Perhaps the top breakfast spot in all of Kuala Lumpur is Imbi Market, which is also known as Bukit Bintang Wet Market. Although you will not receive service at your table or fancy place-settings, Imbi Market is a great place to find some of the region’s best hawker food at a low price. In my opinion Imbi Market has much better food than Jalan Alor, in addition to being less expensive. When visiting Kuala Lumpur for your holidays, book a hotel in the area around the market, which is easy to find because it is next to the Bukit Bintang shopping district.
The place was notoriously packed and chaotic but I find it vibrant and charming. People from all walks of life do their marketing here.
What do I normally buy here? Corns from Cameron Highland and Buah Pulasan, a tropical fruit that looks something like a cross between rambutan and lychee.
Walking further inside, one will be greeted by this interesting scene: crowd and a myriad of food stalls.
#1 Ah Weng Kor Hainanese Tea. The owner, “hoi lam zai” which literally means little hainanese became our best friends. Sometimes, he will brew up a special cup just for us when he feels like it or when he won some $$ from the share market.
Glorious Hainanese coffee (RM1.60) with thick frothy foam that sits on top of the coffee. It is said that Hainanese coffee is actually cham with more tea than coffee as a composition. The coffee is aromatic and thick enough to keep me awake for a few hours.
kaya and butter toasts, half boiled eggs
For the toast, one can opt for flat bread or round bun and have the kaya and butter spread served separately. However, I like mine all nicely slathered with thick slabs of butter and kaya. The ultra thin toast that is slightly browned just hit the spot. It is always so light and crispy that the crumbs keep falling from my mouth.
toasted bun
The round bun too, is great. The exterior is crispy while the inside is all soft and fluffy. They are really generous with the fillings, as you can see from the thick slabs of butter.
#2 Chee Cheong Fun. I have to say that this stall sells the best chee cheong fun in town eventhough the boss is quite a cocky person. Understandable though, as his chee cheong fun normally finishes by 11 am. My favourite yong tofu picks can be seen on the bottom left of this picture – crispy beancurd skin filled with a generous amount of minced pork. Addictive stuff!
To maintain its freshness, most of the yong tau foo is made fresh on the spot!
I love my CCF drenched with sweet sauce, chilli sauce and curry sauce with a generous sprinkling of sesame seeds.
#3 Another stall not to be missed is the Sisters’ Crispy Popiah (RM1.80). The popiah stall can be spotted in major shopping malls and there’s even a Sisters’ Cafe in Menara Hap Seng. However, the original stall remains in Imbi Market where you can get the same stuff at a fraction of the price.
The popiah (RM 4, 2 rolls) is really good, and the quality is consistent because we come here often enough to justify that. Apart from the usual ingredients like shredded yambean, carrots, cucumber, egg and ground peanuts, some crispy bits are added in for some good crunch.
#4 Sang Kee Pork Intestines Porridge is another popular stall here.
For RM 4.50, you get a huge bowl of tummy warming and velvety pork intestines porridge. The pork intestines were cleaned thoroughly before deep frying, so there are no hints of weird offal smell.
#5 Sometimes I find myself craving for this particular version of wantan mee (RM 4.5) here. Tossed nicely in a thicker and darker than usual sauce, every strand of the noodles is coated throughly. They are particularly generous with the cha siu and slice chicken too.
#6 Hainanes Assam Laksa (RM 5), available only in the weekends. I don’t exactly know what is hainanese assam laksa but it tastes so good – perfect harmony of sweet, spicy, sour and savoury.
#7 Ginger and Wine Mee Sua (RM 7)
A hearty and nourishing bowl of mee sua, Hakka style. Looks something like confinement food to me but I love it nonetheless. Ginger helps in preventing the wind from getting into body and using rice wine gives it an authentic kick. Eggs and pork intestines can also be found in this treasure bowl.
#8 Egg Tarts from this bakery next to Ah Weng Kor. Fresh from the oven, these egg tarts are still warm before we shove them into our mouths. Flaky, crispy, and light pastry enclosing a velvety smooth wobbly egg custard. How could we resist these evil little morsels? My only gripe is they are only selling it in limited quantities. I’ve already missed it for a few times.
If the aforementioned food is not enough to comfort your stomach, feel free to take way some apam balik and nyonya kuehs. This shall conclude my almost complete guide to the Imbi Market.
Google Map: Pasar Besar Bukit Bintang
haha. did you try that stall that i told you about? ;D
i usually hang around the other part of the market where it is near tong kee bakery!
yeah michelle! good and wholesome, but i have only my iphone with me. wait till i bring my camera.
The Ginger and Wine Mee Sua looks good…summore with eggs n intestines…delish! 😀
But I prefer the CCF from a stall run by a lady right in d middle of the market instead…also freshly made n fried =)
really ulric? will take note. but this ccf is like the best in the world for u me d 😀
Yep…tried both…n decided the lady’s better…imho =)
Been here once but didn’t try any food, just “visiting” 😛
choi yen: shud go again! 🙂
Most of the time I just go ahead and eat at Ah Weng Kok. But my wife likes to order the Wan Tan Mee as well.
where is the exact location? wish to have a visit! 🙂
I love to visit wet market..
plenty of good n delicious foods..
Yes whole area will be developed, including the vacant land where the govt houses used to be. Apparently planning for the new financial center of KL….Sad tho, lots of faves here…
I heard they will be shifting some time in future is it??
i love the yong tau fu with chee cheong fun there! 🙂 despite of the poor service and rude owner, i still enjoy their food very much!
Latest: Of LocaL Spiciness
buah pulasan? i would like to try that!
i wan CCF! i wan pork intestines porridge! oh god im hungry! TT
Come TTDI market and did a long post! wohoo.. i like this kind of post!
又发现新大陆了!感激感激!有机会一定去试试 =)
Thanks for the post. U have got down all my faves:
– the pork offal porridge, chee cheong fun, hainan tea, wantan mee.
Have been eating here since childhood days.
Since no longer living in KL can always come back to this post and drool over the fotos…
Too bad, the market will be demolish soon for development, should be happen by this year
my love CCF ! Even i am leaving KL, but i really miss it much. esp the sauce !
Hi, would like to ask what is the perfect time to visit there for the egg tart? And the toast&softboiledeggs are same stall with hainan? 🙂
egg tart best to go in the morning, finish fast! yes from same stall 🙂