Occupying the top level of a multistorey car park overlooking the Perdana Botanical Garden, flamboyant celebrity chef Ismail's restaurant is one of KL's best. The seemingly endless buffet spread is splendid, with all kinds of dishes that you'd typically only be served in a Malay home. Go hungry and book ahead at weekends, when it's super busy.

Start by loading your plate with rice and then work your way round the spread of vegetable, meat and fish dishes and fiery sambal. Ask staff for help identifying the food. Don't miss the additional food stations outside for noodles, barbecued fish, banana fritters, rojak (a mixed vegetable dish with a thick shrimp-based sauce) and desserts.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. National Monument

0.2 MILES

On a palm-fringed plaza, with fine views of KL's skyscrapers, stands this bombastic monument. Commemorating military sacrifices in the name of Malaysian…

2. KL Butterfly Park

0.2 MILES

This is a great place to get up close with a hundred or so of the 1100-plus butterfly species found in Malaysia, including the enormous and well-named…

4. Hibiscus Garden

0.26 MILES

This lovely garden is dedicated to Malaysia’s national flower and surrounds a small colonial-era house (closed to the public).

5. Orchid Garden

0.3 MILES

There are many different species of orchid on display here and the gardens are a pleasant place to walk around and admire them; unfortunately there is…

6. Deer Park

0.31 MILES

This cluster of small open-air enclosures is home to a collection of tame deer including the tiny Tragulus kanchil (lesser mouse deer), the world’s…

7. Perdana Botanical Garden

0.33 MILES

Strolling around KL's oldest public park, established in the 1880s, you'll admire native and introduced flora, including 800 species of orchid, mahogany…

8. Taman Tugu

0.34 MILES

The first stages of this 27-hectare park have opened in recent years, with the third and final stage originally due for completion some time in 2020. It…