Hakka Thunder Tea Rice, also known as Hakka Lei Cha, is a dish of steamed rice served with a tea soup and various condiments. Sounds simple, right? It’s far more complex than it seems. Springing from Southern Chinese Hakka cuisine, the complexity begins with the dish’s name. It is something of a misnomer, as the…
Ipoh is famous for its hor fun or rice noodles, in particular chicken with rice noodles. One variation on the theme is Chicken Kuetiau, typically served as a bowl of rice noodles in broth with a side of poached chicken and Ipoh beansprouts. The chicken is like the meat in Hainanese chicken rice, poached and…
Muah chee is the Chinese equivalent of the Japanese “mochi.” With its roots in southern China’s culinary traditions, it has become Malaysia’s go-to street snack and a sweet treat children love. Think of muah chee as an inside-out mochi and you’ll get the idea. Sticky rice flour (glutinous rice) is turned into a dough with…
When people think of Malaysian cuisine, nasi lemak and laksa often spring to mind. Yet one of the country’s most beloved dishes is actually Hainanese chicken rice! Originating in China’s Hainan province, the recipe was brought to Malaysia by Chinese immigrants during British rule. It can be found on menus throughout Malaysia, from street food…
Penang is known for its delicious dishes. From the famous char kway teow to tasty laksa, there’s no shortage of amazing food to try. But for something truly special, Penang Hokkien mee is a must! This flavoursome dish is packed with the best fresh ingredients: thick yellow Hokkien noodles, pork slices, prawns, water spinach (kangkong),…
“Nasi kandar” means “carried rice.” This combination meal originated in Penang, created by Indian Muslim traders who moved to the region in the early 19th century. The traders would carry (kandar) food on wooden poles to sell in the streets. The cuisine of nasi kandar reflects its cultural background, integrating elements of Malaysian and Indian…
Beef noodle stalls, stands or shops are not common in Malaysia, but what you do find, particularly in Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown, are popular with both locals and tourists. The dish is comparable with other beef noodle dishes from Southeast and East Asia, with similarities to Vietnamese pho, Lanzhou beef noodles, and Taiwanese beef noodles. Hakka…
When a simple toasted sandwich becomes a national icon, it must have something going for it! That’s the case with Malaysia’s Roti Bakar. The translation is exactly what you get: “roti bakar’ means toasted bread. And not any fancy bread: it’s plain, sliced white sandwich loaf! Two slices are toasted until golden brown then lathered…
Every country has its variations on a fruit salad theme. Yet there’s nothing quite like Malaysia’s Rojak Buah Penang. Local fruits like pineapple, mango, jambu (guava), cucumber, and unripened papaya are this salad’s main ingredients. The Penang twist is an appetising sweet-sour sauce made from crushed, roasted peanuts, water, tamarind juice, palm sugar, dried shrimp…
Taufu fah is a popular soybean curd dessert in Ipoh. Its origins date back to the Han dynasty around 200-100 BCE, but the version found in Malaysia has added its own unique spin with toppings such as gula melaka (Malaysian palm sugar). The dessert is a quite simple treat, but the effort that goes into…
