If there’s one thing that Malaysia is known for is it’s food. From iconic dishes like nasi lemak and char kuey teow to desserts like cendol and kuih. Malaysians have no shortage when it comes to delicious cuisines to offer, because food is so deeply ingrained in our culture and way of life. If you have a favourite Malaysian dish, here is what we think it says about you.
Some of our earliest memories as Malaysians lie in food. The first time we visited a mamak and experienced the cacophony of noises. Or the first spoonful of nasi lemak that made us recoil with its savoury spice. Food has shaped our upbringing as Malaysians in many ways and has become a part of our identity and culture.
Food also differs depending on the states and regions you come from. Take laksa for example, each Malaysian state has its own twist and take on the noodle soup dish. There is the standard curry mee laksa, the tangy asam laksa, the coconut milk-based Nyonya laksa, and the spaghetti-noodled laksa Johor. These variations of one dish is an example of Malaysia’s rich diversity in flavours.
While each of Malaysia’s iconic dishes has its own origin, be it Malay, Chinese, or Indian, it has been eaten and enjoyed by all races alike. Although certain ingredients like beef or pork cannot be consumed by Malay or Tamil people respectively, we have been able to create pork-free versions of dishes so that everyone can enjoy Malaysian dishes.
So are a Malaysian that enjoys rice, noodles, chicken, pork, or beef? Each Malaysian has their own food preference that tells a story about their own unique backgrounds. Read on to find what your favourite Malaysian dish says about you.
Here is what your favourite Malaysian dish says about you
Nasi Lemak
You couldn’t decide what to eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, so you ate something that could be all three.
Char Kuey Teow
You like your meals with a lot of flavour and wok hei, and you probably miss your recent trip to Penang.
Curry Mee
You like warm and spicy comfort food and have a go-to spot that nobody else knows.
Maggi Goreng
You frequent the mamak late at night and Maggi noodles are your guilty pleasure.
Chicken Rice
You looking for a meal packed with protein at an affordable price.
Cendol
You love a sweet cold treat and probably have a massive sweet tooth.
Nyonya Kuih
You are a parent who enjoys tea time or a child who was made to eat kuih by your parents.
Roti Canai
You love your breakfast roti, even though people may call you basic. Don’t listen to them.
Kaya Toast
You like a visiting traditional kopitiams (non-gentrified) and love a good strong black cup of kopi.
Kopi Ping
You like to visit slightly more gentrified kopitiams on your lunch break, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
(Hero image credit: Unsplash/Krystal Ng / Feature image credit: Unsplash/Suhairy Tri Yadhi)
Note : The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
