Local cuisine was influenced by Malaysian, Chinese, and Indian cuisine, and her flavor is different in different areas. The main characteristic of traditional Malay cuisine is the using of spices. Almost every Malaysian meal is served with rice, which is also the main meal in many other Asian cultures. Local people eat the food by fingers of her right hand.
Typical breakfast ROTI in several variants
The word ROTI can be translated as BREAD, but it is not the same as in the Czech Republic. The bread looks like a pancake. In other countries, for example, it is translated as an Indian pancake or so-called flying bread. It is said that this meal is from India and thanks by Indian Muslims is in Malaysia.
It is made of a dough consisting of fat, flour, and water. The dough is repeatedly kneaded, oiled and folded. You can add another ingredient and “wrap” it to the dought.
Variations of ROTI
ROTI KOSONG, ROTI PLAIN – only “empty” bread
ROTI CANAI – with curry sauce
ROTI TELLUR – with an egg
ROTI PLANTA – with margarine
ROTI SARDIN – with sardines
ROTI BAWANG – with onion
ROTI PISANG – with banana
ROTI MILO – with cocoa powder and sweetened condensed milk
ROTI BOOM – smaller but thicker pancake with sugar and margarine
Recommended restaurant on Langkawi:
Roti Canai Terlajak Sedap
Kampung Yooi, 07000 Langkawi, Kedah, Malaysia
MURTABAK
A thicker pancake filled with a mixture of eggs, meat, onions, and spices. In Thailand, it is called “Mataba“. It is made from the same dough that is used to make ROTI. You can find it, especially in night markets.
NASI GORENG (fried rice)
If you only order NASI GORENG, you get fried rice with vegetables. Sometimes it happens that you also get a fried egg. If you would like meat (chicken), you have to add AYAM, so the whole name of the food will be NASI GORENG AYAM. If you don´t have the egg in the basic version and you would like it, just order NASI GORENG TELLUR.
Be careful! GORENG AYAM, NASI (PUTIH) – they’ll bring you fried chicken in some batter and boiled rice.
MEE GORENG (fried noodles)
The same case, but instead of rice, you have noodles. If you want meat (chicken), order MEE GORENG AYAM and if an egg, then MEE GORENG TELLUR.
* Bihun mee – thin rice noodles (for me it was the best in the soup)
BIHUN SUP
Soup with thin rice noodles. Strong broth with cooked chicken, green vegetables and peanuts. You can add more sauces, but the basic option is delicious too.
NASI PAPRIK AYAM
A mixture of vegetables and chicken, enriched with chili paste. It served with boiled rice.
NASI GORENG PATTAYA
Fried rice with vegetables wrapped in an egg omelet. It is often served with chili sauce, tomato ketchup, and cucumber slices.
Recommended restaurant on Langkawi:
Warung Haikal
Kampung Mawar, 07000 Langkawi, Kedah, Malaysia
NASI LEMAK
It is considered Malaysian national food. Rice is cooked in coconut milk, served with a piece of meat (chicken, beef, fish), curry sauce, chili sauce, roasted peanuts with dried anchovies, cucumber and boiled egg.
Recommended restaurant on Langkawi:
Nasi Lemak Panas Mak Teh
Kampung Lubok Buaya,
07000 Langkawi, Kedah, Malaysia
KETUPAT
Compressed rice cooked in palm leaves.
SOTTO
Traditional soup with chicken, noodles, pieces of rice, vegetables, nuts and several kinds of spices.
SATAY
One of the most popular dishes in Malaysia. Marinated beef or chicken grilled on charcoal. It is usually served with onions, cucumber, and spicy peanut sauce.
CHICKEN RICE
It is one of the most popular Chinese dishes in Malaysia. It is prepared by the traditional method. In total, 27 ingredients are needed and everything is fresh. Chicken is served with rice, pure strong broth and chili sauce.
Recommended restaurant on Langkawi:
Langkawi Hainanese Chicken Rice
Jalan Padang Matsirat, Kuah,
07000 Langkawi, Kedah, Malaysia
GORENG PISANG (fried banana)
If you are looking for a dessert, you will see in many places a favorite delicacy – fried banana in the batter. When eating, be careful, the bananas are fried in half and very often in each banana are several hard big seeds, so ATTENTION on the teeth 🙂
PLANT SWEETS (green mini desserts)
Mostly they are green coconut balls, cakes or pancakes. The green color is obtained by adding the powder from the plant. Balls and pancakes are mostly filled with palm sugar and grated coconut. You can buy it in the night market or sometimes you can buy them in local restaurants (e.g. Warung Haikal)
AIS KACANG (ABC)
The base of the dessert consists of ice, colored syrup, and condensed milk. It is also enriched with sweet corn, red beans, buah atap (fruit of nip palm), soaked basil, peanuts, and ice cream.
CENDOL
Smooth green spaghetti made from mungo beans or rice flour. Served with chilled coconut milk and sugar.
Recommended AIS KRIM (ice cream) on Langkawi:
Gelato Cabana Ice Cream
near Cenang beach
07000 Langkawi, Kedah, Malaysia
Buffet style restaurant
In Malaysia, buffet restaurants are very popular. You can take everything that you see and after then they tell you the final price. Don´t worry, the price is not so high. E.g. rice with one piece of chicken, sauce and vegetable mix cost about 6 RM (about 30 CZK). However, if you choose seafood, sometimes the price is calculated according to how many pieces you take (e.g. shrimps) and the meal is more expensive e.g. 10 RM (50 CZK).
Recommended restaurants on Langkawi:
Restoran Atta Shoor
a short walk from the airport
10, Jalan Lapangan Terbang,
07100 Langkawi, Kedah, Malaysia
Warung Jati Aisya
5, Jalan Chandekura, Kampung Bukit Lembu,
07000 Langkawi, Kedah, Malaysia
few basic words from the Malaysian menu:
NASI = rice MEE = noodles
AYAM = chicken DAGGING = beef
IKAN = fish TELLUR = egg
SUP = soup SAYUR = vegetable
BUAH = fruit GORENG = fried
TEH = tea KOPI = coffee
MILO = “a local sweet choco drink” SUSU = milk
GULA = sugar GARAM = salt
PANAS = hot SEJUK = cold
AIS = ice
Beverages
TEH TARIK
Beloved Malay Beverage. The tea is sweetened with condensed milk. A similar option is KOPI TARIK (coffee with condensed milk).
MILO
Sweet chocolate drink popular with all generations. The powder is mixed with hot water and condensed milk. If you want a cold option, you get extra ice.
LASSI
Lassi is a mixture of yogurt, water, spices and sometimes fruits.
Other restaurants
SUSHI KING
It’s not local, but if you like sushi, this place is great and at incredibly low prices. If you arrive during the Happy hour (3 – 6 pm), you will get a 20% discount. Sushi King is spread over multiple locations. You can find him both in Langkawi and Kuala Lumpur.
Address on Langkawi:
Cenang Mall, FF4, Lot 2605, Jalan Pantai Cenang,
Kampung Lubok Buaya, 07000 Langkawi, Kedah, Malaysia
Address in Kuala Lumpur (KLCC, under “twins”):
16, Signature Food Court, Suria KLCC Shopping Center,
Jalan Pinang, Kuala Lumpur City Center, 50450 Kuala Lumpur,
Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
YASMIN SYRIAN RESTAURANT
If you prefer Arabic cuisine, I recommend this restaurant. We were around 3 times and I can say that they have excellent naan, hummus, BBQ mix, and soup.
Address on Langkawi:
Jalan Pantai Cenang, Kampung Lubok Buaya,
07000 Langkawi, Kedah, Malaysia
TULSI GARDEN
If you want to enjoy the authentic Indian cuisine, definitely go here. There are both meat dishes and vegetarian variations.
Address on Langkawi:
No. 6, Lot 2863, Jalan Teluk Baru, Pantai Tengah,
07000, Pulau Langkawi, Kedah, Malaysia