Eat like a local in Kuala Lumpur: 5 joints serving up the sloppiest, most satisfying gourmet burgers in town
Get a stack of napkins and sample everything from celebrity chef Malcolm Goh’s tasty Malaysian buttermilk chicken burger to Real Food’s veggie sourdough versions
Malaysians are no strangers to burgers. Having grown up on a steady diet of street burgers that evoke joy with every bite (and the mere sighting of a Ramly stall), locals love a good burger – the sloppier, the better. Here, we’ve rounded up the best Kuala Lumpur has got to offer: gourmet renditions of a universal favourite that’s sure to please every palate.
Define: Burgers, Bukit Jalil
It may have only just swung open the doors to its first brick-and-mortar earlier this month, but Define: Burgers is anything but amateur. Popular demand saw it outgrow its humble kiosk within a year, and it has since expanded its menu and premises to include even more tasty creations by award-winning celebrity chef Malcolm Goh.
Although the cool and casual joint offers both chicken and beef varieties, the skilful way in which it fries beautifully seasoned chicken thighs to crispy perfection is something you must experience. The Malaysian Buttermilk burger is a fine example of this, its lightly battered chicken elevated by creamy buttermilk sauce and curry leaves. It packs a flavourful punch without overpowering the poultry, which, in our definition, is scrumptious.
Address: C-8, 1, Jalan Jalil Perkasa 1, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur
myBurgerLab, Sunway
There’s no doubt about it: myBurgerLab takes fun seriously and makes its burgers seriously fun. With names such as Ultraman (crunchy chicken thigh drenched in salted egg yolk sauce), Bulbasaur (fried chicken patty with green salsa and seaweed mayo), and Jammin’ With Elvis (beef patty with peanut butter and blueberry jam), the creative “geeks” (as they like to call themselves) behind this wacky laboratory know how to cause a chuckle and delight taste buds with unusual yet delicious combinations.