12 Malaysian Street Food Dishes That You Should Try

Just like the country itself, Malaysian street food is exciting, eclectic and bursting with myriad flavors. With its Chinese, Thai and Indian influences, the best Malaysian food will blow your mind with a range of dishes that use interesting and exotic ingredients to create a palate-satiating fare. Do try all these delicious dishes on your next trip to Malaysia.

12 Malaysian Street Food Delights

From the famous Jalan Alor food street to the Gurney Drive, you can feast your senses and your tummy on a Malaysian street food tour from Kuala Lumpur to Penang. Let us take you along on this culinary hunt for the best Malaysian street food:

1. Penang Assam Laksa (Rice Noodles In Fishy Soup)

Malaysian street food recipes vary in different parts of the country. In Penang the humble noodle soup dish (laksa) is transformed into a tangy and delightful concoction by adding Assam (tamarind) and many more flavourful herbs, making it one of the most popular Malaysian street foods. Flat thick rice noodles and mackerel shavings give the broth its flavor while lemongrass, ginger flower, and Vietnamese mint leaves tantalize your taste buds with every spoonful. Add just a scoop of shrimp paste to this mix and you’re in for a treat!

Where: Pasar Air Itam Laksa, 1, Jalan Pasar, 11500, Ayer Itam, Penang
When: Every day, 11:30AM-8PM. Rate: RM 4.50

---

Malaysia Holiday Packages On TravelTriangle

Go on a trip to Malaysia. Explore it’s lush green landscapes, tropical rainforests or magnificent underwater world. Book customized packages by expert agents on TravelTriangle. Inclusive of airport transfers, cab, resort, sightseeing and meals. Lowest Prices Guaranteed. Book Now

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  

2. Rojak (Fruit And Vegetable Salad)

Don’t let the name deceive you into wondering what a salad is doing on the best Malaysian street food list. This quintessentially Malaysian variant is a sweet and sour preparation of assorted fruits and vegetables in shrimp sauce garnished with crushed peanuts. It typically uses turnips, cucumber, green mangoes, bean sprouts, fried tofu, and green apples. The Penang style rojak uses guava and honey too; the final dressing of sugar, chili, lime juice, and shrimp paste suffuses the dish with its unique flavor.

Where: Asyiq Dang Wangi, Jalan Kamunting, 50300, City Center,
When: 8AM-2:30PM

3. Ipoh Hor Fun

These unique flat rice noodles found nowhere else in the world have not just a delightful taste but also an interesting story to tell. Brought to Malaysia by the Chinese immigrants at Ipoh (in Perak State), these noodles are said to get their unmatched flavour by using the special spring water from limestone hills around Ipoh. The rice noodles are served in a rich chicken and prawns broth with shredded chicken, prawns, mushrooms, spring onions, fish balls, et al. Also called Kai See Hor Fun, they are sometimes served with hot chillies in soy sauce.

Where: Thean Chun’s stall in Old Town, Ipoh.

4. Hokkien Mee

Brought to Malaysia by the Hokkien immigrants from China, this is another Malaysian food offering a flavor overload with its range of ingredients. Yellow egg noodles cooked in a dark soy sauce are then topped with pork meat, squid, prawns, and pork lard. A little sambal balacan gives it a nice spicy hint. The Penang variant is cooked in shrimp stock and garnished with fish cake, spring onions, and lime to give it a distinct flavor, while keeping the basic dish same.

Where: Fatt Kee Hokkien Mee, 183, Jalan Imbi, 55100, City Center, Kuala Lumpur
When: 5PM-midnight

5. Lok Lok/Satay Celup

Literally meaning “dip dip” this is one ubiquitous Malaysian street food that offers a variety of tastes in a single satiating meal. The idea is to choose from a range of Malaysian food skewers with varying prices, and dip them in a steaming hot delicious broth. This fun way of community eating around a single clay hotpot is now hugely popular through food trucks around the cities. The semi-cooked skewers include meatballs, prawn, cockles, etc which are dipped in either hot peanut sauce or boiling soup stock.

Where: Numerous stalls along Jalan Alor food street, Kuala Lumpur

6. Nasi Lemak

Though Nasi Lemak is known the world over and available at most restaurants and cafes, nothing beats the fresh banana leaf packages sold on the streets. This popular Malaysian food is primarily a delicious and sumptuous rice breakfast dish. The delicious coconut cooked rice is perfectly served with boiled egg, cucumbers and fried anchovies in shrimp paste and chili sauce. This fragrant rice dish is apparently considered as the national dish of Malaysia.

Where: Jalan Pantai Jerjak, Penang

7. Chee Cheong Fun

Chee Cheong Fun is originally a Cantonese dish belonging to southern China and Hong Kong, yet it is popular in Malaysia. Perfect as a hearty breakfast or a satiating mi-day Malaysian snack, this rice noodle dish is a must-feature on every Malaysian street-food list for its simple yet flavourful offering. Though similar too yet distinct from the rice-noodle rolls sold at dimsum stalls, this one uses thick rice noodles in a dark sweet shrimp sauce with some chilli sauce.

Where: A small stall outside of Seow Fong Lye Cafe, 94C, Macalister Lane, 10400 Penang.
When: 7:30am-12:30pm

8. Chendol

This creamy and flavourful Malaysian dessert is a must-try for those with a sweet tooth and an appetite for unusual and interesting dishes. Prepared with coconut milk, palm sugar syrup, and ice shavings, Chendol is usually served in a tall glass or a bowl. The green jelly-like noodles made from mung-bean flour and food coloring (from the pendan leaf, a vanilla like plant) give the dish its unique taste and drool-worthy appearance. Many vendors also garnish it with diced jackfruit and sweetened red beans called ‘durian’ before serving you this delightful Malaysian street food in Kuala Lumpur.

Where: Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul. 27 & 29, Lebuh Keng Kwee, George Town, Penang.
When: Mon-Fri, 10.30am-7pm; Sat & Sun, 10am-7.30pm

9. Char Kuey Teow

One of the most flavourful noodle preparations among the best Malayasian food, this smoky version is a must try when visiting the country. Flat rice noodles cooked in a traditional Chinese wok at high flame, turn to this aromatic delight with a distinct smoky flavour. Soy sauce, prawns, bean sprouts, spring onions and sausages lend their flavours and taste to make it the king of Malay noodle dishes. The noodles are usually cooked in small batches to retain the smoky aroma. Certain special versions are peppered with mantis prawns and crabs.

Where: Top Kitchen Penang Char Kuey Teow, 21, Jalan 9/62a, Bandar Manjalara, 52200 , 52200, Kepong, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
When: 3:30PM-9:30PM

10. Batu Maung Satay (Grilled Meat On Skewers)

No Malaysian street food market is complete without the huge open ovens loaded with meat skewers being char-grilled to perfection. Marinated pork, chicken and beef pieces on bamboo skewers are served smoky hot with peanut sauce, cucumber chunks and raw onions. The sight of enthusiastic satay vendors fanning their ovens to serve you these perfectly grilled yummy chunks is enough to set your stomach rumbling!

Where: numerous vendors on Lorong Baru Street, Penang

11. Apom Balik

Image Source
Apom Balik is an unusual panckae that you will only find in the streets of Malaysia. The panckae is made from sticky rice with a creamy corn side. It is very common street food in South East Asia. It is sweet, eggy,and fluffy. You will aslo find a peanut filling inside the panckae that offers a crunchy and peanut-ty taste to the pancake. The giant size panckae should be on your list of Malaysia street food to try when you visit this country next.

12. Fried Bee Hoon

This is a simple yet delicious Malaysian breakfast which one must definitely try on their vacation to the country. Quite common with the locals there, it is an easily available and loved Malaysian street food. If you are at the Sentosa resort, then it is even easier to get yourself a plate of Fried Bee Hoon at the Malaysian food street in Sentosa. The dish is basically rice vermicelli topped with sausages, fried eggs, and whatever one wants to eat.

The New Foodie Destination in Malaysia!

Craving to discover tantalizing culinary treasures on your next vacation? Pack your bags and head to Ipoh right now to indulge the gourmand in you – UNABASHED AND GUILT-FREE!

While the fascinating Old Town streets, limestone caves and historic landmarks are a must-see in Ipoh, what you can’t afford to miss here is its epic gastronomic delights! Turning heads with its mushrooming food culture lately, especially the amazing traditional staples – this city is giving a tough competition to Kuala Lumpur and Penang as a culinary hotspot.

So, if you are a food-obsessed traveller, here’s a roundup of some signature food and beverages that you must try in Ipoh...

Ipoh White Coffee

For all the caffeine addicts out there, tasting Ipoh’s white coffee is something that you must tick off from your coffee bucket list. White coffee is not called so because of its colour: it is named so due to its unique roasting process. Infusing slow roasting formulas in low temperature, Ipoh’s white coffee is thicker and more aromatic than the normal coffee. The layers of rich flavours coupled with the aroma of freshly roasted beans are simply to die for! Since Ipoh also happens to be the place of origin of this delightful beverage, you’ll find various canteen-like white coffee shops (locally referred to as Kopitiams) sprinkled all across the city. 

Our Recommendations:

Kedai Kopi Ah Chow

Ever wondered how your favourite espresso, when mixed with liquor, would taste like? Well, at Ah Chow, you can try Kopi o Kosong – featuring traces of alcohol in a deliciously brewed cup of coffee.

Location: 31 Jalan Bandar Timah, Negeri Perak, Malaysia

Chang Jiang White Coffee

A favourite among the locals and tourists alike, Chang Jiang White Coffee not only serves a strikingly unique recipe of white coffee, but is also famous for its appetizing Chinese delicacies. Exuding an old-world charm, the rustic décor of this café is sure to win your heart.

Location: 7, Jalan Windsor, Ipoh 

Nam Heong White Coffee

Touted as one of the oldest coffee shops in Ipoh, hop over to its iconic branch in Jalan Bandar Timah for a memorable breakfast. Its moderately intense (yet gorgeously frothy) white coffee is just perfect! That being said, do try the yummy Dim Sums and Curry Noodles while you’re here.

Location: 2, Jalan Bandar Timah, Ipoh

Read More: Best Hotels in Malaysia: 3 for Every Budget

Curry Mee

This specialty owes its existence to the Chinese immigrants of Malacca and its popularity is visible in many other Southeastern countries such as Indonesia and Singapore too. The noodle soup is cooked with an interesting mix of ingredients, that usually include fish sticks, cockles, and bean curd puffs (a tofu sort of food item). In Ipoh, curry mee is made from using a variety of noodles — ranging from wheat based to Hakka bamboo-pressed noodles. 

Our Recommendations:

Restoran Xin Quan Fang

Formerly known as Ma ta Liu (Police Station) owing to its proximity to the police station, the curry noodles at this hawker stall are on the radar of many foodies. Popular for its soup-based curry noodles, it’s one of the most frequented street-side joints in Ipoh. Make sure to reach here early because they run out of noodles pretty quick!

Location: 174, Jalan Sultan Iskandar, Taman Jubilee, Ipoh, Negeri Perak

Kedai Kopi Nam Chau

Bringing together coffee and noodle lovers under one roof, Kedai Kopi Nam Chau is a must-try as far as the delightful Curry Mee is concerned. Known for its appetizing dry curry noodles, don’t forget to order Cham (a signature Cantonese drink made by combining tea and coffee) when here.

Location: 54, Jalan Bandar Timah, Ipoh

Sun Seng Fatt Curry House

Serving the best ’smooth’ curry noodle bowls dipped in coconut milk, Sun Seng Fatt is famous for its deliciously unique curry paste. Toss some chilli paste and lime juice over your Curry Mee bowl here for an out-of-the-world experience!

Location: 18, Hala Datuk 5, Ipoh

Read More: 10 Things that Make Malaysia the Best Holiday Destination for Indians

Bean Sprout Chicken

Considered to be one of the most sought-after signature dishes in Ipoh, your trip is bound to be incomplete if you do not try a heavenly bowl of Bean Sprout Chicken. With ingredients like chicken meat, chicken innards, and locally grown beansprouts, blanched and dipped in soy sauce and sesame oil, this dish is also known as ‘Nga Choy Kai’.

Our Recommendations:

Restoran Tauge Ayam Lou Wong

Make your way to Lou Wong for some of the best blanched-bean sprouts in the city. Since it’s one of the oldest and the most trusted Nga Choy Kai food joints here, make sure to grab a seat as early as possible because it usually gets crowded.

Location: 49, Jalan Yau Tet Shin, Taman Jubilee, Ipoh

Cowan Street Ayam Tauge & Koitiau Restaurant

If you want a flavoursome plate of Bean Sprouts Chicken, this is where you must head to. Apart from their crunchy chicken bowl, the place is also famous for serving the best flat rice noodles across the city.

Location: 44, Jalan Raja Ekram, Kampung Jawa, Ipoh

Yoon Kee Bean Sprouts Chicken

Located in one of the most frequented hawker centres in Medan Selera Stadium, this little eatery has been winning hearts for a couple of decades now. Go here for a lip-smacking plate of smooth poached chicken and rice along with bean sprouts.

Location: 23, Medan Selera Stadium Ipoh, Ipoh

Read More: 7 Fun Things to Do in Malaysia

Ready for your gastronomical adventure in Ipoh?

How To Balance Parenting Life And A Freelance Job

As a stay-at-home parent, the idea of building a freelance career while parenting can feel overwhelming. You already have a full-time job watching the kids, so how can you fit in any more work?

Yet many parents are able to successfully balance parenting life and a freelance job. 

With some discipline, time management, and a few tips and tricks, you can have the best of both worlds and make extra money while doing it.

Manage Your Schedule Like A Pro

Juggling childcare and a freelance career means every second of your time is valuable. Whether in a paper planner or an app on your phone, keep a calendar and a to-do list so you’ll always know when projects are due and what tasks to work on each day. 

Share your event calendar with family members so they can track when you’re busy as well as family events.

If you find it hard to fit in all your tasks, try tracking your time for a week. See where you have downtime or activities you can cut out. 

Not everyone wants to work in the evenings or on weekends, but if you don’t mind keeping non-standard hours, you can get more done. If your partner is home in the evenings, you can let them babysit while you focus on your work. 

Whatever days your partner is off work altogether, consider splitting up childcare throughout the day so you each have time to focus on your own projects.

Other ways to manage your time better include:

• Work while your children are napping. One way to help older children nap easier is to plan activities during the first half of the day that keeps them busy and physically engaged.
• Wake up earlier in the morning to squeeze in some work time before your children are awake. These quiet hours provide an excellent opportunity to brew a cup of coffee and write uninterrupted.
• Set specific times to check email and social media. If you need to check email or update a blog or social media account for work, set specific times during the day for those tasks. Use a timer to ensure you don’t spend all your work time reading email or updating Facebook. For personal accounts, limit usage to short breaks throughout the day.

Keeping a schedule will make you more efficient, and the more efficiently you work, the more money you can make.

Make Every Minute Count

When you envision what a freelance writer’s day looks like, you might see someone in a home office hard at work for hours at a time.

Yet one of the benefits of freelancing is the ability to work from anywhere, even if it’s only for a few minutes. 

When you have a few minutes to yourself, brainstorm, research, or outline your next article on paper or your smartphone. You can do this from anywhere, whether you’re waiting for your children after school or standing in line at the grocery store. 

While you work on chores, you can take advantage of voice-to-text to continue writing even when your hands are full. Working during small chunks of downtime throughout the day can add up to a completed project.

Other opportunities to multitask daily tasks and work include:

• Dictate to a hands-free device while you’re in the car to capture ideas.
• Use a smartphone or tablet to write while waiting for appointments.
• Use voice recognition to write or take notes while you prepare meals.

Don’t underestimate the power of technology to help stay organized. A variety of apps, from planners to parenting tips, can help you and your family organize your lives. 

Family members can add events to calendars and items to grocery lists. You can share appointments and travel plans. Your smartphone can be one of your greatest weapons for saving time.

Create A Support System

Sometimes even the best schedules and time-saving tricks can’t help you manage it all. If you have too much on your plate for even Super Woman to handle alone, consider a support system. 

There are cheaper options for childcare than a professional sitter or daycare, including:

• Retired family members who live nearby.
• Other moms in the area willing to take turns watching the neighborhood kids.
• High school students out of school for the summer.

When you need to work and there is no one to watch the children, consider visiting a library or the local gym. 

Gyms often have a designated childcare area included in the memberships, and it is much cheaper than a professional sitter. The library is a good way to research and write while your children read or play on the computer. 

Kids can also work on their own homework during the school year. If your library offers activities such as storytime, your children can attend those events while you work on the computer.

Other ways to free up more time for your work include delegating tasks. 

While your partner and older children can help out with household chores, you can also hire a professional. 

Many grocery stores offer pickup and delivery services for a small fee, and this will drastically cut down on your shopping time. 

Hiring an occasional cleaner will reduce the hours you spend on housework. Though it will cost money, sometimes your time is more valuable than what you spend.

Conclusion

Whether you need a second income to support your family or you have a dream career you want to pursue, you can successfully navigate a freelance career while raising your children. 

Start delegating tasks to others and identifying the downtime in your schedule you can use for work. Soon you’ll discover you have more time than you previously thought. 

By the time your children are older, you’ll have an impressive portfolio and the skills to continue growing your career to new heights.

10 Best Polish Foods Everyone Should Try

Polish cuisine is often an unexpected highlight of many people’s trip thanks to the country’s food culture that's every bit as rich as other European nations. Packed full of flavour and calories, many of the best Polish foods are rich, meaty, and served in belly busting portions. Here are the best dishes in Poland that you shouldn’t miss.

1

Pierogi

Pierogi are Polish crescent-shaped dumplings that can be boiled, fried or baked and come with a variety of fillings. The most typical fillings include cabbage and mushrooms, potato and cheese, or simply meat – usually pork or beef.

A sweet variety of pierogi is not uncommon either. Among these, the most popular ones are filled with cottage cheese and raisins or fruit.

GOOD FOR:

• Food

2

Bigos

This cabbage-based stew is an absolute must on the Christmas table of every single Polish household. It typically consists of both fresh and fermented cabbage, different kinds of meat chopped into chunks, various kinds of Polish sausages, onions, dried forest mushrooms and a plethora of herbs and spices like bay leaves, cloves, nutmeg, marjoram and others.

A variety of meats is considered essential when making bigos – the more types, the better.

GOOD FOR:

• Food

photo by Jennifer Morrow (CC BY 2.0) modified

3

Placki ziemniaczane

Classic potato pancakes, Placki ziemniaczane are made of a combination of eggs, grated potatoes and onion, then fried in oil until crispy. They’re served with a variety of condiments that range from savoury ones like sour cream or gravy to sweet ones like apple sauce or sugar.

GOOD FOR:

• Food

4

Barszcz

Barszcz is a beetroot soup that can be served either hot or cold and is typically served with uszka – ravioli-type small dumplings filled with meat or cabbage and mushrooms. The recipe varies between different families, and different vegetables like tomato or carrots may be added, changing the consistency of the soup depending on the local tradition.

Uszka literally means "little ears" – the name comes from the shape of the dumplings.

GOOD FOR:

• Food

photo by Lablascovegmenu (CC BY 2.0) modified

5

Gołąbki

One of the best Polish food you can try is in the form of a cabbage roll. Gołąbki is minced meat, chopped onions and rice wrapped in a cabbage leaf that creates a sort of envelope or pocket, which is then cooked in tomato sauce. This hearty dish is typically eaten for lunch or early dinner. Gołąbki means "little pigeons".

GOOD FOR:

• Food

photo by Quinn Dombrowski (CC BY-SA 2.0) modified

6

Pączki

This staple Polish treat differs from what we know as doughnuts in that it doesn't have a hole, but is a flattened sphere of dough typically filled with rosehip jam, vanilla pudding or chocolate, and then deep fried. They are also usually covered with powdered sugar or icing and sprinkled with freeze-dried orange zest.

The last Thursday before Lent is called Tłusty czwartek ("Fat Thursday") in Poland, and one is supposed to celebrate this last feast before the long period of fasting by eating a lot of doughnuts.

GOOD FOR:

• Food

7

Żurek

Żurek is a soup made of soured rye flour that usually contains pieces of boiled pork sausage and a hard-boiled egg. It is very typical during the Easter season and can sometimes be served in an edible bowl made of bread.

GOOD FOR:

• Food

photo by Dr. Bernd Gross (CC BY-SA 4.0) modified

8

Flaki

The name of this soup is derived from its main ingredient – thin cleaned strips of beef tripe. It usually contains a wide variety of vegetables and aromatic herbs, but the recipe varies widely across different regions of Poland.

GOOD FOR:

• Food

photo by Duc Ly (CC BY-SA 2.0) modified

9

Oscypek

Oscypek is a smoked cheese made of salted sheep milk, produced in the Tatra Mountains region. It can be used as an ingredient in meat dishes and salads or eaten on its own as a snack. It is then typically grilled and served with cranberry sauce.

GOOD FOR:

• Food

10

Kiełbasa

The world-famous Polish kiełbasa is simply a sausage, but nearly every region of Poland has its own variety. They can be produced from different kinds of meat, have different seasoning and shapes, and can be prepared in different ways.

The most popular kinds of kiełbasa are kabanosy (thin, dried pork sausage with caraway seeds), krakowska (thick, smoked sausage with pepper and garlic from the Cracow region) and biała (white sausage that is sold uncooked and is often used in soups).