What’s a traditional Malaysian breakfast dish? In Penang, the answer is simple: Char Koay Kak! It’s a sister dish to the iconic char koay teow, with noodles replaced by squares of steamed rice cake. Char koay kak is not the huge wok fry-up fare of CKT, but a simpler small-portioned dish more suited to a…
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),…
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…
Asam laksa is Malaysia in a bowl! This spicy and tangy noodle soup has made its way around the world and is an iconic street food in its state of origin, Penang. Penang asam laksa is considered Nyonya cuisine—a combination of Peranakan (Straits-born Chinese) recipes with Malay cooking styles—and draws its cultural background from both…
If you’re looking for a flavoursome dish that’s sure to tantalise your taste buds, the famous chee cheong fun of Penang certainly fits the brief. This steamed rice roll represents Malaysia’s diverse culture: a traditional Chinese dish that has become popular throughout its adopted country. A typical serving of chee cheong fun includes a generous…
The fame of char koay teow has spread well beyond Malaysia, with cooks around the world recreating this iconic street food. But nothing beats eating it in its birthplace, Penang. Penang char koay teow is yet another twist on a Chinese theme, introduced by immigrants from Southern China to Penang and adapted to Malaysian cuisine….
Have you ever heard of pasembur? It’s sometimes called Malay rojak, Indian rojak, rojak mamak (meaning Malay-Indian), or even Penang rojak – a dish with many names but one common trait: deliciousness! Rojak means “mixed” in Malay, and this salad dish is certainly an eclectic mixture: raw cucumber and turnip, blanched bean sprouts, boiled potatoes…
Jackie M. to produce and host a new 8-part video series for Tourism Malaysia called Street Food Journeys: Malaysia showcasing top hawker dishes from different states in Malaysia.
