10 Must-Try Malaysia Street Food Dishes: From Nasi Lemak to Cendol

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I always feel right at home in Malaysia. Born in South Africa, i.e., “the Rainbow Nation,” I think it’s Malaysia’s melting pot of cultures from all over that makes me feel this way. 

Also, the Dutch colonized Malaysia, as well as South Africa. In Cape Town, for example, you have the Cape Malay people, and many of the local foods take influence. For example, the style of curry in Cape Town is very similar to the curry you find in Malaysia. In Malaysia, many ethnicities call this country home, including Chinese, Indian, and Indonesian. Back in the day, the Portuguese, Dutch, and British also spent time here. 

This has all influenced Malaysia’s cuisine! History lesson over, and back to the food. 

From wokked noodle dishes to desserts you may also spot in Thailand, the local street food scene is very interesting. I like to think there’s something suitable for all palettes. The best places for street food are from the vendors, food courts, walking streets, markets, and super casual, local restaurants. 

With that, here is my ultimate Malaysia street food guide!

1. Laksa 

One of my favorite things about street food from around Southeast Asia are the soups! Every country on the continent has its variations, which can be enjoyed at any time of the day or in any weather. Living in Hanoi for six years, I slurped down a bowl of pho at least twice a week. 

Back to Malaysia; the country’s most iconic soup is, without a doubt, laksa (Asam Laksa officially). This Malaysia street food favorite has its roots in Penang (in the northwest), especially among its Peranakan crowds. Hailing from Penang, you must try it here if you get the chance. But if you aren’t heading to Penang, don’t worry you can find it virtually everywhere. 

If you are visiting Penang, don’t miss our ultimate 3 day Penang itinerary.

Peranakan refers to Malaysia’s diverse community of Malaysians with a Chinese heritage.

Surrounded by the ocean, it makes sense that this street food’s core flavors are fresh and tropical, like lemongrass, pineapple, and cucumber. And the main components are seafood. Okay, so what exactly is this soup-y sensation all about? A little sweet, a little spicy, and a touch sour (but all perfectly balanced), the seafood-y broth (thanks to fish sauce and shrimp paste) is full of fish, rice noodles, along with the fruit and vegetables. Other components include mint, turmeric, tamarind, galangal (lengkuas in Malaysian), chili, shallots, and garlic. I also love to squeeze fresh lime into the soup.  

It’s worth noting that different parts of Malaysia will have different styles of laksa. One of the most unique is the more hearty Sarawak laska in Malaysian Borneo.

For the best Asam Laksa in Penang, grab yours from Penang Road Famous Laksa in Georgetown or Wan Dao Tou Assam Laksa. One of the best Nyona-style laksas we’ve had was at FatCupid, one of our favorite restaurants in Langkawi.

2. Dim sum & dim sum wonton soup 

If I could devour dim sum every day, I would. I’m like a fiend. Whenever I’m in KL, I head straight to Chinatown for my dimsum fix! My favorite place for it is from a Chinese street food vendor who sets up shop right at the start of Petaling Street (the side closest to Pudu Sentral bus station). Like, right at the start, in front of a Chinese store covered with red lanterns at its entrance. 

During my last two-day trip to Kuala Lumpur, I grabbed dim sum from here three times, including for dinner, now you can do the math. This same vendor also does an incredible wonton soup! 

About 20% of Malaysia’s population is Chinese, but in KL, approximately 40% of the population is Chinese. In my opinion, the best dim sum I’ve tried is from the capital city. 

Petaling Street is dubbed Chinatown, so obviously, this is one of the top spots for it. For the life of me, I cannot recall the vendor’s name (probably because I cannot read Chinese, so I don’t remember), but if you follow my instructions (or photos), you won’t be able to miss the Malaysia street food vendor. 

Another excellent spot for dim sum in KL is Fung Wong. 

3. Nasi lemak 

I feel like if I were walking along the street (anywhere) in Malaysia and I had to ask a local what street food is most iconic, the clear winner to my question would be nasi lemak. It is, after all, considered the country’s national dish! 

There’s not one city, town, or even island where you won’t be able to find it. Malaysia street food stalls sell it in takeaway containers, or even wrapped up in a banana leaf in the more hyper-local villages/destinations. 

Typically, nasi lemak is served on a pandan leaf, with rice in the center and the ingredients around it. A classic is accompanied by a hard-boiled egg, spicy sambal, salty peanuts (for extra crunch and goodness), and fried anchovies. But you find all sorts of variations, some even with fried chicken! 

Many Malaysians argue about the rice dish’s origins, but it originated somewhere around Malacca. It always reminds me of an Indian-type food, with the sambal and everything. The fragrant coconut-y rice is a dream (anyone else love rice like me?). 

A recent TikTok fad is the nasi lemak store, Auntie Susie’s Nasi Lemak, which offers 11 versions! It’s in Seremban, one hour from KL. 

4. Roti Canai

Known as both roti canai and chanai, this Malaysia street food delight is a classic breakfast-time meal. Much like countries such as Sri Lanka and India, curry is a common breakfast meal. The roti acts as a vessel for scooping up dahl and curry. 

During one of my trips to KL (I love this city, and travel here often), I stayed around the corner from a local Indian restaurant. I’d stop over daily for a bowl of dahl and about three roti canai! Hey, I’m from Durban, where, about 15 years ago, according to stats, we had the highest population of Indians outside of India. So, I like to think I know a thing or two about the cuisine. 

Roti canai also comes in a sweet variation, especially for breakfast time, layered with condensed milk and bananas. Another common variation of roti chanai is murtabak, where the dough is stuffed with the likes of mince and onions.  

In Kuala Lumpur, everyone will point you towards the legendary Mansion Tea Stall Al-Amna. Open 24 hours, this is unquestionably the place for roti.

5. KL-style Hokkien Mee

Hokkien Mee is another dish showcasing of Chinese influences on Malaysian cuisine. Originally from Fujian Province in Southern China, the ingredients make sense why it’s popular in Malaysia, which shares some of the sort of landscapes as this part of China, for example, the ocean and mountains. 

(Apparently, a Chinese immigrant from Fujian living in KL introduced this dish to the local food scene in Malaysia.) 

The broad egg noodles are tossed in a rich, dark sauce and then fried, lending a smoky sort of taste. It also comes with prawns, pork, chicken, sometimes squid, depending on where you eat this Malaysia street food, or tofu. 

If you’re a vegetarian, although you get the tofu option, it’s important to know the base of the sauce contains dried fish, shrimp, and pork. Finishing touches: chili sauce or sambal (sometimes both). 

It’s no brainer, you have to try KL-style Hokkien Mee in KL. Grab yours from: Petaling Street Charcoal Hokkien Mee or Kim Lian Kee Hokkien Mee (the OGs). 

6. Satay

I like to think my food knowledge is pretty extensive, and if you’re like me, there’s no harm in that. For this next Malaysian street food, I am fully aware that you find variations of it across Southeast Asia. 

Hey, even in South Africa, we braai (what everyone else calls BBQing) satay meat sticks. This cooking method is much the same as it is in Malaysia.

Nothing beats munching on a satay stick whilst exploring. It’s the perfect on-the-go street food, thanks to its easy eating via a skewer. 

All around the country find satay, whether it’s chicken, pork, seafood, vegetables, or a combination. It’s also served with peanut, chili, or garlic sauce. I am also fully aware that Indonesian satay is, like, iconic. But to tell you the truth, I’m never blown away by Indonesian satay. I don’t know if this is because I grew up eating satay, which my dad would always cook in a peanut sauce (and I personally think South Africa has some of the best meat).

Long story short: I think satay in Malaysia is the perfect little stick. You even find fish balls and dumpling satay sticks! 

7. Char Kway Teo

Noodles for breakfast? You bet! 

I just adore translations across any language. Char Kway Teow means “stir-fried flat rice noodles” — and that’s pretty much exactly what it is. The rice noodles are the broader type, which are wokked along with prawns (shrimp), bean sprouts, egg, spring onion, chili, and soya sauce. Using the wok lends a natural smokiness. 

Every time I’ve seen this bowl of goodness at any Malaysia street food spot, I always think of Pad See Ew — Thailand’s sister of the iconic Pad Thai.  

Foodie tip: Another popular dry noodle dish enjoyed at breakfast hour is Kolo Mee, which is the go-to street food for morning munching in Sarawak. Learn more about Sarawak’s amazing food courts and street food here. 

Try Char Kway Teow from Yan Char Kuey Teow in Penang. 

8. Bee Hoon

Speaking of breakfast, another common type to indulge in among the Malaysia street food scene is bee hoon. And no, it has nothing to do with insects before we all go freaking out! 

I always think of bee hoon as the Malaysian version of a standard breakfast. One egg, sausage, and instead of toast, there’s fried noodles, or rice vermicelli in this case. Smother it in soya sauce, and you’ve got yourself a winner. Depending on the street food vendor, you might also find bee hoon topped with spring onions, leafy greens, etc. 

You might pick up that many local breakfast-time dishes are kept simple, as it’s easy to digest first thing in the morning. It’s the same in countries like Vietnam, Singapore, and Thailand.

9. Apam Balik

Swiftly moving onto our sweet Malaysia street food treats, no eating list of mine is ever complete without a sweet compartment. I’m a sucker for sweeties. 

I enjoy eating apam balik after dinner, but traditionally, it’s savored in the late afternoon during tea time. Yup, afternoon tea is very much a thing in Malaysia, evident of its British influences. 

Somewhat between what I call a pancake (crepe) and a flapjack (what Americans call pancakes), the cake is folded over like an omelette — stay with me here — but not before it’s filled with a sugary peanut center. Some places also prefer adding sweetcorn. (In Asia, sweetcorn is common in desserts) 

Try apam balik from the Taman Segar Pasar Malam Night Market. 

10. Cendol

From Thailand to Singapore to Vietnam, cendol, sort of like congee, is a common food in many Asian countries. But in Malaysia, it’s probably its most favored dessert. 

Again, I want to reiterate that desserts in Asia aren’t like the type we expect in the Western/European world. 

Cendol always reminds me of tapioca if it were turned into a noodle. Does that make sense? Served cold, the green noodles look like sour worms, and these are served on a bed of shaved ice, coconut milk, and palm sugar syrup. Again with the sweetcorn vibes, some Malaysia street food vendors sell cendol with the creamed corn added to it. Other variations include fruits like durian. 

Local tip: Adventuring in Malaysian Borneo? You can’t miss out on Kuching’s unique desserts, including gula apong ice cream and the rainbow-kep lapis. 

Try cendol from Cendol Durian Runtuh in KL or Penang Chendul.

Want to get deeper into Malaysian street food culture? I absolutely love this Kuala Lumpur street food tour and, more importantly, the 15+ tastings it comes with.

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