The Best Malaysian Food in Kuantan
Savor the flavors of Kuantan
Malaysia is often known as a food haven, with exquisite flavours from Malay, Chinese and Indian cuisines combined. Each place in this beautiful country has its own local favourites, with patronage from both Malaysians and foreigners alike. Most visitors to Cherating Beach will have to drive past Kuantan, the vibrant capital city of Pahang which has tons of amazing food that is worth stopping by for!
Here is a list of top five food to eat in Kuantan, with some of them located closer to Cherating:
Seafood
Due to its location by the sea, seafood is the most popular food offering in Kuantan and Cherating. While the types of fresh seafood available are the same, there are many ways these dishes can be cooked and this variety is what makes Malaysia so unique!
Malay seafood dishes tend to be spicier and grilled, utilising more spices and seasoning that will enhance the taste of fresh fish, prawns or squid. There are many small stalls in Kuantan and along the beach in Cherating that sell similar dishes such as “Ikan Bakar” (grilled fish) and “Sotong Goreng” (fried calamari). They are also often very affordable and delicious so be sure to pay them a visit! The most popular seafood stall in Kuantan, however, is Ana Ikan Bakar Petai located off the coast of Kuantan. The Ikan Bakar with Petai (a local vegetable known as stink beans) here is a crowd favourite so give that a try!
Meanwhile, Chinese seafood dishes tend to be steamed or stir-fried and are often more subtle in taste. They are still very delicious especially when eaten with a hot bowl of steaming rice! Alor Akar Restaurant in Kuantan is a good spot if you’d like to try their famous steamed fish and tiger butter prawns. Some restaurants also serve Chinese-Thai fusion dishes like the Assam Fish at Ah Wah Restaurant so do pay them a visit too.
Curry Laksa
Curry laksa is another popular Malaysian favourite, and can be eaten either as breakfast or lunch! It contains yellow noodles in a hot bowl of coconut curry soup, often served with chicken, tofu, beansprouts and cockles. The curry broth is not extremely spicy, but sure is fragrant and sweet and will be sure to leave you wanting more. You can try the best curry laksa which also happens to be halal at Hoi Yin Cafe in Kuantan.
Nasi Lemak
Nasi lemak, Malaysia’s national food and favourite breakfast dish may astound many as it is technically rice and chilli paste in the morning. Those who have tried this will attest that it is really the best way to start your day! Aromatic rice cooked with coconut milk and pandan leaves, served with a generous dollop of either prawn, onions or anchovies chilli paste, added with half-boiled eggs, peanuts and fried anchovies. You have to try it to love it!
The best nasi lemak in Kuantan can be found in Restaurant Zaman, though be sure to get there early as they often sell out early. If you missed it, don’t worry as nasi lemak is a popular dish that can be found in most Malay stalls in the morning.
Cendol
There is no better way to wash away the spiciness of Malaysian food but with a nice cold bowl of shaved ice with sweet coconut milk and palm sugar. This local dessert is also called Cendol, and can be found in roadside stalls or dessert shops. If you’d like to try the best Cendol in Kuantan, head towards Cendol Air Putih located at Jalan Air Putih for a taste of this wonderful dessert. You can also order the variant with glutinous rice inside for a more filling treat!
Local breakfast of kaya toast and coffee
One of the best things to do in Kuantan is to enjoy a leisurely breakfast in one of their old kopitiam (cafe) and watch the world go by. There are several local favourites in Kuantan but do check out Hai Peng Kopitiam for their freshly-roasted Hainanese coffee which you can enjoy hot or iced. Don’t forget to pair your coffee with kaya toast and soft-boiled eggs for a nutritious and hearty breakfast!
Similarly, you can find delicious kaya toast breakfast at Meng Fan cafe along Jalan Berserah as well as good coffee and nasi lemak.
If you are staying at Club Med Cherating, you will be pleased to find some of these dishes in any of our three restaurants, or try your hand at cooking your own Malaysian dish at our cooking class! Book a package with us today or speak to our customer service consultant to find out more.