When we talk about the Malaysian culinary scene, the topic of street food is always front and centre. If there’s one thing that Southeast Asia has perfected is the art of road-side snacks.
These are local delicacies that you can rarely find anywhere else, let alone a fancy restaurant. Sure, a five-star Michelin eatery will give your taste buds a gastronomical adventure.
But street food is the stuff that feeds your very soul. It’s warm, comforting and most of all, delicious. Here are some of Malaysia’s top 10 street food and the best places in Malaysia where you can find them.
10 Must-Have Malaysian Street Foods
Satay
The crown jewel of Malaysian street food, satay as definitely earned its place as number one on this list. Essentially a form of Asian shish kebab, satay is marinated meat pierced through with bamboo skewers.
But unlike shish kebab which uses ground meat, satay is made from whole pieces of chicken, beef or other kinds of meat.
The meat skewers are then grilled over an open charcoal flame until cooked and tender. Satay is always enjoyed best with salty, sweet peanut sauce (kuah kacang) and with other accoutrements like nasi impit, raw onion slices and cucumbers.
Pisang Goreng
Essentially a kind of banana fritter, pisang goreng is simplicity at its best. You can even make it at home because it’s that easy.
Often found at a street vendor, pisang goreng is made of a special king of banana called pisang tanduk, dipped in batter and deep fried until golden brown.
It is best eaten fresh off the wok, optionally with spicy soy sauce. But pisang goreng is also delicious eaten just on its own.
Ramlee Burger
You won’t find this at your local McDonald’s, but there’s no shortages of Ramlee burger stalls. You may even find one around the corner from where you live.
It’s one of the most common street foods that you can get. They are open primarily at night or late evenings as a type of dinner food. Ramlee burgers are so named because of the brand of burger patties used to make them.
Often topped with plenty of lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, chili sauce, mayo, and black pepper sauce, Ramlee burgers also can be customised with omelette (burger special), two patties (double) and/or with cheese.
Char Kuey Tiaw
One of those street foods where you have to find a nice table to enjoy, char kuey tiaw is a special stir-fried noodle dish of Chinese origin with ‘char’ literally translating to ‘stir-fried’ in Hokkien.
There are countless variations but the one you may be familiar with is the one doused in sweet and salty gravy. It’s full of spring onions, beansprouts and often contains a protein: beef, chicken, prawn or clams.
Air Batu Kacang
Also known as ais kacang, air batu campur or ABC, air batu kacang, literally translated to “ice bean”, is a shaved ice dessert made of evaporated milk, red rose syrup (sirap ros), and topped with red beans, corn, grass jelly, and in some cases even ice-cream and chocolate syrup.
There are many variations depending on the vendor’s creativity and recipe. But it is all in all, one of the more famous local delicacies enjoyed as a beverage or dessert.
Apam Balik
A sweet, thick Asian pancake that’s crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, Apam Balik is reminiscent of a waffle. The inside is topped with margarine or butter and sprinkle with sugar. You can also ask for any variety of choice.
While traditionally filled with crushed peanuts or sweet corn, you can get modern Apam Balik in chocolate, strawberry jam and peanut butter. Depending on what the stall has.
Yong Tau Foo
Half salad, half soup, yong tau foo is an enigmatic dish that has its origins in Chinese cuisine. It consists of several meats, vegetables and other bite-sized foods steamed or often boiled in a vat of salty stock to give it flavour.
You can eat it dry with sweet soy sauce, or doused in the savoury soup. Any reputable yong tahu stall (usually a food truck) will have no shortage of ‘buffet’.
These include meat balls, fish balls, crab sticks, stuffed tofu, tofu skin, fried tofu, dried noodle packs, squid, mushrooms, wontons, and many more.
Keropok Lekor
A creation hailing from Terengganu, keropok lekor is a savoury fish cracker that is chewy on the inside and crispy on the outside.
It is one of the most commonly found street foods and you can get them virtually anywhere in Malaysia.
Just like pisang goreng, keropok lekor is a stable afternoon snack for Malaysians of all ethnicities. Eaten with sweet, spicy chili sauce, it is the perfect appetizer before a hearty meal.
Cendol
More of a dessert than a snack, cendol is a rich sweet chilled beverage infused with palm sugar (gula Melaka) and thickened with coconut milk.
You’ll find other tidbits stirred in as well such as red beans, green rice flour jelly, jackfruit, durian and flavoured with pandan. It’s a delectable palette cleanser after a heavy meal full of spicy, warm foods.
If you prefer a less rich version, there are cendols diluted with shaved ice to make it more refreshing than filling.
Ayam Bakar
Roasted chicken wings slathered in a spiced honey marinade. That’s what you get when you look for Malaysia’s iconic ayam bakar. They are hard to miss.
Rows of crimson chicken wings barbequed on a charcoal rack and glazed with sweet sauce. If you can’t find the fire, then all you have to do is find the smoke.
Because the signature sign of a barbeque chicken stall nearby is thick wafts of fragrant smoke. Often eaten on their own, you can takeaway and eat with a rice dish of your choice.
Tantalise your Taste Buds with Malaysian Street Food
This list is by no means the end of Malaysian street food. There are simply too many to include here. Street food is an inescapable part of Malaysian culture.
You can’t drive through any Malaysian roads without passing by a roadside food stall selling a variety of tantalizing streets. Most dishes that qualify as street foods are ideally finger food or snacks that you can eat while walking. However, if you’re lucky the stall owner may set up a small tables and chairs for you to sit down and enjoy your meal.
But if you’re ever in the mood to go on a street food binge, make sure to eat in bits and pieces. This way, you can experience as many flavours and textures as you’re able and enjoy every second of your time.
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