Popular Foods in Malaysia : Best Dishes to Try
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Popular Foods in Malaysia

Malaysian cuisine features a mix of Malay, Chinese, and Indian flavors with dishes like nasi lemak, laksa, and char kway teow. With a variety of street food and traditional meals, Malaysia is a food lover's paradise. Travel insurance helps cover unforeseen travel risks.

  • 30 Apr 2025
  • 3 min read
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Malaysia is a country with many different cultures, and this diversity is reflected in its food varieties. The cooking is influenced by Malay, Chinese, and Indian styles. Foods in Malaysia thus have a unique blend of bold flavours, aromatic spices, and diverse ingredients. 

List of popular food in Malaysia

Here are some of the most loved Malaysia traditional foods:

 

  • Nasi lemak: This is Malaysia’s national dish. It is rice made with coconut milk and served with sambal (spicy chilli paste), fried anchovies, boiled egg, peanuts, and cucumber. Sometimes, it comes with fried chicken or beef rendang.

 

  • Char kway teow: This is flat rice noodles stir-fried with prawns, eggs, bean sprouts, and soy sauce. It has a smoky flavour that makes it very delicious.

 

  • Roti canai: A popular Indian-influenced dish. It is a soft, crispy flatbread served with curry or dhal (lentil soup).

 

  • Laksa: A spicy noodles soup with coconut milk or tamarind-based broth. There are different types of laksa, such as curry laksa and asam laksa.

 

  • Satay: Grilled skewered meat with peanut sauce, rice cakes, cucumber, and onions. It is a favourite street food.

 

  • Hainanese chicken rice: A simple yet great dish made with poached or roasted chicken, fragrant rice, and garlic chilli sauce.

 

  • Nasi kandar: A meal comprising steamed rice with various curries and side dishes. It is a popular food in the Indian Muslim community.

 

  • Banana leaf rice: White rice served on a banana leaf with different vegetable dishes, curries, and pickles. It is a common meal in Indian restaurants.

 

  • Cendol: A sweet dessert made of shaved ice, coconut milk, green rice flour jelly, and palm sugar syrup. It is refreshing, especially in hot weather.

 

  • Apam balik: A thick pancake filled with peanuts, sugar, and sweet corn. It is a favourite snack in Malaysia.

Conclusion

When visiting Malaysia, trying the food varieties is a must for anyone who loves mouth-watering cuisines. Before travelling to country, it is important to get international travel insurance. This will help with unexpected medical expenses, flight delays, or lost belongings during your trip. You can enjoy exploring Malaysia and taste its amazing food without worries if you have a single-trip travel insurance.


Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only. It may contain outdated data and information regarding the Insurance industry and products. It is advised to verify the currency and relevance of the data and information before taking any major steps. ICICI Lombard is not liable for any inaccuracies or consequences resulting from the use of this outdated information. 

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