Little Penang Kafe – A Satisfying Escape from the Heat

After walking around Kuala Lumpur’s popular tourist spots for some photo ops, the midday heat finally got to us. We decided to head into the air-conditioned comfort of KLCC Mall to cool down and grab lunch.

That’s when we stumbled upon Little Penang Kafe, located at No. 409-11, Level 4, Petronas Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Despite a long queue outside, people were being seated quickly, so we decided to wait. My stomach was already grumbling, and seeing the happy faces of diners coming out gave us even more reason to stay.

Little Penang Cafe at KLCC Mall in Malaysia — *Little Penang Cafe at KLCC Mall*

I had been craving laksa, and one particular item caught my eye — Siamese Lemak Laksa (MYR 19.30). It was only available on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, which made it feel like a special weekend treat.

The broth had a rich coconut base mixed with a distinctly fishy flavor, topped with sliced cucumber, chilies, bits of pineapple and a calamansi. The noodle is firm and on a thicker side but it complements the soup. We requested mild spiciness, and it was just right — flavorful but not overwhelming. The fish flavor stood out — in a good way. It was unlike any laksa I’d tried during my 7-month stay in Singapore back in 2010, or even in the Philippines where I stay and get my laksa fix. This might be the most unique and satisfying bowl of laksa I’ve ever had since I consumed til the last drop!

An order of Siamese Lemak Laksa Bowl from Little Penang Kafe at KLCC Mall — *A bowl of Siamese Lemak Laksa*

A (spoonful) chopstick-full of Siamese Lemak Laksa Noodles with creamy broth — *A (spoonful) chopstick-full of Siamese Lemak Laksa* Noodles

We also ordered the Seafood Char Koay Teow (MYR 28.80). To be honest, I was already so in love with the laksa that this dish came second for me. But my husband really enjoyed it. I wasn’t a fan of Char Koay Teow when I tried it years ago — the version I had then had a burnt aftertaste — but this one was much better and didn’t have that issue. Also the ingredient were proportionate to its noodles.

*An order of Char Koay Teow at Little Penang Kafe*

Next up was the Chicken Satay (MYR 22.80), served with a spicy peanut sauce, along with cucumber, onion, and pineapple on the side. I’m personally more of a pork satay fan, so this didn’t stand out much for me. The peanut sauce was the best part — rich and spicy, it elevated the whole dish.

1 order of Chicken Satay with peanut sauce and side dishes: slices of cucumber, pineapple and red onions — *1 order of Chicken Satay with peanut sauce and side dishes*

For drinks, my husband got the Watermelon Juice (MYR 9.30), while I tried the Barley Drink (MYR 4.80) — and I’m glad I did! It came with floating barley grains that you could chew while sipping. It was light, refreshing, and something I’d definitely order again over the watermelon juice.

*Two glasses of Barley and Watermelon Juice*

Final Thoughts:

We’re really glad we discovered Little Penang Kafe. The food was flavorful, the atmosphere casual and comfortable, and it was the perfect spot to recharge after a hot day of sightseeing. It also made us more excited to visit Penang one day — Malaysia’s food capital — to try more authentic local dishes.

Here are the menu of Little Penang Kafe at KLCC: