Food You Must Try In Malaysia

Here are some of the food you must try if you're visiting Malaysia. Please note that the price stated here is just an average price as it may differ from one area to another area. And another reminder is that some of the food listed in this article is non-halal.

NASI LEMAK

If you're in Malaysia, you have to try nasi lemak which is claimed to be the national dish of Malaysia. Nasi lemak is a fragrant rice cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaf and served with sambal, hard-boiled egg, anchovies, fried peanuts, slices of cucumber. Locals usually eat nasi lemak as breakfast. Price: RM6. 

CHICKEN RICE

The best version of chicken rice is the Hainanese chicken rice or the Ipoh chicken rice which you could hardly get the authentic ones anymore around KL but if you have a local friend, he/she might be able to take you to a good one. RM6.50 to RM7 at ordinary coffeeshop/hawker. If you eat chicken rice in restaurant situated inside a shopping mall, it might costs RM10 or more.

ROTI CANAI

This is the cheapest and tasty breakfast you can have in Malaysia. It's only RM1 and you can get this at any mamak stall or mamak restaurant. There are many versions of roti canai: roti telur (with egg around like an omelette), roti planta (made with butter), roti bawang (sliced of onions inside), roti pisang (slices of banana inside), and many more. Other versions of roti canai costs RM2 to RM3.

WANTAN MEE

(Non-halal)

There are two versions of wantan mee; dry and soup. The photo above is the dry version with some gravy. You can choose the thickness of noodles from thin to thick. It is served with charsiew (barbequed pork). Price: RM6.50-RM7

PORK BALL NOODLES

(Non-halal)

A noodle dish served with pork balls, pork sausages, and minced pork at the side. You can choose the type of noodles or mix between two different noodles like shown in the photo above. RM5.50-RM6

YUET KWONG HOR

(Non-halal)

Stir-fry kway teow served with raw egg. You can get this at Chinese coffeeshop. Price: RM7

RAMLY BURGER

It may look unappetizing but trust me, it tastes so good that you will get addicted to it. You can choose from chicken burger, beef burger, single or double patty, with or without egg. You can only get this at night by the roadside because this burger stall will be parked at random roadside only known to the locals around the housing area. It's hard to see one if you're in the city center. RM5-RM6

BAK KUT TEH

(Non-halal)

This is a pork rib dish cooked in a herbal soup broth served with rice. The locals usually order this for 2 pax or more but you can also order it for yourself. Just remember to tell the seller it's for one person. Price: RM11-RM15 depending on area.

CLAYPOT CHICKEN RICE

You may wonder what's with Malaysian with chicken rice, eh? Hahaha... yes, we love chicken and we love rice, hence, this is another version of chicken rice but cooked in a claypot but the difference between the Hainanese chicken rice and claypot chicken rice is that the latter is cooked with Chinese sausage, spring onions, Chinese wine, and salted fish (optional). Price: RM7

CURRY LAKSA

This is a spicy noodles, usually the yellow noodles and beehoon (rice vermicelli) in a broth cooked with coconut milk, curry powder/paste served with variety of toppings such as raw cockles, shredded chicken, shrimps, fried tofu, and bean sprouts with sambal chilli and a slice of lime.

ASAM LAKSA

This is a spicy and sourish dish with lime and a spoon of shrimp paste which you have to mix it with the broth. The noodles used in asam laksa is different from those in curry laksa, curry mee.

ROJAK

Rojak in Malay means "mixture". It is a traditional fruits and vegetables salad mixed together with a thick sweet-savoury dressing and lots of grinded peanuts on top. There are two different types of rojak in KL, the Chinese rojak and the mamak rojak. The Chinese rojak is usually fruits, while the mamak rojak uses fried dough fritters, prawn fritters, hard-boiled egg, shredded cucumber and shredded yam bean drenched in thick and sweet peanut sauce. 

CHAR KWAY TEOW

(Non-halal) *But you can find halal version in shopping malls

This is one of the Penang's pride! You will know the difference in taste if you try it both in Penang and in KL. If you ask me which is the best, you have to go to Penang for sure. You will see some KL sellers use the Penang Char Kway Teow sign as their business sign but not all char kway teow in KL is good but you still get a decent ones. Price: RM6-RM7

SATAY

Satay is like a skewer food, or meat on a stick which is barbequed. You may choose the meat from chicken, beef, mutton. It is served with peanut sauce with slices of cucumbers and red onions on the side. Price: RM1.80 -- RM2 per stick.