97 Restaurants in KL & Penang Listed in the Michelin Guide with Four Receiving One Star Each

We first reported on five Malaysians who are behind Michelin-starred restaurants around the globe. We then found out that the Michelin guide had finally landed on Malaysian shores, with Penang and KL being the first cities to be evaluated by representatives of the prominent guide, with more states to be added to the future.

Now, excitingly, the full list of winners and selections has been revealed! A total of 97 restaurants were listed in the guide, with four receiving One Michelin Star and 32 receiving a Bib Gourmand.

While no restaurants received Two or Three Michelin stars, we hope that those on the list and other establishments will be recognised in the future. We also hope that these places can maintain their accreditation, as places have been known to lose their stars or status if their quality drops.

Here's what the Michelin Stars mean:

1 Star: High quality cooking. Worth a stop!

2 Stars: Excellent cooking, worth a detour!

3 Stars: Exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey!

You can read the full explanation of how they inspect establishments and the meaning of the symbols in the guides here.

Malaysian Restaurants With One Michelin Star

These restaurants were awarded with Malaysia’s first-ever Michelin stars.

Fun fact: both KL restaurants are helmed by chefs with the name Darren, but don’t be confused between the two as the first is by Chef Darren Teoh.

1. Dewakan (Kuala Lumpur)

Although fine dining restaurants typically highlight European fare, Dewakan has displayed creativity with its cuisine by trying to push for Malaysian and indigenous ingredients. It was also previously named in Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list. Leanne Lim of Dewakan also received the Michelin Service Award.

2. DC Restaurant, by Darren Chin (Kuala Lumpur)

Live seafood and local produce are used to create French classics in a 3-storey 1970s building which offers dinners various experiences on the different floors. Mahamad Hafiz Bin Abdullah displayed his extensive wine knowledge and received the Michelin Sommelier Award.