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List of Malaysian dishes facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

This is a list of dishes found in Malaysian cuisine.

Staple foods

Name Image Origin/Popularity Type Description
Ambuyat
Ambuyat in Bandar Seri Begawan Brunei.jpg
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 Rice vermicelli.jpg Nationwide Rice noodles A thin form of rice noodles (rice vermicelli).
Pulut Uli.jpg Nationwide Rice dumpling or rice cake It is made from sticky rice.
Ketupat Ketupat2.jpg Nationwide Rice dumpling or rice cake It is made from rice packed inside a diamond-shaped container of woven palm leaf pouch.
Kway teow Kwetiau basah raw kwetiau.jpg Nationwide Rice noodles A type of noodle made from rice with sprawl-shaped.
Lemang Piece of Lemang.jpg 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 Mama instant noodle block.jpg Nationwide Noodles Food made from unleavened dough which is rolled flat and cut, stretched or extruded, into long strips or strings.
Nasi putih Nasi putih in Indonesia.JPG Nationwide Steamed rice Steamed rice as a staple food.

Main dishes

Name Image Region Type Description
Ayam bakar Set menu Ayam Bakar Tempe Tahu.jpg Nationwide Grilled chicken Charcoal-grilled spiced chicken.
Ayam goreng Ayam goreng in Jakarta.JPG Nationwide Fried chicken Spiced chicken fried in coconut oil.
Ayam kecap Ayam Kecap 2.jpg Southern Peninsular Chicken Chicken simmered or braised in sweet soy sauce.
Ayam percik Ayam Golek.jpg East Coast Peninsular Grilled chicken Grilled chicken with a spicy, curry-like sauce.
Ayam tandori Tandoori.JPG Nationwide Roasted chicken Roasted chicken marinated in yoghurt and spices in a tandoor.
Asam pedas fish Malacca Dish
Bean Sprouts Chicken
BeanSproutsChicken.jpg
Ipoh, Perak Dish Served with light soya sauce flavoured with oil.
Chai tow kway
Chai tow kway.jpg
Nationwide Common dish
(Dim sum)
A variety of dim sum.
Chilli crab Peninsular Malaysia
Seafood dish Derived from Chinese cuisine.
Curry Nationwide Dish Derived from Indian cuisine.
Fish ball
Fishball closeup.jpg
Nationwide Common food Small balls that were made from fish.
Gulai
Gulai ayam.JPG
Nationwide Curry Meat cooked in a thick, rich and spicy curry sauce.
Ikan Bakar
Ikan bakar.jpg
Nationwide
(Popular in Peninsular Malaysia)
Seafood dishes Usually eaten with sambal or shrimp paste.
Ikan goreng Goreng ikan merah Palopo.JPG Nationwide Fried fish Spiced fish/seafood deep-fried in coconut oil
Kari ayam Indian Curry Chicken.jpg Nationwide Curry dish A type of curry dish cooked using chicken and spices.
Kari kambing Curry Goat and Rice.jpg Peninsular Malaysia Curry dish A type of curry dish cooked using lamb or mutton.
Kari kepala ikan Fisheadcurry.JPG West Coast Peninsular Curry dish A type of curry dish cooked using head of a red snapper, influenced by Indian and Peranakan cuisine.
Begedil Perkedel kentang.JPG 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 Lamb rendang.jpg Nationwide Meat dish Chunks of beef stewed in coconut milk and spicy thick curry gravy.
Telur pindang Telur pindang.JPG Southern Peninsular Egg dish Hardboiled eggs boiled in water mixed with salt, shallot skins, teak leaf and other spices.
Tempoyak ikan patin Tempoyak Ikan Patin 5.JPG Northern and East Coast of Peninsular Fish curry Catfish served in sweet and spicy fermented durian curry.
Otak-otak
YosriOtakOtak.jpg
Nationwide; 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.
Oyster omelette
Oyster omelette - Singapore style.JPG
Asia
Seafood dish The dish consists of an omelette with a filling primarily composed of small oysters.
Sata
Sata.jpg
Terengganu Traditional dish Consisting of spiced fish meat wrapped in banana leaves and cooked on a grill.
Satay
Satay hawker.jpg
Nationwide Dish Can be found throughout all the states of Malaysia in restaurants and on the street.
Satay celup Malacca, Penang Dish Popular in Malacca and Penang.

Soups

Name Image Region Type Description
Sop Ekor Peninsular Meat Soup
Sup Kambing
Sup Kambing Stall 001.jpg
Nationwide Soup Can be found all over Malaysia.
Sayur Lodeh Sayur lodeh.JPG Selangor and Johor Soup Vegetable soup prepared in coconut milk
Yong tau foo
Yong tau foo sweet.jpg
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
Bak kut teh zz.jpg
Klang, Selangor 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 Kue apem Pasar Terapung Lok Baintan.jpg Nationwide Pancake A steamed dough made of rice flour, coconut milk, yeast and palm sugar, usually served with grated coconut.
Chapathi
Chapati2.JPG
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
Tosai - Mega Curry House MYR1.30.jpg
Peninsular Fermented Crepe or Pancake Derived from Tamil Indian cuisine.
Kaya toast Kaya Toast with Coffee.jpg Nationwide Toast Kaya toast is prepared with kaya (coconut jam).
Murtabak
MURTABAK 1 0031.jpg
Nationwide Pancake Derived from Middle East and also from Indian cuisine.
Naan Naan shiva.jpg Nationwide Flatbread A leavened, oven-baked flatbread. It is usually eaten with an array of sauces such as chutney and curries.
Ramly Burger
RamlyBeefBurger.jpg
Nationwide Hamburger Can be found all over Malaysia but mainly in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur
Roti canai
Canaimaking.jpg
Nationwide Flatbread Derived from Indian cuisine.
Roti Jala Nationwide Pancakes Served with curry.One of the famous food in Malaysia.
Roti John
Roti John - served.jpg
Nationwide Sandwich A popular Malay sandwich in Malaysia and Singapore.

Salads

Name Image Region Type Description
Acar
Acar-Singapore Chom Chom.jpg
Nationwide Condiment and Salad A type of a Pickling that can be found in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Kinilaw Fish kinilaw.JPG 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
Pasembur.jpg
Penang Salad A type of Indian salad.
Popiah
YosriPopiaGoreng.jpg
Nationwide Spring roll Can be found on street vendors around Malaysia.
Rojak
Mamak rojak.jpg
Peninsular Salad A traditional fruit and vegetable salad dish commonly found in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.
Ulam (salad)
Raw vegetables for ulam - West-bound Temerloh Rest Stop.jpg
Nationwide Salad Can be eaten simply as it is, or with cucumber, cabbage and eggplant.
Urap Southern Peninsular Salad dish A salad dish of steamed vegetables mixed with seasoned and spiced grated coconut for dressing.
Yusheng/Yee Sang
Yeesang.JPG
Nationwide Salad Consumed during Chinese New Year.

Noodle dishes

Name Image Region Type Description
Pan Mee
Ban mian.jpg
Nationwide Noodle dish Derived from Hakka cuisine.
Char kway teow
Char kway teow.jpg
Nationwide Noodle dish A popular noodle dish in Malaysia and Singapore that is made from flat rice noodles.
Curry Mee
Malaysian noodles-Curry Mee-01.jpg
Malaysia 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
Newton HokkienMee.JPG
Nationwide 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 laksa.jpg
Penang, Perlis, Kedah, (Ipoh and Kuala Kangsar in Perak), Johor, Sarawak and Kelantan Noodle soup The famous one is the Penang laksa.
Laksa Sarawak Sarawak Noodle soup A very popular dish in Sarawak, Malaysia.
Lor mee
Lor mee zz.jpg
Nationwide
(Popular in Singapore)
Noodle dish One of Chinese-inspired noodle dish.
Maggi goreng
Maggi Goreng.jpg
Malaysia Instant noodles A type of instant noodles that are popular in Malaysia.
Mee Bandung Muar
Mee Bandung Muar.jpg
Muar, Johor Noodle dish Traditional noodle cuisine from Muar.
Mee goreng
Mi goreng.JPG
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
Bakchormee.JPG
Nationwide Noodle dish A type of Chinese noodle.
Mee rebus
Mee rebus.JPG
Malaysia
(Popular in Singapore)
Boiled noodle dish A popular noodle dish in Malaysia and Singapore.
Mee siam Peninsular Malaysia
(Popular in Singapore)
Siamese noodle A type of dish of thin rice noodles.
Mee sup
Mihun sup
Soto
MeeSoto.JPG
Nationwide Traditional noodle soup dish One of the popular noodle dish both in Indonesia and Malaysia.
Wonton noodles
WantonMee.JPG
Nationwide Noodle dish Derived from Cantonese cuisine.

Rice dishes

Name Image Region Type Description
Banana Leaf Rice
Bananaleafrice001.jpg
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 YosriBuburAsyura.jpg Peninsular Malaysia Porridge Type of porridge made from grains.
Bubur Ayam Bubur ayam chicken porridge.JPG Nationwide Porridge Rice porridge
Bubur Pedas Bubur 100618-4100 sbs.jpg Sarawak Porridge Type of porridge made from finely ground sauteed rice and grated coconut. It is popular during Ramadan.
Claypot Chicken Rice
Claypot rice xx.JPG
Nationwide Rice dish Usually served with Chinese sausage.
Hainanese Chicken Rice
Hainanese Chicken Rice.jpg
Nationwide Rice dish Derived by Hainanese immigrants.
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
Mak ngah nasi dagang.jpg
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
Kota Kinabalu food market.jpg
Nationwide Rice dish A type of dish popular in Indonesia and Malaysia.
Nasi Goreng Pattaya
Nasi goreng pattaya.png
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
NasiKandar.jpg
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
Nasi kerabu.jpg
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
Nasi lemak 01a.jpg
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.
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
Nasi Ulam Betawi.jpg
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 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. One of the most popular type of prawn cracker in Malaysia are the Keropok Udang Geragau Melaka.
Kerepek (Crackers) Nationwide, particularly coastal towns such as Selangor and Johor Snack A popular snack in Malaysia, particularly served at homes of many during festive celebration. Vegan version of Keropok
Jemput-jemput
(Cokodok, Cucur)
YosriJemputBawang.jpg 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
Karipap.jpg
Nationwide Snack A type of snack or kuih. Usually filled with chicken and potato with a dried curry inside.
Amplang Sabah Snack Fish cracker snack, made from mackerel.
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
Mee Siput Muar.png
Muar, Johor Snack Cracker A deep-fried circular-shaped-dried-noodles snack, made from flour with other ingredients, eaten with Sambal.
Keropok lekor
Keropok lekor in Terengganu, Malaysia.jpg
Terengganu Snack A keropok that is made from fish.
Pisang goreng
Goreng Pisang.jpg
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
Charsiu.jpg
Nationwide Pork meat A type of roasted meat.
Chinese sausage
Chinesesausageunpackaged.jpg
Nationwide Pork meat A sausage made from pork.
Dendeng Dendeng Batokok.jpg Nationwide Meat dish A thinly sliced dried meat that is made of preserved through a mixture of spices and dried via a frying process.
Pekasam Northern Malaysia and Sarawak Fermeted meat A freshwater fish that fermented until it tastes sour, then seasoned with chili and sugar.
Serunding Serundeng Daging.jpg 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
Ais kacang.jpg
Nationwide Dessert 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
Chendol2.jpg
Nationwide
(Popular in Indonesia)
Dessert Can be found on street vendors during Ramadan.
Dadih Nationwide
(Popular in Negeri Sembilan and Terengganu)
A buffalo milk based cheese
Dodol Nationwide
(Popular in Indonesia)
Confectionery Served during the Muslim Aidilfitri (Eid al-Fitr).
Bubur kacang hijau
(Green bean porridge)
BuburKacangHijauDurian.jpg
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
RotiTissue001.jpg
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
Putumayam.jpg
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 PeanutButter.jpg Nationwide Spreads Usually eat with a toast.
Kaya
Yosrisekaya1.jpg
Nationwide Spread Usually eat with a toast.

Condiments and sauces

Name Image Region Type Description
Belacan
Shrimp.paste-Sambal.Belacan-01.jpg
Nationwide Condiment Used in many dishes as an indgredient.
Budu
YosriBuduMempelam.jpg
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
Cincalok, shallots, chilli.jpg
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.
Kicap Manis and Kicap Masin Kecap manis & kecap asin.jpg Nationwide Sauce Sweet Soy sauces and salty soy sauce
Otak Udang Petis.JPG Peninsular Malaysia Sauce A black colored shrimp paste. This condiment usually used with laksa, popiah and rojak.
Sambal Nationwide Condiment Variety of sambal, usually eaten with a meal of rice or other dishes.
Sos Tiram OysterSauce2.jpg Nationwide Sauce A black colored Oyster sauce.
Tauco West Coast Peninsular Condiment Usually cook with a source of protein.
Tempoyak Sambal Tempoyak Raw and Cooked.jpg 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
Malaysian batik cake.jpg
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
Bandung Drinks.jpg
Malaysia
(Popular in Johor and during Ramadan)
Beverage A beverage consists of milk flavoured with rose cordial syrup, giving a pink colour.
Ipoh white coffee
A glass of Ipoh iced white coffee.jpg
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 Coconut drink.jpg Nationwide Coconut water Coconut water. The water inside a coconut.
Susu Kacang Soya
Soy milk (2).jpg
Nationwide Beverage
Teh See Nationwide Beverage Derived from Chinese cuisine.
Teh halia
Teh Halia (Singapore).jpg
Nationwide Beverage A tea mixed with ginger.
Teh krisantimum
A Large Pack of Chrysanthemum tea (MY and SG).jpg
Nationwide Beverage
Teh tarik
Teh Tarik.jpg
Malaysia
(Popular in Singapore)
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
A mug of Tenom coffee.jpg
Tenom, Sabah Beverage A popular Robusta coffee variety in Sabah.
Milo Dinosaur Nationwide Beverage A popular Milo variety in Malaysia.
Tuak Nationwide
(Popular in Sabah and Sarawak in East Malaysia)
Alcoholic beverage A type of alcoholic drink.

See also

kids search engine
List of Malaysian dishes Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.