14 Unique Malaysian Dishes From Every State You Have To Try Before You Die
- Pasembor Ketam @ Restoran Nelayan, Perlis
Pasembor Ketam
While this dish is more commonly linked to Penang, this pasembor is a must try when you're in Perlis! Packed with fresh crab meat, this savoury rojak is made with a medley of fresh ingredients which include shredded cucumber, soft bean curd, crunchy sengkuang, and drowned in their secret sweet and spicy peanut gravy.
Using his mother's original recipe, this stall owner has given customers a true taste of Perlis heritage for more than 40 years!
Address: Restoran Nelayan, Pekan Kuala Perlis, 02000 Kuala Perlis, Perlis.
Opening Hours: 9.30am - 11.00pm (daily)
*Laksa Utara @ Zakaria Laksa Teluk Kuchai, Kedah
Laksa Utara
Famous for their laksa utara, this family-run restaurant has been feeding Kedahans for over 70 years! Making their noodles fresh on the daily, you'll find laksa here to be softer, smoother, and more flavourful!
As their fresh noodles are naturally more porous, they're able to better absorb the rich sweet and sour fish broth. Generously sprinkled with shredded daun kesum, onions, and cucumber, this bowl is a perfect balance of flavour and texture.
Address: Zakaria Laksa Teluk Kechai, 250, Jalan Kuala Kedah, Kampung Klong Hoi, 06600 Alor Setar, Kedah, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 12pm - 10pm (daily)
*Oyster Omelette @ Seng Thor Coffeeshop, Penang
Oyster Omelette (Oh Chien)
Also known as Oh Chien, this oyster omelette is a must-have street food when you visit Penang. Made with fresh large chewy oysters fried with an egg & rice flour mixture, you'll get to enjoy the tastiest and fluffiest omelette ever! Don't forget to dip it in their side of spicy chilli or garlic sauce!
Address: 160, Lebuh Carnarvon, George Town, 10100 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Opening Hours:
5.30pm - 2.00am (Monday - Friday)
5.30pm - 12.00am (Sunday)
*Nasi Ganja Ayam Merah @ Nasi Ganja Kedai Kopi, Perak
Nasi Ganja
No drugs included, this hearty rice dish got its name from being too addictive to local and international foodies. This is Perak's version of the Malaysian favourite nasi kandar. Head over to Nasi Ganja Kedai Kopi for a plate and enjoy this dish with their succulent and crispy ayam goreng merah (red fried chicken), salted egg, okra, and mint chutney. Of course, always remember to banjir your plate with a mix of assorted curries!
Address: Nasi Ganja Kedai Kopi, 2, Jalan Yang Kalsom, Taman Jubilee, 30300 Ipoh, Negeri Perak
Opening Hours: 9.30am - 6.00pm (daily)
*Bak Kut Teh @ Ah Sang Bak Kut Teh, Selangor
Bak Kut Teh
A comfort food for the non-Muslim community in Selangor, Bak Kut Teh (literally translated to meat bone tea) is a deeply flavoured herb broth that's traditionally served in clay pots that are filled to the brim with succulent chunks of pork meat, veggies, mushrooms and pieces of dried tofu.
Perfect to warm you up on a chilly rainy day, this soul food is best enjoyed with a steaming bowl of rice and brewed Chinese tea.
Address: Seri Setia, Sungai Way, 531, Jalan SS 9a/12, Ss 9a, 47300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Opening hours: 8.30am - 2.00pm (closed on Monday)
*Nasi Lemak @ Nasi Lemak Tanglin, Kuala Lumpur
Nasi Lemak Tanglin
For an authentic taste of our prized dish, head over to Nasi Lemak Tanglin. They have been serving our national dish since 1948 (that's before we even gained independence!) Enjoy your nasi lemak with all your favourite lauk here, including sambal sotong, ayam goreng, and rendang daging. But, as any great nasi lemak goes, you'll be coming back for their delicious sambal.
Having a great balance of sweet to salty, spicy to sour flavours, their deep red sambal is the reason they've dominated Malaysia's breakfast tables for 70 years! Want a taste? Come early in the morning or expect to wait in a long queue, or worse, your favourite lauk to be finished!
Address: Nasi Lemak Tanglin, Tasik Perdana, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Opening hours: 7am - 1pm (daily)
*Daging Salai Masak Lemak Cili Api @ Sabak Salai, Negeri Sembilan
Daging Salai Masak Lemak Cili Api
You've not lived if you've never tasted daging salai masak lemak cili api! This prized traditional nogori dish gets its deep flavours from the smoked meat (daging salai), that's been marinated with herbs and spices, and slowly smoked over coal fire. It's then simmered in a thick golden gravy of coconut milk and blended aromatics of fresh turmeric, shallots, cili padi and lemongrass.
A staple dish in this Malaysian region, it's best enjoyed with a hot plate of fragrant fluffy jasmine rice with a side of fresh ulam leaves.
Address: Sabak Salai, No.13, Batu 5 1/2, Kampung Kundur Hulu, 71400 Pedas, Negeri Sembilan
Opening hours: 10am - 5pm (closed every Monday)
*Satay Celup @ Capitol Satay Celup, Melaka
Satay Celup
If there's one dish you have to taste on your trip to Melaka, it's satay celup. A fun communal dish best enjoyed with your loved ones, satay celup comprises of skewers of raw meat and veggies that are cooked 'steamboat' style by dipping into a pot of thick, sweet, and spicy peanut sauce.
Your best bet to get the best tasting version of this unique dish is at popular Capitol Satay Celup that's been open since the 1950s!
Address: Restoran Capitol Satay, 41, Lorong Bukit Cina, Bandar Hilir, 75100 Melaka
Opening hours:
4pm - 1am (Monday - Saturday)
5pm - 12am (Sunday)
*Kacang Pool @ Restoran Kacang Pool Haji, Johor
Kacang Pool
Popular in the southern state of Johor, Kacang Pool is a humble savoury dish made from faul beans that are stewed in a rich brown sauce of traditional herb and spices. An Asian equivalent of the all-American chilli, this hearty meal is served with green lime, sliced chillies, chopped onions and topped with a sunny side up egg. (Break the yolk and mix it in the gravy for added yumminess!)
Johoreans enjoy this stew with a couple of slices of thick white toasted bread. A perfect neutral flavoured vessel to soak up all the deliciousness in the bowl!
Address: Restoran Kacang Pool Haji, Jalan Sabar, Taman Dato Onn, 80350 Johor Bahru, Johor
Opening hours: 7am - 11pm (daily)
*Gulai Tempoyak Ikan Patin @ Patin Pak Usop, Pahang
Gulai Tempoyak Ikan Patin
A state that is popular for its big and succulent ikan patin from the Pahang river, complete your Pahang trip with a taste of this fragrant golden-yellow broth. Made from fermented durian (tempoyak), this fishy gravy gets its fragrance from being simmered with aromatics such as galangal root, fresh turmeric, garlic, ginger, and local herbs and spices.
It's best enjoyed with a steaming bowl of white rice, freshly plucked ulam leaves and a telur dadar !
Address: Patin Pak Usop, B-12 Gerai MPT, Lurah Semantan, Taman Kenangan, 28000 Temerloh, Pahang
Opening hours: 12pm - 6pm (closed every Sunday)
*Satar Ikan @ Warung Aziz Satar, Terengganu
Satar Ikan
A state known for their fresh seafood, you should definitely try out this traditional fish street snack when you're in Terengganu. Satar is made by pounding fish, coconut flesh with herbs and spices, wrapping it in banana leaf before barbequing it over a charcoal fire to get that smoky flavour.
You can get this fishy snack at Warung Aziz Satar that's also known to serve many other delicious traditional Malaysian delicacies such as pais ikan bakar, keropok sotong, keropok lekor, and more.
Address: Warung Aziz Satar, Kampung Geliga Cik Akob, 24000 Chukai, Terengganu
Opening hours: 9am - 7pm (daily)
*Nasi Tumpang @ Kopitiam Kita, Kelantan
Nasi Tumpang
A meal that's originally made to give convenience to farmers, but is now enjoyed by the masses, nasi tumpang is the most unique and attractive looking dish on this list.
This traditional Kelantanese delicacy is made of compressed rice that's layered a variety of savoury condiments such as sambal, meat floss, meat curries, and eggs. It is then wrapped into a conical shape with banana leaves. This is to preserve the freshness of the dish as well as to let rice marinade with the flavours of the curries.
Address: Kopitiam Kita, Jalan Sri Cemerlang, Taman Desa Jasa, 15400 Kota Bharu, Kelantan
Opening hours: 6am - 2pm, 7pm -12am (daily)
*Hinava @ Punya Sadap, Sabah
Hivana
Similar to the Hawaiian Poke salad, hinava is salad made with raw seafood like mackerel (ikan tenggiri), prawns, or squid. It is then tossed in a refreshing mix of chilli, sliced ginger, diced red onions, grated Bambangan seed, and given a squeeze of lime juice for that kick of citric freshness.
This special Kadazan-Dusun dish is equally delicious to have it on its own or enjoy it with a plate of white rice.
Address: Punya Sadap, No 4a, Jalan Centre Point, Lorong Api Api Centre
Kota Kinabalu (Between Promenade Hotel and Wawasan Plaza)
Opening hours: 5pm - 11pm (daily)
*Manok Pansoh @ My Village Barok, Sarawak
Manok Pansoh
This special Iban delicacy is made by stuffing chunks of chicken, lemongrass, tapioca leaves into a hollowed out bamboo shoot, before cooking it over an open charcoal fire.
Sealing in the flavour and fragrant juices inside, you'll be left with the most tender and flavoursome chicken, infused with the flavours of the aromatics and the bamboo itself.
Address: My Village Barok, 7, Jalan Brooke, Kampung Boyan, 93050 Kuching, Sarawak
Opening hours: 4.30am - 11.30pm (daily)
We are so totally spoilt for choice when it comes to glorious food throughout the country! And now there's something brand new and special just for Malaysians...