV screens at 3am, and where office workers wind down a long day with roti canai and a plate of mee goreng. No booking, no dress code, just a fan spinning overhead and a menu that runs all day and often all night. Kuala Lumpur and Selangor are packed with these Indian-Muslim institutions, some of them older than the highways that pass them.
We went looking for the best of them. Every mamak on this list holds a Google rating of 4.0 or higher, drawn from thousands of real diner reviews, and we have ranked them by how many people have actually reviewed them, from the busiest names down. From 24-hour nasi kandar giants near KLCC to family tea stalls off Jalan Masjid India, here are the 10 mamak spots in KL and Selangor worth planning your next roti-and-teh run around.
What Makes a Great Mamak in KL?
A good mamak is judged on a few honest things. The roti canai should be crisp at the edges and fluffy in the middle, pulled and slapped fresh, not reheated. The teh tarik needs a proper frothy head and the right sweetness. Then there is the nasi kandar rice and curry, the mee goreng mamak, and the maggi goreng that soaks up a late-night appetite. Beyond the food, mamak culture is about the hours and the welcome. The best spots stay open past midnight, take walk-ins without fuss, and let you linger over a glass of drink long after the plates are cleared.
Are Mamak Restaurants in KL Halal?
Mamak eateries are run by the Indian-Muslim community, so they do not serve pork and are generally geared toward Muslim diners. That said, formal halal certification varies from one outlet to another, and some display a certificate while others simply operate as a Muslim-owned kitchen. If a valid halal cert matters for your table, it is worth a quick look for the certificate on the wall or a call ahead before you go. Most of the places below are longstanding neighbourhood fixtures, but certification status can change, so check the latest before you commit.
Table of Contents
- 1. Restoran Nasi Kandar Pelita (KLCC)
- 2. Murni Discovery (SS2)
- 3. Pak Li Kopitiam (Klang Sentral)
- 4. Mohd Yaseem Nasi Kandar (Jalan TAR)
- 5. Mansion Tea Stall (Masjid India)
- 6. Nasi Kandar LC (Kampung Baru)
- 7. Zainul Nasi Kandar Original No. 90 (Sungai Way)
- 8. Restoran Kudu Abdul (Chow Kit)
- 9. Restoran Jamal Mohamed (SS5, PJ)
- 10. Kedai Mamak Husin (Bukit Bintang)
1. Restoran Nasi Kandar Pelita (KLCC)
Pelita is the mamak that outgrew the neighbourhood and became a national name, and the Jalan Ampang outlet near KLCC is its busy flagship. It runs a full nasi kandar spread, pulls a solid teh tarik, and keeps the roti canai coming around the clock, which is exactly why it is one of the most reviewed eateries in the city. The dining hall is big, bright and built for volume, so you rarely wait long even at odd hours. Come for the curry-drenched rice, the fried chicken and the sotong, and stay because it never closes. A dependable first stop for anyone new to mamak.
Operating Hours: Open 24 hours (Daily)
Address: 113, Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2162 5532
Google Review: View on Google
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2. Murni Discovery (SS2)
Murni is the mamak that turned a supper run into an event. The SS2 branch is legendary for its sprawling menu that fuses mamak staples with Western and Asian mash-ups, plus a drinks list so long it reads like a novel. This is where you order a Michael Jackson or a wild layered ice-blended and pair it with roti tisu, cheesy naan, or a fully loaded fried rice. It opens in the early evening and runs deep into the small hours, so it suits night owls and big groups. Loud, colourful and never boring, Murni is a rite of passage for PJ diners.
Operating Hours: 5:00 pm – 5:00 am (Daily)
Address: 53, Jalan SS2/75, SS 2, 47300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Tel: 012-529 9601
Google Review: View on Google
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3. Pak Li Kopitiam (Klang Sentral)
Pak Li Kopitiam takes the mamak template and gives it a clean, air-conditioned makeover, and the Klang Sentral outlet is one of the highest-rated in the family. It keeps the Indian-Muslim menu you want, roti canai, nasi kandar, thosai and teh tarik, but serves it in a comfortable modern setting that works for families and remote workers alike. The service is quick, the space is tidy, and the food stays honest to its roots. It is a good shout if you like your mamak flavours without the bustle of an open-air shoplot. Handy for anyone passing through the Klang side of the valley.
Operating Hours: 9:00 am – 10:30 pm (Daily)
Address: G6, Persiaran Klang Sentral 4/Ku5, Klang Sentral, 42200 Klang, Selangor
Tel: 019-236 3608
Google Review: View on Google
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4. Mohd Yaseem Nasi Kandar (Jalan TAR)
A Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman institution, Mohd Yaseem has been feeding the Chow Kit crowd its nasi kandar fix for decades. The draw is straightforward: generous rice, a deep line-up of curries, and fried chicken that regulars swear by, all at prices that keep the tables full. It runs from mid-morning well past midnight, making it a reliable stop for shoppers by day and supper-seekers by night. The setting is classic old-KL mamak, functional and unfussy, with the rhythm of a kitchen that has done this a very long time. Order the mixed rice, point at what looks good, and let the curries do the work.
Operating Hours: 9:00 am – 3:00 am (Daily)
Address: 351, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Chow Kit, 50100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2694 8927
Google Review: View on Google
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5. Mansion Tea Stall (Masjid India)
Tucked off Jalan Masjid India, Mansion Tea Stall is the daytime mamak the old-town regulars keep coming back to. It leans into breakfast and lunch service, so this is the spot for a proper morning roti canai, a plate of nasi with rich curries, and a hot teh tarik to start the day. The atmosphere is bustling and community-driven, the kind of place where the neighbourhood traders and shoppers all seem to know the staff. It closes in the early evening rather than running late, which makes it a strong pick for an authentic mamak breakfast or a hearty working lunch in the city centre.
Operating Hours: 7:00 am – 7:00 pm (Daily)
Address: Off Jalan Masjid India, City Centre, 50100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 012-331 1456
Google Review: View on Google
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6. Nasi Kandar LC (Kampung Baru)
Nasi Kandar LC sits in the heart of Kampung Baru and keeps its doors open around the clock, which makes it a go-to for late-night cravings in the city. The pull here is the classic kandar experience, a mound of rice flooded with mixed curries, plus fried chicken, squid and the usual mamak sides. Being 24 hours and close to the KLCC skyline, it draws a steady mix of shift workers, night crawlers and post-event crowds. It is unpretentious and quick, the sort of place you rate on the food and the timing rather than the decor. When hunger strikes at 4am, LC has you covered.
Operating Hours: Open 24 hours (Daily)
Address: 170, Jalan Raja Abdullah, Kampung Baru, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 017-409 6129
Google Review: View on Google
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7. Zainul Nasi Kandar Original No. 90 (Sungai Way)
Zainul is a Sungai Way favourite that has built its name on old-school nasi kandar done properly. Working out of the Kompleks C food court in PJS, it draws a daytime queue for its rice and curry combinations, with the gravy-soaked “banjir” style being the order to know. Fried chicken, fish and the range of curries keep the regulars loyal, and the pricing stays friendly. It is a lunch-hour operation that shuts by late afternoon and takes a rest on Sundays, so plan your visit for a weekday midday run. A no-frills spot that lets the curry do the talking.
Operating Hours: 8:00 am – 4:30 pm (Mon–Sat); Closed Sunday
Address: No. 90, Medan Selera Kompleks C, Jalan Sultan, PJS 52, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Tel: 03-7956 2724
Google Review: View on Google
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8. Restoran Kudu Abdul (Chow Kit)
Restoran Kudu Abdul, or Kudu Bin Abdul, is one of KL’s true heritage nasi kandar names, trading on Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman for generations. The signature is the deeply spiced curries ladled over rice, with the fried chicken and mutton drawing devoted regulars who have eaten here their whole lives. It is a daytime-into-evening operation rather than a 24-hour joint, so it suits a proper sit-down lunch or an early dinner. The setting is old-KL to the core, worn and warm, with the confidence of a kitchen that helped define the dish. If you want to taste nasi kandar history, this is the address.
Operating Hours: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm (Mon–Sat); 10:00 am – 8:00 pm (Sun)
Address: 335, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Chow Kit, 50100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2697 7082
Google Review: View on Google
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9. Restoran Jamal Mohamed (SS5, PJ)
Restoran Jamal Mohamed is the neighbourhood mamak that anchors the SS5 corner of PJ, open 24 hours and busy at almost any of them. It covers all the everyday bases, roti canai in the morning, nasi and curry through the day, and the mee and maggi goreng that fuel late-night sittings. The appeal is its steadiness: fair prices, quick plates, and a spot that is always there when you need it. It is the kind of place locals treat as an extension of the living room, good for a solo supper, a mamak session with friends, or a football night in front of the screens. Reliable, round the clock.
Operating Hours: Open 24 hours (Daily)
Address: No. 24, Jalan SS 5A/9, SS 5, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Tel: 03-7865 9786
Google Review: View on Google
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10. Kedai Mamak Husin (Bukit Bintang)
Rounding out the list, Kedai Mamak Husin does exactly what its name promises: honest mamak food in the middle of the Bukit Bintang action, open 24 hours a day. Sitting at Idaman Robertson, it is well placed for city-centre crowds who want roti canai, nasi kandar and a teh tarik at any hour without heading out of town. Expect a quick, casual sitting with the familiar mamak line-up and a steady stream of regulars and passers-by. It is a handy anchor for a late supper after a night out in the Bukit Bintang area, or an early breakfast before the city wakes up. Simple, central and always open.
Operating Hours: Open 24 hours (Daily)
Address: G4 & G5, Idaman Robertson, No. 2, Jalan Robertson, Bukit Bintang, 50150 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 018-360 4718
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
The beauty of mamak in KL and Selangor is that there is a right one for every hour and every mood. For a first taste or a sure thing at any time of night, the 24-hour giants like Pelita, Nasi Kandar LC and Jamal Mohamed never let you down. For a supper adventure with a drinks menu to match, Murni Discovery is in a league of its own. And when you want heritage nasi kandar done the old way, Kudu Abdul and Mohd Yaseem carry the flavour of old KL. Every spot here clears a 4.0 Google rating, so you can pull up a plastic chair with confidence.
Opening hours and prices do shift, so a quick call or a look at Google before you set off is always smart. Now round up your crew, order the roti and the teh tarik, and make a proper mamak session of it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which mamak in KL is open 24 hours?
Several on this list run around the clock, including Restoran Nasi Kandar Pelita at KLCC, Nasi Kandar LC in Kampung Baru, Restoran Jamal Mohamed in PJ, and Kedai Mamak Husin in Bukit Bintang. Murni Discovery runs late too, from early evening until about 5am. Hours can change on public holidays, so a quick call ahead never hurts.
Are mamak restaurants in KL halal?
Mamak eateries are run by the Indian-Muslim community and do not serve pork, so they are generally suitable for Muslim diners. Formal halal certification varies by outlet, though, with some displaying a certificate and others operating simply as a Muslim-owned kitchen. If a valid cert is important to you, check for it on site or confirm the latest status before your visit.
What should I order at a mamak?
Start with the classics: roti canai with dhal and curry, a frothy teh tarik, and either nasi kandar rice with mixed curries or a plate of mee goreng mamak. For late-night hunger, maggi goreng and roti tisu are favourites. At Murni Discovery, the elaborate ice-blended drinks and fusion dishes are part of the fun.
Which mamak is best for a nasi kandar lunch?
For a proper nasi kandar lunch, the heritage names deliver: Restoran Kudu Abdul and Mohd Yaseem on Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, and Zainul Nasi Kandar in Sungai Way for a classic banjir-style plate. Note that Zainul closes by late afternoon and rests on Sundays, so aim for a weekday midday visit.
Disclosure: This list was compiled by the team at My Weekend Plan after extensive research and shared opinions to suggest helpful recommendations for the public. The sequence of brands is in no particular order so if you have any other great suggestions too, please email us support@myweekendplan.com.my. For more information, kindly refer to our copyright, privacy & disclosure policy.
