Throughout almost all of South-East Asia, with the possible exception of Sri Lanka, you can eat all day long in a wide variety of eateries. Food lovers will also find plenty to enjoy in Malaysia. The cuisine is extremely varied due to the large number of ethnic groups. Malay, Chinese, Indian and Thai dishes are available almost everywhere. People who have never been to Asia and are unfamiliar with the scene are always worried about food quality. This is understandable but completely unfounded. Because almost everyone eats out, there is a huge turnover. So, very fresh ingredients are always used. And meals are always freshly prepared for every order. And in a wok over a high heat… that doesn’t allow any bacteria to survive. Below is a chef in action for us; the fish was delivered two hours earlier. This little eatery is on the edge of the fish market in Kota Kinabalu (Sabah/Borneo).
And there is something else nice about this way of eating. The good eateries are known among the locals. And so, people stand there waiting for a seat. Every seat is occupied as much as possible, so you might end up sitting at a table with complete strangers. But that actually provides a nice opportunity for contact. The photo below was taken in Kuching, also in Malaysian Borneo (Sarawak). We are sitting at a table with a successful (and regionally known) business couple. They have breakfast here almost every day, because they love the Laksa Sarawak served here. That is a soup made according to a regional recipe with ingredients including bean sprouts, chicken, shrimp, coconut milk, lemongrass, and ginger.
And there is another advantage when it comes to local eateries. There is always someone who leaves the newspaper behind. So if you want, you can catch up on the latest news in no time!
My wife loves cooking and is always eager to discover local recipes. She then makes them at home. And all those ingredients are available in the Netherlands, as well as in Switzerland. This way, we experience our travels even more fully. And for anyone wanting to travel through Asia on their own and try the local eateries, our advice is: just do it; do look for a place that is well-attended, and pull up a chair. Enjoy your meal!