Malaysia Local Food

Local Food

Malaysia's multiculturalism has resulted in a paradise for lovers of good food. With traditional Malay cuisine and all of its regional specialities, and the almost endless variations brought about by the fusion of Malay, Indian and Chinese cuisine, one could spend many a day sampling different delicacies and still only scratch the surface of what is on offer. Probably best know aspect of Malaysian cuisine are the Malaysian curries, including Rendang dry curries (spicy rather than hot), the slightly spicy peanut-based BBQ skewers of meat known as Satay, and Sambal - the chilli-based condiment sauces.

The Chinese food found in Malaysia is generally similar to that found in southern China, but often with some interesting tropical variations, whilst Indian food with its local variations has become firmly established as a popular aspect of the Malaysian food culture. Food stalls abound in Malaysia and many different offerings can be found at very reasonable prices. Although standards of hygiene are often better than many other Asian countries, care should be taken. As a general rule, if you see a lot of locals buying from a particular stall, it’s more than likely that the food is safe to eat.

Another option is to sample some of the large range of offerings to be found at the food courts of shopping malls; just slightly more expensive than hawker stalls but with the added bonus of air conditioning. In addition to the stunning array of local foods, those with less adventurous tastes will find a liberal sprinkling of all of the usual American style fast foods such as KFC, McDonalds and Pizza Hut, as well as their local imitations.

Common drinks to be found in Malaysia include coffee and tea served sweet with condensed milk. Another popular soft drink is called “limau” - Milo mixed with lime juice. Another quirky local favorite is “kopi tongkat ali ginseng”. Known as the local alternative to Viagra and Red Bull, it’s made from coffee. a local aphrodisiac root, ginseng and condensed milk. Fresh fruit juices are also plentiful.

Despite Malaysia being a Islamic country, alcohol is widely available in many states, although it generally tends to be expensive.