1. Pisang Goreng – Crispy Fried Bananas
Sweet bananas coated in light batter, deep-fried until golden. Crispy outside, soft and caramelised inside! A perfect afternoon pick-me-up.
2. Keropok Lekor – Terengganu’s Chewy Fish Cracker
Made from fish paste and sago flour, this East Coast favourite is deep-fried until slightly crisp with a soft, springy centre. Best dipped in spicy-sweet chili sauce.
3. Apam Balik – Peanut Pancake
A thick or thin pancake folded with crushed peanuts, sugar, and sometimes sweet corn. Its warm, nutty filling makes it a pasar malam staple.
4. Rojak Buah – Tangy Fruit Salad
A colourful mix of tropical fruits tossed with sweet, spicy shrimp-paste sauce and sprinkled with crushed peanuts. Refreshing and addictive.
5. Satay – Skewers of Charcoal-Grilled Meat
Juicy marinated meat skewers grilled over open flames, served with peanut sauce, cucumber, and rice cakes. Every night market has its own legendary stall.
6. Cucur Udang – Prawn Fritters
Crispy fritters packed with small prawns and vegetables. Often paired with a spicy peanut dipping sauce, crunchy, savoury, and satisfying.
7. Popiah – Fresh or Fried Spring Rolls
Thin crepes wrapped around shredded turnip, carrots, and herbs, sometimes deep-fried for extra crunch. A perfect grab-and-go bite.
8. Lok Lok – Skewered Street Hotpot
Choose from fish balls, vegetables, or meat on sticks, then cook them in boiling broth or have them deep-fried. Dip in sauces from mild to fiery.
9. Kaya Balls – Sweet Coconut Jam Puffs
Mini round pancakes filled with fragrant kaya (coconut jam). Lightly crisp outside with a gooey, pandan-scented centre.
10. Cendol – The Icy Dessert Drink
Shaved ice topped with coconut milk, palm sugar syrup, and green rice-flour jelly. Technically a dessert, but Malaysians treat it as the ultimate heat-buster snack.
Why We Love These Snacks
These treats are more than quick bites. They’re memories of after-school walks, pasar malam adventures, and late-night suppers with friends. They capture Malaysia’s rich mix of cultures in every crunch and slurp.
Which street snack is your all-time favourite? Are you Team Pisang Goreng, Keropok Lekor, or something else entirely? Share your go-to treat in the comments and let’s settle the snack debate!