Malaysia has never been more confident and more expressive on the culinary stage. The MICHELIN Guide Kuala Lumpur & Penang 2026, now in its fourth edition, paints a vivid picture of a nation that seamlessly fuses heritage and innovation. Across 151 establishments – from humble street stalls to visionary fine dining – this year’s selection celebrates a country whose gastronomic identity grows stronger with each passing year.
Two MICHELIN Stars
Dewakan – Kuala Lumpur, The Vanguard of Malaysian Fine Dining
Still at the summit, Dewakan retains its Two MICHELIN Stars for a third consecutive year, reaffirming its place as Malaysia’s culinary guiding light. Helmed by Chef Darren Teoh, the restaurant is known for its fearless reinterpretation of Malaysian ingredients – from jungle foraged herbs to indigenous produce – reimagined through a lens of modern artistry.
Each dish tells a complex story of place and identity, expressing Malaysia’s natural bounty with both reverence and bold creativity. Dewakan also joins the MICHELIN Green Star community this year, recognised for its deep commitment to sustainability and its visionary role in shaping the future of gastronomy.
One MICHELIN Star
This year, two new restaurants earn their place among Malaysia’s One MICHELIN starred establishments, joining six returning favourites. Each brings its own perspective to the evolving Malaysian table; a reflection of diversity, craftsmanship, and unrelenting passion.
Akar (New) – Kuala Lumpur
Led by Chef Aidan Low, Akar receives its first Michelin Star for its inventive reinterpretation of European recipes through a Malaysian and Japanese lens. Expect refined plates where textures and flavours unfold with quiet precision. It’s the kind that speaks of heritage as much as evolution.
Terra Dining (New) – Kuala Lumpur
Chef Yu Cheng Chong’s minimalist philosophy takes centre stage at Terra Dining, where ingredient-driven dishes embrace balance, restraint, and beauty in simplicity. It’s contemporary Malaysian cuisine distilled to its purest form, precise, poetic, and profoundly thoughtful.
Beta – Kuala Lumpur
A long-time darling of Malaysia’s fine dining scene, Beta continues to elevate local flavours through contemporary storytelling. Each course captures the nuances of Malaysia’s regions – from coastal spices to highland freshness – woven into a seamless modern tasting menu.
Chim by Chef Noom – Kuala Lumpur
At Chim, Chef Noom brings refined Thai contemporary cuisine to Kuala Lumpur with meticulous craftsmanship. The result is an elegant dance between Thai aromatics and modern technique, expressed with finesse and balance.
DC. by Darren Chin – Kuala Lumpur
Chef Darren Chin’s flagship restaurant continues to showcase French contemporary cuisine at its most refined. Thoughtfully sourced ingredients meet classical technique and intuitive creativity, making DC. one of the capital’s most enduringly exceptional tables.
Molina – Kuala Lumpur
Molina earns continued recognition for its boundary-pushing approach to modern cuisine. Every plate is a study in innovation, crafted with the precision and artistry of haute cuisine yet rooted in Malaysia’s ever-evolving palate.
Au Jardin – Penang
In the heart of Penang, Au Jardin remains a beacon of European contemporary cuisine. Its tasting menus are intimate and evolving, akin to a love letter to the seasons, interpreted through the lens of locally sourced ingredients and meticulous technique.
Auntie Gaik Lean’s Old School Eatery – Penang
A celebration of heritage, Auntie Gaik Lean’s continues to honour Peranakan recipes passed down through generations. Each dish – rich in spice, nostalgia, and heart – offers a soulful counterpoint to Malaysia’s modern fine dining movement.
The Broader Feast
Beyond the stars, Malaysia’s culinary forefront is beautifully represented through 58 MICHELIN Bib Gourmand and 83 MICHELIN Selected establishments. These restaurants and street stalls capture the heartbeat of Malaysian dining and are joyful, accessible, and guaranteed to leave a lasting impression.
MICHELIN Bib Gourmand Restaurants
Ah Hei Bak Kut Teh
Aliyaa
Anak Baba (Brickfields)
Coast by Kayra
Congkak (Bukit Bintang)
De. Wan 1958 (Taman U Thant)
Foong Lian
Gulainya – NEW
Hai Kah Lang (Taman Cheras)
Heun Kee Claypot Chicken Rice (Pudu)
Hing Kee Bakuteh (121 Jalan Kepong)
Hor Poh Cuisine
Jalan Ipoh Claypot Chicken Rice
Lai Foong Lala Noodles
Lama – NEW
Leen’s
MTR 1924
Nam Heong Chicken Rice (City Centre)
Nasi Ayam Hainan Chee Meng (Jalan Kelang Lama)
Nirwana
Roti by d’Tandoor
Sao Nam
Sek Yuen
Sin Kiew Yee Shin Kee Beef Noodles
Wong Mei Kee
Ah Boy Koay Teow Th’ng
Awesome Char Koay Teow – NEW
Bee Hwa Cafe – NEW
Bibik’s Kitchen
BM Cathay Pancake
BM Yam Rice
Bridge Street Prawn Noodle
Communal Table by Gēn
Duck Blood Curry Mee
Ghee Lian
Green House Prawn Mee & Loh Mee (223 Jalan Burma)
Hot Bowl White Curry Mee
Ivy’s Nyonya Cuisine
Laksalicious
Lum Lai Duck Meat Koay Teow Th’ng
Ming Qin Charcoal Duck Egg Char Koay Teow
Moh Teng Pheow Nyonya Koay
My Own Café
Neighbourwood
Penang Road Famous Jin Kor Char Kuey Teow
Penang Road Famous Laksa
Rasa Rasa
Ravi’s Famous Apom Manis
Sardaarji
Siam Road Char Koay Teow
Sifu – NEW
Sister Yao’s Char Koay Kak
Super Star Koay Teow Soup (78 Lebuh Kimberley)
Taman Bukit Curry Mee
Teksen
Thara
Wan Dao Tou Assam Laksa
Winn’s Cafe
MICHELIN Selected Restaurants
Atelier Binchotan
Bar Kar
Bidou – NEW
Bōl
Café Café
Cilantro
Dancing Fish
Dominic
Elegant Inn
Entier
Frangipaani
Gai by Darren Chin
Hide
Jie – NEW
Jwala
K – NEW
Kayra
Kazu – NEW
Kuki – NEW
La Suisse
Li Yen
Limapulo
Ling Long
Malai
Marble 8
Marini’s on 57
Nadodi
Passage Thru India
Potager
Seed
Shanghai Restaurant
Shu – NEW
Skillet
Sushi Masa
Sushi Ori
Sushi Taka
Tanglin
Tenmasa
Teochew Lao Er
The Brasserie
Ushi
Vantador
Wagyu Kappo Yoshida
Yun House
888 Hokkien Mee
Air Itam Duck Rice
Air Itam Sister Curry Mee
Ali Nasi Lemak Daun Pisang
Bali Hai Seafood Market
Bao Teck Tea House
Bee See Heong
Bite N Eat Dindigul Biriyani
Blacklinen – NEW
Blanc
Ceki
Christoph’s
Curios-City
Du-An (Lebuh Pantai) – NEW
Fatty Loh Chicken Rice
Feringgi Grill
Firewood
Fook Cheow Café
Gēn
Goh Thew Chik Hainan Chicken Rice
Il Bacaro
Jaloux
Jawi House
Jit Seng Hong Kong Roasted Duck Rice
Kebaya Dining Room
Kota Dine & Coffee (Fort Cornwallis)
La Vie
Lucky Hole
Mémoire – NEW
Nyonya Willow
Penang Famous Samosa
Peninsula House – NEW
Pitt Street Koay Teow Soup
Richard Rivalee
Sambal
Sood by Chef Ton – NEW
The Pinn
Tok Tok Mee Bamboo Noodle
WhatSaeb Boat Noodles
A Culinary Landscape in Bloom
The MICHELIN Guide 2026 once again affirms Malaysia’s position as one of Asia’s most exciting gastronomic destinations. From the storied streets of George Town to the elegant dining rooms of Kuala Lumpur, the country’s culinary story is one of confidence, creativity, and cultural pride, where every plate tells not just of flavour, but of identity and imagination.
Featured image: MICHELIN
