CITY GUIDE : LANGKAWI
WINNER WINNER FISHY DINNER
Most vacationers to Langkawi couldn't care two hoots about food. They fly over from their routined lives to enjoy 14 days on a beach drinking duty free priced alcohol and avoiding the gravest sunburns. Spread along the main beaches are a whole stack of mediocre restaurants selling their tasteless and overpriced "local fare", and tourist favourites of bad pasta, kebabs and burgers.
For those of you who are more culinarily enclined, fear not! The lush tropical island of Langkawi hosts some fabulous places to smack your lips, however, these are where locals dine. Don't expect menus in English, smiling waiters and cheap cocktails, no, these are places you venture to if you care about getting fed right.
From the bounty of the sea, spicy coconut curries, Indonesian staples and even an Indian restaurant thrown in for good measure, whistle through the following guide and you'll be guaranteed to at least enjoy some delicious food whilst remembering to apply suntan lotion. Heavily.
For a full link of all the places on google maps, click the icon below:
HALIM GP GULAI PANAS
The King of the crop slaps you immediately as you exit the airport. Literally 200 meters down the road, this temple of temptations summons crowds of raging locals who eye the best fish and plunder it quicker than you can say "Snapper".
Come early to avoid disappointment, choose your protein, hand it to the chef and ask him the options for how its cooked. Whatever you do, at least one of your dishes has to be the "Gulai Ikan", a spicy curry doused over fresh pieces of fish.
NASI DAGANG PAK MALAU
Set amidst beautiful rice fields inland near the Kota Mahsuri musuem, everything on the menu here is legit. Yes, it is sweet, but that's what the locals live for, and on this occasion we whole heartedly agree.
INDIANA VEGAN CAFE
A vegan paradise swarming with cute rescue cats, good coffee and live music. The smoothie bowls are a delicious start to any day on the beach.
If you are missing a bit of the Uluwatu lifestyle, then this is your spot
PAKTEH BIHUN SUP
A million miles from the regular tourist trails, this beef noodle soup is 100% worth hopping on a scooter to get to.
RESTORAN KAK YAN NASI KAMPUR
A wildly popular local buffet-style restaurant where you can expect 50 meter lines down the road of hungry locals eyeing the fast-disappearing dishes. Grab a plate, load up, head to the lady who calculates what you owe, pull up a chair and dig in.
RESTORAN SELERA KAMPUNG
This restaurant is similar to Kak Yan, in that it's predominantly a buffet restaurant, and rammed with locals. However, if you prefer quieter environments, there are 75% less people at Selera Kampung due to the capacity of the restaurant.
INDIAN KITCHEN
Indian food in Langkawi? Yes. This newly opened restaurant was a go-to of the Mouth's lonesome explorer offering rather good Indian food when the cravings hit.
ZHONG HUA LOU
It's older than dirt, it's run by smiling grandpa's, the food is your regular Chinese fare served in a dull/evocative dining room.
KEDAI BAKSO KAK ANI
When the bells of Jakarta come flooding through the palm trees, head to Kedai Bakso Kak Ani and load up on all your staples from the Southern brothers.
KELLY'S CAFE
Newly opened haven for healthy food and tranquility.
ALHAMDULLILAH RESTORAN
Despite the location being frustrating if you're staying where most people do, Alhamdullilah cooks far better Middle Eastern food than any of the trashy places along the beach.
MAWART
Part cafe, part art studio, MawArt is our favourite place on Langkawi to sip a coffee in the shade during the midday sun. They have a room full of vinyl, art on the walls and a good cup of coffee.
AH CHONG
Sundowners don't come with a better view than at Ah Chong.
Food is forever evolving, and sometimes it devolves. Owners change, locations change, chefs change. We can only assure you that when we visited, we liked it.
