KUALA LUMPUR, May 30 — Kuala Lumpur is the seventh best city globally for food, with nasi lemak set as the top must-try dish in the country, according to a ranking released yesterday by lifestyle magazine TimeOut.

Its Kuala Lumpur writer Ng Su Ann described the culinary scene in Malaysia's capital as thriving, offering everything from traditional street food to innovative dining experiences.

"Make time for our many kopitiams, mamak and hawker stalls, and neon-lit night markets to sample our world-famous street fare, like laksa, roti canai, and nasi lemak.

"From cafés to omakases, from supper clubs to bars with skyline views, the city’s food scene has more to offer than ever,” she was quoted as saying in the magazine.

Among the eateries she considers well worth making a reservation for are Pickle Dining and Kai, a restaurant that features flavours from throughout the Malay Archipelago.

"My first choice when pals drop by? APW in Bangsar features Olivia Deli for tapas and sangria, a sushiya, wood-fired sourdough pizzas, natural wines, and more. 103 Coffee may be the best in the city,” Ng suggested.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's bustling capital, is renowned for its diverse culinary landscape, shaped by centuries of Malay, Chinese, and Indian influences.

TimeOut described the city as a cultural melting pot that offers an array of delicious dishes, with nasi lemak taking the top spot as the city's must-eat meal.

This aromatic dish, made of coconut milk rice, crispy anchovies, cucumber, and boiled egg, exemplifies the rich, flavourful cuisine found throughout Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia in general.

Other than nasi lemak, the magazine listed Thai tom yam soup, which is widely known for its spicy and tangy flavours, and roti canai, a crispy pan-fried flatbread as among the popular dishes available in Kuala Lumpur.

TimeOut ranked Naples, the third biggest city in Italy famous for its pizza margherita as the world's best city for food; followed by Johannesburg, boasting its traditional South African delicacies,. Lima, Peru came in third place.

Five other Asian cities on the list were Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, Beijing in China, Bangkok in Thailand, Mumbai in India and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

The other cities on TimeOut's top 20 for food were Portland in the United States of America, Liverpool in the United Kingdom, Medellin in Colombia, Seville in Spain, Porto in Portugal, Lyon in France, Montreal in Canada, Marrakesh in Morocco, Sydney in Australia and Osaka in Japan.

Copenhagen in Denmark made it to the list in 20th place, featuring smørrebrød, an open sandwich of sour Danish rye bread topped with anything from smoked fish and pickled herring to eggs and meat.