In the previous post, I wrote about 10 reasons why you have to visit Malaysia. In this post I would like to talk about another big reason that is unique to Malaysia – that is the Malaysian Food!

1. Pasar Ramadan in Malaysia – a 30-day food haven.

I like to recommend my foreign friends to come visit Malaysia during the fasting month of Ramadan, which will be around very soon – end of August. And why is this so? One word: F-O-O-D. For the uninitiated, Ramadan is a special month when Muslims practice utter patience as they fast from dawn till sundown. To cater to the hungry masses (and other eager food lovers like you and me!), pasar Ramadans are set up in the daytime up till after sunset when families return home for break fast. Wherever you can find residential areas, that is where you will also be able to frequent a pasar Ramadan, which offers a dazzling array of food that looks as good as it tastes.

A bustling crowd along the bazar

Crowd favorites like the good old kuih variety, the humble nasi lemak, the fragrant nasi kerabu, the juicily tender murtabak and the aromatic satay as well as other equally tantalizing foodstuff can be bought. Then there are also stall owners who shy away from tradition and sold less conventional food such as colorful jellies and sweet caramel puddings. Business is brisk for most pasar Ramadan traders, and one popiah seller in the Klang Valley have been known to sell almost a thousand pieces in a day!

Crave on!

So if you are thinking of sampling the best delicacies Malaysia has to offer, there’s never a better time to visit other than during the Ramadan month. One word of caution though: if possible, don’t shop for food on an empty stomach or you will be tempted to buy up everything in sight!

2. Nasi lemak – truly Malaysia.

Nasi lemak. Some loathe it (for its calories!), but most love it and cannot live without it. We are talking about true addicts who wake up each morning and think about what sort of lauk (dish) to go with their nasi lemak. Some like sambal sotong or kari ayam to go with their daily staple of nasi lemak while some like it plain, steaming plate of rice cooked in coconut milk, crispy ikan bilis, fried peanuts, hardboiled egg and all.

Nasi lemak - Meal of the day

The beauty of nasi lemak is that you can find it almost everywhere be it in an indoor café or by the roadside. Depending on your mood, you can eat it as a complete meal in the morning, noon or night, or choose to buy a pre-packed nasi lemak to go, which is great as a snack at home when you’re feeling peckish. A little business strategy goes a long way and most nasi lemak traders set up their stalls early each morning near bus stops and commercial buildings to cater to the breakfast crowd.

Nasi lemak is very affordable and you only need to fork out as little as RM1.00 for a basic pack. However, it is by no means a poor man’s food because this delicacy can be sold in upclass restaurants for as much as RM20.00 depending on the condiments served.

3. The quest for yummy char kuey teow

Malaysians are crazy about their char kuey teow. I should know, because yours truly is a char kuey teow fanatic and love nothing more than a sizzling plate of kuey teow for lunch. Coupled with a tall glass of chilled soya bean and cincau, my meal is complete and my cravings sated.

For the uninitiated, char kuey teow is basically a dish of fried flat noodles in soya sauce with prawns, bean sprouts, chives, garlic and chili as well as half a gallon of oil thrown in for good measure. And I am only half kidding about the oil. This is not the healthiest dish around but once an aromatic plate of scrumptious-looking char kuey teow is placed before your very eyes and under your nose, all resolutions and your desire to go on a diet will crumble without fail.

Eat your heart out!

Some say the best char kuey teow originate from Penang, but others will beg to differ. There are foodies who claim that the best char koay teow stalls can be found in Melaka, Klang Valley and even in Kuching. The wise thing to do would be to try them as you stumble upon the stalls and judge the taste yourself. People have been known to get into lengthy arguments about where the tastiest char kuey teow can be bought so if you want to avoid heated debates that may result in a broken nose, stay clear of fierce char kuey teow fans and never attempt to rebuke their char kuey teow recommendations. You have been warned.

So, have you had your char kuey teow today?

Finds more articles on food and malaysian culture at vacationsmalaysia.net!