Last year, the Michelin Guide Kuala Lumpur & Penang debuted in our country with 97 restaurants which certainly set tongues wagging. Whether you personally agreed with the list or not, it is certainly interesting to see which establishments were handpicked by the guide out of the myriad of culinary options in Malaysia. With Starred, Bib Gourmand, and Selected dining establishments, this year's selection presents a total of 127 eateries that offer a wide range of over 30 different cuisine types, including street food.

The First Two Michelin Starred Restaurant in Malaysia

Dewakan in Kuala Lumpur, which received one MICHELIN Star in the first edition of the MICHELIN Guide Kuala Lumpur & Penang, scaled to new gastronomic heights by being the first ever restaurant to receive two Michelin stars in our nation.

“Dewakan” means “food from God”, and the chef crafts a heavenly dining experience that is Malaysian down to its very core. Each ingredient is sustainably and locally sourced; even the dinnerware is handmade by local artists. The set tasting menu features many items that are fermented or dry-aged in-house, alongside seasonal fruits and herbs.

New Restaurant Added to the One Michelin Star List

Last year, Beta was a Michelin Selected restaurant but now it boasts one star. The restaurant offers discerning foodies an exciting way to taste Malaysia’s rich culinary heritage with a touch of finesse. The chef reimagines favourites from around the country, often jazzed up with modern techniques and soigné plating. Head to the lounge first for a round of cocktails and appetizers, before sampling the main courses in the theatrically appointed dining room with an open kitchen.

The full one star Michelin restaurant list is as follows:

25 Michelin Selected Restaurants

Ranging from fine dining to street food, these Selected restaurants deserve a mention because they cook with a certain quality in cuisine and ingredients.

25 new Michelin Selected establishments have been added to the list with 16 located in Kuala Lumpur, and 9 in Penang. The grand total is now 77. You can read about the 14 new Bib Gourmand establishments here.

Here are the new entries for KL:

And these are the new spots for Penang:

What do you think of the list? It is interesting to note that it seems that no establishments from last year have been removed from the list. You can check out the full guide here or download the MICHELIN Guide mobile app (iOS and Android).