De Ideal Hotel

This simple shop has been selling authentic Hakkanese food in an unremarkable neighbourhood for over 20 years. The must-try Hor Poh lui cha is a sheeny green soup served with steamed rice. Made with ground sesame seeds, peanuts and mint leaves, the soup is nutty and aromatic. The Hor Poh dumpling with dried tofu, garlic and pickles enrobed in a thin skin is also popular. With a range of tasty offerings at bargain prices, this place is always busy.

A Fukuoka native, the chef worked in Europe for years before opening this place – an oasis set in lush greenery outside the city centre. At dinner, the tasting menus include five or nine courses, meticulously crafted with classic French techniques and using local ingredients. With an array of harmonious textures, the corn dish is inspired by the chef's visit to Cameron Highlands, encapsulating his culinary vision and childhood memories.

Just as bak kut teh is Malaysia's iconic dish and soul food, this restaurant also has a place in the hearts of locals. It’s particularly popular for lunch. The bak kut teh soup has a characteristic mild flavour that’s well-balanced with a subtle use of herbs and light, sweet flavours. The dry, spicy version has a richer, thicker consistency. The four shop houses that line the boulevard offer plenty of seating and absorb the noise and energy of the street.

Vantador’s vintage yet modern interiors are drenched in soft lighting. Aussie and Spanish beef is either dry-aged for up to 30 days in unsalted butter, or vacuum-sealed and wet-aged in its own juices for 14 days. Steaks are precisely grilled over charcoal and wood to desired doneness, striking a fine balance between smoky and full-bodied, meaty flavours. Non-steak dishes are also available, together with meticulously prepared desserts.

This local chef of Chaozhou descent, whose career boasts stints in upmarket kitchens, strives to break culinary boundaries at Jie. Her two 10-course tasting menus feature creative Chinese fare that often involves Western techniques and painstaking preparation. Free-range chicken soup with almond milk is slow-cooked for hours to build up layers of flavours; serrano ham adds extra depth. Book at least two days ahead.

Born into a Chinese family of chefs and formally trained in Gallic cuisine, the head chef strives to add a French spin to Chinese gourmet classics. The tasting menu embodies his culinary vision – crispy duck is aged for seven days making it juicy and tender; the must-try botan ebi dressed in fermented Chinese tofu sauce is marvellously ingenious. The chef occasionally pops out of the kitchen to serve the food himself and chat with diners.

Formerly a sushi-ya, Kazu is now divided into two separate rooms with counter seats: one for serving edomae sushi omakase menus, the other for beef lovers offering multi-course kappo sets starring Miyazaki Wagyu. The chefs at the helm of each kitchen have decades of experience and both excel in enhancing the natural flavours of seasonal ingredients from Japan. Views of the Zen garden add to the serene vibe.