7 Best Surprising Foods To Try From Malaysian Night Market
Malaysia is renowned for its vibrant night markets, known as “pasar malam,” where you can immerse yourself in the country’s culinary delights. The City Councils will host these night markets in certain areas of KL and Selangor and vendors will apply for permit to open a stall during these weekly events. Depending on the area, stalls will be open as early as 4pm and it will go up till 10pm or some even till 12am!
Honestly speaking, I enjoy growing up in this cultural scene. I get to explore many food and as soon as dusk falls. The streets would come alive with the aromatic scents of sizzling food, tons of sweet treats, people clamoring to buy food and drinks after a hard day of work, and the cheerful banter of enthusiastic vendors – feels like home to me!
If you are just coming for a short visit, It would be overwhelming for you to try every single food in just one night and I don’t want you to go into a food coma. So, read on below to find out which foods you should try first.
Read Also:
- 5 Best Night Market in Petaling Jaya
- 13 Rare Foods in Malaysia Night Market
- 10 Wonderful Desserts to Try Now At Malaysia’s Night Market
- Quirky Drinks to Try at Malaysia’s Night Market
7 Best Surprising Foods To Try From Malaysian Night Market
1. Satay
Satay is a must-try dish at any night market. It is skewered marinated meat (typically chicken, beef, or mutton) that is grilled to perfection over open flames. It is served with a rich velvety peanut sauce. As you take your first bite, you’ll get a symphony of flavors in your mouth – the smoky char of the grill, the subtle sweetness of the marinade, and the delightful interplay of nutty goodness complements the tender meat.
If you are lucky, you might even find rare parts of the meat being grilled like chicken gizzards or chicken skin, which is yummy too! Sometimes, there are vendors that sell rare satay meat as well like deer or rabbit. Price ranges from RM0.80 to RM2.00 per skewer depending on the meat you are taking. My personal favorite to order every time I go to a night market has got to be 5 pieces of beef satay.
2. Nasi Lemak
Malaysia’s national dish. It consists of fragrant coconut rice served with sambal (spicy chili paste), fried anchovies, peanuts, and cucumber. If you want a more heartier meal, you can choose a wide variety of dishes to add to your meal such fried chicken, beef rendang, sambal kerang, ikan masak lemak and many more. If you have allergies to anchovies or even coconut, some vendor offer plain white rice and of course you can ask them to hold the anchovies too.
What I look forward to the most are the side dishes you can add. Different vendors have different specialty of side dishes that they can make. Price for just Nasi Lemak ranges from RM2-RM5 depending on the portion given by the vendor and if you add side dishes, normally it would add another RM5-6 on top of that. Total would be RM10-12 but definitely you will get a hearty meal our of it.
3. Char Kway Teow
Malaysian Char Kueh Teow is a beloved street food. It is a stir-fried noodle dish made with flat rice noodles, succulent shrimp, slices of tender chicken, crunchy bean sprouts, chives, and aromatic garlic. They have 2 version you can try – either the Malay or Chinese version.
The Malay version is seasoned with soy sauce, chili paste, bean sprout, chives and fish cake creating a more umami notes. The chinese version is more light in taste without the chili paste added in. The magic lies in the skillful wok hei, where the ingredients are cooked over high heat, imparting a smoky aroma and a hint of charred flavor. Prices start from RM3.50 to RM8.50 per packet.
4. Murtabak
This savory pancake is a good snack to eat after your meal! They would knead and stretch the dough, filled it with a flavorful mixture of minced marinated meat, usually chicken, beef, or mutton and some variations even incorporate scrambled eggs, chopped vegetables, or cheese into the filling, adding extra richness and depth.
Once the filling is generously spread over the dough, it is expertly folded, sealed and fried on a griddle. Served with a side of tangy and spicy dipping sauce, such as pickled onions or a refreshing cucumber relish – this meal would be hard to pass. Prices starts from RM5 – RM10 depending on the meat or filling that is packed inside the dough.
5. Apam Balik
Our “flipped pancake” is another good after dinner meal you can enjoy. But this, unlike the murtabak, is a sweet and crispy pancake filled with a delectable mixture of crushed peanuts, sugar, and creamed corn. They come in mini or normal version.
The mini version is a thin layer of batter poor into a hot girdle and turns out crispy in the end where as the normal version is more thicker and more pancake in nature. Some vendors add extra filling like chocolate and cheese on top too! Prices range from RM4 to RM8.
6. Laksa Penang
An aromatic noodle soup from northern Malaysia but enjoyed all over. At its core, Laksa Penang features a flavorful broth made from a base of fish and shrimp stock, infused with aromatic herbs and spices such as lemongrass, galangal, and chili. The broth is simmered to perfection, allowing the flavors to meld together, creating a fragrant and mildly spicy base.
The noodles used in Laksa Penang are typically thick rice noodles, which soak up the delicious broth and provide a satisfying chewy texture. The soup is then generously garnished with an array of toppings like grilled fish, hard boil egg, cilantro, mint or even tofu puffs! Price are pretty affordable too at RM4-RM8.
7. Curry Laksa
Coming down to our Southern Malaysia dish, this Curry Laksa is pack full of flavor and a must try. The soup base is typically made with a combination of coconut milk and a blend of aromatic spices, including turmeric, coriander, cumin, and chili.
It’s paired with thick rice noodles or vermicelli, which soak up the flavors of the broth, and a medley of toppings such as tender chicken or beef slices, succulent shrimp, tofu puffs, fish balls, and bean sprouts and many more. Price range are the same at it start from RM4-RM8.
Tips!
- Travel with a friend or two so each of you can buy a few meals per person and share. That way you can all try all these different delicacies.
- Set a budget per person. I always set a budget of RM20 max per person.
- Eco friendly – bring a reusable container. Vendors are more then happy to pack your food in a reusable container.
- Bring an umbrella – it might rain and you don’t want to be caught in it.
- Shoes – you dont want to step in a puddle while on your flip flops.
- Pick Pocket – be mindful of your belongings or people bumping into you.
Hope you all have an enjoyable experience and do share your favorite food here!
