With the rise of fancy cafes and hip restaurants all across Klang Valley, it’s clear that we can’t quite get the same rustic meal experience at most local eateries anymore.
Known as the “Half Jungle”, or “the other side of Bukit Bintang”, we went on a food trip to the historic neighbourhood of Pudu. We were eager to discover the days of our parents, or even grandparents, who used to dine at these places that are now marked by years of history.
Check out our list of 5 nostalgic places to eat in Pudu for a trip back to the past!
5 Nostalgic Places to Eat in Pudu
1. WinSon Berger
Since the 1980s, WinSon Berger has been selling bak kwa roti on a motorcycle for more than 40 years now. The uncle, who is now well over 80 years old, used to run his business at Pasar Imbi but has now relocated to the front of ICC Pudu.
The bak kwa roti is traditionally prepared, where the buns are sliced into half before it gets toasted over a charcoal grill. Sweet and savory bak kwas (meat jerkies), a generous amount of chicken floss, and cucumbers topped off with sweet chili sauce are then placed between the crisp buns to create the classic Malaysian bak kwa roti.
Be sure to drop by and support the uncle by getting his tasty bak kwa roti for breakfast or as a snack, only RM3.30 for one!
📍 Jalan Kijang, Pudu, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur (beside the main entrance of ICC Pudu)
⏰ 8am – 11am, Everyday
2. Chun Kei Tai Bu Noodle
Offering hakka noodles for more than 90 years and still counting, Chun Kei Tai Bu Noodle is currently passed down to the 4th generation. The menu here is relatively simple, which is the option between regular Hakka noodles or loh shi fun (silver needle noodles).
One bite of their signature hakka noodles, where wheat noodles come tossed in a fragrant mixture of minced pork and sesame oil, and you will understand how they’ve managed to withstand the test of time. The noodles have an excellent springy texture and are served with choy sum, char siew, and a bowl of wonton soup.
📍 No2G Jalan Sayur, Off Jalan Pudu, Pudu, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
⏰ 6am – 3pm, Everyday
3. Little Eat Stall
Like many of the traditional eateries in Klang Valley, Little Eat Stall is a humble roadside stall covered with zinc roof sheets offering various noodle dishes. One of the highly-praised dishes here is the fish noodles.
As the fish noodles are only available on Fridays and weekends, we tried their pork noodles, which is also one of the crowd favourites here. The savory soup with hints of sweetness from the Chinese wine was definitely the soul of the dish. It was well balanced with flavors of the minced pork, pork slices, vegetables, and egg added to the soup.
However, apart from being known for its noodle dishes, Little Eat Stall is also famed for the long waiting time. If you’re planning to come, make sure you’re mentally prepared to wait!
📍 17, Jalan Beruang, Pudu, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
⏰ 7am – 1pm, Closed on Sunday
4. Restoran Wong Mei Kee
Wong sifu, owner of Restoran Wong Mei Kee, has been hard at work selling Hainanese chicken rice since his early 20s and has more than 40 years of experience to date. His restaurant is best known for its siew yok (roasted pork) among both youngsters and the elderly.
Restoran Wong Mei Kee’s siew yok boasts tender meat, crackling skin, and just the right amount of saltiness. It also has a great meat-to-fat ratio and leaves a savory aftertaste after melting in your mouth.
One thing to note is that the price of the legendary siew yok here is on the higher side, with just 600g costing you more than RM70. However, it’s definitely worth a try!
📍 30, Jalan Nyonya, Pudu, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
⏰ 12.30pm – 3pm, Everyday
5. Ruby Dessert House
Founded by Mr Kan Seng in 1888, Ruby Dessert House has been serving comforting bowls of classic desserts such as black sesame paste, steamed egg custard, peanut paste, and so on to five generations.
Take a trip back in time as you slurp bowls of silky-smooth, thick and flavourful dessert pastes in this dessert house that’s heavily decorated by traditional Chinese ornaments and pictures from the past.
📍 Jalan Landak, No. 32, Jalan Kancil, Pudu, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
⏰ 11am – 11.30pm, Closed on Tuesday
Final Thoughts
If your parents or grandparents grew up in KL, they will definitely be familiar with these places. These places are heritage steeped in history and have offered us the possibility to time travel, simply by tasting these unchanging foods while listening to the classic songs played in the background.
Strolling around the neighbourhood of Pudu and seeing places that were once the hangout or pak tor spots of our parents, we couldn’t help but wonder how much things have changed. Progress and development will usually leave something behind but we hope that the valuable hawker culture of our country will be preserved in the days to come.
A Malaysian foodie who’s proud of our local hawker culture. Always on the hunt for the best char kuay teow and nasi lemak.