Study: KL is the 7th Best City in the World for Food, Nasi Lemak is Named as Top Must-Try Dish

Any time is a good time for nasi lemak, especially in Malaysia. We enjoy it for breakfast, lunch, and even dinner. There’s no denying that it’s our all-time comfort food!

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Nasi lemak was named the city’s must-eat meal

According to a study by TimeOut, Kuala Lumpur has secured the 7th spot as the best city for food, with nasi lemak named the top must-try cuisine in Malaysia, followed by Thai tom yam soup and roti canai.

Grace Beard, a travel editor based in London for TimeOut, described Kuala Lumpur as,

“a large, delightful melting pot, where the food scene draws from Malay, Chinese, and Indian cultures, reflecting centuries of migration.”

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Naples takes the lead in the world’s best cities for food in 2024!

Naples, an Italian city, secured the top spot on TimeOut’s list of the world’s 20 best cities for food in 2024, with pizza margherita as its go-to dish.

Other cities on the list include Johannesburg in 2nd place, famous for its kota sandwich, and Lima, Peru following closely in 3rd place with ceviche as their must-try dish.

TimeOut surveyed thousands of city residents about their dining experiences, focusing on food quality, prices, favorite restaurants, must-try dishes, and where to get the best value options.

They ranked cities based on these factors, leaving out lower-scoring ones and keeping only the top city from each country on the list.

Here’s the list of the top 20 cities for food and their must-try dishes:

1. Naples, Italy – Pizza margherita

2. Johannesburg, South Africa – Kota sandwich

3. Lima, Peru – Ceviche

4. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam – Pho Saigon

5. Beijing, China – Peking duck

6. Bangkok, Thailand – Som tum

7. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Nasi lemak

8. Mumbai, India – Vada pav

9. Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Mandi

10. Portland, United States – Pizza

11. Liverpool, United Kingdom – Scouse

12. Medelin, Colombia – Bandeja paisa

13. Seville, Spain – Serranito

14. Porto, Portugal – Francesinha

15. Marrakech, Morocco – Tagine

16. Lyon, France –  Saucisson brioché

17. Sydney, Australia – Australian steak

18. Montreal, Canada – Poutine

19. Osaka, Japan – Takoyaki

20. Copenhagen, Denmark – Smørrebrød

What do you think about Kuala Lumpur ranking 7th? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Also read: Roti Canai Ranks Second in List of World’s Best 100 Dishes, M’sia Ranks 31 For World’s 100 Best Cuisines