By Helena Iveson

Is there a more food-obsessed city than Kuala Lumpur? Malaysia's ethnic blend of Chinese, Malay and Indian has made Kuala Lumpur Asia's capital city of gluttony. "We are truly a food-mad country," says Honey Ahmad, co-founder of local food blog Fried Chillies. "Eating is what unites us. When we talk about food, it transcends race and religion and breaks down barriers."

Fasting for a few days before arrival might be a good idea as something else that unites locals is a love of carbs, from Indian roti bread to Malaysian favourite Hokkien mee noodles. But dining out in Kuala Lumpur, whether it be at the street-side stalls which line the city or in one of the many air-conditioned malls, is the city's greatest pleasure and staggeringly inexpensive.

Your first stop in KL should be night market Jalan Alor, near Bukit Bintang, the neon-lit nightlife centre. The street used to be a red light district but is now a family-friendly destination where spice and sauce comes from flaming woks.

Take a wander through the stalls and feast on the sight of hungry diners perched on rickety stools, waiting for their char siew barbequed pork or steaming plates of chilli fried squid to arrive amongst the clatter of woks.

Stalls to look out for include Jalan Alor Nasi Lamak Stall at the road's junction with Changkat Bukit Bintang. Carnivores will devour the meltingly rich beef rendang, where the meat is stewed in thick coconut milk for a day. Locals eat it with sambal kerang – a chilli and cockles paste – on the side. If you have room for more meat, don't miss out on the fabulous Wong Ah Wah chicken stall at the end of the road – just look out for the queue of fans waiting for their wings.

Where: Jalan Alor, Off Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Photo Credits: beef rendang - ready to simmer by smashz, NL - dishes by babe_kl via Flickr (Creative Commons).

Great news for travel lovers in the UK and Asia suffering from the credit crunch; Air Asia X, the Malaysian long-haul low-cost carrier, has confirmed that it plans to start flights between the UK and it's Kuala Lumpur hub in early 2009.

According to ABTN, Tim Claydon, the airline's commercial adviser, made the statement at the World Travel Market in London and said an official announcement will be made in the coming weeks.

He added: "We have said we will be coming into the UK by early 2009."

The carrier is expected to fly to either Manchester or Stansted.

Air Asia flies from Kuala Lumpur across Asia, to destinations including Bangkok, Langkawi, Siem Reap, Hong Kong and Hanoi. The carrier also flies from KL to Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth in Australia.

To search for flights between the UK and Kuala Lumpur click here.

Photo by Christophe RAMOS via Flickr (Creative Commons).