Rich’s Top KL Yum List Picks for 2023

Rich’s Top KL Yum List Picks for 2023

Photographer for The Yum List, Rich Callahan, reviews the past year of restaurant visits in Kuala Lumpur to reveal Rich’s Top KL Yum List Picks for 2023.

Rich’s Top KL Yum List Picks for 2023

Florentine & Crema. Hands down, it is the best restaurant I ate at in 2023, with amazing steaks and the best burger in town (Yes, the best burger in KL). Last year, I was in Italy, and the food was like a walk back in time. Everything about Florentine says modern steakhouse with sleek, clean lines of decor and warm, welcoming colours. This is not the old dark steakhouses I grew up with in the States. To put it over the top was the handmade Italian pastries serving all the classics, and let us not forget the Italian love for coffee. 

Kuki. I do not feel good about putting Kuki in at second, so I will call it 1B. I was not enthused when Monica said we were going to a vegan Japanese restaurant. I can be the first person to admit I was wrong. Easily the coolest interior-designed restaurant we went to. I could spend hours taking photos here. The kombucha and the ramen were to die for, but what won me over was the amount of time and prep work that went into every bite.

Solh. Living in Ampang, we generally have to seek out restaurants in the city or go to the other side of KL to have some great food. Not anymore. Now that Solh is in our backyard, the rest of the city needs to trek out to Ampang. What made me put this restaurant on the list was not just the rock-solid food or the craft beer and creative cocktails. It was the feeling of the restaurant open, bright, and so welcoming. The insanely great lamb stew did not hurt either. 

The Siam. Staying in Ampang, we head to my favourite Thai food spot. Thai food is my new comfort food. My family loves the restaurant, which started out as a stall emerging from the pandemic to a restaurant. I had my 50th birthday here, and it is the first spot we take all guests once they hit KL. Everything I have tried here reminds me of Bangkok. I will highlight the Crying Tiger Beef, and of course, the Pad Thai will make you feel like you are in the Land of a Thousand Smiles.

LaGula. I am a dedicated carnivore, but my wife is vegan/vegetarian, so going out to eat can be trying at times. We can both agree on The Hungary Tapir. Now comes LaGula and the debate about which one is better. I am also a sucker for house-made pastries. With LaGula focusing more on a Western menu, it felt more like home. I love a great sandwich, and theirs are some of the best vegan ones I have ever had. Mr. Rodrigo’s and Valmon’ and Cream Cheez Croissant satisfies my French desire for a delicious croissant. 

Have you tried any of Rich’s Top KL Yum List Picks for 2023? Tell us your thoughts in the comment box below.

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