ALL You Need to Know about DURIAN in Kuala Lumpur

Talking about the best Malaysian food in Kuala Lumpur, the answer would vary. However, durian in Kuala Lumpur is the King of Fruits. This spiky football-sized delicacy is a culinary obsession not only for the locals in Kuala Lumpur but also a must-eat for tourists like us.

In 2023, the durian industry in Kuala Lumpur contributed a value of 238.4 billion MYR (~ 50 billion USD), double the figure in 2022. Each year Malaysia produces over 450,000 metric tons of durian (versus 700,000 metric tons for Thailand). It is one of the top three durian export Countries in the world.

Beyond the markets, durian fever spills into the city’s restaurants, cafés, and even hotels, with innovative chefs crafting durian-infused delicacies that range from indulgent desserts to savory dishes.

In short, durian is a BIG deal in Malaysia and probably one of the must-items in your Kuala Lumpur itinerary.

Nutrition Facts for durian

Well before you dive into the numerous varieties of fresh durian or the associated cuisines, snacks, or souvenirs. You will need to know the basic nutrition facts of durian.

Durian is a very nutritious fruit with essential vitamins, minerals, and beneficial plant compounds. According to Healthline, one cup (243 grams) of durian pulp is around 357 calories, 13 grams of fat, 66 grams of carbohydrates, and a substantial 9 grams of fiber.  It offers 80% of the Daily Value (DV) for vitamin C. It serves as a rich source of B vitamins, providing 61% of the DV for thiamine, 38% for vitamin B6, 29% for riboflavin, and 13% for niacin.

Other than that it also contains, 39% of the DV for manganese, 30% for potassium, 25% for copper, 22% for folate, and 18% for magnesium with antioxidants like anthocyanins, carotenoids, polyphenols, and flavonoids. These powerful plant compounds help neutralize harmful free radicals, potentially reducing the risk of chronic diseases like cancer and heart disease.

But, a BIG BUT, a typical durian depending on the size would have durian pulp equal to 2 – 3 cups. It means a single durian would be equal to 1,000 + calorie intake, not to mention more than 50% of its carbs are fructose/sugar.

So beware not to overdose yourself with durian. Try to share with your friends or buy sliced durian pulp in a box.

Durian variety in Malaysia

There are over a hundred varieties of durian in Kuala Lumpur or Malaysia, that’s why Black Thorn has a code of D200. It includes the most popular ones like Musang King, somewhat popular ones like D24, Black Horn, and D24, to less common ones like Dato Ninja and Kim Hong.

You may be curious why there are so many D-numbers. The Malaysian agriculture department requires to have different varieties of durian registered with a number. D of course stands for durian and Hulu Langat (D1) was the first variety registered in 1934.

You can’t taste all on a short trip, so I will recommend several varieties that you may want to try in Kuala Lumpur.

Black Thorn Durian

Black Thorn Durian, also known as D200 is namely the most expensive variety of durians in Malaysia. This is mainly due to its limited supply. Compared to Musang King, it is more bitter with a dark orange color for its pulp. It is very popular with the locals given Malaysians usually prefer bitter durian to sweet one. So despite the price, you may prefer other varieties if you are on the sweet side.

Musang King

Also known as D197, it is probably the most popular durian in Kuala Lumpur.  It has a rich creamy taste, bright-yellow color, a smooth texture, and a hint of sweetness. Not only you will see that on the shelf of every durian shop. You will also see them in dried fruit forms, coffee, and other desserts. The frozen dried Musang King is also the most common souvenir for your Kuala Lumpur travel.

D24

D24 used to be the bestseller of Durian in Malaysia before Musang King was introduced. It has an oblong shape with a creamy texture, golden-yellow color, and a great hint of aroma. It is sweet with a slightly bitter taste making it one of the top selections for locals and tourists alike. A close rival to the Musang King, the D24 is also sometimes called the ‘Sultan’ or the ‘D24 Sultan’.

Red Prawn

Less popular, but still quite common in Kuala Lumpur. Red prawn (aka D163) is usually cheaper than the popular types introduced above at a low – mid-price level. The flesh of the Red Prawn is very different from other durians as it usually has an orange to red. It has a distinct sweetness similar to chocolate and a creamy texture.  

Tekka / Green Bamboo  

Also known as D160 it is also one of the low-mid price range durian in KL. Unlike other durians, it has a strong signature hint of sweetness and flora. It makes Tekka one of the best options for sweet lovers. To me, it tastes like riesling white wine.

XO

Also at the low-mid price level, XO is another common type If you prefer bitter and intense flavors, then you and the XO are a match made in heaven. Unlike other durians, it tastes like alcohol with a bitter taste.  It is quite an uncommon one in the durian family.

When are the durian seasons in Kuala Lumpur

There are two durian seasons in Malaysia. Usually, the best time for durian is from late June to early September each year. However, you can still find several durians available from December to January. So don’t worry that you will still have durians if you go during the holiday season at Christmas.

Where to buy/eat in Kuala Lumpur

No worries, durian, durian-related food, and souvenirs are just everywhere in Kuala Lumpur. You can find them at usual tourist spots like Chinatown or Jalan Alor. However, the durians there especially the one at Jalan Alor tend to be overpriced. In that, I will recommend several places to buy or eat durians during your travel to Kuala Lumpur.

DurianBB Park

Founded in 2015 in Hong Kong and expanded to Malaysia, DurianBB Park is probably one of the most well-established durian stalls in Kuala Lumpur. Although the durian price is relatively expensive (still cheaper than Jalan Alor), the premium price is well worth it. First, it is within walking distance of KL city center, especially if you are staying at Bukit Bintang. Second, other than buying a single durian, you can order a durian platter where you can have several varieties like Musang King, Kampung, D24, and XO at the same time. Third, on top of durian, they also have all different kinds of fancy durian souvenirs and IGable set-up for photos.

DKing SS2 Durian – Durian Wonderland

Around a 24-minute drive from the City Center, SS2 is an area frequented by the locals. There you will find several fancy durian stalls nearby. Amongst them DKing probably stands out from the crowd for its comfortable sitting, a board with information for each type of durian, and a clean toilet at their own souvenir snacks shop.

SS2 Durian Glasshause

Another good choice for a durian stall is the SS2 area. Durian Glasshause has various durian offers at a good price. Other than that, they also offer durian buffet options and sell durian desserts like Musang King Cendol. Despite operation hours until 11 pm, you will hardly see any durian left around 9 pm there.

Brother Durian SS2

A very straightforward durian stall at the SS2 area where you pick your durian and eat at the stall. Different varieties are being offered at the stall and sometimes they have a buffet for cheaper varieties like Butterking and D24.

22 Durian Kepong

While SS2 has a wide range of fancy durian stalls, Kepong is the area where local seeks the best-priced food including durian. 22 Durian Kepong is one of the searchable durian stalls (on Google) in the area. As I recommend, Kepong is famous for various local snacks and has the best pork rib soup. It also has the cheapest durians which the locals will frequent there.

Other durian shops at Kepong

As described earlier, durian seasons in Malaysia are usually from late June to early September or from December to January. So at Kepong, there are a lot of seasonal durian hawkers offering local durians at the best price. While it is impossible to search via Google beforehand, you can find them near the night market at Kepong.

Wrapping up the guide for durian in Kuala Lumpur

By now you must be eager to explore all the “Ds” in Kuala Lumpur. Remember while durians are very tasty and nutritious, each cup of durian pulp has over 300 calories and lots of sugar. So remember not to overdose. Despite recommending you six places to buy or eat durian, please be selective and pick the most optimal one for your itinerary.

Remember to also check out the durian souvenirs and leave me a comment about your experience.

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