Malaysian cuisine has made its mark across the world, and its flavourful and delectable dishes are available in nearly every continent today. The rich, multi-ethnic culture of this beautiful country creates a mesmerising mosaic of flavours and tastes, creating an especially intricate and unique cuisine that is unlike any other. In addition to the culture and traditions of this place, the geographical location of Malaysia lends it a special advantage, blending locally-grown spices indigenous to the region and tropical zest in every bite or sip. There is no better way to take in this fascinating combination of history, geography, and culture than by indulging in some of its delicious local fares. So when you plan your next vacation to this beautiful country, don’t just include the main tourist attractions - be sure to fill up your itinerary with our incredible list of the top street foods you must try in Malaysia. Read on and prepare for a gastronomical adventure.
1. Roti canai (Malaysian flatbread)
This delectable flatbread is inspired by Indian cuisine and is perfect to try with curries, such as chicken curry, mutton curry, fish curry, or vegetable curry for the vegetarians. Brought from India by the Muslim community there, roti can be found in special Muslim markets known as Mamak stalls. Although it is mostly prepared in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore, the closest equivalent is the Indian paratha or rumali roti (handkerchief roti). This bread is prepared by kneading dough in water and ghee. It is a rich source of carbohydrates and makes a great accompaniment to any flavourful lentil soup or vegetable dish.
2. Nasi lemak (Creamy rice dish)
The national dish of Malaysia holds a very special place in the hearts of Malays. Prepared intricately and carefully, this fragrant and flavourful rice dish is perfect if you wish to have something that is delicious yet light on the stomach. This dish involves cooking rice in creamy coconut milk instead of water and adding special Malaysian spices such as pandan leaf. This creates a mouthwatering dish that can be savoured with Malaysian curry, or with a lentil soup that goes well with it. The most traditional version calls for peanuts and anchovies, while certain other variants include serving curries made with pork, chicken, and vegetables. Try this dish as an accompaniment to a bigger meal, or if you are looking for something non-spicy and light on your stomach. As a popular national dish, it is best to enjoy it while visiting the country.
Tip from tour guide
Packet of national interest: At street stalls along the roads, on a table under the shade of trees or at the breakfast table at coffee shops, you will see little pyramid-shaped packets. Some are green in colour as they use the original wrapping of banana leaves, while others are brown as they're wrapped in oiled paper, or newsprint lined with plastic. This frequently seen item happens to be a favourite breakfast or any time-of-day snack: NASI LEMAK. This is the most basic yet fondly sought-after version of one of our national foods.
From primary school-goers to office meeting refreshments and elderly friends gathering, it’s part of the list of foods of choice.
It's rice cooked in coconut cream, pandan leaf and salt (more elaborate versions are available too) and is served with some anchovy sambal (or basic sambal sauce with fried fish) and half of a hardboiled egg. It brings satisfaction to most Malaysians from all walks of life. Some of these packets may have different combinations of condiments, like dried fish curry, prawn sambal, roasted peanuts with a slice of cucumber or deep-fried anchovies too, but every packet most definitely has its namesake, that is coconut cream rice. You must try it!
3. Hokkien mee (Thick noodles in dark soy sauce)
Another popular dish that is a must-try when you visit Malaysia is Hokkien mee. This is made from delicious egg noodles and rice noodles that make up the base of the dish then topped with a spicy or savoury curry made from a variety of ingredients. This local food definitely deserves the worldwide fame that it is slowly getting. The curry is usually made by stir-frying various spices, aromatic condiments, and ingredients such as dark soy sauce with prawns, then cooking them in coconut milk and water to create a wonderful sauce that is poured onto the noodles. Other special treats can also be added, such as boiled eggs, pork, beans, and sambal (a special Malaysian chilli paste). Finally, it is garnished with fresh greens such as spring onions or fried onions. The best variety of this dish is usually cooked over a traditional charcoal barbecue to create a special, smoked aftertaste that is to die for. This is a great dish that you cannot miss!
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4. Batu maung satay (Grilled meat)
This is one of the quintessential Malaysian experiences that you cannot miss. While walking down any urban street in Malaysia, you are sure to find a few shopkeepers pushing carts of food with prawns, fish, and meat in skewers, just waiting to be grilled to perfection over a charcoal fire. Ask them for the delicious batu maung satay - these are slices of grilled meat marinated in special satay sauce. It is prepared right in front of you and served on wooden sticks. You can devour it by the cart or enjoy it while treading off to the next attraction.
5. Char kuey teow (Stir-fried rice cake strips)
A local favourite and a popular appetiser or main course, char kuey teow is a great option to go for when you are in Malaysia. It is made out of a delicious curry mixed with flat rice noodles that are to die for. Stir-fried and typically served on a banana leaf, this is one of the traditional delights of this country. However, note that you may not be able to continue your meal after you’ve ordered one of these for yourself since this is an extremely filling dish. Stir-frying all the vegetables and meat in curry also makes it super fatty, but that only adds to the delicious and addicting taste.
6. Otak otak (Fish cake)
For seafood lovers, this is the perfect treat to try when in Malaysia. Otak otak literally translates to “brains” in their language, as the fish paste it is made of looks a little bit like brains. Carefully wrapped in a banana leaf, this fish cake is made of a variety of fish such as mackerel, featherback fish, and milkfish. The fish is then ground into a thin paste before being mixed with aromatic spices such as pepper, coconut milk, garlic, chilli, lemongrass, and onions. It can then be steamed or grilled, depending on the type of fish and the area you are in. Traditional Malaysian otak otak calls for grilled fish, which offers a smokey aftertaste that is incredibly mouthwatering. So be sure to check out this lovely dish if you like fish!
7. Asam laksa (Fish and tamarind-based noodle soup)
If you are in the mood for a mid-meal snack, why not opt for something healthy such as asam laksa? This is perfect if you aren’t in the mood for fattening or fried foods. This incredible soup is a great snack in and of itself, but it is also a great accompaniment to other dishes. It is often served with a carbohydrate-based food such as noodles or rice. Laksa consists of spicy soup made from rich, thick coconut milk and a variety of amazing spices such as garlic, lemongrass, ginger, tamarind, and kokum. Kokum is also known as asam, which is where the name of this dish comes from. In addition to these spices, it is loaded with vegetables and can have seafood or various types of meat in it. This is a great option for a light breakfast especially if you are planning on joining a walking tour, as it won’t make you sluggish or sleepy.
8. Bak kwa bread (Pork jerky buns)
Bak kwa is one of the well-kept secrets of Malaysia, although it is now gaining popularity in many Southeast Asian countries as well as restaurants around the world. Originating from China, this is a traditionally prepared sweetmeat that is cut into square slices or baked into a bun that you can eat along with it. It is absolutely delicious and definitely a must-try dish if you eat pork. Bak kwa translates to “dried meat” and is a great side dish or appetiser to go for. You can also enjoy it on its own and you’ll find that it comes in different types of meat, though pork is still the most popular one.
9. Ice kacang (Shaved ice dessert)
This traditional dessert is also known as ice kacang, or ais kacang, and it prepared with ice that is shaved using a special machine. The shavings are then shaped in the form of an ice lolly and topped with delicious syrups and dressings. This includes special ingredients such as peanuts or red beans, agar-agar, and more. The colourful syrups give it a very tempting appearance, and the flavours are enhanced by the special ingredients. You can find this dessert being served on street carts - perfect for a hot summer day in Malaysia.
10. Apam balik (Turnover pancake)
Also known as terang bulan, apam balik refers to a unique dessert preparation sold on roadside carts all over Malaysia, as well as other parts of Southeast Asia. Originally a Chinese recipe from centuries ago, it is prepared just like a traditional American pancake, except this version has coconut milk and a variety of spices added to enhance the taste and give it a little bit of a kick. The sides should be crispy, and you can get them with sweet fillings.
11. Rojak (Malaysian fruit salad)
For the health-conscious, Malaysia actually has a lot to offer in terms of healthy food. Rojak is a delicious fruit and vegetable salad that you will not be able to get enough of while visiting this country. Prepared similarly to the Indonesian variant using cut fruits and vegetables, the Malaysian version includes fried fritters and other spices. The fritters are made using lentil flour, making them a healthier alternative to purified wheat flour. So be sure to enjoy this awesome dish while in Malaysia!
12. Koay chiap (Duck porridge)
On Kimberly Street in Penang Island, Malaysia lies a hidden gem to tourists, which is an extremely popular dish among the locals known as koay chiap. This is a special, braised duck soup consisting of duck meat and noodles cooked with vegetables and spices to give it a rich, homey flavour. You will only find a handful of stalls selling this unique dish, so mind the crowds that gather around them during lunch or dinner time!
13. Wonton (Chinese dumplings)
Who hasn’t heard about the world-famous wonton? This extremely popular dish may be native to Chinese cuisine, but it is served all over the streets of Malaysia in the form of steamed or fried dumplings, or even served with soup. The wonton is made by rolling out a wrapper made of flour and eggs and filling it with delicious, spicy or savoury fillings. These fillings can have meat such as ground chicken or pork or seafood such as prawns. These days you can even get vegetarian or vegan varieties of this dish.
14. Bee hoon (Singaporean rice noodles)
Singaporean fried noodles are made by frying rice vermicelli, and it is a popular dish that needs no introduction. Found in restaurants serving Southeast Asian cuisines all over the world, this variety of noodles can be used as a garnish for soups and dishes, such as the tom yum soup, but it can also be eaten on its own as a snack. Another variant of this dish is served as regular noodles, stir-fried with spices and vegetables, as well as meat or seafood and served as the main course.
15. Kuih kosui (Tapioca rice cake)
This amazing, fudge-like dessert will win your heart instantly. Prepared using the unique flavour of coconut palm sugar with a traditional rice cake base, these cakes are a great snack to munch on when you have just had a light meal and are craving for something sweet and special. These rice cakes are usually served with tea during a lazy, late afternoon or evening after you have just woken up from a refreshing siesta and need something to go with a hot cup of tea. Bring some of these delicious rice cakes home and you will surely enjoy your tea time!
16. Nasi kandar (Steamed rice dish)
Nasi kandar remains an extremely popular dish found in Mamak stalls all over Malaysia. Popularised by the Indian Muslims that settled in Malaysia, this dish consists of a special curry known as banjir that is poured over the rice and accompanied by cooked meat such as fried chicken, seafood, or pork. These days you can also find variants where the meat is substituted by vegetables, for vegetarians and vegans.
17. Satay celup (Special satay dish)
This dish closely resembles a classic fondue, but with a twist. Raw or undercooked vegetables and meat are stuck onto skewers and served alongside a boiling hot gravy or curry. You can find this amazing dish in Malacca, an old city in Malaysia, and it is usually served on the streets. This dish is especially popular as a snack since you get a wide variety of meat and vegetable options to dip in, along with a variety of sauces and curry. Often, this dish is served with various kinds of tea or coconut gravy. Just dip your skewer in and wait for it to cook before enjoying.
18. Mee siam (Siamese noodles)
Another rice vermicelli dish that is very popular and favoured by tourists in Malaysia is mee siam. Rice vermicelli noodles are fried along with vegetables and a gravy that consists of tamarind, coconut, and spices. The dish is then garnished with a variety of toppings like cooked eggs, sprouts, fried onions, peanuts, spring onions, or lime. This is already considered a proper meal rather than a snack, and you can find this dish all over the streets of Malaysia and in mall food courts.
19. Pasembur (Seafood salad)
If you love salads or are looking for a lighter, low-calorie meal, this is the perfect dish for you. Consisting of a variety of vegetables mixed with cooked seafood such as prawns, fish, squids, and clams, this dish originated from Northern Malaysia. The flavours complement each other perfectly, whether it is the juicy cucumber, the savoury fried prawns, or the spicy peanut sauce drizzled over it. This is an Indian variant of the rojak we saw previously, as it uses different kinds of spices.
20. Ipoh hor fun (Flat rice noodle dish)
Hor fun refers to a variant of rice noodles that is smooth and flat. This dish literally translates to “flat rice noodles” from a region called Ipoh. The rice noodles are cooked delicately in vegetable or chicken stock with aromatic spices and vegetables and served along with meat or seafood. It is then garnished with spring onions, peanuts, fried onions, and other interesting ingredients to create a wonderfully light, fragrant, and delicious dish. You can find this served all over Malaysia.
21. Ikan bakar (Savoury grilled fish)
This amazing appetiser is to die for! This is a wonderfully flavoured fish grilled to perfection over a traditional charcoal barbecue and served along with lime wedges and spring onions - what’s not to like? Ikan bakar literally translates to “burned fish”, and the smokey barbecue flavour added to the fish is what makes it so unique. Don’t miss out on this delicacy when in Malaysia!
22. Lok lok (Skewered street meat)
This is another variant on the popular steamboat-style of street meat. Lok lok consists of vegetables and meats served on skewers that you can enjoy on their own as street food, or paired with spicy sauces. This is the perfect dish to look for if you are enjoying a walking tour along the streets of Malaysia and you need something tasty and filling to keep the hunger pangs at bay without having to stop at a restaurant.
23. Ramly burger (Malaysian burger)
For all the burger fans out there, this must be your go-to dish while in Malaysia. The super-popular Ramly burger, also known as a Malaysian-style burger, is a beef burger that is absolutely delicious and very filling. Go on an empty stomach so you can try the tasty beef patty wrapped in an omelette, topped with spicy mayonnaise, and served in a freshly prepared burger bun. We are sure that you will not be able to get enough of this amazing dish.
24. Cendol (Iced dessert with green rice jelly)
This yummy and refreshing dessert is another great, post-meal option. Made of green rice jelly and coconut milk, this dish is sweetened with the quintessential flavour of palm sugar syrup. Definitely a must-try if you are looking for traditional Malaysian desserts out on the streets. You will find vendors pulling carts selling this treat.
25. Loh shu fun (Claypot noodles)
This is a unique take on traditionally prepared noodles. Loh shu fun is cooked in a clay pot over a long period of time, and you can find this dish in most street food joints and coffee shops. Topped with a variety of vegetables such as mushrooms and spring onions, you must definitely try this out when you visit Malaysia.
26. Bak kut teh (Meat bone tea)
Literally translated from Hokkien as “meat bone tea”, this special delicacy is found in both Singapore and Malaysia. It is made of pork ribs slow-cooked in a broth made of vegetable or meat stock, along with flavourful and aromatic herbs and spices to create a beautiful mosaic of flavours and tastes. This must-try dish can be eaten with white rice.
27. Yong tao foo (Stuffed tofu)
While this is not strictly a Malaysian meal, it is still extremely popular all over the country. This Hakka Chinese dish is comprised of tofu that is stuffed with meat or vegetables, then it is cooked to create either a dry appetiser dish or added to a broth and cooked to create a soup.
28. Roasted duck
Last but not least, roasted duck is the first thing tourists tend to recommend when asked about Malaysian cuisine. This is a delicious dish that you can find in most parts of Southeast Asia, and it is prepared by cooking Peking duck in a honey glaze and garnishing it with spring onions. Definitely try out this dish, as you won’t regret it. You can find it served in most restaurants in Malaysia.
Experience the gastronomical delights of Malaysia!
Even a lifetime of living in Malaysia will not be enough to cover the sheer diversity reflected in every element of its culture. Blending Indian, Malay, and Chinese influences, this country has created a unique culture of its own. Sampling the street food available here is one of the best ways to experience its diversity. You will be able to pick out elements that blend these cultures together and find those that stand out on their own. So take a trip to Malaysia and indulge yourself in these gastronomical delights!
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