Where to eat in Ampang

A renowned pasta joint, Back Alley Pasta has garnered a cult-like following for its excellent plates. Expect punchy flavours within a space that brings together the atmospheres of hidden speakeasies and Italian osterias. The menu brims with inventive pasta, from tagliatelle with dry aged Tasmanian salmon, capers, and lemon butter to orzo with laksa butter, grilled squid, and mussels.

If you find yourself leaning towards risotto or antipasti when you visit, order its seafood risotto with saffron beurre blanc, parsley puree, and prawn head oil or quinoa arancini with pomodoro. 

Exploring a suburb should never begin without a cup of coffee. AMP Café is one of the most recent additions to Ampang’s brunch scene, brewing speciality coffee and serving a myriad of decadent pasties. The café has been said to house some of the best pancakes in the city, topping ricotta oat cakes with osmanthus syrup, ricotta crumble, and mixed berry jam.

Start your day with its take on chicken and waffles that sees duck leg confit supplant the traditional fried chicken or with a nourishing mango and dragonfruit smoothie bowl. Pair meals here with its signature beverages from its matcha fizz tonic to single origin filter coffee. 

See also: 11 cafés in the Klang Valley for your pancake fix
 

La Risata is a mainstay of Ampang’s dining scene, and for good reason. The restaurant has been bringing authentic Italian food to Kuala Lumpur for almost three decades. Classic Italian fare is this spot’s specialty, stuffing handmade tortellini with smoked duck and mascarpone, pairing burrata with cherry tomatoes, and filling cannolis with sweet ricotta cream.

Find wood-fired pizza crusts topped with squid ink, anchovies, and caramelised onions or smoked duck, rocket, and mozzarella. Equipped with an impressive bar, you’ll be able to complement meals with a selection from its wine list or an aperitif. 

Leafy, serene, and oh-so-romantic, it might seem surprising that Tamarind Springs is just a stone’s throw away from KL’s city centre. The dining venue that feels more like a nature reserve or rainforest resort is nestled just a short drive away from Ampang Jaya. Informed by Indochinese cuisine, Tamarind Springs is the perfect place for an especially romantic candlelit dinner.

Begin your date night meal with its signature appetiser platter before sharing mains of stir-fried river lobster with tamarind sauce, Vietnamese lamb curry, and crispy deep fried jungle ferns. 

We may be spoiled for choice for Japanese fare in KL, but there is no better feeling than discovering a new spot to add to your repertoire. Equipped with a teppanyaki grill, Fugu KL makes a day of dining out. On its menu, you’ll find the classics like salmon sushi and sashimi, unagi uramaki, chirashi don, and bento boxes. 

Korean barbecue will always be a good choice when dining out with friends and family. Sweetree Restaurant is one of Ampang’s most beloved Korean restaurants, offering both Korean barbecue fixings and traditional fare. You’ll be able to order a barbecue set with all the essentials or cherrypick your favourites.

Its a la carte menu proves a highlight, equipped with lesser known Korean dishes. Order from its guk mul yori selection like ox bone soup with beef slices or opt for spicy stir-fried octopus. 

For surf and turf meals of premium steak and live Atlantic lobster, stop by Kay’s Steak and Lobster. The restaurant has made a name for itself for its laidback approach to opulent ingredients, serving plates you’d find in fine-dining venues in casual settings. Expect lobster thermidor with mozzarella and paprika, beef wellington served with blackcurrant jus, and a Wagyu cheeseburger with lobster and fried kale. 

Harta turns the simple ritual of grabbing coffee into a celebration of culture. A café, heritage museum, and gallery, Harta houses curations of art exhibits that centre Malaysian culture—which you can visit with a cup of coffee in hand. You’ll even be able to have a quick meal with one of its sweet or savoury pastries.