The best Malaysian food info and recipe
The cuisine of a country is generally a microcosm of the nation and Malaysian cuisine reflects the multi racial aspects of Malaysia. Various ethnic groups in Malaysia have their dishes but many dishes in Malaysia are derived from multiple ethnic influences. This website will describe Malaysian favorite foods and all their recipes. Please bookmark this website for you reference in the future.
Malaysia
Malaysia is a rich land of well-ordered rubber and palm plantations, tin mines, paddy-fields, jungle and delightful little kampungs (villages), where the gentle Malays take life in a relaxed style. Peninsular Malaysia was known as Malaya until 1963 when the original 11 states were joined by Sarawak, Sabah (part of Borneo) and Singapore broke away leaving the present 13 states. Each of these states has its sultan who is very powerful withing his territory, even today. All are immensely wealthy and live in considerables style. Every five years the sultans elect a new king from one of their number. Rich yellow embroidered finery and jewelled umbrellas are featured in the magnificent coronation ceremony. Malaysia itself resembles a long finger, bordering Thailand and Myammar in the north and with clusters of Indonesia island in the south, the largest being Borneo, land of the White Rajahs. A mountain range run from top to bottom of Malaysia like spine, almost all of it covered in dense jungle although there are dwarf forest in some of Highland regions such as the Genting, which are freaks of nature, but charming nevertheless. Crossing from one side of country to the other has been made easier recently with the construction of an excelent road built by the Koreans, which goes from Kuala Lumpur, the capital, to the east coast on the South China Sea.
Malaysia on World Map
Picture: Malaysia on real world map and it was captured from satellite. Picture from wikimapia.org.
Malaysia is in Southeast Asia. Geographic coordinates: 2 30 N, 112 30 E. The size of Malaysia is slightly larger than the state of New Mexico, USA. Malaysia consists of two parts: West Malaysia, also called Peninsular Malaysia or Malaya; and East Malaysia. The two parts are 403 miles [650km] apart and are separated by the South China Sea.
Picture: Malaysia on real world map and it was captured from satellite. Picture from wikimapia.org.
Malaysia is in Southeast Asia. Geographic coordinates: 2 30 N, 112 30 E. The size of Malaysia is slightly larger than the state of New Mexico, USA. Malaysia consists of two parts: West Malaysia, also called Peninsular Malaysia or Malaya; and East Malaysia. The two parts are 403 miles [650km] apart and are separated by the South China Sea.
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Travelling to Malaysia
By Air:
Malaysia Airlines, the national carrier, currently flies to 95 destinations worldwide. Many other international airlines offer flights to Malaysia, most of which land at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) approximately 35 miles (55km) South of Kuala Lumpur. Air traffic to and from Malaysia is estimated to grow between almost seven per cent a year over the next decade. The new KL International Airport at Sepang has one of the most sophisticated passenger facilities in the region. Some of the international airlines that fly to Malaysia are Aeroflot, Air France, Air India, Air Lanka, Air Mauritius, Air New Zealand, Air Vietnam, Alia/Royal Jordanian Airlines, Balkan-Bulgarian Airlines, Bangladesh Biman, Cathay Pacific Airways, China Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Eva Air, Garuda Indonesia, Iran Air, Japan Airlines, Kampuchea Airlines, Koran Airlines, Lufthansa, Pakistan Airlines, Phillipine Airlines, Qantas Airways, Royal Brunei Airlines, Royal Dutch Airlines, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Sempati Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Thai International, and Uzbekistan Airlines.
By Rail:
Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTM), or Malayan Railways, connects to both Singapore and Bangkok. The trip from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur takes 7 to 10 hours; from Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur is about two days.
By Bus or Car:
Buses from the Ban San terminal in Singapore travel to many different points on peninsular Malaysia; buses from Bangkok or Haadyai in Thailand travel to both the West and East coasts of Malaysia as well as to Kuala Lumpur. Entering Malaysia by rental car is not difficult from either Thailand or Singapore, and the North-South highway makes travel along the west coast quite convenient (10-12 hours from Singapore to the Thai border).
Getting Around Within Malaysia
By Air:
By Rail:
By Bus:
There are a growing number of domestic airlines serving popular tourist destinations such as Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Terengganu, Pulau Tioman, Pulau Perhentian, Pulau Pangkor, Taman Negara, Kuantan, Ipoh, Penang, Malacca and Pulau Langkawi. These Airlines include Pelangu Air, Berjaya Air and Mofaz Air.
By Rail:
Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTM) or Malayan Railways has an impressive rail network that stretches from north to south and east to west in Peninsular Malaysia. KTM offers a number of special deals for tourists.
The KTM Railpass offers all the benefits of first-class travel at economy rates. Railpass holders are allowed unlimited travel on any passenger train in Malaysia and Singapore for the duration of the railpass. The price for adults is US$55 for 10 days and US$120 for 30 days. For children between 4 and 12 years old, the Railpass is US$28 (10 days) and US$60 (30 days).
For only US$32, youths (not Malaysians or Singaporeans) below the age of 30 holding the ISIC, YIEE Card, or Youth Hostel Card receive unlimited travel on KTM for 7 days. The Eurotrain Explorer Pass-Malaysia is valid for second or economy class travel on all KTM services in Peninsular Malaysia (including Singapore).
A luxury train service, the Eastern and Oriental Express, which is modeled after the renowned Orient Express, is also available. The 41-hour round-trip journey from Singapore to Bangkok and back again passes through Kuala Lumpur as well as some of Malaysia's most beautiful regions.
The KTM Railpass offers all the benefits of first-class travel at economy rates. Railpass holders are allowed unlimited travel on any passenger train in Malaysia and Singapore for the duration of the railpass. The price for adults is US$55 for 10 days and US$120 for 30 days. For children between 4 and 12 years old, the Railpass is US$28 (10 days) and US$60 (30 days).
For only US$32, youths (not Malaysians or Singaporeans) below the age of 30 holding the ISIC, YIEE Card, or Youth Hostel Card receive unlimited travel on KTM for 7 days. The Eurotrain Explorer Pass-Malaysia is valid for second or economy class travel on all KTM services in Peninsular Malaysia (including Singapore).
A luxury train service, the Eastern and Oriental Express, which is modeled after the renowned Orient Express, is also available. The 41-hour round-trip journey from Singapore to Bangkok and back again passes through Kuala Lumpur as well as some of Malaysia's most beautiful regions.
By Bus:
Buses are the most popular form of transport in Malaysia. Air-conditioned express buses and non-air-conditioned regional buses are available from Kuala Lumpur to many other towns in Peninsular Malaysia.
Buses plying within towns and cities charge fares according to the distance covered.There are many buses company such as Intrakota, RapidKL, and CityLiner.
Buses plying within towns and cities charge fares according to the distance covered.There are many buses company such as Intrakota, RapidKL, and CityLiner.
By Car:
Limousine service is available from the airport to hotels in the city. To hire one, please enquire at the taxi counter.
Interstate taxis are an inexpensive and rapid means of travel from one state to another. The taxi stand in Kuala Lumpur is located on the level 2 of the Pudu Raya Bus Terminal. Fares for interstate taxis are fixed. Meters are generally not used by these taxis, so you should be sure to negotiate a fare before the journey.
City taxis are metered. In Kuala Lumpur taxis are easily recognizable by their black and yellow colour or the new red and white colour.
Taxi fares are calculated according to meters. The flagged down fare is RM 2.00 for the first two kilometers and 50 sen for every 200m there after.
There is no extra cost for air-conditioned taxis. A 50% surcharge on the fare from midnight to 6 am is normal.
Interstate taxis are an inexpensive and rapid means of travel from one state to another. The taxi stand in Kuala Lumpur is located on the level 2 of the Pudu Raya Bus Terminal. Fares for interstate taxis are fixed. Meters are generally not used by these taxis, so you should be sure to negotiate a fare before the journey.
City taxis are metered. In Kuala Lumpur taxis are easily recognizable by their black and yellow colour or the new red and white colour.
Taxi fares are calculated according to meters. The flagged down fare is RM 2.00 for the first two kilometers and 50 sen for every 200m there after.
There is no extra cost for air-conditioned taxis. A 50% surcharge on the fare from midnight to 6 am is normal.
Guided Tour:
Sightseeing tours can be arranged through the Tourist Information Centers or your hotel. All tours are accompanied by licensed tour guides; tour operators are required to be licensed under the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Tourism.
Self-drive Tours:
Roads in Malaysia are among the finest in the region. Auto touring is an excellent way to see the country via highways that pass through spectacular scenery and roads that pass through quaint villages.
An international driving permit or a valid drivers license issued by your government are required to drive in Malaysia. Rates for a car vary from RM60 to RM260 per day. Car rental can be arranged through your hotel or directly with a car rental company.
All international rules apply to tourists driving in the country. Minor road offences not involving accidents are compoundable and can be settled at the nearest police station.
Drivers on a self-drive holidays should keep in mind that traffic circulation is on the left. At roundabouts give way to the driver on your right.Drivers and front seat passengers are required by law to wear safety belts.
The Automobile Association of Malaysia (AAM) is the national motoring organisation of Malaysia. Tourists who are members of motoring organizations affiliated to AAM are given free reciprocal membership. Petrol (Unleaded) currently hike from RM1.92/liter to RM2.70/liter and for diesel hike to RM2.50.
An international driving permit or a valid drivers license issued by your government are required to drive in Malaysia. Rates for a car vary from RM60 to RM260 per day. Car rental can be arranged through your hotel or directly with a car rental company.
All international rules apply to tourists driving in the country. Minor road offences not involving accidents are compoundable and can be settled at the nearest police station.
Drivers on a self-drive holidays should keep in mind that traffic circulation is on the left. At roundabouts give way to the driver on your right.Drivers and front seat passengers are required by law to wear safety belts.
The Automobile Association of Malaysia (AAM) is the national motoring organisation of Malaysia. Tourists who are members of motoring organizations affiliated to AAM are given free reciprocal membership. Petrol (Unleaded) currently hike from RM1.92/liter to RM2.70/liter and for diesel hike to RM2.50.
Trishaws
Trishaws (bicycle rickshaws) are less a form of transport than a leisurely mode of touring. Although trishaws are much less prevalent these days, they are still a popular way to tour in Melaka, Georgetown, Kota Bahru, and Kuala Terengganu. Be sure to negotiate the price before you get in. A half day of sightseeing costs about RM25.
Motorcycles
Two-wheel transport is not generally available for hire in Malaysia. However, a growing number of resort destinations do offer cycles for hire.
Where to eat
The cheapest places to eat are hawker stalls and coffeeshops, known as kedai kopi in Malay or kopitiam in Chinese. Despite the name, these usually sell a lot more than coffee! Particularly popular and tasty are mamak stalls, run by Indian Muslims and serving up localized Indian fare. Most hawker stalls stay open till late and some even operate on shifts so you can find the same stall offering different food at different points throughout the day. You can also do take away from any stall, just ask for bungkus (Malay) or ta pao (Chinese). A hawker meal will rarely cost you over RM5.
One step up on the scale is the kedai makanan or the more Western-style restoran. A type to look out for is the nasi kandar restaurant (also known as nasi campur or nasi padang), with a vast range of curries and toppings to ladle on top of your rice.
Seafood restaurants (makanan laut) are comparatively pricy but still excellent value by most standards; do check prices before ordering though. Local prawns are gigantic, Chinese-style steamed fish is a treat and crab served with sticky chilli sauce is particularly popular.
Last but not least, some less adventurous options. Food courts in shopping malls are a good way to sample local delicacies in air-conditioned comfort, paying only a small premium over hawker prices. And yes, you can also find McDonalds, KFC, Pizza Hut and the usual suspects plus imitators throughout Malaysia.
The cheapest places to eat are hawker stalls and coffeeshops, known as kedai kopi in Malay or kopitiam in Chinese. Despite the name, these usually sell a lot more than coffee! Particularly popular and tasty are mamak stalls, run by Indian Muslims and serving up localized Indian fare. Most hawker stalls stay open till late and some even operate on shifts so you can find the same stall offering different food at different points throughout the day. You can also do take away from any stall, just ask for bungkus (Malay) or ta pao (Chinese). A hawker meal will rarely cost you over RM5.
One step up on the scale is the kedai makanan or the more Western-style restoran. A type to look out for is the nasi kandar restaurant (also known as nasi campur or nasi padang), with a vast range of curries and toppings to ladle on top of your rice.
Seafood restaurants (makanan laut) are comparatively pricy but still excellent value by most standards; do check prices before ordering though. Local prawns are gigantic, Chinese-style steamed fish is a treat and crab served with sticky chilli sauce is particularly popular.
Last but not least, some less adventurous options. Food courts in shopping malls are a good way to sample local delicacies in air-conditioned comfort, paying only a small premium over hawker prices. And yes, you can also find McDonalds, KFC, Pizza Hut and the usual suspects plus imitators throughout Malaysia.