Top Nine Meals of 2025

Here are our Top Nine Meals of 2025. Thank you all for the continued support!

It’s hard to believe it’s been six years since we started this food account. 2025 was yet another memorable year of discovering great food.

ThokohMakan began as a hobby in 2019, and it remains one to this day. We naturally gravitate towards cuisines we genuinely enjoy — plenty of Chinese, Korean, and noodle dishes, if you’ve noticed – and tend to skip what doesn’t resonate with us. That’s also why we rarely do collaborations, choosing instead to share spots we truly feel are worth highlighting.

This year, a few meals stood out above the rest. These are the ones that left a lasting impression, taking into account the quality of food, service, ambience, and overall experience. Some became our regular haunts, while others were unforgettable highlights from our overseas travels.

Before we bow out for the year, we’d like to wish you an amazing 2026. May the new year bring you joy, good health, prosperity – and of course – great food.

Our Top Nine Meals of 2025 is in no particular order of preference.

1. Teow Chew Restaurant, Penang

We had two of our best meals of 2025 at Teow Chew Restaurant. Operated by a young couple since early 2024, this spot serves excellent home-cooked Teochew dishes.

The husband-and-wife team consists of Rayson, who single-handedly cooks every dish, while Cheryl manages orders and ingredient prep. We’ve eaten – and cooked – our fair share of Teochew-style steamed fish, but Rayson’s version is easily one of the best we’ve ever had. Every dish here was cooked to perfection.

2. Restoran LFF, KL

[Non-halal] Steamed Soong fish head has been our recent favourite, and Restoran LFF does it exceptionally well.

Our top picks are the Steamed Fish Head with Ginger and with Preserved Vegetables.

Operating since 1997, Restoran LFF is run by chef-owner Choong and his wife, Stephanie. Expect honest Chinese cooking paired with warm, friendly service. Read our story here.

3. TSH Kepong Hokkien Mee

[Non-halal] One of the busiest dai chows in Kepong – and for good reason. The food is consistently good, with generous portions at reasonable prices.

TSH Kepong Hokkien Mee has become one of our regular haunts this year. Our go-to dishes are the Sweet and Sour Fried Fish and Sizzling Tofu. More in our full story here.

4. Yongsan Samgyetang, Seoul

[Non-halal] This ginseng chicken soup spot in Yongsan served one of the best samgyetang we’ve ever had. Hearty, nourishing, and comforting – perfect for chasing away any hint of sickness or sadness.

The restaurant is also known to be frequented by celebrities such as Hyun Bin, Park Bo-young, and Lee Dong-wook. More in this post.

5. MODU, TRX

[Halal ingredients] We were initially skeptical about MODU’s samgyetang in KL, but they surprised us in the best possible way. Hearty and flavourful, with spring chicken slow-cooked to tender perfection, this is possibly the best place to enjoy samgyetang in Malaysia. Read our full story here.

6. Sot Bab, Sunway GEO

[Non-halal] Literally translating to “rice in a pot”, sot bab features rice cooked together with various toppings in a metal pot, keeping it warm throughout the meal.

The dishes here were delicious, and the owner was friendly and welcoming. They’ve also recently opened a second branch at Sunway Velocity Mall. Read our article here.

7. Uo Shin, Hartamas

[Non-halal] Part of the Shin Zushi group, Uo Shin offers quality Japanese food at accessible prices – which explains why it’s always busy.

Known for its hand-pressed sushi, Uo Shin is often seen as a more “atas” version of Shin Zushi. We enjoyed the food here and appreciated the option for online reservations. Our story here.