The Taman Connaught night market (also known as Cheras Pasar Malam) is hands down the biggest night market in all of Kuala Lumpur. Every Wednesday afternoon, a road stretching over 2 kilometers is closed to traffic and filled with hundreds of stalls. While you won’t see too many tourists here, it’s a local favorite — and the food is the main highlight. That said, locals also swing by to stock up on groceries. Besides all the amazing snacks and street food, you’ll also find stalls selling everything from household stuff and plants to herbs, electronics, phone accessories, toys, (super cheap) jewelry, clothes, shoes, and even fireworks if that’s your thing. Taman Connaught makes for a super fun outing, and even though it’s a bit of a trip from the city center, it’s pretty easy to get to with the metro and a Grab.
In our opinion, night markets are always a must during any vacation in Malaysia. If we get the chance, we try to visit at least one during our trip. It’s a fun, atmospheric, and delicious local outing — and the kids especially love being able to buy something “with their own money.” Food is the main highlight, but you can also find plenty of other fun local things to buy. Taman Connaught is located in a suburb and is especially popular among locals from the massive Cheras area (just southeast of Kuala Lumpur).
This kind of night market is mainly geared toward locals, not tourists. That actually makes it a unique and enjoyable experience for visitors — there’s no pressure to buy anything, and nobody tries to hassle you. At most, you might get the occasional fun or curious question about where you’re from. Other than that, it feels like a super professional market. Some stalls are beautifully decorated and set up, and the food presentation is often top-notch. Some stalls even offer free tastings — a great way to sample a bunch of dishes and snacks.
Since the market only opens once a week (every Wednesday evening from 5 p.m. to midnight), it can get pretty packed, especially around dinner time. From 7 p.m. onwards, you might find yourself walking shoulder-to-shoulder with others, and there are often lines at the more popular stalls. These are usually the new ones or the ones selling something a bit unique, like Tiramisu House or satay made with pork or Wagyu beef — not super common in Malaysia. Taman Connaught is also one of the few non-halal night markets in Kuala Lumpur. The best time to go is around 7 p.m., when the vibe is at its peak and everyone’s buzzing. Once it gets dark, it’s also the perfect time to snap some beautiful photos.
Delicious food and drinks
Delicious local dishes are the main attraction, and you’re greeted with the most amazing aromas everywhere you go (sometimes mouthwatering, sometimes pretty intense — like at the stall selling Stinky Tofu). It’s best to order small portions, and sometimes you’ll need to ask for that specifically — otherwise, you might end up with a whole tray of 10 dumplings or dim sum that fills you up way too fast. Even when you’re full, there’s still plenty to see — at many stalls, the way they prepare the food is a show in itself.
You’ll find everything you’d normally get at a food court, plus a huge variety of (sweet) snacks. Most snacks are served on sticks or in paper bags. It’s also the perfect place to stock up on fresh fruit for the days ahead — which works well for us, since we usually rent an apartment with a kitchen and fridge in KL.
The dishes range from popular Malaysian food from different cuisines (especially Chinese-Malaysian, but also Malay and Indian-Malay), to loads of stalls with specialties from neighboring countries, and even Japanese and Korean snacks.
Some of our favorite dishes over the years have been murtabak (RM5), fish balls (RM6), laksa (RM7), fried jackfruit (RM5), stuffed egg burger (RM5), popcorn chicken (RM10), popiah (RM5), dumplings (RM7), pork pie (RM4.50), apom balik (RM2.80), Thai mango salad (RM10), sausage on a stick (RM2.70), satay (RM1.50/stick), potato pancake (RM6), teh limo ice (RM3), golden potato (RM5), rou jia mou (RM4), dorayaki-filled pancake (RM8), fried spring roll (RM3.50), sweet chili crab lava bun (RM8 — absolutely delicious), and hakka flat pancake (RM6 — the kaja version is amazing).
There’s also popcorn, mochi, fries, carrot cake, char kway teow, chicken nuggets, fried potatoes, various kuih (including kuih lompang), sausages, ondeh-ondeh, fried banana, sponge cake, dim sum, rainbow jelly, durian, egg tarts, oyster omelette, nasi lemak, Chinese pancakes (apom balik), and tons more. Some dishes even appear at multiple stalls.
The Omiyage Seaweed Sushi Popiah is something special — basically popiah wrapped in a sheet of nori and sold as sushi in a tray (RM7).
The kids will probably love the extra-long fries. Like ours, they’ve probably never had fries almost 30 cm long before!
My personal favorite? The Wagyu satay made with Australian Wagyu beef. Definitely a treat for foodies — at RM13.50 per stick, it’s not cheap, but the meat is super tender and seasoned perfectly. I had to try it.
Honey Rock Sugar Lemon is also a refreshing drink (RM8), but you’ll find plenty of drink stalls around — including some with bubble tea.
We always finish off with the Soufflé Pancakes with Boba Cream for dessert. For RM12, you get a sweet treat that really fills you up. Another must-try: Dino Mallow — a chocolate-marshmallow ice cream for RM10. So good!
Opening hours
The night market starts every Wednesday at 5 p.m., and it’s usually still pretty quiet around that time. Most of the people you’ll see then are just picking up food to take home. The evening crowd doesn’t really show up until around 7 p.m. The market officially closes at 1 a.m., but a lot of stalls usually start packing up by midnight.
We arrived during a heavy rainstorm, which — unlike the usual short bursts we’re used to in KL — lasted a bit longer. We were still a bit unsure on the way there, wondering if the market might be canceled. But when we arrived, it was already buzzing. Rain or shine, the market’s always open.
How to get there?
The local neighborhood of Taman Connaught is quite a distance from the center of Kuala Lumpur, tucked away in the massive suburb of Cheras.
The easiest way to get there is by Grab. Keep in mind that traffic in central KL can be hectic around dinnertime, but once you’re out of the city center, it’s usually not too bad on Wednesday afternoons and evenings — the day the popular market is held. A ride from downtown KL with Grab, AirAsia Ride, or the Maxim Taxi app typically costs no more than RM30.
Another option is the MRT Kajang Line — Taman Connaught station is just a few hundred meters from the night market (about a 10–15 minute walk; follow signs for Gate A). The Kajang Line is one of the newest MRT lines and connects with stops like Bukit Bintang, TRX, and Pasar Seni. Just be aware it tends to get pretty packed during the evening rush hour, as many locals commute home on this line.
The walk from the MRT station to the market isn’t exactly short, and if walking in the heat isn’t your thing, you can also grab a short Grab ride for the final stretch. There’s also bus T410, but you’ll often have to wait for it, and it’s usually quite full on Wednesday evenings.
Keep in mind it gets really crowded in and around the market later in the evening. A Grab won’t be able to stop just anywhere, so we ended up walking toward IKON Connaught (a small shopping mall), where we finally managed to book a Grab from the Shell gas station nearby. It was pretty busy at that time, so we had to wait over 15 minutes before our ride arrived.
If you’ve got your own transport, you can easily drive there yourself. The market’s in a suburb that’s easy to reach (just use Google Maps or Waze). It’s located along Jalan Cerdas, and there are usually plenty of free parking spots nearby.
Tips
- Bring enough cash with you as only a handful of stalls accept contactless payment via debit card or Touch ‘N Go card/eWallet. Most vendors don’t like accepting RM50 notes, and definitely not RM100 bills.
- Watch out for pickpockets and always keep your money out of sight.
- The prices mentioned here are based on our most recent visit early 2025. They may have changed since then.
- If you’re short on cash, there are a few places along Jalan Cerdas where you can use your debit card. Know that sometimes, ATM machine tend to run empty.
- The night market is outdoors along a main road. If it rains, there’s not much shelter. It’s smart to bring an umbrella or poncho—if you forget, you can easily buy one at the market or in one of the nearby shops.
- Try not to wear your nicest sneakers (especially not white ones)—they won’t stay clean if it rains. Or just grab a pair of Kampung Adidas at the market 😊.
- First come, first served! Many specialty stalls bring a set amount each night and often sell out by the end of the evening.
- There aren’t many trash bins around, so you’ll need to take your leftovers and wrappers home with you.
- The market is 2 kilometers long—the longest in Malaysia—with over 700 stalls. Most snacks cost no more than RM5 per portion.
- Long queues are common, but don’t assume a queue means amazing food. Sometimes people line up just because others are doing it. Take a peek at what they’re selling first—you can always come back later when it’s less crowded.
- Some stalls close when the weather’s bad. But if you see dark clouds and vendors aren’t packing up, it probably won’t be serious. For a quick shower, vendors usually just cover their stalls with plastic sheets.
- There’s a stall called ‘Oyster BBQ’—perfect for oyster lovers. Grab a lemon and you’re good to go 😊.
- Try the Coca Cola Jelly—a fun, unique drink. And yes, the ice cubes used at the market are safe (factory-made).
- Cocktail fans, check out Nectar Bar—a little stall with a cool drink menu. Cocktails start from RM18.
- Set your Grab pickup point a little away from the busiest part of the market so your driver can actually stop.
- You can grab a bottle of water at the 7-Eleven you’ll pass near the market.
- Everyone speaks English, but locals always appreciate it if you know a few words of Bahasa Malaysia.
- Bring tissues or wet wipes as not every food stall provides napkins, and things can get messy fast (with for example satay sauce or a mango salad!).
- Wear light clothes—it gets super hot with so many people around and all the open fires used for cooking.
- Long clothes can help protect you from mosquitoes, and don’t forget to apply DEET or another repellent.
- Bring a reusable bag or shopper bag as you’ll likely end up buying a few extras—souvenirs, snacks, or some fruit. A foldable bag comes in handy and helps reduce plastic waste.
- The market has so many tempting options that it’s easy to fill up too quickly. Share portions with your travel buddies so you can try more dishes without getting full too soon.
- As an alternative, you can visit Jalan Alor, a food street in the heart of KL. It’s easier to reach and has a similar vibe, though it’s more touristy and centered around restaurants. If you can’t make it to Taman Connaught on a Wednesday night, Jalan Alor is a fun backup—also lively and bustling in the evening.
- Seating is limited. Occasionally, a stall might have a few chairs nearby, and there are a few tables and chairs on the service road next to the market.
Suggestions?
Got any good tips to share with us? Do you know of any great things to do in Kuala Lumpur, or tips on the best places to eat? Let us know by leaving a reply below!
