Malaysia is a country with a rich and diverse culinary heritage, influenced by its Malay, Chinese, Indian, and other ethnic groups. Malaysia is famous for its street food, which can be found at night markets, hawker centers, roadside stalls, and food trucks. Street food is cheap, delicious, and convenient. It has a variety of dishes that reflect its multicultural and ever-changing cuisine. Some of the dishes are traditional and authentic, while others are fusion and innovative. Malaysia also has a growing fine dining scene, especially in Kuala Lumpur, where you can find restaurants that offer high-quality and creative dishes with local and international influences. Here are some of the most popular and delicious top dishes that you should not miss when you visit Malaysia:
The 12 Best Must Try Food in Malaysia When You Visit
1. Nasi lemak
This is often considered the national dish of Malaysia. It is a fragrant rice dish cooked in coconut milk and served with prawn sambal, fried anchovies, peanuts, egg, and cucumber. It can be eaten for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and it is widely available at street stalls and restaurants.
2. Mee Goreng Mamak
This is a spicy and savory fried noodle dish that originated from the Indian Muslim community in Malaysia. It consists of yellow egg noodles stir-fried with beef or chicken, shrimp, vegetables, eggs, and soya sauce. It is usually garnished with lime wedges and fried shallots, and served with a side of pickled green chilies.
3. Nasi Kandar
This is a dish of rice with various curries and side dishes, such as chicken, fish, beef, lamb, eggplant, okra, and boiled eggs. It originated from the Indian Muslim vendors who used to carry their food in kandar (a wooden pole with two containers at each end) and sell it along the streets. Today, nasi kandar is a popular option for lunch or dinner at many restaurants and food courts.
4. Satay
This is a dish of skewered and grilled meat (usually chicken, beef, or lamb) marinated in spices and served with peanut sauce, cucumber, onion, and ketupat (rice cakes). Satay is a common street food that can be found at night markets and hawker centers. It is also a popular appetizer or snack at parties and gatherings.
5. Rojak
This is a salad-like dish that consists of mixed fruits and vegetables (such as pineapple, cucumber, turnip, bean sprouts) tossed in a sweet and spicy dressing made from shrimp paste, palm sugar, lime juice, and chilli. It is sprinkled with crushed peanuts and toasted sesame seeds. Rojak can be eaten as a snack or a light meal.
6. Cendol
This is a refreshing dessert that consists of shaved ice topped with green rice flour jelly noodles (cendol), coconut milk, palm sugar syrup (gula melaka), red beans (optional), and sometimes durian (the king of fruits). Cendol is a popular treat on hot days or after spicy meals. You can find cendol stalls along the streets or at hawker centers.
7. Murtabak
This is a stuffed pancake with meat and vegetables. It is similar to a roti canai, but thicker and more filling. You can choose from chicken, beef, or mutton as the filling, and dip it in a curry sauce.
8. Lok-lok
This is a fun and interactive way of eating skewered and boiled meat and vegetables. You can choose from a variety of ingredients, such as chicken, beef, fish balls, tofu, mushrooms, broccoli, and more. Then you dip them in different sauces, such as peanut sauce, sweet and sour sauce, or spicy sauce.
9. Apam Balik
This is a sweet pancake-like snack that is filled with sugar, peanuts, and sometimes corn or chocolate chips. It is cooked on a griddle until crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Apam balik can be found at night markets or roadside stalls. You can choose between thin or thick versions depending on your preference.
10. Assam Laksa
This is a sour and spicy noodle soup made with rice noodles, tamarind broth, mackerel, pineapple, cucumber, onion, mint leaves, torch ginger flower, and shrimp paste. It is one of the most famous dishes in Penang, where it is also known as Penang laksa. It has a distinctive tangy and fishy flavor that will awaken your taste buds.
11. Curry Laksa
This is another type of noodle soup that is creamy and rich. It is made with rice or egg noodles, coconut milk broth, curry paste, chicken, tofu puffs, fish balls, bean sprouts, and cockles. It is topped with chopped coriander leaves and fried shallots. Curry laksa is a common dish in Kuala Lumpur and other parts of central Malaysia.
12. Goreng Pisang
This is a simple but delicious dessert of deep-fried banana fritters. The bananas are coated with a batter and fried until golden and crunchy. They are usually eaten plain or with some ice cream.
These are just some of the many delicious foods you can find in Malaysia. If you want to explore more, you can check out these websites for more recommendations:
Malaysia food: Top 40 dishes to try | CNN
This website provides a comprehensive overview of 40 popular and delicious dishes in Malaysia, with pictures and descriptions. It covers a variety of cuisines, such as Malay, Chinese, Indian, and Nyonya. Some of the dishes featured are mee goreng mamak, apam balik, nasi kerabu, ayam percik, nasi lemak, and cendol.
An Expat’s Guide to Malaysia’s 30 Best Foods | ExpatGo
This website offers a guide for expatriates who want to explore Malaysia’s food scene. It lists 30 must-try dishes that represent the country’s diverse cultures and influences. It also explains the origins and ingredients of each dish. Some of the dishes included are rojak, rendang, char kway teow, bak kut teh, and ais kacang.
Malaysian Food: 35 Dishes to Try in Malaysia | Will Fly for Food
This website is a travel blog that focuses on food and culture. It features 35 dishes that showcase the flavors and diversity of Malaysian food. It also provides links to recipes and videos for some of the dishes. Some of the dishes mentioned are keropok lekor, murtabak, goreng pisang, lok-lok, and durian.
15 Must-Try Malaysian Foods | Tastiest 2023 Guide |The Broke Backpacker
The website is a guide for travelers who want to try the best food in Malaysia. It lists 15 dishes from different cuisines, such as Malay, Chinese, Indian, and Nyonya. It also explains the origins and ingredients of each dish, and gives some tips on where to find them. The article has pictures and descriptions of each dish, such as mee goreng mamak, apam balik, nasi kerabu, ayam percik, nasi lemak, and cendol.
Malaysia also hosts various food festivals throughout the year that celebrate its diverse and delicious cuisine. Some of the food festivals that you can attend are:
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Kuala Lumpur Food Truck Festival (which features a variety of food trucks serving local and international dishes)
Penang International Food Festival (which highlights the street food culture of Penang)
Melaka Food Festival (which promotes the unique cuisine of Melaka)
Sabah Food Fiesta (which showcases the indigenous food and culture of Sabah)
Kuching Food Festival (which explores the exotic food and culture of Sarawak)
*Do research if the festivals are still being organised or have changed their names before going.
You can enjoy sampling different dishes, watching cooking demonstrations, participating in competitions, listening to live music, and experiencing the vibrant atmosphere.
10 Restaurants in Malaysia with better than 4.5 rating on Google Review (more than 500 reviews)
Bijan Bar & Restaurant (Malaysian restaurant)
No.3, Jalan Ceylon, Bukit Ceylon, 50200 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Skillet KL (Modern European restaurant)
Unit 1, Ground Floor, Cormar Suites, 10, Jalan Perak, Kuala Lumpur, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Fuego at Troika Sky Dining (Fine dining restaurant)
Level 23A Tower B, The Troika, 19, Persiaran KLCC, Kuala Lumpur, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
NADODI (Fine dining restaurant)
Level 7A, Four Seasons Hotel, Jalan Ampang, City Centre, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Awagyu Restaurant (Japanese restaurant)
25c, Jalan Dato Abdullah Tahir, Taman Abad, 80300 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
akâr dining (Fine dining restaurant)
109, Jln Aminuddin Baki, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
The Lankan Crabs (Crab house)
4, Jalan Kemuja, Bangsar, 59000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Binchotan JB (Japanese restaurant)
15, Jalan Kuning 2, Taman Pelangi, 80400 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Jeff's Cellar(Gastropub)
1, Persiaran Lagoon, Sunway 3, Sunway City, 31150 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
The Locker & Loft (Restaurant)
40A, Jalan SS 20/10, Damansara Kim, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
I hope you have a great time tasting the flavors of Malaysia!
*Some of the information on this post / website may have changed since the time of writing.