The Cuisine

The Magnificent Cuisine

Thanks to her multiracial mix of people, Malaysia offers food lovers a palette of never ending culinary choices.

One of the favourite pastimes of Malaysians, eating out in Malaysia is a journey of discovery. One can choose to dine at swanky five-star hotels and restaurants and vegetarian restaurants. Western, Asian and Middle Eastern restaurants, sidewalk cafes, lifestyle cafes, delicatessens, ‘kopitiam’ (Malaysian style coffee shops), mamak stalls, international fast-food chains and a host of hawker stalls that open till the wee hours of the morning.

Food in Malaysia is even more diverse than her culture. It features the multi-ethnicity and influence many different cultures. Halal food is widely available, and restaurants and food shops have a sign to indicate so.

The Malay cuisine reflects the rich heritage of intertwining of tribal proto-Malays, Indian, Arab, Chinese and Thai culture, thus giving it an exotic flavour.

One favorite here is the Indian cuisine which has become very Malaysian. While traditional north and south Indian dishes are available, unique new concoctions have been created by local Indian chefs to add ‘spice’ to its menu.

Various styles of cooking are found in Chinese cuisine – Cantonese, Hokkien, Hakka, Teochew and Hainanese are the more popular. Today’s Chinese food has been strongly influenced by the other cultures and is spicier. One can also find dishes that are only unique to Malaysia.

A unique cuisine is the Nyonya cuisine. It is a ‘marriage’ of traditional Chinese cooking ingredients and Malay herbs and spices. Its origins stem from Melaka, Singapore and Penang where intermarriages of Malay and Chinese took place during the days of the Straits Settlement.

Nasi lemak is one of the local favorite cuisines, its coconut flavored rice that consists of rice cooked in coconut milk made aromatic with pandan leaves. It is usually served with sambal ikan bilis(fried dried anchovies cooked in dry chilli sauce) and garnished with cucumbers, hard boiled eggs and peanuts. Traditionally it’s packed in banana leaf and usually eaten as a hearty breakfast.

Another favorite of Malaysians is the roti canai. This Indian influenced cuisine is a rich and flaky pastry pancake that has over time become known as a favorite Malaysian ‘appetizer’ in Malaysian eateries around the world. Roti canai is served with a side plate of chicken or fish curry.