It's tea time and you're getting sick of eating Pavlovas and Banoffee pies. Time for something different, something local, you say. But what?

With the emergence of chic cafes all over the city, it's no longer difficult to find a place that sells, say, Red Velvet cakes, or something that used to be even more scarce like Mille Crepe cakes or rainbow cakes.

Instead, local delights are being overshadowed by pretty cupcakes, gelatos and fancy cakes -- mostly due to the fact that many of the local tea-time snacks are sold at stalls that only provide you with these options:

1. You have to take away. There is no other choice.
2. You can dine-in, order a cup of tea, and hang out, but under a zinc roof with no air-conditioning.
3. You can dine-in, by standing there and finishing your snack.

Granted, these limitations are solid turnoffs if you intend to spend a few hours sipping coffee in an air conditioned space while letting the chill jazz music in the background relax you.

If you're local, you probably know what it's like to really indulge in a true blue Malaysian tea-time fare, and you know it's not about the ambiance or service- it's about the snacks itself! These local goodies are packed with enjoyable flavors you'll be thrilled to share with guests at home or when visiting.

Here are some of the most delicious snacks you can find around Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya:

1. Brickfields Pisang Goreng

This famous pisang goreng stall located right outside Restoran Yit Seang has been around for decades, serving as THE pisang goreng go-to stall for all kinds of folk in the Brickfields-Bangsar-Bukit Damansara area, including VIPs and entrepreneurs. The stall is manned by a senior Mr. Chiam and his son from 12.30pm until 6pm, while a senior Mrs. Chiam prepares the snacks and delivers them to the stall via a basket from a first-floor window of the building next to the stall!



What makes their banana fritters super popular is that they only use Pisang Raja, which is sizable and deliciously sweet. Another popular treat at this stall is the nin ko (Cantonese), or nian gao; a sticky sweet filling (made from glutinous rice and sugar) sandwiched in between a slice of yam and sweet potato and deep fried in crispy, crumbly, melt-in-your-mouth batter. Mr. Chiam suggests calling them at +6 012-617 2511 to place an order if you don't want to queue and wait for your deep-fried goodies.


2. Imbi Kuih Bakul Fried Gold Cake



Kuih bakul, also known as fried gold cake, is another name for the yummy snack consisting of the sticky sweet nin ko sandwiched between a slice of yam and sweet potato. The reason why this is on our list is because not many hawkers sell traditional, home-made nin ko, due to its tedious method of preparation. Also available at this stall are banana fritters, yam fritters, and sweet potato fritters.

If you're in the Bukit Bintang or Imbi area, you can find this stall right outside Mei Sin Eating Shop on Jalan Melati. Manned by a young couple named Renee and Ah Kiong, the stall is open during the day time.


3. Taiping Lim Nyonya Kueh



Located in Restoran Hock Seng Two in SS2, this nyonya kuih stall offers a number of different nyonya snacks. The awesome thing about kuihs is that they don't have to be eaten hot, so it makes a really convenient snack to tapau for a later time of day - say for tea time or after-dinner desserts. This stall is said to run out of kuihs around lunch time.


4. Homi Curry Puff



This stall is a neighbor of the Taiping Lim Nyonya Kueh - they both reside in Restoran Hock Seng Two in SS2. Homi Curry Puff has been here for more than a decade, with a large number of loyal customers who keep returning to the stall for its super-sized, generously-filled, golden-shelled curry puffs. A recent expansion to an outlet in Mid Valley has led Homi to acquire a Halal status, and a higher price point than the stall in SS2. Homi's SS2 outlet is open daily from 6am to 6pm, while the outlet at Mid Valley operates from 10am to 10pm.


5. Sisters Crispy Popiah



Speaking of Mid Valley, another yummy snack here is the popiah from Sisters Crispy Popiah. It looks like any other chain kiosk, but be not fooled, the popiah prepared here is pretty awesome. Open from 10am till 10pm, this makes for a great light lunch, or a tea time snack. The food sold here is certified as Halal, so anyone can indulge in this snack. However, due to the stalls' location in malls, the popiahs are sold for a higher price with one roll costing around RM3.20 at the very least.


6. Mr. Siew Bao




Clearly getting its name from the popularity of its siew baos, the brand has come a long way since its humble beginnings in a Seremban night market. Most siew baos are made with pork fillings, but Mr. Siew Bao uses chicken fillings, and is Halal-certified. Other incredibly scrumptious pastries here include egg tarts, kaya puffs, and Chinese biscuits, which can cost anywhere between RM1.40 - RM20. You basically can't go wrong at Mr. Siew Pao.


7. Tong Kee Bread & Tarts



This family-run bakery was founded in the '60s and established in 1970. They're known for their tasty pastries and snacks, of which a major favorite are the egg tarts. The kaya puffs and meat pies are also said to be rather delicious. There are several outlets located around the Klang Valley, but this outlet in Damansara Utama operates from 8am to 9pm from Tuesday to Sunday.


8. Kuih Stall Outside Nam Chuan



Ah Mun is a motorcycle vendor who is regularly seen selling nyonya kuihs outside the Nam Chuan restaurant in Lucky Garden, Bangsar. But don't be fooled by the size of his little stall - Ah Mun sells quite a variety of nyonya treats and is often surrounded by eager beavers waiting to get their order in. His stall opens at about 3pm and closes when his kuih sells out--sometimes within two hours! The kuih lapis here is a favorite, as is the kuih talam, onde onde, and kuih tai tai.  It's a definite must-try and it's definitely worth queuing up for.


9. Chelo Apam



One of the most tasty Malaysian cuisines is Indian, and while you can find Indian snacks anywhere, you need to try the sweet apam from this stall. The center of this particular apam is filled with jaggery, so while the edges of this pancake is crisp, its sweet center is light and fluffy. You can also opt for the regular apam without the jaggery middle. Other nibbles worth tasting at this stall located behind TMC in Lucky Gardens are the vadai, spring rolls, and curry puffs - all of which are vegetarian.

10. Mak Jah Corner



Upon entering this corner shop nestled at one end of a single-storey stretch of talls near the Ampang RSPCA, you'll be amazed to see a massive variety of Malay kuihs laid out before your eyes. Trays filled with immaculate kuih tepung pelita, seri muka, kuih bakar kemboja, kuih talam, ketayap, bingka ubi, cekodok pisang, and so many more are truly a test for gluttony - because you'll just want to sweep up everything. Mak Jah Corner is open from 7am to 6pm everyday, but if you want a full range of kuih to choose from, your best bet would be to go before lunchtime. PS: The nasi lemak here is fantastic, too.


Bonus: Keropok Lekor



Keropok lekor a traditional Malay fish-based snack from Terengganu that has made its way to being one of the most popular snacks in the Klang Valley. You can find it being freshly deep-fried at pasar malams, or at stalls outside shops or malls, or on the menu of some Malay kopitiams. Keropok lekor vendors predominantly sell a plump version of the snack, but some also sell it in thin slices, which looks and tastes like fish crisps. It's best eaten with chili sauce, and it won't make you too full to enjoy a proper dinner.


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