The 5 Best Dishes to Eat in Malaysia

Malaysians are well known for our passion for food and this is well reflected in our cuisine. The Malaysia that we see and experience today is a result of the mixing of three distinct cultures, which has given rise to Malaysian cuisine that are truly diverse. The three major influences - Chinese, Indian and Malay influences - can clearly be noticed in Malaysian cuisine. In some ways, one can say that Malaysian cuisine is somewhat like New York; some of the dishes didn't originate from here, but they have found a loving and forever home in Malaysia. In this post, we list down the top five popular dishes in Malaysia. If you are planning a vacation in Malaysia, you should definitely try these dishes, which you are guaranteed to love. And before you ask it, yes, food delivery is readily available for all of these delicious foods by FoodPanda Malaysia. You can order all of these dishes right from the comfort of your home or hotel room.

Nasi Lemak

I'd always recommend that one should always be ready to try something new and exciting. Experimenting with recipes can sometimes lead to new and creative dishes with exotic flavours. Every once in a while, however, one should also try something more traditional. For such days when one want to try authentic and traditional recipes, Nasi Lemak is a perfect choice. It is so popular in Malaysia that some people even call it the national dish of Malaysia. Owing to its popularity, it is only obvious that one will find hundreds of regional variations in the original recipe. Each serving of Nasi Lemak primarily consists of rice steamed in coconut milk, peanuts, fried anchovies, a quarter or half of a boiled egg, some cucumber slices, and a spoonful or two of sweet and spicy sambal. In addition, prawn sambal, chicken rendang or beef rendang may also be added to the list to complement and enhance the already rich flavours.

For anyone travelling to Malaysia, this is a must-have dish. You simply haven't experienced Malaysia until and unless you have tried Nasi Lemak.

Nasi Kerabu

In the coastal side of the country, rice and seafood are the staple ingredients in most of the dishes. One, however, could be surprised at the creativity of the locals as every dish will taste different and have unique flavours. Nasi Kerabu is such a dish, with rice and fish as major ingredients. But the rice comes with a twist because here, you are served with blue-coloured rice. No artificial flavours or colouring ingredients are used here, though. The colour comes naturally as a result of using butterfly-pea flowers in the cooking process. The rice is served with a wide array of sides that include dried fish, salted egg, budu (pickled anchovies sauce), solok lada (fish meat-stuffed pepper), prawn crackers, ayam percik (marinated chicken) and a selection of aromatic herbs.

Nasi Kerabu is one of the most popular dishes in the East Coast part of Peninsular Malaysia.

Beef Rendang

Chances are that you have already heard of this dish. It has gained somewhat international fame, thanks to the British celebrity chef, Gordon Ramsay. During one of his hit television shows, he came to Malaysia specifically to learn the recipe of Beef Rendang. This is not a dish that is prepared in haste. Instead, beef rendang usually requires more than a day to prepare as it is cooked on a low flame to turn the meat really soft and tender.

The result is like a bomb of flavours, it is no wonder that beef rendang is a huge hit amongst beef lovers.

Assam laksa

This one is for those who love noodles. It is one of the most popular noodle-based dishes in Malaysia. Assam Laksa is really spicy one can't help but feel the heat of its exotic spices. It is prepared in a sour tamarind broth and is served with vegetable garnishing. The result? A contrasting flavour that would tantalise every taste bud which also made sure that Assam Laksa scored a place in the World's 50 Most Delicious Foods by CNN a few years back.

Curry Laksa

This is a soup that one will remember for a long time for its original and spicy taste. What makes Curry Laksa different is that it is thickened with coconut milk, making it creamy and flavourful.

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If you're from outside Malaysia, have you tried any of these dishes? What is your take on them?

If you're a Malaysian local, do you agree with the list? What other Malaysian dishes would you also recommend?