Tucked on the first floor of 135, Jalan Petaling — look for the bold pink facade just off Petaling Street — The Hungry Tapir is Kuala Lumpur’s pioneering fully-vegan restaurant and cocktail bar.
Since opening in 2020, it’s carved out a niche reimagining Malaysian classics (nasi lemak, roti canai, satay) in 100% plant-based form alongside Western comfort food — all served in a boho-industrial space with jungle-green accents, exposed brick, and the occasional neon sign.
It’s not a traditional nasi lemak stall — it’s a conscious, design-forward dining spot that asks: can Malaysia’s national dish work without ikan bilis or santan from animal sources?
The answer, for many, is a surprising yes.
The Hungry Tapir at the Jalan Petaling has prepared special nasi lemak that is great for vegans and vegetarians craving for local delight.
It captures all the same flavours with their tempeh sambal, mushroom rendang and coconut rice.
Come discover more plant-forward recipes in this uniquely designed restaurant!
It’s well worth your visit.
First Impressions & Ambience
Entry is via a narrow stairwell from the pink-painted shophouse frontage — easy to miss if you’re scanning for signage, but the bubblegum-pink exterior is your clue.
Upstairs, the space opens into a split-zone layout: a covered balcony / patio overlooking Jalan Petaling (great for people-watching and golden-hour light) and an indoors dining hall with exposed brick, hanging plants, warm pendant lighting, and banquette seating.
The music is curated indie-soul — not too loud — and the overall vibe is “Pinterest come to life” with a conscience.
It gets atmospheric and dim in the evenings, especially on weekends when the bar side activates.
Service is generally warm and knowledgeable about allergens / vegan swaps; GF items are clearly marked.
Card, cash, and e-wallet accepted. Weekend evenings may require a short wait — reservations recommended.
The Nasi Lemak
Coconut Rice, Reimagined
The signature Vegan Nasi Lemak (approx. RM18 – RM22) features coconut rice steamed with fresh coconut milk and pandan — the santan is dairy-free and rich enough to register, with fluffy-separate grains rather than clumpy-wet.
The base plate replaces the traditional hard-boiled egg with a cashew omelette or tofu scramble (depending on batch), and swaps ikan bilis for crispy spiced chickpea “bilis” or toasted coconut flakes — a clever, crunchy approximation.
Cucumber and a small mound of acar (pickled veg) complete the set.
The rice is fragrant and holds its own; the cashew/tofu element adds protein without pretending to be an exact egg mimic — approach it on its own terms and it works.
The Sambal & Mushroom Rendang
The Plant-Based Pivot
The house tempeh sambal is the star plant-side swap — fermented tempeh cubes wok-fried in a dark sambal tumis with dried chillies, shallots, and palm sugar.
It has a savoury-umami depth and gentle heat (medium-warm, not blow-your-head-off) that echoes traditional sambal’s complexity better than you’d expect.
Slightly less oily than a meat-based version, but the tempeh gives it body.
The optional upgrade is the Mushroom Rendang — king oyster or shiitake mushrooms braised in a spiced coconut reduction until the “meat” absorbs the dark, fragrant gravy.
The mushroom’s chew mimics rendang beef surprisingly well; the sauce has cinnamon, cardamom, and toasted coconut notes.
This combo (nasi lemak + mushroom rendang + tempeh sambal) is the most popular way to order it.
Other Menu Highlights
The bar program is a draw — classic cocktails with Malaysian twists (e.g., gin & tonic with local botanicals, hibiscus margarita, lemongrass mojito).
Location & Hours
The Hungry Tapir at 135, Jalan Petaling — KL’s first fully-vegan restaurant & cocktail bar in Chinatown, famous for its plant-based Nasi Lemak with mushroom rendang and tempeh sambal
| 🌿The Hungry Tapir, Jalan Petaling | |
|---|---|
| 135, Jalan Petaling, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur. See Google map. | |
| 03-2022 2137 | |
| 12:00 pm – 10:00 pm (Closed on Monday) | |
Practical Tips:
• ~5-min walk from Pasar Seni MRT / LRT, behind Petaling Street Market.
• Parking: Very limited on Jalan Petaling — best to park at Central Market / Plaza Rakyat and walk, or Grab in.
• Pro Tip: Ask for the mushroom rendang add-on if ordering the base nasi lemak — it elevates the plate significantly. The balcony seats are prime at sunset but first-come; indoor tables are cooler midday. Vegans / vegetarians will find this one of the few places in KL doing local heritage dishes properly plant-based.
Verdict
The Hungry Tapir isn’t a replacement for your favourite Kampung Baru stall — it’s a different category entirely: a fully vegan reinterpretation of Malaysian comfort food in a consciously designed space.
The nasi lemak with tempeh sambal and mushroom rendang is genuinely thoughtful — not gimmicky — and the sambal has real character.
Prices are 2–3× a hawker stall (this is café pricing with AC, service, and ethical sourcing baked in), and purists may miss the animal-derived funk of traditional ikan bilis, but for plant-based eaters or the curious omnivore wanting a Chinatown pitstop with soul, it delivers one of KL’s most interesting modern takes on nasi lemak.
⭐ Rating: 4.0 / 5.0 — Best for: vegans/vegetarians, Chinatown lunch-with-a-difference, plant-based nasi lemak curious, cocktail + sharing plate sessions.
