Malaysia is a melting pot of culture, with different races living harmoniously together. Naturally, there would be a diverse ‘food culture’ as well! If you are wondering: where to bring your foreign friend on a food adventure in Malaysia to let them experience the complexity of Malaysian characteristics, you had come to the right place!
1.Chicken Chop
I had found the chicken chop (RM17.90) just alright, unlike what the other customers claimed. While the chicken was crispy fried and tender at the centre, it didn’t bowl me over. I picked the salted egg yolk sauce (additional RM1) to go with the chicken chop – you have basic options like mushroom sauce and black pepper too.
2. Nasi Lemak
Good food:
Home-cooked nasi lemak, traditional home-made kuehs, and other Malaysian delicacies.
Good cause:
The Nasi Lemak Project (TNLP) creates opportunities for urban poor, underprivileged families in Malaysia to get out of poverty by selling nasi lemak. The families involved in the project are trained to cook, prepare and sell their own homemade food to earn an income.
Good to know:
Aside from their food business, TNLP also runs different voluntary projects to fight poverty. Some of these projects include giving free tutorial classes to underprivileged children, building libraries in areas with poor access to books and resources, and using theatre to teach underprivileged children English and instil confidence in them.
4. Apam balik
One of the first things you must try in Malaysia is apam balik. It’s a snack that is somewhat like a pancake and a little like an omelet. It’s stuffed with a robust amount of sugar and peanuts, though sometimes you’ll find it with a bit of corn thrown in for good measure. You’ll find this tasty treat in many varieties. Give it a try and then for the duration of your trip, you’ll be comparing it against every vendor you purchase it from.
4. Mee goreng mamak
It’s an Indian and Muslim dish rolled into one. You can get it at a sit-down style restaurant though you’ll just as easily find this readily available at the hundreds of vendor stalls along the streets. This dish is humble yet satisfying. It consists of yellow noodles with a choice of beef or chicken. Then it’s thrown together with shrimp, a mixture of vegetables, eggs, and soy sauce. The coup de gras is the chili thrown in at the end, giving it a delightful pop of heat without overpowering the dish. It’s simple, yet simply spectacular.
5. Nasi kerabu
Two words for you: blue rice. Yes, really. This favorite Kelantanese dish draws long lines of hungry people that are eager to eat it. It hails from the northern part of Malaysia in the area known as Kelantan. This dish gets its famous blue hue thanks to telang flowers. They are crushed and mixed into the flour. The result is a bright blue dish adorned with bean sprouts and fried coconut. The finishing touch is a nice dousing of fermented fish sauce, called spicy budu. To eat it in the traditional way, you should eat with your hands. Make sure they’re clean!
6. Ayam percik
America is not the only country to be obsessed with chicken. In other Asian countries as well (particularly Korea and Chinese cuisine) chicken places can be found everywhere, including the fast food chain of KFC. Ayam percik is chicken in percik sauce. If that sounds vague, that simply means this chicken is barbecued up after being coated liberally with a sauce made from spicy chili, garlic, ginger, and coconut milk. Fried alternatives have absolutely nothing on this finger-lickingly delicious chicken dish.
7. Nasi lemak
Nasi lemak is often referred to as Malaysia’s national dish, though that’s a bit unofficial. It’s a delicious dish of rice cooked in coconut milk. While that sounds profoundly simple, depending on where you are in Malaysia, you’ll find it served with a variety of other offerings. Some places will serve it with hard-boiled eggs, others with peanuts. You’ll also find it with vegetables, lamb, chicken, beef, curry, seafood, or even a chili-based sauce called sambal. Most commonly, nasi lemak is eaten for breakfast, however it’s perfectly acceptable to enjoy it at any time of day that you wish.
8. Rendang beef, chicken or lamb
It’s tempting to refer to rending as curry. It’s not, though it is a bit similar. It’s a slow-simmered, sweet and savory mixture of coconut milk, spices and meat. By slowly cooking it, the meat has time to absorb all the flavors of the spices and coconut milk. Eventually, the liquid evaporates, leaving behind succulent, tender and fully-flavored chicken, beef or lamb. It’s commonly served during festive times though it is a fantastic dish to enjoy any time of the year in all parts of the country. Also popular in Indonesian cuisine.
9. Kuih
Malay-style pastries, kuih, are found in a ton of varieties. The rainbow of kuih you’ll find at every kuih vendor varies but you’ll find these all over Malaysia. They’re made from glutinous rice, which is a bit different to the Western palate but no less delicious. They’re bite-sized and have a bit of sugar to them. The soft texture and sweet taste will definitely have you popping the kuih vendors during your trip in Malaysia to pop more of these delightful things into your mouth.
10. Nasi kandar
If you like to have a choice of toppings, nasi kandar is for you. You get a heaping pile of rice and then can choose from a buffet-style of add-ons like fish, eggs, curry, cubes of beef, okra, and plenty more. You’ll find eateries with nasi kandar all over Malaysia. The best part is many of them are open 24 hours a day, so after a night of drinking, you can sit down and fill up deliciously on this Indian Muslim ethnic cuisine.
11. Laksa
If you like spicy, you’ll “laksa” laksa. Laksa is a spicy noodle soup that borderlines on the explosive side of spicy. Be ready with plenty of water, even if you’re a spice lover. You’ll usually find it with fish or prawns. Other varieties include asam laksa, which is made with tamarind to give it a spicy yet sour flavor that is unlike anything else you’ve ever tasted. The bottom line is this: if you like seafood and spice, laksa is right up your alley.
12. Murtabak
Murtabak is a pan-fried bread that’s stuffed with all kinds of deliciousness. It’s an Indian Muslim delight that is packed full of minced meat (usually beef or chicken, though sometimes you’ll find it with lamb), garlic, egg, and onion. You’ll find it served with curry or gravy, sliced cucumbers, onions pickled in syrup or tomato sauce. It’s very spicy, yet very sour. The convergence of these two flavors make murtabak a must-try Malaysian food!
13. Cendawan goreng
If you frequently enjoy ordering fried mushrooms for your appetizer at those typical American fare chain-style restaurants with the kitsch all over the walls, then you’ll love the Malaysian version. Cendawan goring is a deep-fried mushroom dish flavored with chili or barbecue seasoning. The result is a crispy, deeply fried fungus that has an incredible and craveable kick. It’s a perfect appetizer or snack, and is great to grab as you walk around. They’re perfectly poppable!
14. Tepung pelita
You haven’t had sweet until you’ve tried tepung pelita. Similar to kuih in many ways, it’s ranked as even more magical of a dessert. It’s a two-layer treat featuring a top layer of thickened coconut milk with a hit of salt and a bottom layer that’s made from a milky mixture of sugar and pandan leaves, rendering it a green color. Tepung pelita is served in little bowl fashioned from pandan leaves. It’s a delightfully sweet, refreshing dessert that is absolutely addictive and almost impossible to stop gorging on.
Malaysia's Food Heaven 