From mouth-watering lamb Rendangs to scrumptious Nasi Goreng, we’ve all had our fair share of exciting encounters when it comes to Malaysian food. But there’s much more than meets the eye! As a country made up primary by Malays, Chinese, and Indians, with a history of colonization from the Thai, Portuguese, and British, Malaysian food is a melting pot of flavors.
In fact, you can never be shy of the best food in Malaysia when you want to satisfy your pangs. And that’s what this simple guide will help you uncover today. Let’s take you through some of the top Malaysian food to try on your next visit:
Nasi Lemak
Regarded as the national dish of Malaysia, Nasi Lemak which means ‘fat rice’ is made with rice, coconut milk, and pandan leaves. It can also include sambal, prawns, fried anchovies, cucumber, and peanuts in the mixture or as side dishes. Traditionally a breakfast dish, this Malaysian food can be found in food stalls in every corner of the country.
Nasi Dagang
Nasi dagang is a seafood dish comprising rice in coconut milk with fish, most often tuna, friend coconut shavings, and pickled vegetables. At times it includes hard-boiled eggs too. While the dish can look similar to nasi lemak, it tends to vary in flavor. This is a quick food of Malaysia which translates to ‘trader’s rice’, is a traditionally savored by blue-collar workers.
Roti Jala
This dish, translating to ‘bread net,’ gets its name from its net-like pattern upon serving. It is made with a special perforated ladie that’s shaken across the hot pan to create a net-like fried circle. Even though it is a snack by itself, it is usually accompanied by a curry, or if made as a dessert, it comes with a sweet sauce.
Sambal Udang
Sambal is generally a chili paste added to the food of Malaysia and Sambal udang is the chili paste with prawns. Not only are the prawns simmered in the chili paste, but an additional prawn paste is added too, making it delightful for seafood lovers. Tamarind juice is sometimes added for additional flavors.
Lontong
One of the best food in Malaysia vegetarians, Lontong is a vegetable stew made with coconut milk. While this is a traditional breakfast food of Malaysia, it is also made for special occasions in the country. The vegetable stew is heavy on its own, but it can come with a side of rice too.