Cover Spread of Chinese dishes (Photo: Jade Pavilion)

Straight from the pages of the latest instalment of the Tatler Dining Guide, here's the selection of the top Chinese dining venues

A great Chinese meal is intricate and nuanced, yet packed with flavours. Whether you're looking for a restaurant to celebrate with friends, a casual meal with family members or even a date, it is hard to go wrong with Chinese food. Here in Malaysia, we have a plethora of establishments to choose from. 

You'll be spoiled for choice when deciding where to dine with our round-up of the city's best restaurants for Chinese food, in alphabetical order, from this year's Tatler Dining Guide. 

Read more: Tatler Dining Guide 2023: The best French restaurants in Malaysia

Chinese   |   $ $ $ $   |   Kuala Lumpur Sentral
Tatler Asia
Above Peking duck (Photo: Chynna)

Must Try

  • Buttermilk Prawns
  • Smoked Australian Wagyu Roll
  • Braised Cauliflower Soup

Specialising in modern Cantonese and Shanghainese cuisines, Chynna offers a suitably pleasant and comfortable dining environment. Service is generally good and the establishment offers a good mix of ala carte and dim sum items.

The food is flavourful and well-executed, and clearly made with quality ingredients. It’s worth noting that the chef is clever at creating textures where you least expect it, for instance, crunchiness in a soup and varying densities in the noodles. Try the Peking-style roasted London duck and the Hong Kong egg noodles.


Chynna

Address: Hilton Kuala Lumpur, Level 5, 3, Jalan Stesen Sentral, Kuala Lumpur Sentral, 50470 Kuala Lumpur


Chinese   |   $ $ $ $   |   Petaling Jaya
Tatler Asia
Above Peking duck (Photo: Ee Chinese Cuisine)

Must Try

  • Assorted Dim Sum
  • Vermicelli with Shrimp and Scallops
  • Oven Baked Lamb Cutlet

When dining at the award-winning Ee Chinese Cuisine, the Peking duck is a must-have. You may get the chef to prepare it sautéed and minced, and served in lettuce leaves or to go with the egg white fried rice. Here’s a tip: The Shiraz goes really well with the duck.


Ee Chinese Cuisine

Address: Eastin Hotel Kuala Lumpur, 13, Jalan 16/1, 46350 Petaling Jaya


Chinese   |   $ $ $ $   |   Kuala Lumpur City Centre
Tatler Asia
Above Golden Boneless Stuffed Chicken (Photo: Elegant Inn Hong Kong Cuisine)

Must Try

  • Double-boiled traditional soup
  • Australian scallop bacon roll
  • Golden boneless stuffed chicken with chicken tomato salad

Having celebrated its 14th anniversary in 2022, Elegant Inn Hong Kong Cuisine is known for its consistently high quality of ingredients, dishes and ambience which come together beautifully for a soul-warming yet sophisticated dining experience.

Set menus here help make the dim sum fare and other signature Cantonese dishes more accessible, while large dinner groups can expect to be impressed with creations like the Golden Boneless Stuffed Chicken. 


Elegant Inn Hong Kong Cuisine

Address: 2.01, Level 2 Podium Block, Menara Hap Seng, Jalan P. Ramlee, 50250 Kuala Lumpur


Chinese   |   $ $ $ $   |   Bukit Bintang
Tatler Asia
Above South African Abalone in Butter Puff (Photo: Jade Pavilion)

Must Try

  • Lion's mane Mushroom with Abalone
  • Sabah Sea Prawns
  • South African Abalone

Located in Pavilion Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Jade Pavilion is a great choice for those who want to revel in dim sum and other Chinese favourites. Here are two good reasons to visit Jade Pavilion—its tea-smoked chicken and cubed beef tenderloin with mushroom. And if you’re a fan of abalone and fish maw, there are 11 items on the menu that incorporate one or both of these ingredients.

The other thematic highlights are the bird’s nest and sea cucumber. Meanwhile, the crispy skin duck is a plate of indulgence as it is served with fine Kaluga caviar. 


Jade Pavilion

Address: Level 8, Pavilion Hotel, 170, Jln Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur


Chinese   |   $ $ $ $   |   Kuala Lumpur City Centre
Tatler Asia
Above Roasted Duck with Caviar (Photo: Lai Po Heen)

Must Try

  • Wok-fried cubed tenderloin
  • Steamed shrimps siew mai with fish roe
  • Durian pancakes

If you’re looking for classic-yet-elevated, authentic Cantonese dishes in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, Lai Po Heen is not a restaurant to miss. Their dishes, especially the seafood, are splendidly prepared with flavours that are well-balanced.

Popular signature dishes are not always available due to seasonal ingredients used but the staff are quick to recommend equally satisfying alternatives. Don’t forget to try the dim sum as well. The siew mai, in particular, is an absolute must-try—springy, succulent and flavourful with every bite.


Lai Po Heen

Address: Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50088 Kuala Lumpur


Chinese   |   $ $ $ $   |   Bukit Bintang
Tatler Asia
Above Dim sum (Photo: Li Yen)

Must Try

  • Baked Crispy BBQ Pork Pancakes
  • Roasted Crispy Pork
  • Chicken Simmered in Bouillon
  • Signature Desserts

Li Yen, which means “beautiful garden”, has been presenting diners with authentic Chinese classics for more than 20 years. The Ritz-Carlton’s award-winning Chinese restaurant excels at pairing bite-sized snacks with loose leaf teas, elevating and refining traditional dim sum with fine ingredients.

While the dim sum selection is not as extensive as its Cantonese menu, dishes are still exquisite in taste and handcrafted with fine ingredients. Definitely order the Peking duck with aromatic crispy skin wrapped in a soft Chinese crêpe and served with side toppings.


Li Yen

Address: Level 2, The Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur, 168 Jalan Imbi, 55100 Kuala Lumpur


Chinese   |   $ $ $ $   |   Kuala Lumpur City Centre
Tatler Asia
Above Soup with abalone (Photo: Ming Ren Xuan)

Must Try

  • Steamed Wild Empurau Fish
  • Steamed Water Prawn with Chinese Rice Wine in Egg White
  • Grilled Australian Lamb Rack with Spicy Cumin and Garlic

Ming Ren Xuan is not shy about experimenting with classic Chinese cuisine, taking an adventurous approach with the selections on its menu. While some dishes are hits and others misses, its classic Chinese fare exceeds expectations.

Dishes are generally made-to-order and are well-executed. Shark cartilage is slowly cooked for hours in the hearty and soul-warming shark cartilage soup, giving the broth a silky, creamy texture. Not to be missed is also the roast pork, which is roasted to perfection resulting in crispy skin, rendered fat, and tender meat.


Ming Ren Xuan

Address: Avenue K, L3-5, Level 3, 156, Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur


Chinese   |   $ $ $ $   |   Kuala Lumpur City Centre
Tatler Asia
Above Peking duck (Photo: Shang Palace)

Must Try

  • Traditional Peking Duck
  • Dim sum
  • Shang Palace Classic Trio Combination Platter

From food to decor, Shang Palace transports you back to the golden era when hotel cuisine was top of the ranks in Malaysia’s food scene, offering a taste of nostalgia. Its traditional Peking duck is phenomenal, with a tenderness that has been perfected over decades. Same can be said for its beautifully cooked cod fish.

With an extensive wine list, you can find the perfect pairing for each of Shang Palace’s dishes. Its service can also be said to stick to old tradition as a little patience is needed to get the attention of staff to settle the bill. This aside, Shang Palace is strongly recommended for lunches and dinners.


Shang Palace

Address: Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur, 11 Jalan Sultan Ismail, 50250 Kuala Lumpur


Chinese   |   $ $ $ $   |   Bukit Bintang
Tatler Asia

Must Try

  • Eight Treasures Tea
  • Steamed Shanghainese Meat Dumplings
  • Shanghainese Hairy Crabs

Chef Wong’s menu celebrating traditional Shanghainese cuisine is unpretentious. The steamed Shanghainese dumplings are served at the right temperature. The dumpling skin has the right texture, and contains a satisfying mixture of broth and minced meat.

The drunken chicken cooked with Chinese rice wine is generous and hearty, while the stir-fried flat glass noodles with shredded pork, preserved vegetable, and eggs is simple but comforting. There is also a good selection for vegetarians. A meal is best paired with premium Chinese tea—the oolong or pu’er is ideal.


Shanghai Restaurant

Address: JW Marriott Kuala Lumpur, 183 Jalan Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur


Cantonese   |   $ $ $ $   |   Mont Kiara
Tatler Asia
Above Stir-fried beef (Photo: The Regent Chinese Cuisine)

Must Try

  • Salt & Pepper Boston Lobster
  • Stir Fried Australia Angus Beef with Black Pepper
  • Wild River Prawn Noodle

Located in a prime position at the entrance of Plaza Mont Kiara, The Regent Chinese Cuisine offers authentic Chinese dishes—elevated to suit the tastes of its discerning clientele in the affluent neighbourhood of Mont Kiara. More importantly, it serves up quality consistently.

Whether it’s signature dishes like Wagyu beef and double-boiled soups or under-the-radar favourites, each dish is impeccably prepared and cooked to perfection every single time. 


The Regent Chinese Cuisine

Address: A-G-01, Plaza Mont Kiara, 2 Jalan Kiara, Mont Kiara, 50480 Kuala Lumpur


Jalan Ampang
Tatler Asia
Above Golden Duck (Photo: Yen)

Must Try

  • Yen Golden Duck
  • Soft Shell Crab Salad, Ice Lettuce, Fish Skin, Truffle Sauce
  • Cantonese Fried Sea Prawn, Crispy Oats, Curry Leaves

While Yen’s luxe, avant-garde environment certainly sets an elevated tone for one’s expectations, those will no doubt be met when ordering its signature dishes— namely, the Golden Duck. Though not a Cantonese dish, Yen does its version of the Peking Duck extremely well; crispy, paper-thin skin with just enough chew and flavourful meat. It bears mentioning that the rest of its menu has an array of well-known classics.


Yen

Address: W Kuala Lumpur, Level 11, W, 121, Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur


Kuala Lumpur City Centre
Tatler Asia
Above Black pepper beef (Photo: Yun House)

Yun House is an elegant and contemporary venue for a pork-free Chinese meal. The dishes are well-executed with great care taken into securing the premium ingredients and elevating the recipes with a twist.

The signature duck two ways, for instance, is essentially duck cooked differently: wok-fried with spring onion and ginger, and wok-fried with black pepper sauce. Do try the MB6 wok-seared Wagyu beef with truffle salt and the two-head wild Mexican abalone decadently infused with truffle.


Yun House

Address: Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur, 145, Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur


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