Jalon Alor – Kuala Lumpur’s Famous Street Food

I’ve learned that the best places to eat throughout Asia are rarely found at indoor restaurants. The streets are where most locals and foreigners flock for good eats. Jalon Alor is located in the Bukit Bintang area. It is open daily beginning around 6pm and closing in the early hours of the morning. Jalon Alor is quite serene during the day, but at night it comes alive with a strong aroma of pungent smells that will make your mouth water. It is the most famous food street in Kuala Lumpur. The street is lined with hawker food stalls and restaurants that sell some of the most delicious cuisine at dirt cheap prices. Many staff members of the stalls stood in the middle of the street with their menus, attempting to persuade us to eat at their establishment. Most menus had pictures of each dish to make it easier to choose or perhaps lure us in even more.

The information I read prior to visiting Jalon Alor warned that we should bring our appetite when dining on this street. That proved to be absolutely correct! Douglas and I walked down the entire street to observe all the vendors while trying to get a feel for the best one. A good rule of thumb is to eat at a place with a good amount of foreigners. Most of them are usually expats who live in the city and know the top spots. We settled with a food stall that matched my description exactly. They sold an array of meats and vegetables on wooden skewers that were cooked over a grill. I had never eaten grilled broccoli or green beans before so I gave that a try. Douglas ordered lobster on a stick along with a variety of other meats and veggies. We didn’t even waste space in our bellies with any carbs – meat and veggies were perfect! We ate an absurd amount of food that evening. It easily left us with one of the best gastronomical experiences we’ve ever had and we have now dined at several places and food streets throughout Asia.

There is nothing fancy about the ambience of Jalon Alor. If you’re looking for pretty and clean then I would advise not to step foot on this street. But if you want to get your hands messy from finger-licking delights, sit on a chair with no back attached that is closer to the ground than it is to the table, and dine on a table that wobbles due to the uneven pavement – then this is everywhere you want to be. It was so good we went twice!

The street really came alive at night with pedestrians, bikes, cars, animals, you name it.

The food kiosks sold meats and veggies as well as fruits and other items.

Handmade crafts using only wire. Douglas purchased the drum set. Can you spot it?

Beautiful talent on the streets of KL.

Staff standing in the street with their menus which they practically shoved into our faces. It's all about that business!

The whole duck, beak and all? I'll pass!

Durian - The smelliest Asian fruit out there. Apparently it tastes delicious, but no thanks!

This was our food stall of choice. Great people, great food!

Pick your stick!

Lobster on a stick...hadn't seen that before.

Entire frogs just ripe for the grilling! I can't...I just can't!

The skewers were color-coded for price. Once we were done eating, the staff would simply come by and count the sticks and charge that amount.

A beautiful assortment of veggies on a stick. They even had spinach and bok choy to place in a boiler.

Half containers for our sauces of choice. I guess that's one way to save money...

The veggies were dusted with corn powder before going on the grill.

The final product....so good! Chicken, broccoli, green beans, and bacon-wrapped mushrooms.

Sauce options...soy, hot, and peanut sauce.

I'm sure it doesn't look great, but that peanut sauce was fantastic!

We had countless broccoli skewers. Why had I never thought to grill broccoli before?!

Yes, that corn was good too!

Grilled shrimp from another vendor on a different night.

Some of the best broiled chicken wings I've ever eaten. This is why I woke up at 5:30 almost every morning to go workout. I earned my eats!

Unique establishment. You dine in the dark to experience what it's like to be blind while eating. Nothing but rave reviews about this place.

A few interesting names for restaurants along this strip.

The most unique name for a massage parlor I've seen so far. Glad I walked by it with my best friend. : )