In multiracial Malaysia, every type of cooking from southeast Asia can be tasted. Malay food concentrates on subtleties of taste using a blend of spices, ginger, coconut milk and peanuts. There are many regional types of Chinese cooking including Cantonese, Peking, Hakka, Sichuan and Taiwanese. Indian and Indonesian food is also popular. Korean, Thai and western food are available in restaurants throughout the country. Although the country is largely Islamic, alcohol is widely available.
Things to know: Table service is normal, and chopsticks are customary in Chinese restaurants.
Indian and Malay food is traditionally eaten with the fingers, but western cutlery is generally used. Set lunches, usually with four courses, are excellent value for money.
National specialties:• Sambal (a paste of ground chilli, onion and tamarind) is often used as a garnish or dip.
• Char Kway Teow (a dish of fried rice noodles with meat or fish) is a very popular and cheap quick meal.
• Ikan bilis (dried anchovies) are eaten with drinks.
• Satay (consists of a variety of meats, often chicken, barbecued on small skewers and served with a spicy peanut dipping sauce and a salad of cucumber, onion and compressed rice cakes).
• Gula Malacca (a firm sago pudding in palm sugar sauce).
National drinks: • Locally brewed beers such as
Tiger and
Anchor.
• The famous
Singapore gin sling.
• Sugar cane juice.
Tipping: 10% service charge and 5% government tax are usually included in bills, and added to the menu prices.
NightlifeKuala Lumpur has a good selection of reputable
nightclubs and
discos, most belonging to the big
hotels. Nightclubs generally stay open until 0500 or 0600 and usually request a cover charge which includes the first drink free. Many of Kuala Lumpur's bars have a happy hour, offering two drinks for the price of one, between 1700-2000/2100.
Bintang Walk is a lively spot and has a good selection of alfresco
bars and coffee shops.
Penang is also lively at night, larger hotels having cocktail lounges, dining, dancing and cultural
shows. There are night
markets in most towns, including both Kuala Lumpur and Penang Chinatown. Malay and Chinese
films often have English subtitles and there are also English films. The national lottery and Malaysia's only
casino at
Genting Highlands are government-approved and visitors are not supposed to gamble elsewhere.
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