Malaysian food - 15 classic dishes you must try

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: April 2026 | What kind of food is there in Malaysia? The country's cuisine is a mix of Malay, Chinese and Indian influences – and it shows in the colorful flavors. We tell you about 15 Malaysian dishes – everything from nasi lemak to satay and laksa.

What to eat in Malaysia? - a quick overview

Malaysia is a food paradise. There are flavoursome curries, coconut-based sauces, spicy street food dishes and mouth-watering sweets. Some typical examples of Malaysian food:

• Nasi lemak: The country's national dish, rice cooked in coconut milk, served with sambal, peanuts and eggs
• Street food: Satay, roti canai, char kway teow
• Breakfast: Nasi lemak, roti telur or kaya toast
• Accessories: Sambal, pickled vegetables, curry sauces
• Dessert: Cendol, kuih (Malaysian sweet pastries)

We travelled around the Malaysia for a few weeks, and managed to try a lot of different dishes. Among other things, we remember that it got really hot at times!

Typical Malaysian food - 15 classic dishes

Here we list Malaysian dishes that are interesting to try, including snacks, sweets and drinks.

1. Nasi lemak

This is Malaysia's pride and national dish! Coconut milk rice is served with sambal, peanuts, fried egg, anchovies and sometimes chicken or beef. Perfect for both breakfast and dinner.

2 Laksa

A spicy noodle soup that comes in several varieties. The most famous is asam laksa, with fish, tamarind and rice noodles, and curry laksa, which has coconut milk and chicken or prawns.

3. rendang

A slow-cooked meat stew, often made with beef, with coconut milk and rich spices. Originally from Indonesia, but very popular in Malaysia.

4. Char kway teow

Fried rice noodles with eggs, shrimp, Chinese sausage and bean sprouts. A popular street food dish found throughout the country.

5. Nasi goreng

Malaysian fried rice, often with eggs, chicken, shrimp and soy. Variants are everywhere – some with extra hot chili, others more mild.

6. Mee goreng mamak

A spicy Indian-Malay noodle dish with soy sauce, tomato, egg, vegetables and sometimes chicken or tofu. Perfect for supper.

7. ayam percik

Grilled chicken marinated in a sweet and spicy coconut and chili paste. Common in food markets and Malay homes.

8. Fish and seafood

If you are on the coast of Malaysia, you can expect to find seafood. The cooking often includes Asian spices and flavorings.

9. Satay

Marinated skewers with peanut sauce – a classic in every Malaysian market. Can be chicken, beef or lamb.

10. roti canai

Fluffy, thin bread often served with dhal (lentil stew) or curry. Perfect for breakfast or a snack.

11. Keropok lekor

Deep-fried fish cakes from East Malaysia, often served with a hot chili sauce. Perfect as a snack.

12. Pajamas

A popular dessert in Malaysia, it usually consists of crème caramel served with vanilla ice cream. The dessert is often complemented with fresh fruit such as mango and banana.

13. cendol

A classic dessert with green rice noodles, coconut milk, palm and cane sugar and ice. Refreshing in the tropical climate.

14. Kuih

Small Malaysian pastries, often made with rice, coconut and palm or cane sugar. Perfect for afternoon tea.

15. Teh tarik

Malaysia's national drink – sweet, strong tea with condensed milk, "stirred" to get foam on top.

Restaurant and street food in Malaysia

During our travels around Malaysia, street food was often the highlight. Here it is served:

• Nasi lemak and other rice dishes
• Fried noodles and soups
• Grilled meat and seafood
• Small snacks like satay
• Sweet desserts and drinks

International cuisine is also available in larger cities, but it's always worth trying the local.

More about food in other countries

Here you can find more stories about food in different countries:

• Indian food - 25 Indian dishes
• Filipino food - 15 Filipino specialities
• Chinese food - 20 Chinese dishes
• Thai food – 20 classic dishes
• Vietnamese food - 20 dishes in Vietnam