Malaysia is a culture that is comprised of Malay, Indian and ethnic Chinese. The combination of ethnicity’s creates a culinary landscape like non other. My heritage includes Indonesian and because of that Malaysia was extremely exciting. Many of the dishes I grew up on are available here but there is so much more.
If you search YouTube you will find many videos of food places in Georgetown, Malaysia which is in the state of Penang. These videos are great and highlight the diversity of what is available. However, do not get hung up on going to the Michelin star rated locations with their long lines. Most places serve amazing dishes and can be found all across Malaysia. Venture away from the crowded locations and try the stall next door.
Hokkien Mee
The dish Hokkien Mee is noodles and specific to Penang. This is just one example of the many many dishes that make Malaysia a must visit location. This dish comes with a spoon full of sambal which if you are not familiar is spicy goodness. Sambal is not for the faint of heart but, it is also not hot just for the sake of being hot and comes in many varieties. Oh and it only costs a couple USD.
Char Keow Teow
$1.4
Amazing fried noodle dish, reminiscent of what we might be served as pad thai in the US.
Capati
$1.00
Flat bread and curry to dip. Nice easy breakfast for people on the go.
Wan Tan Mee
$1.4
Soup base is light and refreshing, lots of veg and easy eats in the morning or afternoon.
Meal time in Asia
What we consider breakfast food vs Dinner food is not as cut and dry in Asia. Many things we would say is dinner is eaten at breakfast. Soups and hot noodle dishes are eaten all times of day and when its nice and the hot/spicy food is a bit easier to consume in the cool morning air.
What does it compare to…
Indian
The Indian food well tastes like Indian food but not overpriced and much better to what is served in the US. The meat in the curry is not dry and getting mutton or lamb does not jack up the price to $20 per serving.
Malaysian
The Malaysia food is probably best described as being like Indonesian which is shockingly not popular in the US. Perhaps think of it as a cross between Chinese and Thai. That really does not sit well but, it is the best description possible for someone unfamiliar with the cuisine. Many of the same spices are used and there are many noodle dishes in Malaysian food.
Chinese
This is not Panda Express. It is real Chinese food which means it is delicious, healthy and not fried with a sugar sauce poured all over it. Fried noodles are all possible but more often the noodles are eaten in a broth and accompanied by vegetables.
Meat in Asia
Asians eat more of the animal that we think we do. Specifically we do eat the same meats but don’t know it because it is often hidden from us in the form of sausage. For example intestines is not uncommon and while not my favorite meat is perfectly safe to eat. Did you know this meat is in your sausage at home. It is even if you don’t want to think it is. Heart is another one. Americans eat it all the time, it is in your hamburger. It is all delicious and just embrace it.
Asians think Americans can’t eat whole fish because of the bones. It is true that we get fillets and steaks what remove this from our fish anyone that has gone fishing knows how to eat a trout cooked on the campfire and navigate the bones. Maybe many Americans can’t eat fish with bones in it, eating here you will have to so be prepared.
Goat or its street name mutton is delicious and in a curry holds up better than many other meats.
Fat. Yes they eat fat in Asia and we keep trimming it off. Seams crazy since it is what makes meat yummy. Probably stems from our obsession with removing fat from everything that started in the 1980’s. How did that work out? Seems Asian persons are thinner than Americans by a country mile.
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