malaysia is a melting pot of diverse culture with Malay,
Chinese and Indian influences to name a few. Making it a paradise for incredible food.
After spending one year in Malaysia, we made a list of 50 Malaysian dishes
you must try. From Malaysia's national dish, nasi lemak to Penang's char koay teow
and everything in between. Here's the top 50 food you must not miss in Malaysia.
This is part one.
Nasi lemak, the national dish of Malaysia. The classic nasi lemak is rice cooked in coconut milk
and pandan with spicy sambal, peanuts, boiled egg, ikan bilis (or anchovies) and cucumber
wrapped in banana leaf. It can also be eaten with many side dishes like fried
chicken, chicken rendang and much more. It is affordable and found all over the country.
Hokkien Mee in KL and Penang. Hokkien Mee in Penang is a rich noodle soup
in a broth made with prawn and pork. Hokkien Mee in KL is a dry noodle dish -
yellow noodles fried in a wok with dark soy sauce, pork, shrimp, veggies and crispy pork lard.
Kopi and cham. Kopi, or coffee, is a big deal in Malaysia. The beans are often roasted in
margarine or margarine and served many ways with a certain lingo. Kopi-o, for example,
is a black coffee with sugar. There's also the famous Ipoh white coffee that is served with condensed
milk. We suggest you visit a coffee factory and experience coffee culture in Kluang, Johor.
Kaya toast. Kaya toast is a classic Malaysian breakfast.
Kaya, a jam made with coconut milk, egg, sugar and pandan slathered on toast with butter.
Great paired with half boiled eggs on the side to dip. It goes perfectly with a glass of kopi.
Sata. This delicious dish from the eastern state of Terengganu
is made with minced fish, coconut, spices wrapped in banana leaf and grilled
Nasi Kandar, a Mamak Indian Muslim dish most famous in Penang. Once upon a time,
nasi kandar was sold by vendors who carried pots of rice with curries on their shoulders
using a kandar, or pole. This dish is best eaten with rice banjir'ed, or flooded, with curries and
using your bare hands. Char koey teow, one of the best noodle dishes in Malaysia,
best eaten in Penang. Flat rice noodles cooked with egg, soy sauce, cockles, prawns, bean sprouts
and more. Especially great when the wok is fired by charcoal for high heat, smoky, wok hei flavor.
Rojak and pasembur. There are a few types of rojak in Malaysia,
especially famous in Penang. Rojak Buah is a mix of fruits served with a thick sweet shrimp paste
and topped with crushed peanuts. It can also be served with cuttlefish.
Rojak Mamak or Pasembur - it is a mix of chopped fritters and other items like fried egg, seafood
along with fresh shredded turnip and cucumber topped in a sweet and spicy gravy
made with sweet potato, peanuts and chilies. We also suggest you try Asma Rojak in Johor
Kacang Pool. Kacang Pool is an interesting dish created in JB. This dish is inspired from a Middle
Eastern dish, ful. Kacang Pool is made with fava beans and minced meat, either beef or lamb. It is
topped with chopped chilies, onions and a fried egg. Served with a thick slab of toast on the side.
Masak Lemak Cili Api. An explosive dish made with smoked meat or fish and cooked in a spicy
coconut milk gravy with turmeric, lemongrass, lime leaves and other
spices. This dish is especially famous in the state of the Negeri Sembilan.
Beef noodles. There are some famous classic shops for beef noodles in KL. Our favorite
way is to order the noodles dry topped with minced beef and a side of soup with
sliced beef and meatballs. You can also order it all together as a noodle soup.
Bean sprout chicken, or ayam tauge. This may be Ipoh's most famous dish
thanks to the high quality of the bean sprouts, said to be so good because of the mineral content
of the water in the area. The bean sprouts with soy sauce and sesame oil
are served with silky poached chicken and often a bowl of kuetiau noodle soup.
Banana cake. Possibly the most popular place to eat in all of Johor Bahru is Hiap Joo Bakery, which has
been open for over a hundred years and famous for their banana cake cooked in a wood fired
oven. Perfectly moist, airy, not too sweet and best eaten fresh hot out of the oven paired with coffee
Curry Mee. Noodles served in a rich aromatic coconut milk curry broth with cockles, tofu
puffs and other toppings. Also known as curry laksa. We also suggest that you try the dry curry mee
known in Ipoh. Banana leaf rice. With the large South Indian communities in JB, KL,
Penang and Melaka, banana leaf rice is a staple dish .White rice or biryani is served on a banana
leaf flooded or banjir'ed with your choice of curries with the sides of veggies, meats
and seafood. Another dish that is best eaten with bare hands.
Ikan Bakar. Ikan bakar, or grilled fish, is a must
for seafood lovers in Malaysia. Pick out your fish, it will be grilled and slathered in sambal.
Kuih. Kuih are a variety of sweet or savory snacks in Malaysia.
Colorful Nyonya kuih in Melaka are some of our favorites.
Made with combinations of glutinous rice flour, pandan and coconut milk. There are many varieties.
We also enjoyed Malay kuih like kuih keria, which is a sweet potato donut covered in palm sugar.
Roti John. This dish has an interesting story behind it. A westerner was looking for
a burger, but the vendor didn't have one. So he improvised a dish with bread, egg, onion and minced
meat and called it a Roti John. Roti meaning bread and John being a name for a westerner.
Apam Balik. A pancake that can be thin or thick and filled with sugar,
butter and crushed peanuts. Other toppings like corn can be added. Mee Bandung. A noodle dish famous
in Muar, Johor. It is served in a spicy shrimp based gravy with egg and meat.
Cendol. One of the most refreshing desserts on a hot day. Freshly shaved iced covered in coconut
milk, gula melaka (or palm sugar) with sweetened red beans and cendol noodles made with rice
flour and pandan. It can also come with other toppings like sticky rice, corn and durian.
Lemang and Rendang. Lemang is a famous dish for Hari Raya celebrating the end of Ramadan.
Lemang is a glutinous rice with coconut milk cooked in bamboo. It pairs great with rendang,
which is a slow cooked meat cooked in coconut milk, lemongrass and many other spices.
Asam Pedas. A dish that is famous in Melaka and Johor. Asam means sour, which comes from
tamarind and Pedas means spicy from chili. This sour spicy gravy often comes with aromatics like
lemongrass, lime leaves and torch ginger. It is great with meat or seafood, especially over rice
Mee Rebus. Mee rebus is a noodle dish that is well known in the state of Johor.
Boiled noodles are covered in a brown gravy
made with sweet potato, prawns and other spices. A comforting dish that can also be served with
beef bone, shrimp and topped with crispy crushed fritters. Char siew, a caramelized roast pork.
Siew yuk, a crispy savory roast pork and roast duck.