List of Malaysian dishes

This is a list of dishes found in Malaysian cuisine. Most dishes found in Malaysia are influenced by the cuisines of Indonesia and Singapore due to geographical proximities.

Staple foods
Name Image Origin/Popularity Type Description
Ambuyat
Sarawak, Sabah and Labuan (Popular in Brunei) Traditional food Replacement of rice. A staple food of the indigenous people of Sabah and Sarawak including Lundayeh/Lun Bawang.
Bee Hoon Nationwide Rice noodles A thin form of rice noodles (rice vermicelli).
Pulut Nationwide Rice dumpling or rice cake It is made from sticky rice.
Ketupat Nationwide Rice dumpling or rice cake It is made from rice packed inside a diamond-shaped container of woven palm leaf pouch.
Kway teow Nationwide Rice noodles A type of noodle made from rice with sprawl-shaped.
Lemang Malay, Minangkabau and Orang Asli Rice dish A traditional Malay food made of glutinous rice, coconut milk and salt, cooked in a hollowed bamboo stick lined with banana leaves in order to prevent the rice from sticking to the bamboo.
Mi Nationwide Noodles Food made from unleavened dough which is rolled flat and cut, stretched or extruded, into long strips or strings.
Nasi putih Nationwide Steamed rice Steamed rice as a staple food.

Main dishes
Name Image Region Type Description
Ayam bakar Nationwide Grilled chicken Charcoal-grilled spiced chicken from Indonesia
Ayam goreng Nationwide Fried chicken Spiced chicken fried in coconut oil from Indonesia
Ayam kecap Southern Peninsular Chicken Chicken simmered or braised in sweet soy sauce from Indonesia
Ayam percik East Coast Peninsular Grilled chicken Grilled chicken with a spicy, curry-like sauce from Indonesia
Ayam tandori Nationwide Roasted chicken Roasted chicken marinated in yoghurt and spices in a tandoor. Indian-influenced.
Asam pedas fish — Malacca Dish —
Bean Sprouts Chicken
Ipoh, Perak Dish Served with light soya sauce flavoured with oil.
Chai tow kway
Nationwide, also a Singaporean dish Common dish
(Dim sum)		 A variety of dim sum.
Curry — Nationwide Dish Derived from Indian cuisine.
Fish ball
Nationwide, also a Singaporean dish and among Chinese communities elsewhere Common food Small balls that were made from fish.
Gulai
Nationwide Curry Meat cooked in a thick, rich and spicy curry sauce.
Ikan Bakar
Nationwide
(Popular in Peninsular Malaysia)		 Seafood dishes Usually eaten with sambal or shrimp paste, from Indonesia
Ikan goreng Nationwide Fried fish Spiced fish/seafood deep-fried in coconut oil, from Indonesia
Kari ayam Nationwide Curry dish A type of curry dish cooked using chicken and spices, Indian-influenced.
Kari kambing Peninsular Malaysia Curry dish A type of curry dish cooked using lamb or mutton.
Begedil Southern Peninsular Fried dish Derived from Javanese cuisine of Indonesia. Made of ground potatoes, minced meat, peeled and ground corn or tofu, or minced fish. Most common perkedel are made from mashed potatoes.
Rendang Nationwide Meat dish Chunks of beef stewed in coconut milk and spicy thick curry gravy from Indonesia
Telur pindang Southern Peninsular Egg dish Hardboiled eggs boiled in water mixed with salt, shallot skins, teak leaf and other spices.
Tempoyak ikan patin Northern and East Coast of Peninsular Fish curry Catfish served in sweet and spicy fermented durian curry.
Otak-otak
Nationwide; More commonly eaten in Singapore and Riau, popular in Muar, Johor Cake type made from fish meat and spices Traditionally served steamed, wrapped inside a banana leaf or grilled in coconut leaves from
Oyster omelette
Asia
 Seafood dish The dish consists of an omelette with a filling primarily composed of small oysters.
Sata
Terengganu Traditional dish Consisting of spiced fish meat wrapped in banana leaves and cooked on a grill.
Satay
Nationwide Dish Can be found throughout all the states of Malaysia in restaurants and on the street, as well as in most of Southeast Asia
Satay celup Malacca, Penang Dish Popular in Malacca and Penang.

Soups
Name Image Region Type Description
Sup Kambing
Nationwide Soup Can be found all over Malaysia.
Yong tau foo
Nationwide Soup A type of Chinese soup dish.
Ayam pansuh Sarawak Soup A chicken soup cooked in bamboo along with seasonings. A dish popular in Sarawak, Malaysia.
Bak kut teh
Klang, Selangor, also a Singaporean dish with that has its own unique preparations Soup A soup that consists of meaty pork ribs in a complex broth of herbs and spices, boiled together with pork bones for hours.

Breads
Name Image Region Type Description
Apam Nationwide Pancake A steamed dough made of rice flour, coconut milk, yeast and palm sugar, usually served with grated coconut.
Chapathi
Peninsular Flatbread A thin, unleavened flat bread originated from India, brought by the immigrants to the country early in the 19th century. Usually served with beef or mutton curry.
Dosai
Peninsular Fermented Crepe or Pancake Derived from Tamil Indian cuisine.
Murtabak
Nationwide Pancake Derived from Middle East and also from Indian cuisine.
Naan Nationwide Flatbread A leavened, oven-baked flatbread. It is usually eaten with an array of sauces such as chutney and curries.
Ramly Burger
Nationwide Hamburger Can be found all over Malaysia but mainly in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.
Roti canai
Nationwide, also a Singaporean dish known as Roti prata Flatbread Derived from Indian cuisine.
Roti Jala Nationwide Pancakes Served with curry.
Roti John
Nationwide Sandwich A popular hybrid sandwich created at a Singapore hawker stall but it is now also popular in Malaysia and Indonesia.

Salads
Name Image Region Type Description
Acar
Nationwide Condiment and Salad A type of a Pickling that can be found in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Kinilaw Sabah Salad A cooking process that relies on vinegar to denature the ingredients, similar to ceviche. Usually used to prepare raw seafood. It can also be used to prepare lightly cooked meat or vegetables.
Pasembur
Penang Salad A type of Indian salad.
Popiah
Nationwide Spring roll Can be found on street vendors around Malaysia.
Rojak
Peninsular Salad A traditional fruit and vegetable salad dish from Indonesia now commonly found in Malaysia and Singapore.
Ulam (salad)
Nationwide Salad Can be eaten simply as it is, or with cucumber, cabbage and eggplant.
Yee Sang
Nationwide, from Singapore Salad Consumed during Chinese New Year.

Noodle dishes
Name Image Region Type Description
Pan Mee
Nationwide Noodle dish Derived from Hakka cuisine.
Char kway teow
Nationwide, also a Singaporean dish Noodle dish A popular noodle dish in Malaysia and Singapore that is made from flat rice noodles.
Curry Mee
Nationwide, also a Singaporean dish Noodle dish Usually made up of thin yellow egg noodles or/and string thin mee-hoon (rice vermicelli) with spicy curry soup, chilli/sambal, coconut milk, and a choice of dried tofu, prawns, cuttlefish, chicken, egg and mint leaves.
Duck soup noodles — Penang, Malaysia Noodle soup Consists of ingredients such as duck meat in hot soup with mixed herbs and slim white noodles known as mee-sua.
Hokkien mee
Nationwide, also a Singaporean dish with its own variation Fried noodles Served in many Southeast Asian countries (mostly Malaysia and Singapore) and was brought there by immigrants from the Fujian in southeastern China.
Laksa
Penang, Perlis, Kedah, (Ipoh and Kuala Kangsar in Perak), Johor, Sarawak and Kelantan Noodle soup The famous one is the Penang laksa. Laksa has many different varieties in different Southeast Asian countries.
Laksa Sarawak Sarawak Noodle soup A very popular dish in Sarawak, Malaysia.
Lor mee
Nationwide
(Also a Singaporean dish)		 Noodle dish One of Chinese-inspired noodle dish.
Maggi goreng
Malaysia Instant noodles A type of instant noodles that are popular in Malaysia.
Mee Bandung Muar
Muar, Johor Noodle dish Traditional noodle cuisine from Muar.
Mee goreng
Nationwide Noodle dish Derived from Chinese cuisine.
Mee hailam — — — —
Mee Kolok Kuching, Sarawak Noodle dish A type of noodles popular in Kuching, Sarawak.
Mee pok
Nationwide, also a Singaporean dish Noodle dish A type of Chinese noodle.
Mee rebus
Malaysia
(Also a Singaporean dish)		 Boiled noodle dish A popular noodle dish in Malaysia and Singapore.
Mee siam Peninsular Malaysia
(Also a Singaporean dish)		 Siamese noodle A type of dish of thin rice noodles.
Mee sup — — — —
Mihun sup — — — —
Soto
Nationwide Traditional noodle soup dish One of the popular noodle dish both in Indonesia where it originated and Malaysia.
Wonton noodles
Nationwide, also a Singaporean dish Noodle dish Derived from Cantonese cuisine.

Rice dishes
Name Image Region Type Description
Banana Leaf Rice
Peninsular Malaysia Rice dish Derived from Indian cuisine.
Briyani Peninsular Malaysia Rice dish Derived from Indian cuisine, also there is a famous local version in Batu Pahat, Johor.
Bubur Ashura Peninsular Malaysia Porridge Type of porridge made from grains.
Bubur Pedas Sarawak Porridge Type of porridge made from finely ground sauteed rice and grated coconut. It is popular during Ramadan.
Claypot Chicken Rice
Nationwide Rice dish Usually served with Chinese sausage.
Hainanese Chicken Rice
Nationwide, a Singaporean dish Rice dish Derived by Hainanese immigrants in Singapore.
Nasi Ambeng Selangor, Johor Rice dish A popular west coast Malaysian Javanese dish, eaten during special occasions.
Economy Rice Nationwide Rice dish A rice dish is eaten with a sort of protein and vegetables.
Nasi Dagang
Kelantan, Terengganu Rice dish A type of dish consisting of rice steamed in coconut milk, fish curry and extra ingredients such as fried shaved coconut, hard-boiled eggs and vegetable pickles.
Nasi Goreng
Nationwide Rice dish A type of dish popular in Indonesia and Malaysia.
Nasi Goreng Pattaya
Peninsular Malaysia Rice dish A Malaysian dish made by covering or wrapping chicken fried rice, in fried egg. It is often served with chili sauce and cucumber. The name comes from Pattaya, Thailand.
Nasi Hujan Panas East Coast Peninsular Rice dish A rainbow rice dish is eaten with a sort of protein and vegetables.
Nasi Itik Nationwide Rice dish Made of either braised or roasted duck and plain white rice.
Nasi Kandar
Penang Rice dish A popular northern Malaysian dish, which originates from Penang.
Nasi Kebuli Pahang Rice dish Steamed rice dish cooked in goat broth, milk, and ghee. Usually served during Mawlid.
Nasi kerabu
Kelantan, Terengganu Rice dish A type of nasi ulam, in which blue-colored rice is eaten with dried fish or fried chicken, crackers, pickles and other salads.
Nasi Kuning Nationwide Rice dish A popular Malaysian dish usually served during special occasions.
Nasi Lemak
Nationwide Rice dish A fragrant rice dish cooked in coconut milk and "pandan" leaf commonly found in Malaysia, where it is considered the national dish of Malaysia.[1]
Nasi Minyak Terengganu Rice dish A popular east coast Malaysian dish usually served during weddings.
Nasi Paprik — — Rice dish —
Nasi Tomato West Coast Peninsular Rice dish A popular west coast Malaysian dish, usually eaten with Ayam Masak Merah.
Nasi Tumpang Kelantan Rice dish A popular east coast Malaysian dish, which originates from Kelantan.
Nasi Ulam
Kelantan Rice dish A steamed rice dish mixed with various herbs, vegetables, and spices and accompanied by various side dishes

Snacks
Name Image Region Type Description
Keropok (Crackers) Nationwide, particularly coastal towns such as Malacca, Pulau Pangkor and Lumut. From Indonesia. Snack A popular snack in Malaysia, particularly served at homes of many during festive celebration. It can be found in many groceries stores and supermarkets, examples of popular household brands in Malaysia are Rota Prawn Crackers and myReal Pulau Pangkor Prawn Crackers.[2] One of the most popular type of prawn cracker in Malaysia are the Keropok Udang Geragau Melaka.
Jemput-jemput
(Cokodok, Cucur)		 Malaysia Fritter type snack A traditional Malaysian fritter snack that is made from flour and can be choose either from banana, anchovies, prawns, onion or maize for flavours) or also can be made with only using flour.
Curry puff
Nationwide, a general Southeast Asian dish Snack A type of snack or kuih. Usually filled with chicken and potato with a dried curry inside.
Rempeyek Selangor and Johor Snack A deep-fried savoury Javanese cracker, made from flour with other ingredients, bound or coated by crispy flour batter.
Mee Siput Muar
Muar, Johor Snack Cracker A deep-fried circular-shaped-dried-noodles snack, made from flour with other ingredients, eaten with Sambal.
Keropok lekor
Terengganu Snack A keropok that is made from fish.
Pisang goreng
Nationwide Snack Deep-fried banana dipped in flour.
Akok (food) Popular in Kelantan state Snack Tradisional Kelantanese dessert snack made from egg, flour, brown sugar.

Preserved meat
Name Image Region Type Description
Bakkwa — Nationwide Dried meat —
Belutak — Brunei and Sarawak Fermeted meat A sausage made from meat.
Char siu
Nationwide Pork meat A type of roasted meat.
Chinese sausage
Nationwide Pork meat A sausage made from pork.
Pekasam — Northern Malaysia and Sarawak Fermeted meat A freshwater fish that fermented until it tastes sour, then seasoned with chili and sugar.
Serunding Peninsular Malaysia Sprinkle dry condiments Grated coconut sauteed and spiced, eaten with any traditional staple food.
Sinalau Bakas — Sabah Smoked wild boar

Desserts
Name Image Region Type Description
Ais kacang
Nationwide Dessert A Singaporean-originated dessert that is also known as air batu campur or ABC in Malaysia.
Agar Agar Nationwide Dessert Puddings flavoured jellies like almond tofu, as well as fruit aspics.
Cendol
Nationwide
(Popular in Indonesia)		 Dessert Can be found on street vendors during Ramadan.
Dodol — Nationwide
(Popular in Indonesia)		 Confectionery Served during the Muslim Aidilfitri (Eid al-Fitr).
Bubur kacang hijau
(Green bean porridge)
Nationwide Dessert A type of porridge made from Mung bean.
Bubur pulut hitam Nationwide Dessert A type of porridge made from black glutinious rice.
Bubur cha cha Penang, Melaka Dessert A type of porridge.
Mango sticky rice Nationwide Dessert Mango eaten with glutinious rice.
Durian sticky rice Nationwide Dessert Durian eaten with glutinious rice.
Roti tissue
Malaysia Dessert Available at most local Mamak stalls in Malaysia and Singapore.
Puding Diraja Pekan, Pahang Dessert Pudding is garnished with jala emas, and served with a cold sauce made from milk and cornflour.
Putu mayam
Peninsular Malaysia Dish Derived from Tamil Indian cuisine.
Tapai Nationwide Dessert A popular dessert at Malay homes throughout Peninsular Malaysia during Hari Raya, made from fermented glutinous rice or tapioca.

Spreads
Name Image Region Type Description
Kacang Coklat Nationwide Spreads Usually eat with a toast.
Kaya
Nationwide Spread Usually eat with a toast.

Condiments and sauces
Name Image Region Type Description
Belacan
Nationwide Condiment Used in many dishes as an indgredient.
Budu
Kelantan and Terengganu Condiment Traditionally made by mixing anchovy and salt in the range of the ratio of 2:1 to 6:1 and allow to ferment for 140 to 200 days. It is used as a flavoring and is normally taken with fish, rice, and raw vegetables.
Cincalok
Malacca Condiment Fermented small shrimps or krill.
Kerisik Malay Sprinkle dry condiments A condiment made from roasted coconut meat. This condiment usually used in Malay cuisine, such as rendang and kerabu.
Sambal Nationwide Condiment Variety of sambal, usually eaten with a meal of rice or other dishes.
Sos Tiram Nationwide Sauce A black colored Oyster sauce.
Tempoyak Nationwide Condiment Usually eaten with a meal of rice.
Tuhau Sabah Condiment A plant from the genus Etlingera. Usually eaten raw after mixed with chili, vinegar, and salt. Also fried.

Cakes and pastries
Name Image Region Type Description
Batik cake
Nationwide Dessert A type of chocolate cake similar like the hedgehog slice made using Marie biscuit.
Kek Lapis Sarawak Sarawak Dessert A spiced layered cake, made mainly of egg yolk, flour and margarine/butter.
Pandan Cake Southern Peninsular Dessert A light, fluffy, green-colored sponge cake flavored with the juices of pandan leaves.
Bahulu West Coast Peninsular Dessert A Malay traditional cake with soft texture. Usually served for breakfast.
Malay sponge cake Peninsular Malaysia Dessert A Malay traditional cake with soft texture, very popular in Hong Kong.

Drinks
Name Image Region Type Description
Bandung
Southern Malaysia
(From Singapore, as a result is more popular in Johor and during Ramadan)		 Beverage A Malay Singaporean beverage consisting of milk flavoured with rose cordial syrup, giving a pink colour.
Ipoh white coffee
Ipoh, Perak Beverage A popular white coffee in Perak.
Janda pulang Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia Beverage A beverage consists of water, Coconut contents and palm sugar.
Coconut water Nationwide (Popular in most of the tropical world) Coconut water Coconut water. The water inside a coconut.
Susu Kacang Soya
Nationwide Beverage
Teh See — Nationwide Beverage Derived from Chinese cuisine.
Teh halia
Nationwide Beverage A tea mixed with ginger.
Teh krisantimum
Nationwide Beverage
Teh tarik
Malaysia
(Also a Singaporean drink)		 Beverage Made from black tea mix with condensed milk or evaporated milk.
Teh C Peng Special Nationwide
(Popular in Sabah and Sarawak in East Malaysia)		 Beverage A unique combination of brown sugar, evaporated milk and red tea which is a local speciality at café's and coffee shops originating from Kuching, Sarawak.
Tenom coffee
Tenom, Sabah Beverage A popular Robusta coffee variety in Sabah.
Tuak Nationwide
(Popular in Sabah and Sarawak in East Malaysia)		 Alcoholic beverage A type of alcoholic drink.

See also

References
  1. "Nasi Lemak". Malaysia.com. Archived from the original on 27 July 2010. Retrieved 6 July 2010.
  2. "myReal Pulau Pangkor Prawn Crackers by Lumut Cracker Sdn. Bhd". Lumutcrackers.com.my. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
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