Here Are Top 11 Recommended Malaysian Foods You Must-Try!

Malaysian Cuisine – Hi, t-mates! Malaysia is a country rich in cultural diversity. Here, you’ll easily find various cultural influences like Malay, Indian, and Chinese in every corner of the city, especially when you talk about its food.

This cultural mix has naturally influenced Malaysia’s cuisine. The delicious dishes from the Land of the Twin Towers are one of the main attractions you shouldn’t miss when traveling to Malaysia. 

And here are the top 11 food recommendations you must try for an awesome culinary journey in Malaysia!

Experience The Blend of Cultures in Malaysian Cuisine

Curious about the delicious food in Malaysia? We’ve got you covered with 11 must-try Malaysian dishes. From the savory Nasi Lemak and a warm broth soup Laksa, taste the variety of Malaysian cuisine from these recommendations~ 

1. Flavorful Nasi Lemak

Nasi lemak is cooked with coconut milk and pandan leaves, giving it a rich and fragrant taste. The texture is slightly oily due to the coconut milk and carries the distinct aroma of pandan.

Malaysians usually enjoy nasi lemak for breakfast. It’s served with sliced eggs, cucumber, long beans, and peanuts. For the protein, you can pair it with tempeh, tofu, fish, shrimp, squid, chicken, or meat.

You can try this delightful dish at Nasi Lemak Saleha, where the portions are satisfying, and the price is affordable. A serving costs around RM 20 (approximately IDR 71,706).

2. Spicy Bites of Ayam Percik

Two regions in Malaysia are famous for their ayam percik: Kelantan and Terengganu. The difference lies in the spice level of the seasoning.

Kelantan-style ayam percik uses sauce and spices mixed with coconut milk. Meanwhile, the Terengganu version adds chili for extra spiciness, perfect for spicy food lovers.

Want to try ayam percik? Head over to Yati Ayam Percik. They have branches in Kelantan and Kuala Lumpur. A serving costs RM 10 (around IDR 35,925). Want to pair it with blue rice? That’ll cost you RM 2 (around IDR 6,800).

3. Nobody Can Say No for An Assam Laksa!

If you’re visiting Penang, don’t miss out on assam laksa. You can easily find it, especially near Pasar Air Itam on the way to the Kek Lok Si Temple.

This dish combines rice noodles with a tangy fish and shrimp broth that’s unforgettable. True to its name, assam laksa has a slightly sour taste from the tamarind water in the broth.

People are willing to line up for hours just to enjoy this dish at Pasar Air Itam. And it’s affordable, too—only RM 4 (around IDR 14,370). The taste? Undoubtedly delicious!

4. Vibrant Blue Nasi Kerabu

Nasi kerabu is an iconic Malaysian dish, instantly recognizable by its blue-colored rice! The blue hue comes from cooking the rice with butterfly pea flower petals.

The dish is served with various sides like fish, fried chicken, salted egg, grilled chicken, crackers, and a mix of boiled vegetables. If you’re into spicy food, you can add sambal belacan for an extra kick.

You can try this unique dish at Lienniey Nasi Kerabu Tumis. A portion with grilled lamb costs RM 9 (around IDR 32,323), while the one with grilled chicken is around RM 5 (IDR 17,957).

5. Everyone’s Favorite Roti Canai

Roti canai is typically served with curry sauce or lentil gravy. The curry is often made with lamb since Indian Malaysians don’t eat beef.

There’s also a sweet version of roti canai, perfect for those with a sweet tooth. It’s served with condensed milk and fruits like bananas.

The most famous spot in Kuala Lumpur for this dish is Roti Canai Tsunami Pak Ali, known for drenching the roti in curry sauce, mimicking a “tsunami.” A serving costs RM 13 (around IDR 46,690).

6. The Unique Manok Pansoh

You’ll find manok pansoh in Sarawak. This dish stands out for its cooking method, which involves bamboo. The bamboo is cleaned and lined with banana leaves before being filled with chicken marinated in spices.

During cooking, the bamboo is sealed with cassava leaves to trap the steam. The result? A delicious dish t-mates must try!

You can enjoy manok pansoh at My Village Barok in Sarawak for RM 11.5 (around IDR 41,302).

7. A Budget-Friendly Char Koay Theow to The Rescue~

This dish is similar to Indonesian kwetiau goreng. Char koay theow is stir-fried flat noodles with toppings like egg, shrimp, chives, fish balls, and sausage.

So… what’s the difference with Indonesian kwetiau? Char koay theow uses bean sprouts instead of mustard greens.

For the best char koay theow, visit Siam Road Charcoal Char Koay Teow. A plate costs RM 6.5 (around IDR 23,704), perfect for budget travelers!

8. A Refreshing Bowl of Kolo Mee 

Kolo mee can be found in Kuching, Sarawak. These noodles are usually served dry with spring onions sprinkled on top and a separate clear broth. Processed using beef or pork. Suitable to be eaten at any time and any occasion.

You can enjoy this legendary and super delicious kolo mee at Oriental Park Kolo Mee. You can enjoy these delicious noodles anytime, because this restaurant is open from morning to night. A large bowl of Kolo Mee costs RM 5.5 or Rp19,753. Very affordable, right?!

9. The Popular Hokkien Mee

On the next list~ Hokkien Mee! This food can be easily found when visiting Kuala Lumpur. The main ingredient of this special culinary is egg noodles. Hokkien Mee has a black sauce because of the use of soy sauce.

The noodles are fried with a mixture of eggs, meat, shrimp, and squid. Usually served with chili sauce, lime slices, and pork fat as a complement.

The most famous Hokkien Mee restaurant in Kuala Lumpur is Mun Wah Hokkien Mee. A plate of delicious Hokkien Mee costs only RM 8 or Rp28,732.

10. Savory Hainanese Chicken Rice

Hainanese chicken rice comes from the Hainan tribe in China. This Peranakan cuisine is a combination of boiled chicken pieces and seasoned rice.

The rice served is actually also according to taste. Some serve it with steamed rice with spices, some prefer to use slightly oily rice. Eating Hainanese rice chicken is more delicious when served with chili sauce and cucumber slices.

The recommended restaurant in Kuala Lumpur for this special cuisine is called Hainanese Chicken. Here, Hainanese chicken rice is sold starting from RM 6.5 or IDR 22,000. Very friendly to your pocket, right, t-mates?

11. Flavorful Ayam Masak Merah

Moving on to the next culinary recommendation, there is Ayam Masak Merah which has become one of Malaysia’s signature dishes that is captivating with a combination of sweet, spicy, and rich spices.

This dish is made from pieces of chicken that are fried until brown, then cooked in a thick tomato sauce and spices such as shallots, garlic, lemongrass, ginger, and chili. Wow, you can already imagine how delicious this dish is, t-mates🤤

Ayam Masak Merah is served with nasi minyak or nasi lemak, creating an unforgettable combination of flavors. Perfect for those of you who want to taste authentic Malaysian deliciousness!

Enjoy the Delicious Cuisine Directly in Malaysia!

Curious to try Malaysia’s signature dishes right at their place of origin? Let’s go—book your flight tickets to the Land of the Twin Towers now!

Don’t forget to book your hotel through tiket.com too, because there are plenty of cozy and affordable hotels in Malaysia waiting for you!

going anywhere? tiket.com!

*Prices are accurate at the time of publication.