Best Korean Food in Kuala Lumpur: Top 10 Restaurants
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Kuala Lumpur has one of Southeast Asia's largest Korean communities, centred around the Ampang and Mont Kiara neighbourhoods. The result is a Korean food scene that goes well beyond mall BBQ chains, from halal samgyetang and fried chicken in Bukit Bintang to Korean-run pork BBQ houses in Mont Kiara and Ampang.
This guide covers 10 Korean restaurants across KL, verified in October 2026. Prices are in Malaysian Ringgit (RM). Where we could not confirm a price or halal status, the entry says so.
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Sae Ma Eul
Charcoal-grill Korean BBQ whose flagship sits in Solaris Mont Kiara, with branches in Jaya One, Sri Petaling, Kota Damansara and Subang Jaya. Meat is grilled over hot coals rather than gas, and the menu runs from several pork cuts to Angus beef, chicken and seafood. Service is no-frills and the place fills up in the evening.
What to order: Pork belly, kimchi jjigae, seafood pancake, spicy baby octopus.
MODU Samgyetang
Malaysia's first samgyetang specialist, opened at The Exchange TRX in late 2025. Each whole young chicken is stuffed with glutinous rice, ginseng and jujube and simmered for about 12 hours into a milky broth. The kitchen is pork-free and uses halal-certified chicken and ingredients with no lard or alcohol. A second outlet has since opened at KLGCC.
What to order: Hanbang samgyetang, black chicken samgyetang, spicy herbal samgyetang.
Hanam BBQ
Malaysian outpost of Hanam Dwaeji-jip, a Seoul pork BBQ franchise. The focus is on thick Korean pork cuts grilled at the table, usually by staff, with lettuce wraps and banchan on the side. Best with two or more people sharing a set.
What to order: Samgyeopsal (pork belly), moksal (collar), hangjeongsal (pork jowl).
Sweetree Restaurant
Halal-certified Korean restaurant in Ampang's Korean quarter with separate ร la carte and BBQ sections. The menu covers dakgalbi, Korean BBQ, samgyetang, fried chicken and army stew, plus a dessert menu with bingsu. A good pick for mixed groups that need halal food.
What to order: Dolsot bibimbap, chadolbaegi (thin-sliced brisket), cheese chicken, bingsu.
KyoChon
Korean fried chicken chain known for double-frying and brushing each piece with glaze by hand, so the skin stays thin and crisp. The Pavilion KL branch is one of its central KL outlets after the chain closed its Sunway Pyramid and The Gardens Mall branches.
What to order: Honey chicken, soy garlic wings, red pepper chicken.
K Fry Urban Korean
Homegrown halal Korean chain from Johor with a bright, casual dining room that suits families. Fried chicken is the main draw, sauced generously, alongside banchan, rice dishes and bingsu. The KL East Mall branch is one of its busiest.
What to order: K Fry Nude Chicks, Chicken Bumbuk (sharing platter), bingsu.
Shin Jjajang & Budae Jjigae
Casual Korean spot above KL Sentral that specialises in two comfort dishes: jjajangmyeon (noodles in black bean sauce) and budae jjigae (army stew). Handy for a quick meal before or after a train.
What to order: Jjajangmyeon, budae jjigae for two.
Ampang Korean Quarter
KL's informal Koreatown is in Ampang, east of the city centre, where Korean restaurants, marts and bakeries cluster around Jalan Ampang Utama and Taman Putra Sulaiman. Korean-run options include Jal Dae Ji in One Business Avenue (stews and tableside bulgogi) and Po Cha on Jalan Sulaiman 1 (home-style dinners). Most places here serve pork; Sweetree is the main halal-certified choice.
What to order: Jjigae at Jal Dae Ji, home-style banchan and stews at Po Cha, groceries from the Korean marts.
MyeongDong Topokki
Malaysian Korean street-food chain that began as a kiosk in Sunway Pyramid and now runs around 40 outlets nationwide. It has held JAKIM halal certification since 2019. Quick, cheap and filling, with tteokbokki as the core of the menu.
What to order: Tteokbokki with cheese and ramyeon add-on, kimbap, fish cake soup.
Seoul Garden
Halal-certified Korean BBQ and steamboat buffet chain. You pick marinated meats, seafood and vegetables from the counter and cook them at your table on a combined grill and soup pot. Lunch is usually cheaper than dinner, and it works well for groups.
What to order: Bulgogi beef, spicy chicken, seafood for the steamboat side.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Koreatown in Kuala Lumpur?
KL's Koreatown is in Ampang, east of the city centre. Korean restaurants, grocery marts and bakeries cluster around Jalan Ampang Utama, One Business Avenue and Taman Putra Sulaiman. Mont Kiara, especially Solaris Mont Kiara, is the other main Korean dining area.
Is Korean BBQ in KL halal?
Most Korean-run BBQ restaurants in KL serve pork and are non-halal. Seoul Garden, MyeongDong Topokki, K Fry and Sweetree are halal-certified, and MODU is pork-free with halal-certified ingredients. Certification can change, so check the restaurant or the Malaysian Halal Portal if it matters.
How much is Korean BBQ in KL?
Buffet chains and casual spots are the cheapest way in. A la carte Korean BBQ at places like Sae Ma Eul runs around RM40โ70 per person, while pork BBQ sharing sets at Hanam BBQ start at about RM175 for a group.