10 Handmade Pasta Spots You Knead To Try That’s Actually Worth The Carbs

Kaylee Teo

There is a world of difference between ‘pasta’ and pasta

Don’t get us wrong, we love our boxes of dried Fusilli and store-bought sauce, especially so when it’s 9:00 PM on a Tuesday and the fridge is looking bleak. But the way these flour-dusted, freshly rolled handmade pasta holds the sauce differently, chews differently takes us to a whole other universe from anything that came out of a box.

KL’s pasta scene has been growing steadily, and at this point, there is really no excuse not to be treating yourselves with something that deserves a designated spot on your calendar. Fret not, we did the initial legwork for you and rounded up 10 spots that are doing handmade pasta right.

Three forks with different types of pasta twirled around the tines, displayed on a wooden surface.

CANTINA PASTA E VINO

From the team behind Staple Dough and Bella, Cantina is bringing fresh pasta to the neighbourhood of Taman Desa with the kind of poise that can only come from those who’ve done it before, and know that they’re good at it. From two versions of carbonara to gochujang cream tagliatelle, the menu covers enough to keep everyone happy.

Address: 5-1, Jalan 2/109f, Taman Danau Desa, 58100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur

Operation hours: 12PM – 3PM, 6PM – 10:30PM daily, closed on Mondays

Elegant dining setup with marble tables, glassware, and a background wine rack in a restaurant.

A close-up of a plate of seafood pasta featuring shrimp and scallops, garnished with parsley and grated cheese.

^{Image credit: @cantina.pastaevino}

BASIC THEORY

Basic Theory is exactly what it sounds like. Two chefs who learned everything from scratch, not just the dough but the entire grind of running a kitchen. They’ve put all their eggs in one basket but luckily, it’s ravioli. The concept is simple, pick your ravioli filling and sauce, then let the combination do the talking. From Beef with Seaweed Sichuan Mala to Spinach Ricotta with Classic Yolk Carbonara, the menu is built for people who like to have a say in what ends up on their plate. Everything is made in house, and the cocktail menu which happens to be a nod to the founders’ bartending days, is reason enough to stay for another round.

Address: 01-13, Millerz Square, Megan Legasi, 357, Jln Klang Lama, 58000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur

Operation hours: Mon: 11AM – 6PM | Wed – Sun: 11AM – 9PM, closed on Tuesdays

Freshly made green and yellow ravioli scattered on a floured metal workspace, with a pasta maker in the background.

A simple wooden dining table with a glass top surrounded by four wooden chairs on a concrete floor.

^{Image credit: @basicbasicbasictheory @wmcwlllll @ebikoeats}

FRANCOBOLLI PASTA

Francobolli Pasta is the city’s new parlour for fresh pasta by Italian-Malaysian founder Luca, making its own rigatoni, tagliatelle, and other pastas in Wisma Cosway, each partnered with the perfect sauce and served with soulful simplicity that channels a nonna’s homestyle comfort. Their Cacio e Pepe was an easy favourite for us. The rigatoni has serious chew and every ridge is coated by their Pecorino Romano sauce. But it’s worth noting that Francobolli operates for lunch only three days a week, with just three pasta dishes on the menu at any one time. Come early though, the early birds get the pasta, the rest get… better luck next time.

Address: Lot 1.25, Wisma Cosway, 88, Jalan Raja Chulan, Kuala Lumpur, 50200 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur

Operation hours: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays:11AM – 3PM

A close-up of a hand serving sauced pasta onto a white plate with a fork.

Interior of a restaurant viewed through a glass door, featuring diners at wooden tables, a blue tiled wall, and a checkered floor.

^{Image credit: @francobollipasta, @latteontheweekends}

Timothy Cafe

Set inside a 100-year-old heritage building, Timothy Cafe’s charm leans far beyond their rustic, old-world setting. The pasta here takes a distinctly Malaysian turn, the Salted Fish Seafood Aglio Olio built with salted fish, tiger prawns and clams definitely caught us off guard, but we ended up enjoying it way more than we’d expected. The menu probably makes Italian purists slightly unsettled, but no doubt it will make every hungry and adventurous Malaysian, well, hungrier.

Address: 24, Jalan Tun H S Lee, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur

Operation hours: 8PM – 10PM daily

A vintage building with pastel-colored facades, featuring multiple windows and a painted sign reading 'Timothy'. The ground floor has a rolled-down shutter and some greenery at the top.

Close-up of hands placing freshly cut pasta on a floured surface in a bright orange container.

^{Image credit: @timothy_highstreet}

REBEL PASTA

As the name suggests, this Mont Kiara gem is a defiant act against the Italian playbook. Rebel Pasta leans into its namesake by tearing up the rulebook on dining with a rebellious menu that’s few parts playful and few chunks Japanese. They serve both freshly hand rolled and dry pasta varieties, that boasts a signature, elastic chew. Try their Salmon Belly/Loin Tagliatelle, à la minute house-made tagliatelle tossed in a vibrant pomodoro cream sauce, then topped with seared salmon, pops of briny ikura, and a sharp dusting of Grana Padano. This is truly a place for those who like their comfort food with a side of rebellion.

Address: 1F-10&11, 163 retail park, 8, Jalan Kiara, Mont Kiara, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur

Operation hours: Sun – Thu: 11AM – 10PM | Fri- Sat: 11AM – 10:30PM

A fork holding a serving of wavy pasta coated in a rich red sauce, with strands of pasta hanging down.

A chef in a kitchen plating pasta from a pan onto white plates, with steam rising in the background.

^{Image credit: @rebelpasta.my}

APOSTO

Helmed by Chef Chu Wei Sin, Aposto is TTDI’s modern Italian eatery that prides itself on its handmade pasta. The name comes from the Italian saying “tutto posto”, meaning everything is good, and they mean it. Their Miso Chilli Vongole Aglio e Olio is where the fun starts. Tender clams sitting in a light miso broth, coating hand-cut linguini that will literally have you taking bite after bite.

Address: 38, Lorong Rahim Kajai 14, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur

Operation hours: Fri – Sun: 11AM – 2PM (Lunch) | 9AM – 10PM daily (Dinner)

A person holding a fork with a piece of pasta above a plate of pasta topped with meat sauce and cheese.

A modern bar area with three high chairs in front, featuring a stylish countertop with dark and orange accents. In the background, a chef is visible working in a well-lit kitchen adorned with herringbone tiles and hanging light fixtures.

^{Image credit: @aposto.kl}

VIN’S RESTAURANT

Vin’s Restaurant elevates Italian flavours by using local produce. We’re talking artisanal cheeses, seafood flown in from East Malaysia, and local kampung eggs, all in their freshly handmade pastas made daily. Their best seller Duck Bacon Garlic Pecorino is the perfect example of that approach. Fresh tagliatelle coated in a garlic pecorino sauce, layered with crispy duck bacon, shallot confit, pumpkin purée and cashew nut salsa for a bit of texture. It sounds like a lot on paper, but comes together in a way that’s surprisingly balanced.

Address: 6, Lorong Datuk Sulaiman 1, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur

Operation hours: Sun – Thur: 12PM – 11PM | Fri – Sat: 12PM – 12AM

A person holding a fork and spoon, lifting a piece of sauced pasta above a plate of mixed noodles and herbs.

A stainless steel pasta machine with fresh pasta dough being rolled out, resting on a wooden surface dusted with flour.

^{Image credit: @vinskl}

MAUCERI

Mauceri is the labor of love of Chef Paolo, a Sicilian chef who traded the Mediterranean for Malaysia, bringing his hand-rolled masterpieces along for the ride. The menu has everything from the Handkerchief Pasta that is literally shaped like its name to the Beef Tortellini. The filling is slow-cooked for five hours into a rich, concentrated paste, then tucked into a bronze-cut egg dough crafted from premium Italian flour and yolks. Located inside KLoé Hotel, the space is as charming as the menu, boasting a cute, intimate interior that’s perfect for both a casual brunch and special occasions.

Address: First floor, Kloe Hotel, 227, Jln Bukit Bintang, Imbi, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur

Operation hours: Thur – Fri: 12PM – 3PM, 5PM – 10PM | Sat – Sun: 12PM – 10PM

A close-up of a person in a red shirt holding a fork with spaghetti, topped with slices of meat, above a plate of creamy pasta.

A pasta maker with a sheet of fresh pasta being rolled through, producing thin strands of pasta underneath, set on a floured surface.

^{Image credit: @mauceri_kl}

STAPLE DOUGH

Staple Dough started during MCO, when founder Tan Zhen Yi began making pasta at home and selling it online. The response was so good that a restaurant followed shortly after. Taman Megah is where it calls home, and it has grown into one of KL’s most reliable handmade pasta spots. The Pici Carbonara was the one that sealed the deal for us. Thick, hand-rolled strands of pici, affectionately nicknamed “the Tuscan fat spaghetti”, coated in a rich egg yolk sauce and finished with guanciale, Pecorino Romano, Grana Padano, and a generous crown of 63-degree sous-vide egg yolk. Sarawak black pepper finishes the whole thing off. Every ingredient earns its place on the plate, and together they are very hard to argue with.

Address: Lot G2, Megah Rise, 3, Jalan SS 24/9, Taman Megah, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Operation hours: 12PM – 3PM, 6PM – 10PM daily

Close-up view of egg yolks being poured onto a mound of flour on a wooden surface.

A modern restaurant interior featuring a long bar with high stools, a sleek counter, and a view of the kitchen area in the background. Bottles of wine and condiments are displayed on the bar, while decorative plants add a touch of greenery to the space.

^{Image credit: @ssstapledough}

BELLA PASTA & WINE

This is a place that sets the mood before the food even arrives. Dim lights, the occasional hum of a piano performance in the background and the moody intimacy of a Parisian wine bar are what are what earn Bella Pasta & Wine its reputation as a date night staple. but the one on our must-try list is the Crab & Ricotta Stuffed Ravioli. Pillows of crab and ricotta lemon butter sauce that lifts without overpowering, pickled chili to keep things fun, and good ol’ Grana Padano to tie it all together.

Address: 20A, Lorong Rahim Kajai 14, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur

Operation hours: Tue – Sun: 12PM – 3PM , 6PM – 12AM, closed on Mondays

A vintage dining area featuring a wooden table and chair, with a dark piano against a distressed blue wall. A glass cabinet displays plates, and decorative bottles are placed atop the piano.

A bowl of ravioli topped with red chili slices and herbs, alongside a red menu on a wooden table.

^{Image credit: @bellayourebeautiful}

Good pasta doesn’t need a formal invitation or a gold-embossed “save the date”, kind of like how catching up with your favorite people shouldn’t require a three-week time buffer and a Google Calendar invite. It’s for the cravings, the Wednesday night rants, and the days where you really need that carb serving to patch you up after a long day.

So work your way through this list, find the bowl that makes you want to lick the plate, and then head back for seconds (and thirds..you get the gist). And honestly, the company is always better when there’s a mountain of handmade noodles between you.