Malaysia is a foodie’s paradise. The food in Malaysia is delicious, inexpensive and diverse including Indian, Chinese, Malay, and international dishes along with an endless supply of street food. You can order anything from noodle soup or spicy Tom Yam to having traditional Indian food (both vegetarian and non-vegetarian) in a self-service restaurant. Everyone who visits loves the food in Malaysia and you will too.

Hawker Centers: Think of them as shopping malls for food — great food. For local cuisine, who needs a menu with pictures when you can walk around and select anything you want as it’s prepared before your eyes?

Gurney Drive (Penang, Malaysia): Penang is the king of Asian cuisine, from Chinese to Malay, to Indian and everything else in between. This large hawker center by the sea is a great introduction to Penang.Do try these dishes out when you are in Malaysia:

Malaysia’s popular dishes include Banana Leaf Rice, Nasi Dagang, Hokkien Char Mee, Sang Har Mee  and Rojak – Spicy Fruit & Vegetable Salad.

The Indian Banana Leaf restaurants where the food comes on a banana leaf rather than a plate, often has a free flow of rice and sides. This type of food may cost around RM 20 ($5) per person depending on the restaurant and location. Western food in Malaysia is more expensive. Pizza, burgers and spaghetti would cost anywhere between RM 15 ($3.60) and RM 50+ ($12) with most prices towards the higher end of the spectrum.

Another type of food in Malaysia is steamboat. The concept is that you pay for a soup base and have a buffet of different types of food including meat, fish, prawns, squid, vegetables and tofu to cook in the boiling soup. Depending on the location, expect to pay up to RM 50 ($12) per person excluding drinks.

One thing worth mentioning in Malaysia is the price of food varies depending on your location. Sarawak has lower prices for the same portion compared to Kuala Lumpur. A meal is likely to come to less than RM 4 ($1) compared to RM 10 ($2.40). Prices in Sabah are on par with those in Kuala Lumpur. Penang has a reputation for producing some of the best Malaysian food, which you can enjoy in one of the many food courts.

Malaysian food culture is all about finding and enjoying a delicious meal regardless of the environment. This means many of the recommendations from Malaysians won’t be Michelin-Star restaurants but rather food courts or Mamaks.

Alcohol is highly taxed so such drinks are not cheap in Malaysia. A mug of beer at a kedai kopi (cafe) will cost around RM7, and around RM15 and upward at bars and clubs. Anchor and Tiger beers are popular, as are locally brewed Carlsberg and Guinness. Craft beers are all imported and have hardly made a dent beyond a handful of bars in Kuala Lumpur. Speakeasy-style cocktail bars are all the rage in KL and George Town – some of the mixologists have come up with wonderful recipes based on local ingredients. Indigenous people have a soft spot for tuak (rice wine), which is an acquired taste – you’ll find it served at bars in Sarawak. Another rural favourite is the dark-coloured spirit arak, which is smooth and potent.