Dine above KL’s sparkling skyline

Nice place to hang out: Customers enjoying their meal while enjoying the view of KL at night at roadside stalls near the site of the former Ampang Look Out Point (ALOP).

IF ONE is looking to dine with a fantastic view of Kuala Lumpur’s bright skyline in the middle of the night on a budget, Ampang’s new makeshift look out point is the place.

The closure of the popular Ampang Look Out Point (ALOP) further up about three years ago has seen the emergence of roadside stalls lining the junction of Jalan Hulu Langat and Jalan Mulia 2/1.

While driving there, don’t let the winding, pitch black roads deter you from the one-of-a-kind dining experience.

The drive up the hill to the look out point can get steep.

Visitors will know they have arrived when they see a row of brightly lit stalls along the road.

Parking can be a nightmare and dangerous as there are no proper parking bays and one would have to resort to parking at the roadside.

All sorts of local street food are sold here, from satay to pisang goreng cheese.

There are a lot of char kuey teow stalls along the road so there are plenty of choices available.

Diners usually sit on plastic chairs and tables placed on boards that double as drain covers or on the slope opposite the road.

The busiest periods are weekends and holidays as stalls are set up as early as 6pm and may go on until 5am, depending on how brisk business is.

With so many char kuey teow stalls, one is bound to try at least one of them.

The King’s char kuey teow that is going for RM5 is highly recommended for a different take on the dish.

The noodles are drenched with a gravy that has a peanut aftertaste. For those who prefer eggs with it, order the “special char kuey teow” at the same stall.

A friend couldn’t get enough of the Penang-style laksa, priced at RM4, from the stall next to King’s.

Although it cannot be compared to the original in Penang, the soup was tasty and had the right balance of sourness and spiciness.

The satay stall next to the laksa stall was a welcoming and unexpected surprise.

Ordering three sticks of chicken and three sticks of beef for RM6, the beef was tender and juicy but the chicken meat was a bit too dry.

Both were fresh and served with a pretty thick peanut sauce which is what the locals look for in such a sauce. Although a bit pricey for RM1 per stick, the beef satay is worth a try.

The pisang goreng cheese (RM6 for a plate) down the same row was a little bit of a let down.

The usual pisang goreng was served with a dose of cheese and grated chocolate as well as a little bit of condensed milk on top.

Although the portion was decent to share with a few friends, it was not exciting to the palate.

Other street food available include bakso, nasi lemak ayam and soto ayam.

There is even Western food including chicken wings, lamb chop, chicken chop and beef steak sold here.

With some good food, company and a killer view of the city, one can see why the location is becoming popular among the locals.