Somewhere between Crazy Rich Asians and The Jungle Book lies a country that still remains a mystery to even some of the most well traveled people I know.

Malaysia has been a place that many travelers have asked us about, but few have actually gone. Overshadowed by the popularity of its neighboring countries, Malaysia is truly what you would call “off the beaten path” from most tourist vacation spots.

But even so, Malaysia is a place that yearns to be discovered—with rainforests, wildlife, and a melting pot of cultures, it is full of life and adventure. And an adventure for the tastebuds as well.

As our small group trips are centered around learning about the local culture through food, we figured it only appropriate to shine a light on some of our favorite dishes in one of our favorite destinations. So here is a little “taste” of some of the delicious treats you should expect to chow down on with us if you join us for our Discover Malaysia tour.

1. Char Kway Teow

This dish—considered a national favorite in Malaysia—literally means “stir-fried rice cake strips”, and is basically flat rice noodles stir fried with soy sauce, shrimp, belacan (shrimp paste), shelled blood cockles, chives, sausage, and bean sprouts.

2. Mangosteen

Not to be confused with your average mango, the mangosteen is a tasty, exotic fruit that you probably haven’t had before. Why? Because these natives to the islands of southeastern Asia are incredibly finicky about growing elsewhere, as well as incredibly difficult to ship, so you will rarely see them in supermarkets in the US. Their tropical, tangy-sweet flavor harkens a bit to the flavors of lychee, strawberry, peach, and pineapple.

3. Teh Tarik

This tea drink is made from black tea and sweetened condensed milk. The name is derived from the word "pulling" since it looks like they're pulling the tea from cup to cup to create the foamy froth on top.

4. Roti Canai

Where are my carb lovers at? This Indian-derived flat bread literally translates from Malay to “flying bread,” and gets its name by doing the same thing you would do with pizza dough: tossing it in the air to make it wider and flatter. This beauty can be eaten either savory or sweet, usually paired with dhal curry, fish, or curry chicken, and sometimes with sweetened condensed milk and bananas.

5. Beef Rendang

One of Malaysia’s best known dishes, this to-die-for beef curry stew is slow-cooked in spicy paste and coconut milk until the meat is fork tender, and then fried until the liquid caramelizes around the beef giving it an incredible depth of flavor.

Are you drooling yet?!

This off-the-beaten-path country is full of countless new foods to discover—this are just a short, short list of our favorites.

Now imagine eating a few of these while your bare feet dig into the white sands of a tropical beach, or at a table at the edge of a river deep in the rainforest.

Join us for our Malaysia tour to experience this country from the inside out with a guide who’s already scoped out the best places to eat, drink, and adventure.

Learn more about our Malaysia Tour

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