Malaysia Cuisine
Asia • South-Eastern Asia
66 iconic dishes
Signature Malaysia Dishes
🍽️Main Dishes(9)
Asam Pedas Ikan (Spicy and Sour Fish Curry)
A quintessential Malaysian dish, Asam Pedas, meaning 'sour and spicy', is a vibrant fish curry characterized by its tangy tamarind base and fiery chili kick. This Melaka specialty is deeply flavorful and comforting, often served with steamed rice.
Beef Rendang
Beef slowly braised in coconut milk and spices until the sauce caramelizes and clings to every piece. A truly iconic and deeply flavorful dish.
Gulai Kawah (Malaysian Feast Curry)
A rich and aromatic beef curry cooked in a large pot, traditionally prepared for Malaysian feasts (kenduri). This Gulai Kawah features tender beef simmered in a luscious coconut milk gravy, infused with a complex spice paste (rempah) and finished with toasted coconut (kerisik) and potatoes.
Kari Kepala Ikan (Malaysian Fish Head Curry)
A rich and aromatic Indian-Malaysian fusion classic, this fish head curry features a whole fish head simmered in a spicy, tangy, and creamy coconut-based gravy, often served with a side of rice or roti canai. The tender fish meat, especially the gelatinous cheek and eye, is a prized delicacy.
Lemang
Lemang is a traditional Malay dish of glutinous rice cooked in bamboo tubes, essential for celebrations like Hari Raya Aidilfitri. The rice is infused with the smoky aroma of the bamboo and the rich flavor of coconut milk.
Malaysian Hokkien Mee (KL Style)
A rich and savory KL-style Hokkien Mee featuring thick yellow noodles and vermicelli braised in a dark, flavorful soy sauce base with tender pork belly and succulent prawns.
Masak Lemak Cili Api
A rich and creamy coconut milk-based curry from Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia, featuring the fiery heat of bird's eye chilies and aromatic spices. This dish is traditionally made with chicken or fish.
Sambal Udang (Malaysian Chili Prawns)
A quick and fiery Malaysian classic featuring succulent prawns coated in a rich, spicy sambal sauce. This dish is a perfect balance of sweet, sour, and spicy, ideal for a weeknight meal.
Sotong Kangkung (Malaysian Squid with Water Spinach)
A vibrant and flavorful Malaysian stir-fry featuring tender squid and crisp water spinach coated in a pungent and spicy belacan (shrimp paste) sauce. This dish is quick to prepare and perfect for a weeknight meal.
🥟Appetizer Dishes(12)
Apam Balik (Malaysian Peanut Pancake)
A popular Malaysian street snack, Apam Balik is a crispy, folded pancake filled with sweet crushed peanuts and creamed corn. This recipe focuses on the thinner, crispier version.
Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce
Tender, grilled marinated chicken skewers served with a rich and creamy peanut sauce, a quintessential Southeast Asian street food delight.
Goreng Pisang (Malaysian Fried Bananas)
Authentic Malaysian Goreng Pisang, featuring sweet bananas coated in a light, crispy turmeric-infused batter and deep-fried to a perfect golden-brown. A beloved street food snack.
Kerabu Mangga (Spicy Green Mango Salad)
A vibrant and refreshing Malaysian salad featuring shredded unripe mango, tossed with a spicy, tangy, and savory dressing. This dish is a perfect balance of sweet, sour, and spicy, with a delightful crunch.
Lok Lok (Malaysian Skewered Street Food)
Lok Lok is a popular Malaysian street food where various ingredients are skewered and then cooked by boiling in a flavorful broth or deep-frying. It's a highly customizable and interactive dining experience, perfect for sharing.
Malaysian Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce
Tender, marinated chicken skewers grilled to perfection and served with a rich, savory peanut sauce. A beloved Malaysian street food classic.
Popiah (Malaysian Fresh Spring Rolls)
A beloved Malaysian fresh spring roll, often prepared Nyonya-style, featuring a savory and slightly sweet jicama filling wrapped in delicate popiah skins. This dish is perfect for communal dining and can be customized with a variety of fresh toppings.
Pulut Panggang (Grilled Glutinous Rice Parcels)
Fragrant and slightly sweet parcels of glutinous rice, filled with a savory spiced coconut and dried shrimp mixture, then grilled to perfection in banana leaves.
Rojak
A vibrant and refreshing Malaysian fruit and vegetable salad, tossed in a rich, sweet, sour, and spicy shrimp paste dressing. This dish offers a delightful mix of textures and flavors.
Sate Kajang (Kajang Style Satay)
Sate Kajang is a famous Malaysian variation of satay, characterized by its larger, more substantial pieces of meat and a rich, flavorful marinade. This recipe focuses on the traditional Kajang style, known for its robust taste and satisfying texture.
Spiral Curry Puff
Flaky, crispy spiral pastries filled with a savory curry mixture. The unique spiral technique ensures extra layers of crispiness in every bite.
Yong Tau Foo (Malaysian Stuffed Tofu and Vegetables)
A beloved Hakka dish from Malaysia, Yong Tau Foo is a customizable meal where you choose various vegetables and tofu to be stuffed with a savory fish paste, then cooked in a flavorful broth or fried until golden. It's a delightful 'choose your own adventure' culinary experience.
🍲Soup Dishes(12)
Asam Laksa
A vibrant and tangy Malaysian sour fish noodle soup, a beloved specialty from Penang, characterized by its complex broth and fresh garnishes.
Bak Kut Teh (Herbal Pork Rib Soup)
A comforting and aromatic Malaysian Hokkien-style pork rib soup, simmered in a fragrant broth infused with a blend of Chinese herbs and spices. Traditionally enjoyed as a hearty breakfast, especially in the Klang region.
Curry Laksa
A rich and aromatic Malaysian coconut curry noodle soup featuring tender shrimp, absorbent tofu puffs, and briny cockles (optional) swimming in a fragrant, spiced broth. This dish is a delightful balance of creamy, savory, and subtly spicy flavors.
Curry Mee (Malaysian Curry Noodle Soup)
A rich and aromatic Malaysian curry noodle soup, featuring a fragrant coconut broth, tender noodles, savory cockles, and absorbent tofu puffs. This dish is a beloved hawker staple, offering a complex balance of spice, creaminess, and fresh herbs.
Hokkien Prawn Mee (Malaysian Prawn Noodles)
A deeply flavorful and aromatic noodle soup featuring a rich prawn and pork broth, served with a combination of yellow noodles and rice vermicelli, fresh prawns, and a medley of toppings. This dish is a beloved classic in Malaysian cuisine.
Koay Teow Th'ng (Malaysian Clear Soup Noodles)
A comforting and light Penang-style clear soup noodle dish featuring flat rice noodles, tender braised duck, fish balls, and fresh bean sprouts in a rich, aromatic pork and duck broth.
Laksa Johor
A unique and regal laksa from Johor, traditionally served with spaghetti instead of rice noodles. The rich, savory gravy is infused with aromatic spices and the delicate flavor of mackerel.
Laksa Lemak (Nyonya Coconut Curry Noodles)
A rich and aromatic Nyonya-style coconut curry noodle soup, featuring a fragrant broth simmered with laksa paste, coconut milk, and chicken stock. It's generously topped with tender chicken, succulent shrimp, absorbent tofu puffs, fresh bean sprouts, and the distinct herbaceous aroma of laksa leaf. A beloved dish with regional variations hotly debated.
Malaysian Curry Laksa
A rich and fragrant Malaysian noodle soup featuring a spicy coconut curry broth, tender noodles, succulent prawns, and fried tofu puffs, finished with fresh bean sprouts and mint. This recipe focuses on the popular curry laksa variant.
Mee Rebus (Malaysian Noodle Soup)
A comforting and flavorful Malaysian noodle dish featuring springy yellow noodles bathed in a rich, savory, and slightly sweet gravy, thickened naturally with sweet potato and infused with the umami of dried shrimp and tender beef. Garnished with a variety of fresh and fried toppings, it's a delightful balance of textures and tastes.
Pan Mee (Hand-Torn Noodles)
A comforting Hakka-Malaysian noodle soup featuring hand-torn flat noodles in a rich, savory anchovy broth, served with tender minced pork and fresh greens.
Sup Kambing (Malaysian Mutton Soup)
A deeply flavorful and aromatic Malaysian mutton soup, featuring a clear, spiced broth that is both comforting and warming. Perfect for a chilly evening or as a hearty meal.
🥔Side Dishes(9)
Bihun Goreng (Malaysian Fried Rice Vermicelli)
A classic Malaysian stir-fried rice vermicelli dish, offering a lighter and quicker alternative to its noodle counterpart, Mee Goreng. This recipe is perfect for a weeknight meal.
Hainanese Chicken Rice
Poached chicken with fragrant rice cooked in chicken fat. Malaysia's beloved comfort food, served with three essential, vibrant sauces.
Ketupat
Ketupat are iconic diamond-shaped rice cakes, traditionally woven from palm leaves and served during Hari Raya. They are a staple accompaniment to rich curries and satay.
Lontong
A popular Malaysian dish featuring compressed rice cakes (lontong) served in a rich and flavorful vegetable curry (sayur lodeh). This dish is often enjoyed during festive occasions like Hari Raya.
Nasi Ayam (Malaysian Chicken Rice)
A beloved Malaysian comfort food, Nasi Ayam is a Hainanese-influenced dish featuring succulent poached chicken served with fragrant rice cooked in chicken broth and fat, accompanied by a trio of flavorful sauces. This recipe focuses on the classic poached chicken method.
Nasi Dagang
Nasi Dagang, meaning 'trader's rice', is a fragrant and flavorful rice dish traditionally enjoyed as a breakfast staple on the east coast of Malaysia, particularly in Terengganu. It features a unique blend of red and glutinous rice steamed in rich coconut milk, served with a spicy and creamy fish curry (Gulai Ikan Tongkol) and accompanied by pickled vegetables (acar).
Nasi Goreng Kampung (Village-Style Fried Rice)
A classic Malaysian village-style fried rice, characterized by its savory depth from dried anchovies (ikan bilis) and pungent shrimp paste (belacan), balanced with fresh kangkung (water spinach) and a fried egg. This version is quick, flavorful, and deeply satisfying.
Nasi Kandar
A popular Malaysian dish originating from Penang, Nasi Kandar features a generous portion of steamed rice served with a variety of flavorful curries, side dishes, and a signature blend of mixed gravies poured over everything. It's a customizable and hearty meal.
Nasi Lemak
Nasi Lemak, the beloved national dish of Malaysia, is fragrant coconut rice cooked with pandan leaves, typically served with a spicy sambal, crispy anchovies, roasted peanuts, a hard-boiled egg, and fresh cucumber slices. It's a versatile dish enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
🍰Dessert Dishes(15)
Ais Kacang (Malaysian Shaved Ice)
A vibrant and refreshing Malaysian shaved ice dessert, traditionally layered with sweet beans, corn, grass jelly, and drizzled with colorful syrups. A delightful treat perfect for hot weather.
Ayam Masak Merah (Malaysian Red Chicken)
A classic Malaysian celebratory dish, Ayam Masak Merah features tender chicken pieces braised in a rich, savory, and slightly sweet tomato-chili sauce. It's a staple at weddings and special occasions, known for its vibrant color and balanced flavors.
Bubur Cha Cha
A vibrant and comforting Malaysian dessert soup featuring tender cubes of yam and sweet potato simmered in a fragrant coconut milk broth, sweetened with palm sugar and studded with chewy sago pearls.
Bubur Kacang Hijau (Sweet Mung Bean Porridge)
A comforting and subtly sweet Malaysian dessert soup made from tender green mung beans, infused with aromatic pandan leaves and sweetened with palm sugar. Perfect for a light dessert or a nourishing snack.
Cendol
A refreshing and cooling Malaysian iced dessert featuring fragrant pandan jelly noodles, sweet palm sugar syrup, and creamy coconut milk, served over shaved ice.
Cendol Gula Melaka
A refreshing and authentic Malaysian dessert featuring delicate pandan-flavored jelly noodles, a rich coconut milk base, and a luscious syrup made from pure Gula Melaka (palm sugar), served over a generous mound of shaved ice.
Dodol
A rich, sticky, toffee-like sweet confection, traditionally prepared for Hari Raya celebrations. It requires significant patience and constant attention.
Karipap (Malaysian Curry Puffs)
Delicate, flaky pastry encasing a savory and aromatic spiced potato and meat filling, deep-fried to a perfect golden crisp. A beloved Malaysian snack.
Kaya Toast
A beloved Malaysian breakfast staple, Kaya Toast features slices of toasted bread generously spread with a sweet and fragrant coconut egg jam (kaya), often accompanied by butter and soft-boiled eggs.
Kuih Ketayap (Pandan Coconut Rolls)
Delicate, emerald-green pandan crepes encasing a sweet, caramelized coconut filling. These delightful rolls are a popular Malaysian sweet treat, perfect for any occasion.
Kuih Lapis (Malaysian Layered Cake)
A vibrant and visually appealing steamed layered cake, perfect as a delightful tea-time treat. This recipe guides you through creating beautiful, distinct layers of color and flavor.
Kuih Seri Muka
A beloved two-layer Malaysian sweet treat featuring a base of steamed glutinous rice topped with a rich, vibrant pandan-infused coconut custard.
Kuih Talam (Two-Layer Pandan and Coconut Cake)
A beloved Malaysian tea-time treat, Kuih Talam features two distinct layers: a fragrant green pandan base and a creamy white coconut topping, both with a delightfully soft and slightly chewy texture.
Murtabak (Malaysian Stuffed Pancake)
A savory Malaysian stuffed pancake, traditionally made by Indian Muslims, featuring a flavorful meat and egg filling encased in a thin, crispy dough. Served with a side of curry sauce for dipping.
Tau Foo Fah (Malaysian Silken Tofu Dessert)
A delicate and silky smooth silken tofu dessert, traditionally served with a warming and aromatic ginger syrup. This recipe focuses on achieving that perfect, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
🥨Snack Dishes(4)
Ayam Percik (Malaysian Grilled Chicken with Coconut Chili Glaze)
A classic East Coast Malaysian dish from Kelantan, featuring tender grilled chicken coated in a rich, spicy, and slightly sweet coconut milk and chili glaze. The char from grilling adds a wonderful smoky depth.
Char Kway Teow
A classic Malaysian stir-fried flat noodle dish, renowned for its smoky 'wok hei' aroma, featuring tender rice noodles, succulent prawns, briny cockles, savory Chinese sausage, and scrambled egg, all coated in a rich, dark soy sauce mixture.
Malaysian Wantan Mee (Dry Style)
A beloved Malaysian noodle dish featuring springy egg noodles tossed in a savory sauce, topped with succulent char siu (BBQ pork) and flavorful wontons. This recipe focuses on the popular dry style, but can be adapted for soup.
Mee Goreng Mamak
A popular Malaysian Indian stir-fried noodle dish, featuring springy yellow noodles tossed with savory and sweet elements, tender tofu, soft potato, and scrambled egg, finished with a bright squeeze of lime.
🧂Condiment Dishes(2)
Sambal Belacan
An essential and vibrant Malaysian chili condiment, Sambal Belacan is characterized by its pungent aroma and spicy kick, derived from fresh chilies and fermented shrimp paste (belacan). It's a staple served with rice dishes, grilled meats, and seafood.
Serunding (Spiced Meat Floss)
A deeply flavorful and aromatic spiced meat floss, traditionally served as a condiment or accompaniment, especially during festive occasions like Hari Raya. It's made by finely shredding meat, cooking it with a complex spice paste, and then toasting it with desiccated coconut until dry and crumbly.