Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) is notorious for 2 things: the variety of shops there, and its horrendous parking. Whenever I visit the area, I make sure to leave my house at least 10 minutes earlier to make room for the time I’ll spend looking for a vacant spot.
The thing is, not many places in Kuala Lumpur have what TTDI has, which is why it’s so full all the time. There, you can find fast food chains, iconic eateries that were the catalyst to the surge of cafes in the country, and one of KL’s most loved markets.
From all the options available, I’ve narrowed down the top 10 food spots in TTDI worth the headache of finding a parking spot.
1. Jeda Cafe
When you think of cafes in TTDI, you might imagine an overpriced plate of eggs and sourdough toast. Jeda Cafe, however, puts a contemporary spin on Indonesian cuisine, serving comforting rice bowls that’ll remind you of your mother’s cooking.
A single glance at their menu will tell you a lot; their witty names are indicative of the skills they possess to create such satisfying and wholesome food. Their Obladi O Balado (RM16.50) is a rice dish that features an eggplant that’s cooked in Padang-style balado. And yes, the name does derive from Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da by The Beatles.
The other dishes served here are mostly chicken-based, like Muaythigh (RM16.50) with a crispy chicken thigh fillet and Thai-style dressing. They also have What’s the Mattah? (RM16.50) that uses Balinese sambal ‘mattah’ (bird’s eye chillies, shallots, and herbs) to add some spice to the fried chicken fillet.Â
24A, Jalan Datuk Sulaiman, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
+603 7732 1608
Mon to Sat: 12pm – 9pm
Closed on Sun
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2. Bedouin Arabian Cuisine
As the name suggests, Bedouin Arabian Cuisine prides itself in serving authentic Arabic and Mediterranean food. With the promise of high-quality and a beautiful ambience, this restaurant is the perfect choice for families and group gatherings. Â
Groups of 4 should consider ordering their Family Set (RM160). This set includes 1 lamb shank mandy with a quarter chicken, 1 lamb shank kabsa with another quarter chicken, arabic salad, maraq soup, sahawiq, and red jelly. Not only will you be spared the task of deciding what to order, you’ll also leave the restaurant in a food coma.
If a whole set isn’t doing it for you, there are many other à la carte dishes for you to choose from. Rice lovers can try their Chicken Mandy (RM25), Chicken Kabsa (RM24), and Lamb Shank Hanith (RM50). Add some grilled items while you’re at it. They have Beef Tenderloin Cubes (RM38) and the Bedouin Mixed Grill (RM130).
6, Jalan Wan Kadir, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
+603 2389 0230
Sun to Thu: 12pm – 10.30pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 11pm
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3. Sambal Spesial SS
Originating from Indonesia, Sambal Spesial SS (also known by some as Waroeng ‘SS’) is TTDI residents’ go-to ayam penyet spot. The main selling point of Sambal Spesial SS is its huge selection of sambals. Whatever type of sambal you can think of, they have it.
You might want to take a deep breath before you read this list of sambals on offer: Sambal Belacan Segar (RM2.50), Sambal Bawang Cabai Hijau (RM2), Sambal Tempe (RM2.50), Sambal Mangga Muda (RM3.50), and Sambal Ikan Bilis Kecombrang (RM3.50). Guess what? That’s only a small fraction of what they’ve got.
Although no one is stopping you, you probably aren’t eating sambal on its own. Customers can choose their protein of choice, and the list is just as long. Check out their Ayam Paha Goreng (RM8.50), Daging Empal Bakar (RM11), or the Rica-Rica Itik (RM7.50).
41 & 43, Jalan Wan Kadir 2, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
+6017 901 7055
Tue to Thu & Sat to Sun: 11am – 11pm
Fri: 2pm – 11pm
Closed on Mon
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4. Aperture
You know most places match the vibe of the restaurant with the food they serve? Well, Aperture’s cosy and woody interior isn’t indicative of the items on their menu. Given the abundance of greenery and comfortable seating, I had anticipated a menu dominated by specialty coffees, desserts, and pasta dishes, but I was wrong.
This eatery’s menu is a mix of Thai cuisine and different types of sandwiches. Here, you can find dishes like Little Smokies (RM23), a homemade brioche bun sandwich with smoked beef, scrambled eggs, and chipotle sauce, as well as Spicy Tuna Panini (RM20).
They offer Tom Kha Gai (RM21), a sour and spicy coconut soup with chicken and mushrooms, served with rice and an egg. Other than that, they have Pla Gapong Neung Manao (RM25), a steamed barramundi fish dish cooked with lime and garlic.
If noodles are more your speed, check out their Pad See Ew (RM21) made with wide rice noodles, Australian beef, broccoli, and eggs. For something spicier, they serve Pad Kee Mao Thaley (RM25) with shrimp and squid.
12A, Lorong Datuk Sulaiman 1, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
+603 7733 1556
Thu to Tue: 8.30am – 7pm
Closed on Wed
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5. Sisters Place
Let’s be real, nothing beats the familiar flavours of Malaysian cuisine. Anyone in the mood for classic kopitiam eats should drop by Sisters Place. This spot is a favourite among locals, so you know the food here is guaranteed to be sedap. The interior is simple, and so is its laminated menu, but the flavours are far from that.Â
They have all the staples. If you too, believe that fragrant coconut rice and fried chicken is the solution to all problems, order their Nasi Lemak Ayam (RM9.90). You can skip the chicken as well, and get their Nasi Lemak Biasa (RM5).
Sisters Place offers a variety of noodle dishes, like their Sisters Char Koey Teow Special (RM14.90), Cantonese Yee Mee (RM11.90), and Sisters Hockien Char (RM9.90). The best part is that you can choose the type of noodles you want: bihun, mee, koay teow, or even a mix of 2 of the 3.
4, Persiaran Zaaba, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
+603 7729 8133
Tue to Sun: 8.30am – 9pm
Closed on Mon
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6. Woodfire
Hailing all the way from Johor Bahru, Woodfire first started grilling its way into people’s hearts in 2017. They began their journey from a humble home kitchen that only offered delivery services, and now, you can find multiple outlets across JB and the Klang Valley. They’ve been in KL for a while now, and to this day, I have yet to hear anything but high praise from customers.
If you decide to step foot inside one of their premises, beware. Their burgers are enormous, and the height of each sandwich is most probably taller than the width of your mouth. As they say, go big or go home.
In relation to that, why not go for the extreme end of the scale with their Double Patty Mix (RM28.90) that features both a beef and a chicken patty? If you want even more, check out their Brisket Burger (RM38.90) which, as its name suggests, includes a beef brisket alongside a patty of your choosing (beef or chicken).
1-10 Ground Floor, The Plaza, A, Jalan Wan Kadir 3, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
+6016 626 3389
Tue to Thu, Sat & Sun: 12pm – 10pm
Fri: 3pm – 10pm
Closed on Mon
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7. Dough & Dolce
Dough & Dolce is one of TTDI’s most popular and reliable eateries. In an area that’s always seeing new makan spots come and go, this cafe has been a mainstay since its inception in 2019. Not only do they serve delicious meals, they also bake their own sourdough from scratch, daily. The shop is located on the 2nd floor, so keep an eye out for the bright yellow door.
Who says breakfast has to be boring? Early birds can order the likes of Crabmeat Scrambled Eggs on Toast (RM18), and Portuguese Baked Eggs (RM24) for a wholesome and flavourful meal. They even serve the cafe classic, Big Breakfast (RM28), and Tuna Jalapeno Toastie (RM20) for those in need of a little spice to kickstart their A.M.
Their lunch menu is more extensive, featuring surdough pizzas, hot sandwiches, pasta, and more. Feast on dishes such as their Chipotle Grilled Cheese with Tomato Soup (RM22), Buttercream Chilli Clams Spaghettini (RM22), and Grilled Paprikash Chicken with SD Toast (RM25).
24A, Lorong Datuk Sulaiman 1, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
+6012 744 7880
Tue to Fri: 8am – 5.30pm
Sat & Sun: 9am – 5.30pm
Closed on Mon
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8. Yarl
Right in the heart of TTDI, Yarl specialises in northern Sri Lankan cuisine. As they serve both early risers and night owls (and everyone else in between), Yarl ensures the freshness of their food served by implementing different menus for every meal. Although a lot of their food is cooked in a central kitchen for consistency, dishes like thosai, appam, and vadai are made on the spot.
The breakfast crowd can enjoy eats like their Puttu Set (RM9.50) that comes with sothi, tomato onion curry, and iddi sambol, as well as Sweet Appam (RM5.50). Don’t forget to try out their Masala Tea (RM4.50), Nallan’s Bru Coffee (RM5.90), or the Pasum Paal Nescafe (RM5.90).
If you’re there for a heavier meal, their signature crab dishes are the way to go. For RM18.75 per 100g, you can get either the Classic Sri Lankan Crab Curry or the Jaffna Style Crab Curry. Don’t worry if you’re not in the mood to peel whole crabs apart, because Yarl also offers a crab meat-only option of their classic curry for RM85.
46, Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad 1, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
+6017 987 1761
Daily: 8am – 11pm
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9. Mukha
This cosy, community-driven cafe was inspired by Mukha, Yemen, a coffee trading port where merchants from all across the globe gathered to trade beans in the 15th century. Since 2011, the cafe has been known to host a variety of programmes as well, with the intention of building a close-knit community. They stated that 25% of their income comes from community sponsorships, which not only helps to keep their lights on, but also ensures that their events are free for all.
Their menu ranges from breakfast food and toasted sandwiches, to sharing plates and mains. They serve dishes like the Lamb Kofta Smash Burger (RM29) featuring a housemade patty, mesclun salad, and toasted brioche buns, and Orange Cardamom Waffles (RM17.50) made with almonds, orange, and whipped honey butter.
If you’re one to always order a big breakfast at a cafe, check out Mukha’s Big Breakfast (RM33) as it’s a little different. This dish includes a Moroccan lamb sausage, tabouleh, beetroot hommus, eggs, and spinach and mushroom on sourdough.Â
15, Lorong Rahim Kajai 13, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
+603 7732 2248
Mon to Thu: 10.30am – 10.30pm
Fri: 2.30pm – 11.30pm
Sat & Sun: 9.30am – 11.30pm
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10. KGB
KGB (acronym for Killer Gourmet Burgers) is one of Malaysia’s leading homegrown burger joints with 7 outlets around PJ and KL. But what sets them apart, you may ask? For starters, their soft brioche buns are made specifically to withstand the juices. Their beef patties are also ground in house, and they only use prime cuts of Australian beef.
The restaurant has 2 methods of preparing their juicy burgers: crust seared and flame grilled. Fans of smashed burgers can opt for their Animal Style (RM16.90) with sharp cheddar and caramelised onions, or the KGB Spiked (RM19.30) featuring crispy bacon and KGB spicy sauce. If you’re into a more gourmet-style sandwich, check out their Sacre Bleu! (RM19.70) with blue cheese, and the Jalapeno Mac (RM21.70) that’s made with fried mac n’ cheese.
Just like any other reputable burger joint, KGB keeps everyone in mind with their chicken and vegetarian menu. The Bello Bomb (RM23.90) includes a chicken patty and 2 portobello mushrooms stuffed with triple cheese, while Chloe’s Earth Burger (RM18.60) uses a black bean pistachio patty, chipotle, and guacamole.
107, Jalan Aminuddin Baki, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
+603 7733 2284
Daily: 10.30am – 9.30pm
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