Top 25 Experience #3: Gastronomic Hunt - Jalan Alor, Kuala Lumpur

Located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, Jalan alor is one of the Malaysia's most popular food haunts.  Relatively quite during the day, the street is transformed into a building outdoor foodcourt when the sun goes down.  Hawkers fire up their woks as hungry customers start piling in, sitting in makeshift tables and chairs lined by the roadside.

Jalan Alor is a unique food destination in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. The whole character of the city changes when you step onto the street. Gone are the modern shopping malls that align the city, which are replaced with something of the past age.  It was once known as a red light district and remnants of those activities still exist. However, after several face lifts, the street has literally become a food haven.

Some of the best culinary delights that Malaysia has to offer are not at the swanky overpriced restaurants but right at the sidewalks, in the rows and rows of hawker stalls. On Jalan Alor, these stalls will take up both sides of the road selling food that best represents Malaysia. This is not just a place for the locals but foreigners also frequently visit here to taste the unique dishes that they would most probably not be able to back home.

The best advice for people who wish to visit Jalan Alor is to bring their appetite. As mentioned, there are plenty to choose from here and you wouldn’t be able to try everything in a single trip, so it is important that you make several trips to this street if there is a high possibility that you will not be returning to Jalan Alor for quite a while. Here, you are not just tasting the food here but also the culture in Malaysia. Diversity does not just exist in the population but that very factor that makes Malaysia so special is also translated in its cooking.

The character of the street takes a life of its own and you will definitely be missing out if you do not go there for a visit. Jalan Alor is synonymous with good food, so much that there were much protests when the local authorities renamed the road. Jalan Alor indeed has a lot to offer for local visitors as well as those coming from abroad, so head there and experience it for yourself.

As Jalan Alor is located within the Bukit Bintang area, it can be easily found if you are staying somewhere in the city center. For example, Radium Palace is located 1 minute from the food street, from Capitol Hotel it is a 2 minute walk and 5-star Grand Millennium is only 10 minutes from Jalan Alor. If you are staying outside the city center, you can get to Jalan Alor by metro. Get out at Bukit Bintang Station (right next to Lot10 Shopping Mall). From there it is a 5 minute walk to Jalan Alor.

Jalan Alor Map

pictures and source credit: http://www.wonderfulmalaysia.com/food/jalan-alor-food-street.htm