Any Malaysian who walks into a local hawker center, food court, or canteen would have seen stall operators selling troughs of cooked food in its aromatic glory.

Chap fan (also fondly known as economy rice, or mixed rice) is a popular lunch option in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand. Laid out like a buffet spread of anywhere between 10 to 15 or more dishes, hungry lunchers get to pick the dishes they want out of a myriad of meat, vegetables, eggs and tofu served for the day.

The chap fan appeal comes from the fact that it closely resembles home-cooked rice-based dishes typically prepared in Chinese households, and its value for money. So not only do you get to pick out dishes that remind you of your mother's cooking, it's cheap too (usually under RM10).

Chap fan can be found almost anywhere, but if you really love your mixed rice meals, start a chap-fan-athon and try these seven best chap fan stalls in the Klang Valley:

1. Kedai Makanan Sky, Setapak


Recommended Dishes:  Minced Pork with Gravy, Stir-Fried Long Beans
Where: 209, GF, Jalan Genting Klang, Setapak, Kuala Lumpur, Setapak, 53300


2. Vegetarian Stall at Dharma Realm Guanyin Sagely Monastery (Deng Bi An), Jalan Ampang


Recommended Dishes: Lei Cha, Homemade Pastries with Red Bean/Lotus filling
Where: 161, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur City Center, 55000


3. Eat-ZY Teow Chew Porridge & Rice, Aman Suria

Recommended Dishes: Fish with Beancurd Sauce, Teochew Porridge
Where: 28-1, Jalan PJU 1/3F, Sunway Mas Commercial Center, Petaling Jaya, Aman Suria, 47301


4. Sing Hup Soon Restaurant, Selayang

Recommended Dishes: Sweet and Sour Pork, Vegetarian Dishes
Where: 12, Jalan Besar Selayang Baru, Selayang, 68100

5. Restoran YYS, Petaling Jaya


Recommended Dishes: Braised Pork, Braised Tofu, Omelette
Location: 2, Jalan PJS 1/46, Taman Petaling Utama, Petaling Jaya (South), 46150


6. Miao Shan Vegetarian Restaurant, Kajang

Recommended Dishes: Fried Rice, Curry Mixed Vegetable with Tau Pok, Cabbage and Long Bean
Where: No. 28G, Jalan SL 1/2, Kajang, Sungai Long, 43000


7. Kedai Makanan Segambut Cafe, Segambut

Recommended Dishes: Butter Chicken, Bitter Gourd
Where: Persiaran Segambut Utara, Segambut, 51200


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For more local suggestions and reviews, visit OpenRice Malaysia, or get food ideas on-the-go by downloading the OpenSnap app for iOS or Android.