The best Malaysian dishes
The top 3 according to 264 votes from people: Nasi lemak · Char kway teow · Penang asam laksa. (Updated Aug 26, 2024.)
The Malay, Chinese and Indian dishes that make Malaysia a food paradise, chosen from what every Malaysian food guide puts on the must-eat list.
Top 12
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1
Nasi lemak
Coconut-pandan rice with sambal, fried anchovies, peanuts, egg and cucumber; the national dish.
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2
Char kway teow
Flat rice noodles wok-fried with cockles, Chinese sausage, prawns and egg; Penang's is the best.
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3
Penang asam laksa
Sour mackerel and tamarind noodle soup with mint and pineapple.
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4
Curry laksa
Coconut curry noodle soup with tofu puffs and cockles.
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5
Nasi kandar
Rice with mixed curries poured over, from Penang's Indian Muslims.
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6
Cendol
Shaved ice with green rice-flour jelly, coconut milk and gula melaka.
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7
Satay
Grilled marinated skewers with peanut sauce, Kajang's are famous.
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8
Hainanese chicken rice
Poached chicken over rice cooked in chicken stock.
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9
Rendang
Slow-cooked spiced beef in coconut, served at Hari Raya.
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10
Teh tarik
'Pulled' sweet milk tea, the national drink.
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11
Roti canai
Flaky flatbread with dhal or curry, the mamak stall staple.
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12
Mee goreng mamak
Spicy fried yellow noodles from Indian-Muslim stalls.
Candidates
They don't make it into the top 12… yet. Vote for them to move them up.
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13
Bak kut teh
Herbal pork rib soup from Klang.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
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Comments (2)
Penang asam laksa is a flavour bomb, sour and spicy.
Nasi lemak at #1, the national breakfast. With sambal, ikan bilis and a boiled egg.