Malaysia is home to an incredibly diverse array of cultures. Here, you will find Malay, Chinese, and Indians, as well as more unique cultures such as the Peranakan and fascinating ethnic communities. The multi-racial backdrop has made Malaysia a paradise for food lovers with plenty of aromas and flavours to discover.

Here, you can find international restaurants serving gourmet cuisine, convenient fast food outlets, and mouth-watering street food. Take your pick from a wide spectrum of incredible tastes!

Read more: Malaysia's Most Unique Restaurant

10 Must-try Dishes in Malaysia

10 Must-try Dishes in Malaysia

Nasi Lemak

Nasi lemak is a rice dish that is typically served with roasted nuts, eggs, anchovies, and cucumber slices. The characteristic taste of nasi lemak comes from cooking the rice in coconut milk and pandan leaves, which gives the dish its rich flavour and irresistible fragrance. Remember to give this official national dish a try!

Nasi Lemak is a popular dish in Malaysia

Char Kway Teow

This simple rice noodle dish cooked with soy sauce, eggs, cockles, bean sprouts, Chinese sausage, and shrimps is Malaysia's most famous street food. It's popular throughout the country, whether eaten at roadside stalls or at hawker centres. Tips: Penang has some of the best char kway teow in the country!

Char Kway Teow is a famous dish in Malaysia

Rendang

Rendang is a dish with Indian and West Sumatran influences that is created with chicken or beef cooked in spices and coconut milk. Rendang does not taste like Thai or Indian red curries. Instead, it's thick and creamy, almost like soft butter. The spices combine together perfectly, adding a touch of heat that comes through discreetly when eaten.

Rendang is a delicious Malay dish in Malaysia

Cendol

For the locals, nothing beats the feeling of enjoying a refreshing bowl of cendol at the end of a meal. Cendol is prepared using shaved ice drenched in rich and creamy coconut milk. Then, it will be topped with green rice flour jelly and palm sugar syrup. It is typically served in a bowl, but it can also be taken as a drink in a tall glass.

Cendol is a popular dessert in Malaysia

Roti Canai

Roti Canai is a pan-fried flatbread made with flour, water, eggs, and fats. The dough is folded repeatedly, resulting in a layered texture, a soft centre, and a crispy outer layer. Ghee, the traditional Indian clarified butter, is the most commonly used fat. The bread is so fresh that it can be easily pulled apart with a thumb and a finger from the same hand. It's eggy and slightly buttery on its own, but should be dipped in curry for the complete experience.

Roti Canai is a popular breakfast dish in Malaysia

Air Batu Campur

Also known simply as Ais Kacang or ABC, this famous local dessert is made of shaved ice topped with Gula Melaka or coloured syrup, roasted peanuts, and evaporated milk. Cendol, red beans, sweet corns, and grass jelly sliced into strands or cubes are common additions. A scoop of ice cream can also be added to cool your body down amid the blazing heat!

Air Batu Campur is a local dessert in Malaysia

Teh Tarik

Teh tarik is made with condensed milk rather than plain milk, giving it a much creamier and richer taste. The 'pulling' process aerates the beverage, making it light and foamy rather than dense and heavy. While the drink's sweet, the earthy flavour is enough to justify its appeal. Teh tarik carries a cultural importance and is effectively an emblem for the country's strong sense of tolerance and diversity.

Teh Tarik is loved by every Malaysian - young and old!

Curry Laksa

This Malaysian curry laksa is traditionally cooked with rice noodles, prawns, chicken, tofu puffs, and fish balls. It is served with a fiery soup flavoured with coconut milk and dried shrimp, while boldly featuring the colour of a burning sunset. The noodles are its distinguishing feature: thick vermicelli sliced into shorter pieces that may be easily slurped up with the soup.

Curry Laksa is Malaysia's must-try dish

Satay

Satay is a type of street food that consists of meat marinated in a sweet sauce and grilled on bamboo skewers. This seemingly simple dish is served alongside fresh slices of cucumber, rice cakes, and a luscious peanut dip, and is a very popular choice among both locals and curious foreigners alike.

Satay is a must-try skewer in Malaysia

Popular Tropical Fruits of Malaysia

Blessed with tropical sunshine all year long, Malaysia has a plethora of native fruit species. Besides the king of fruits a.k.a. durians, you must also try other juicy and equally exciting selections such as the rambutan, langsat, duku, salak, and mangosteen.

Try the local tropical fruits in Malaysia during your time here

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