One can argue that you haven’t really been to Malaysia until you’ve eaten at a hawker centre. It’s a good way of experiencing much of the culture. Arguably, you can discover a lot about the people by its food – what they eat, when they eat, and how they do it – and of course, there’s no better way of learning than sampling the local fare!

As centres are run independently, the dishes you can find in each can vary. Oftentimes, each centre also has the famous stall, the one that draws crowds and attracts queues. However, you can always guarantee a variety of delicious food, and at very reasonable prices.

That being said, a short holiday in Malaysia is nowhere near enough time to visit every centre for the best of the best. That’s where Lot 10 Hutong comes in. Located in the basement of the Lot 10 shopping complex in the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s shopping district, it’s an easy walk from several shopping malls for a meal.

Unlike your typical hawker centre, Lot 10 Hutong has representatives from the biggest superstar stands from all around Malaysia. This means you can sample not only a range of dishes, but the best of the best, all in one food court!

It is best to keep in mind that having so many good stalls comes with a couple of consequences. Firstly, the crowds. As expected, they come in throngs, and at the best of times. It’s best to avoid Lot 10 during weekends and peak mealtimes, as it means a fight for seats, despite the dozens upon dozens of tables scattered throughout the maze-like layout of the basement. Secondly is the price, which comes at as much of a premium as the products. Compared to the original stalls, the food at Lot 10 can be inflated even twice its normal, and on top of that is a service charge that is added on top of the listed price. Still, the price may not be considered too expensive for a tourist budget, with a couple of the most expensive dishes we saw running at around RM20 (US$5). You’re really paying for the chance to eat well in a very short amount of time.

And sometimes, when everything looks this darn good, the number of choice becomes problematic too! Both of us are immeasurably indecisive, and it resulted in more than a couple of laps around the basement to determine the handsomest looking dishes. When in the case of Lot 10 Hutong, don’t think too much! Just go with your gut instincts – it’s sure to be good.

Imbi Road Original Pork Noodles

Imbi Road Pork Noodles are different to the wonton mee we had been expecting, but it wasn’t any less enjoyable. Coming with an option of dry or soupy, we opted for our personal preference of the dry noodles with kway tiao (rice noodles). This came with rice noodles soaked in a thin, dark brown sauce. It was also topped with mince, sausages, and a healthy dose of spring onions, as well as a bowl of soup with pork balls.

Much to our surprise, the dish was not as salty as the dark colour suggested. Instead, it was very fragrant and savoury from the soy sauce and pork, with a hint of sweetness, reminding us of the flavour of lo mai gai or zhong zi (wrapped steamed glutinous rice). The sausages were much like Chinese sausages. All the flavour is steeped fantastically in the light rice noodles, which are so smooth and soft, though not at all soggy, that there’s almost no need for chewing.

The soup was less impressive. There wasn’t too much flavour besides salt, and the pork balls had an ambiguous meaty flavour as well as an exceptionally soft texture, rather than the firmer, bouncier pork balls we’re more accustomed to.

Dry Pork Noodles RM11.55 (~US$3)

Zhun Kee Claypot Chicken Rice with Salted Fish

Claypot rice in Malaysia is a dish with Cantonese roots, and often touted as one of the multitudinous must-try meals in the Southeast Asian country. Zhun Kee cooks dishes to order, serving the dishes in a piping hot clay bowl, which keeps it warm throughout your meal.

The first flavour to hit us was the scent of ginger and Chinese cooking wine, in warming, refreshing wave that lingers throughout each bite. The rice was seasoned perfectly with aromatics and soy sauce, making for a very savoury, hearty meal. Once again, despite the colour and the addition of salted fish it was not at all salty.

As expected, the rice lining the bowl continues to cook as you eat, turning into a crust. We left it for far too long so we burned ours, though if you do it right you can get a great crunchy finish.

Chicken and Salted Fish Claypot Rice RM13.05 (~US$3.30)

The dishes found in Lot 10 Hutong may not be as good as the original stalls, but we really have no comparison to make. Nonetheless, the dishes we chose were all very satisfying, making the Lot 10 basement a great location to come to if you’re pressed for time but still want to try all the famous stalls all in one go. It’s definitely a recommended destination for any foodie who is in Kuala Lumpur for travel.

Lot 10 Hutong
Bukit Bintang, 50250 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Mon-Sun 10am-10pm
www.lot10hutong.com