14 Iconic Dishes To Eat Your Way Through Every State In Malaysia

Jacey Hen

Last updated 21 Mar 2024

Iconic Traditional Dishes From All Malaysian States

Photo Credit: @vel.eats.kl, @lijhuin, @elsupladitame (Instagram)

Plan A Makan Adventure Across Malaysia!

Whether you're an avid foodie or not, makan time is easily one of the top things that we Malaysians collectively enjoy as a nation - our love for our food basically unites us! With a mouthwatering selection of cuisines from different cultures spread out across the country, it’s undoubtedly hard to put down our spoons and forks.

If you’re up for a food adventure (and we know you are), make sure to feast on iconic dishes from all over the country! From the sweet and spicy mee udang, to the famous Sarawak laksa, we've done our research and compiled this list of all must-eat local dishes you must try from every state in Malaysia.

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Must-Eat Local Dishes Of 14 Malaysian States

1. Perlis – Ikan Bakar

Perlis is the most northern state in Peninsular Malaysia and with close ties to Thailand, it's no surprise that many famous Thai dishes are commonly found here. However, the most iconic food here would have to be ikan bakar. Especially in Kuala Perlis, you can easily find stalls and restaurants with charcoal-grilled fish as well as other dishes.

Where to find the best ikan bakar in Perlis:

Medan Ikan Bakar
Api-Api Ikan Bakar
Kedai Ikan Bakar Perlis Qaseh
Nyiru Klasik Ikan Bakar

2. Kedah – Mee Udang

If you love seafood, the one dish you should look out for in Kedah is the mee udang. This prawn noodle dish is highly favoured by the locals and we totally get why - each serving features noodles covered in a thick helping of sweet and spicy tomato gravy, topped off with a portion of fresh prawns. Other variations you should definitely try out as well are the mee ketam or mee sotong.

Where to find the best mee udang in Kedah:

Ombak Lara Mee Udang
Selera Dataran Tsunami
Warung Rumpun Mambu

3. Penang – Char Kuey Teow

Dubbed as the food capital of Malaysia, it’s hard to pick just one signature dish from Penang. However, we'd personally hand the crown over to char kuey teow, a local dish so popular that it has spawned a myriad of recreations outside of Penang and even Malaysia! Flat rice noodles stir-fried with chilli paste, prawns, egg, cockles, bean sprouts, and garlic chives - who knew something so simple could be so delicious?

Where to find the best char kuey teow in Penang:

Siam Road Char Koay Teow
Bukit Mertajam Duck Egg Char Koay Teow
Ah Leng Char Koay Teow

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4. Kelantan – Nasi Kerabu

A distinct dish from the vivid blue of the rice, nasi kerabu was once a simple food amongst villagers in the East Coast. Also a favourite for urbanites now, nasi kerabu in Kelantan is made up of several components – blue rice, raw salad (kerabu), sambal, protein (egg and chicken/beef/fish), fish crackers. While it may look complicated, the best way to enjoy the dish it to mix the rice with the salad and sambal!

Where to find the best nasi kerabu in Kelantan:

Lieniey Nasi Kerabu Tumis
Kak Ma Nasi Kerabu
Nasi Kerabu Panji

5. Terengganu – Satar

With its close proximity to the sea, you can count on Terengganu for plenty of seafood dishes. A very popular snack you can find here is satar. Deboned and mashed fish are mixed with desiccated coconut and a selection of herbs and spices, then wrapped into a cone shape in a banana leaf. Each cone is then skewered and charcoal-grilled, resulting in a spicy, fragrant, and smoky fish snack!

Where to find the best satar in Terengganu:

Warung Aziz Satar
Pok Nok Satar
Warung Otak Otak Satar Che Wan

6. Selangor – Satay

While Selangor may be home to all sorts of cuisine, something that locals hold near and dear to their hearts are their satay! Thanks to the stellar reputation of the satay from Kajang, it’s also a must-try dish whenever you’re in Selangor. From the classic chicken or beef satay, to the more unique clam or rabbit satay, there are different types of meat to suit your taste buds and are perfect to pair with the traditional peanut dip.

Where to find the best satay in Selangor:

Willy Satay
Sate Kajang HJ Samuri
Zaini Satay
Satay Hut

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7. Sabah – Tuaran Mee

Arguably the most well-known noodle dish in Sabah is tuaran mee. The key to a good bowl of tuaran mee is the special yellow egg noodles that are fried before being topped with the dish’s signature sauce and ingredients. The common toppings that you’ll find are barbecued meat, egg rolls and green vegetables.

Where to find the best tuaran mee in Sabah:

Tuaran Mee Restoran
Restoran Lok Kyun
Seng Hing Coffee Shop

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8. Sarawak – Sarawak Laksa

With a laksa dish named after the state, you can bet Sarawakians are pretty darn proud of this dish. The distinctive taste of curry paste used to make the Sarawak laksa is what makes it so special. The rice noodles are drenched in the flavourful broth then topped with omelette strips, chicken, prawns and fresh vegetables. In fact, Sarawak laksa is so good that it made it onto Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations show!

Where to find the best Sarawak laksa in Sarawak:

Choon Hui Cafe
Poh Lam Laksa
Mom's Laksa Kopitiam

9. Perak – Ipoh Hor Fun

We all certainly have Ipoh to thank for putting Perak on the food map with its dizzying array of local street finds. The simple yet addictive Ipoh hor fun is one of their many culinary wonders. Every aspect of the dish is prepared with care, from the rice noodles made using local spring water to the broth meticulously simmered for hours. Using the freshest ingredients, the result is a bowl of noodles you’ll happily return to Ipoh for.

Where to find the best Ipoh hor fun in Perak:

Thean Chun Coffee Shop
Restaurant Moon De Moon
Restoran Pulau Sembilan

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10. Melaka – Chicken Rice Balls

Usually, the star of the dish in chicken rice is the chicken itself but the same can’t be said for Melaka! What makes this dish so iconic in Melaka is the rice balls you get instead of your typical plate of rice. You can easily find stalls selling them everywhere in Melaka and it's no surprise because these chicken rice balls aren’t just fun to eat, but taste pretty darn good as well.

Where to find the best chicken rice balls in Melaka:

Kedai Kopi Chung Wah
Hoe Kee Chicken Rice
Ee Ji Ban Chicken Rice Balls

11. Pahang – Gulai Tempoyak Ikan Patin

A dish synonymous to Pahang, the gulai tempoyak ikan patin makes use of two local staples – ikan patin and durian, both ingredients which the state is blessed with an abundance of. Flesh from the durians are fermented into a paste called tempoyak, then added into a curry dish with the ikan patin, turmeric, galangal, garlic, ginger and other spices. This dish pairs perfectly with white rice - it’s savoury, slighty spicy and fragrant.

Where to find the best gulai tempoyak ikan patin in Pahang:

Kancil Raja Patin
Selera Patin Bangau
Gobang Maju Patin Tempoyak

12. Negeri Sembilan – Siew Pao

This iconic pastry from Seremban, the capital of Negeri Sembilan, may look unassuming but it certainly packs a punch. With a crumbly exterior, you’ll bite into the most succulent and flavourful meat filling. Traditionally made with pork, peas and other ingredients, you can now find different fillings like chicken and mushroom. Light yet savoury, it’s easy to gobble down a dozen of these siew pao in one sitting!

Where to find the best siew pao in Negeri Sembilan:

Seremban Kee Mei Siew Pow
Siew Pow Master
Empayar Seremban Siew Pow

13. Johor – Otak-Otak

If you ever make your way to Johor, you gotta drop by Muar for arguably the best otak-otak you’ll ever have! Sumptuous fish and/or other seafood mixed with all sorts of spices, stuffed into coconut leaves and grilled over hot coals, you can eat them ask snacks or accompaniments for your main meal.

Where to find the best otak-otak in Johor:

Xiao Mei Famous Muar Otak-Otak
Otak-Otak Cheng Boi
Otak Shiduoli

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14. Kuala Lumpur - Chili Pan Mee

Although not exactly a state, our Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur deserves a spot on this list. Home to a myriad of street food and traditional food variants, there's so much to choose from, but we'd like to highlight the chili pan mee. Originating from the city of KL, this spicy variant of the popular pan mee noodle is enjoyed without soup, replacing it with a poached egg and dried chili flakes to give you that extra kick of spice that's oh-so-satisfying.

Where to find the best chili pan mee in KL:

Restaurant Kin Kin
Restaurant Super Kitchen Chilli Pan Mee
Madam Chiam Curry Noodle House

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Follow Us As We Rediscover Malaysia!

Do all these dishes make you want to travel across the country to try them out? Celebrate Merdeka and Hari Malaysia the way we Malaysians know best – appreciating all the yummy local food! Follow us as we help you discover more gems scattered across the states in Malaysia, from must-see spots, to must-eat dishes.

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