Malaysian Cuisine: Making Sense of Southeast Asia's Most Complicated Food Culture(s)

For a foreigner, I'm surprised that you understood so well about the ethnic divide. Many people blame Chinese for stealing the wealth, many people blame the Malays for discrimination policies, many other blame the Indians for the crime, but in truth everyone is a victim to British policy of divide and rule. And as a Malaysian, I think our leaders did quite well by having cool heads during the independence and contained any sort of racial divide via diplomatic way. While it is not perfect, it is still better than forced assimilation and ethnic genocides that happened in various part of SEA. This is something that really go off from people's radar when talking about ethnic divide in Malaysia. You really did a good study for this trip. Hats off to you.

I once read that Malaysian cuisine is an attempt to answer the endless question of, "What in the world are we going to do with rice TODAY?"

Malaysia is not so much a melting pot of cultures but more like a salad bowl mix. Individual bits stand on its own but work better together with a shared dressing that binds everything together in a perfect bite 😊

Malaysia being difficult to understand leads to being under appreciated. Just the way locals like it 😂

I’m malay malaysian and I totally get it when people dont understand malaysian culture because I have a hard time explaining it to other nationalities. That being said, I’m so proud of our people being able to fully embrace their culture and identity that are totally separate from other cultures and identities but still very much Malaysian. Maintaining identities whilst harmonizing those identities with each other isn’t an easy feat and I’m glad we are able to do it despite so many racial tensions. Every ethnic group that existed during the time of our independence is rightfully Malaysian ❤

Malaysia is not a melting pot. We're a mosiac artwork. 😍

Hey, Melakan here. The amount of care and research taken in making this video is simply astounding. Never have I heard accurate mention of the complicated ties of Peranakan Chinese to the Malaccan Sultanate to the Kristang (which made me go !!! in real life - a real mention of the Kristang community in a Malaysian food documentary???)... this is genuinely a video of the ages. I'm sharing it with everybody I know. Thank you for this.

I think the 9 types of Malaysian laksa is a good OTR video 😂

A couple quick notes then location pins: 1) Getting a bit annoyed at the dozen or so comments going on long rants about how the origin story of the name "Nasi Lemak" is not true. Of course it isn't true. That's why we introduce it as a legend. But the really annoying part is that less than one minute later, we explain the actual meaning of Nasi Lemak. Please, in general, actually watch a video before posting an angry comment. However, that said, a couple things to clarify that are my fault. 2) I should have been clearer about the use of the term "Malay" instead of "Malaysian," in the context of "Chinese-Malaysian" or "Indian-Malaysian" etc. I made this choice intentionally, since most of this video is exploring history and the name "Malaysia" has only been in use since 1963. Prior to that, referring to any ethnic groups as (X)-Malay was the proper terminology. I felt like I should stay consistent throughout the video. However, I agree with a few of you who have pointed out that in a modern context, that's confusing. Will correct that phrasing in our next video. 3) Less important, but still misleading- when I say that Cempedek Goreng is "like fried Jackfruit" I understand it might come across as if it's the same fruit. It's not, it's a cousin, and well worth trying on its own as it's much sweeter and more flavorful than the common jackfruit. Anyway...thank you for watching, here are the location pins: 1) Nasi Lemak: /FmT73LrXBFLEAE4Q7 2) Kopitiam: /nNHGKSSGjkpNfJcw9 3) Smoked Duck Curry: /C98azFYmb9rH1ouT7 4) Ikan Bakar: /pPbZyiFANTagDzMt6 5) Sabah Linopot: /Ha7azjEW5xBjN7pe8 6) Roti Canai: /ZkVyyf9iDjVtuJSF8 7) Bak Kut Teh: /cce35ugSnbPEFrRD8how

Singapore has better marketing but the real food is in Malaysia

I'm a Malaysian living in California. I think what you are struggling with in describing Malaysia... is that the "seperate-ness" (that you've taken pains to mention on more than one occasion) is actually called integration - where everyone brings something to the table. As one of your other commenters aptly described it, integration is more of a salad than a melting pot... which would be assimilation. Because of its position on the trade routes, the mix of races has been around for longer than most parts of the world. The Malay language itself is an old trader/pirate lingua franca. They have had the time to learn how to live together. As such, the cultures have also borrowed from each other while still holding on to their own unique cultural profile. Sure, there has been and is a tension like in a tango... but part of the Malaysian 'special sauce or dressing' as it were, is the ability of not just living with each other... but also celebrating each other. And the food is only one reflection of that. The multiculturalism that works there is still a huge struggle in America. Cheers and adventure on!

Laksa alone has at least 10 variations across the nation, some look and taste very different from each other.

In all honesty, I don't think any true Malaysian would be 'bothered' that our food is often overlooked by most of the world. Even when our seablings claim their food is better, we will let them have their claim. Because WE Know how good our food really are and truly, that's all that matters. Burp.

As a Malaysian, I've been waiting for years to see you do a deep dive on my culinary heritage. Thank you for the signature depth you brought into this video, I enjoyed it IMMENSELY

Holy moly East Malaysia is included????? I'm so happy right now, most Youtubers covering Malaysian food only do Peninsula and forget we exist! And the historical photographs!!! And the historical citations!!! Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh

When it comes to Malaysia, where do you even start? Yet I'm so glad you managed to show the amazing and diverse food and culture of the country.

I think it's perhaps the most underrated cuisine there is. I spent six months there and loved the food, such flavours and diversity. My SIL who had travelled a lot in SE Asia asked my favourite cuisine and was a bit dubious when I said Malaysian. When she came back from KL & Penang she said she now understood.

That Sabah/Bornean segment in particular was special. I hope to try that myself when in KL soon.

Roti canai is god-tier

Malaysian cuisine is whatever they're cooking at the food stalls. And you're always guaranteed that it's gonna be banging