Top 9 Malaysian Foods To Die For

Malaysia is hands down one of the finest destinations in the world to satisfy any culinary yearning.

The dynamic mixture of Malay, Chinese, and Indian cuisines are just a few of the popular influencing flavors.  Throughout my stay in Malaysia and a number of recurring visits to Kuala Lumpur, I developed an acute addiction to the powerful tastes of Malaysian foods.                          

1. Roti Canai

A roti canai is made from thin dough, cooked into a pasty like bread, and dipped into a fragrant curry sauce f
urst of tastiness. A roti canai makes a flavorful treat anytime of the day, but it is commonly eaten for breakfast along with a cup of milky tea (teh tarik).

Chilli Pan Mee

2. Chili Pan Mee

It all begins with a foundation of freshly cooked noodles followed by a handful of ingredients like minced pork, fried garlic, a runny half poached egg, and a sprinkle of green onions. The signature dried flaky chili sauce is what truly makes chili pan mee one of the great Malaysian dishes, a flavor so delectable that it’s impossible not to boast about.  Super Kitchen chili pan mee is one of the best Kuala Lumpur restaurants to eat the dish!

Satay

3. Malaysian Satay

Usually made with beef or chicken, Malay satay’s are mildly marinated and lightly barbecued. They are enjoyed best with a tangy peanut sauce that literally melts in your mouth. Be careful, before you know it, you will have eaten countless skewers without even noticing!

4. Grilled Stingray

It’s a fish that can be fatal in the waters, but is nothing short of pure pleasure when it reaches the grill. Wrapped in a banana leaf with a combination of spices, the stingray sops up all of it’s fish juices and retains the brilliant taste of the marinade.

Char Kuay Teow

5. Char Kuay Teow

Char kuay teow is a wonderful mixture of stir fried rice noodles along with a choice of meat or seafood and flavored with dark soy sauce. Often an egg is added to the dish, coating the noodles with an even more brilliant taste!

6. Nasi Campur

There are few things that I get more excited about in life than Nasi Campur. It’s literally an all out feasting competition involving a few of the most powerfully flavorful dishes in the Malay food repertoire. You are given a plate of plain rice and instructed to pile on whatever pre-made dish that suits your liking. I tend to go straight for the chili fish, spiced eggplant, jack fruit coconut curry, and fried okra!

7. Nasi Kandar

Especially famous in Penang, Malaysia, Nasi Kandar is a dish that consists of rice and a choice of different fried meats or Indian style curries. There’s usually an option to order other Malay-Indian delicacies like daal, naan, biryani, or tandoori chicken to accompany a nasi kandar feast!

8. Nasi Lemak

Known as one of the national dishes of Malaysia, nasi lemak is a comfort food and a dish to truly look forward to. There are a number of variations to the dish: the traditional triangle of rice wrapped in a banana leaf (kind of as a snack) and a meal version served on a plate. The plate begins with a scoop of fragrant coconut rice and is accompanied by sides such as dried anchovies, hard boiled eggs, fried chicken, roasted peanuts, and another Malaysian chili sauce to die for!

9. Curry Laksa

All the flavors one could possibly dream of are represented in a single bowl of luscious Malaysian curry laksa. The version I love the most, starts with thin rice noodles that are covered in a rich coconut cream curry. The list of ambrosial toppings includes shredded chicken, shrimp, fried tofu, a handful of cilantro, and finally a juicy squeeze of lime!

This is merely a sample of the meals within the staggering smorgasbord of Malaysian cuisine.  From Penang to Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur to Malacca, there’s so much food to explore in Malaysia!

About the Author:

Mark Wiens is the author of 89 posts on Go Backpacking.

Mark was raised in central Africa before migrating back to the US for University. After graduating, he decided to continue traveling the world. On Migrationology, he shares the cultural side of travel from a slow paced local perspective that often revolves around his love for eating all forms of food. Join him onFacebook, follow him on Twitter @migrationology, and add him on Google Plus.