TABLE OF CONTENTS
Best Malaysian Foods
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Kari ayam is a chicken curry that is popular in Malaysia and Indonesia. It is made with chicken pieces, onions, garlic, ginger, ghee, tomatoes, coconut milk, and spices such as anise, cinnamon, curry leaves, pandan leaves, lemongrass, chilis, cumin, turmeric, and fennel.
In Malaysia, kari ayam is traditionally prepared in a clay pot, because it is not reactive to the spices and allows the curry to cook in its own juices. Before serving, the dish can be sprinkled with lime juice and garnished with fresh coriander. It is recommended to serve it with rice.
OTHER VARIATIONS OF Curry
MOST ICONIC Kari ayam
View moreMAIN INGREDIENTS
Roti canai is a traditional pan-fried flatbread made with flour, water, eggs, and fat of Indian origin, but mainly associated with Malaysia, and surrounding countries like Indonesia, Brunei, and Thailand. The dough for roti canai is repeatedly folded, so the final product has a layered texture, a soft interior, and a crispy outer layer.
The most common fat used in roti canai is ghee, the traditional Indian clarified butter. It is believed that the dish originated in India when the Indian laborers who migrated to Malaysia brought the recipe and the tradition of preparing this crispy pastry to the foreign country.
OTHER VARIATIONS OF Roti
MOST ICONIC Roti canai
View moreKaripap or curry puff is a small, deep-fried or baked pastry shell filled with thick chicken and potatoes curry. It is believed that the flavorful snack was invented by the Malays from the Malay Peninsula and parts of Sumatra and Borneo.
It is a popular breakfast item or an afternoon snack which can be found at numerous stores, bars, and markets. Because of its simplicity and flavor, karipap quickly became popular outside Malaysia, especially in Thailand and Singapore. Today there are numerous versions of karipap, so instead of potato and chicken curry, it can be filled with various other ingredients such as tuna, sardines, and beef rendang.
MOST ICONIC Karipap
View moreChar kway teow is one of the most popular street dishes in Malaysia and Singapore. Despite numerous regional varieties, it is usually made with flat rice noodles, shrimps, eggs, cockles, bean sprouts, chives, and Chinese sausage. All the ingredients are usually fried and coated in soy sauce, while some versions also incorporate shrimp paste, garlic, fried pork lard, and sometimes even yellow wheat noodles.
Among the numerous theories about the origin of the dish, the most popular claims that it was invented in the Singaporean Teochew community by Chinese immigrants, while the name stems from Hokkien, char meaning fried and kway teow denoting flat rice noodles.
MOST ICONIC Char kway teow
View moreIkan bakar is a beloved Indonesian grilled fish dish, known for its smoky aroma, bold spices, and savory-sweet glaze. The name ikan bakar literally means “grilled fish” in Indonesian and Malay (ikan = fish, bakar = grilled or roasted), and it refers more to the cooking technique than to a specific recipe.
Found across Indonesia, Malaysia, and coastal Southeast Asia, ikan bakar varies by region, but always features fresh, whole fish marinated with spices and aromatics, then grilled over charcoal for deep, rich flavor. The fish—often snapper, mackerel, gourami, or catfish—is typically marinated in a mixture of shallots, garlic, turmeric, coriander, tamarind, chilies, and kecap manis (sweet soy sauce).
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Sambal terasi is a traditional and Malaysian sauce and a variety of sambal. It's made with a combination of red chili peppers and shrimp paste (terasi) as the main ingredients. Various other ingredients are added to the sauce such as garlic, shallots, tomatoes, onions, lime juice, oil, sugar, and salt.
This fiery sauce is used as a condiment or an accompaniment to many dishes such as Malaysian lam mee noodles. In Malaysia, sambal terasi is known as sambal belacan.
Serve with
OTHER VARIATIONS OF Sambal
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Closely related to other laksa varieties, Sarawak laksa is characterized by a subtle, mild flavor. Consisting of a flavorful chicken or shrimp-based broth that is seasoned with thick laksa paste, which sometimes includes more than twenty different ingredients, the soup is accompanied by vermicelli noodles, shredded omelet, cooked prawns, and shredded chicken.
Spicy sambal and lime are traditionally served on the side. The origin of Sarawak laksa is still unclear, but it is believed that the dish appeared when Goh Lik Teck began to offer his noodle dish along Kuching’s Carpenter Street in 1945. According to popular belief, the thick paste used in the dish was popularized by the Tan family from Kuching, somewhere between the 1960s and 1970s.
OTHER VARIATIONS OF Laksa
MOST ICONIC Sarawak laksa
View moreMAIN INGREDIENTS
Beef kway teow is a Singaporean and Malaysian noodle dish that can be served either as a quick meal or as a side dish to bigger meals. In order to prepare it, broad and flat rice noodles are stir-fried with vegetables and herbs, and topped with slices of beef.
There is also a version of this dish in a form of a soup similar to Thai beef soup, but it is usually prepared as a "dry" dish, in a thick gravy flavored with chili, soy sauce, and sesame oil. A variety of the dish is popular in Indonesia, where it’s commonly enriched with garlic, meatballs, cabbage, soy sauce, and black pepper.
No other dish in Malaysia is as famous as nasi lemak. It consists of rice cooked in coconut milk that is traditionally served with anchovies, cucumbers, peanuts, and boiled eggs. The dish is rounded up with the addition of a spicy chili paste called sambal.
Although originally invented as a breakfast dish, soon it surpassed its original purpose and became the Malaysian national dish which can be eaten at any time. Its invention occurred from the mere necessity to exploit all ingredients which were at hand, and the popularity of nasi lemak has continually risen since the 1980s, when this farmer’s meal evolved into a dish that is frequently sold by Malaysian street vendors.
MOST ICONIC Nasi lemak
View moreThis sweet turnover pancake comes under various names throughout Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, and Singapore. Regardless of the location, it can be prepared either in a thin and crispy variety or as a thick and soft pancake. Traditional fillings typically include a combination of ground or roughly chopped peanuts, sugar, and butter, but the modern varieties may include anything from corn, chocolate chips, and raisins to grated cheese or condensed milk.
Though not much is known about its origin, it is believed that is was first introduced in Penang by the Chinese who migrated from the province of Fujian.
MOST ICONIC Apam balik
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Best Malaysian Food Producers
AWARDS
ISC-International Spirits Challenge - Gold
2024
BEST ACTAS TRADING SDN BHD Spirits
Benns Chocolate is a Malaysian company founded in 1973, specializing in the production of high-quality chocolate from bean to bar. The company takes pride in controlling the entire chocolate-making process, from sourcing cocoa beans to the final product, ensuring superior quality and a unique taste experience.
Committed to sustainability and authenticity, Benns Chocolate focuses on preserving the natural flavors of cocoa beans while respecting the hard work of Asian farmers. Their product range includes a variety of chocolates with distinctive flavors that reflect the terroir (natural characteristics of the land) of each region they originate from.
AWARDS
Crystal Taste Award - 3 stars
2025
BEST Benns Chocolate Chocolates
Beans & Co is a Malaysian artisanal chocolate company specializing in gourmet drinking chocolates. They offer a range of hot dark chocolate powders with varying cocoa content, including 55%, 75%, 85%, and 100%, catering to different taste preferences.
Their products are crafted to provide a rich and authentic chocolate experience, suitable for both personal enjoyment and gifting.
BOH Tea was established in 1929 and has since become one of the largest and most recognized tea brands in Malaysia. The company has a strong heritage, with tea being grown in the cool, high-altitude Cameron Highlands region of Malaysia, known for its ideal climate for tea cultivation.
BOH Tea offers a wide variety of teas, including: black teas, green teas, herbal teas and specialty teas. BOH Tea prides itself on its sustainable farming practices. The company focuses on producing high-quality, organic teas while preserving the natural environment of the Cameron Highlands.
BEST BOH Tea Teas and Herbal Infusions
AWARDS
IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Spirit Gold
2023
BEST P.H.Products Spirits
AWARDS
Academy of Chocolate - Silver
2022, 2020
Academy of Chocolate - Bronze
2020
BEST Jaws & Claws Chocolate Chocolates
Love18 Chocolatier is a chocolate producer based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The company is committed to producing high-quality chocolates using fine natural ingredients, often emphasizing sustainable and artisanal production methods. They are known for their use of fresh and locally sourced ingredients, offering a range of artisanal chocolates that include ganaches, pralines, and chocolate bars.
Love18 Chocolatier also provides gift services and has a social mission to support community initiatives.
AWARDS
International Chocolate Awards - Silver
2019
International Chocolate Awards - Bronze
2020
BEST Love18 Chocolatier Chocolates
Benns Ethicoa, based in Malaysia, operates a bean-to-bar chocolate production process aiming for ethical sourcing and sustainability. They source cacao beans directly from farmers in Asia to enhance transparency and support local agriculture. The company utilizes a variety of cacao beans from different regions to craft unique chocolate flavors.
Benns Ethicoa also focuses on minimal processing to maintain the natural flavors of the cacao.
AWARDS
International Chocolate Awards - Bronze
2020
Academy of Chocolate - Silver
2024
BEST Benns Ethicoa Chocolates
AWARDS
The Gin Masters - Gold
2022
BEST Gravit8 Gin Spirits
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Best Malaysian Food Products
AWARDS
ISC-International Spirits Challenge - Gold
2024
AWARDS
ISC-International Spirits Challenge - Gold
2024
Benns 70% Roasted Almond Vegan Dark Chocolate is a premium-quality dark chocolate designed for vegans, combining the richness of 70% dark chocolate with crunchy, whole roasted almonds. The chocolate is made from ethically sourced cocoa beans from Malaysia, contributing to its unique flavor.
After being coated in dark chocolate, the almonds are dusted with natural cocoa powder, creating a perfect balance of taste and texture.
AWARDS
Crystal Taste Award - 3 stars
2025
Beans & Co 75% Hot Dark Chocolate is a gourmet dark chocolate beverage designed for lovers of intense and rich flavors. This product contains a minimum of 75% cocoa solids, delivering a deep and authentic chocolate experience. Beans & Co 75% Hot Dark Chocolate is free from preservatives, artificial colors, and flavors, making it a natural choice for those who appreciate high-quality chocolate.
Additionally, it is dairy-free, making it suitable for vegans.
AWARDS
Crystal Taste Award - 3 stars
2023
AWARDS
IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Spirit Gold
2023
AWARDS
The Gin Masters - Gold
2022
AWARDS
Academy of Chocolate - Silver
2020
AWARDS
International Chocolate Awards - Silver
2019
AWARDS
Academy of Chocolate - Silver
2022
AWARDS
Academy of Chocolate - Bronze
2020
TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. For the “Top 73 Malaysian Foods” list until April 20, 2025, 3,490 ratings were recorded, of which 2,107 were recognized by the system as legitimate. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.