Hawker Food- A Malaysian Affair
The extraordinary Malaysian Food Experience
Hi! Edwin here to talk about the Malaysian Hawker Food affair and the top 5 reasons to try Malaysian hawker food.
There are generally two types of hawkers in Malaysia. Roadside hawkers operate by the side of the road and restaurant hawkers typically rents and operates at a small section of a restaurant. Both similarly caters to middle to lower income groups.
One restaurant can have 3 up to 10 hawker stalls, which may also operate on the road surrounding the restaurant. Every hawker restaurant will have only one main anchor tenant selling Economy Rice. Chinese hawkers usually are restaurant hawkers. Malaysian Restaurant Hawkers occupying a restaurant may work in shifts to cater for breakfast, lunch and dinner and some includes supper.
On the other hand, Malays usually operate as roadside hawkers. Roadside hawkers are usually operate in an area to themselves although sometimes two stalls may established within the same area. All of them serve Economy Rice and may include desserts and rarely drinks.
Dishes are home-cooked and they usually operates as early as 5.00 am in the morning and ends their day at around 11.30 am, just before lunch. Lunch-time roadside hawkers will be available from 11.00am onwards and no one hawker will operate more than one shift.
It is generally advisable to choose stalls where patrons are aplenty. Here are top 5 reasons I usually give to my foreign guests in Malaysia not to miss the Malaysian Experience.
1. Operating on a small area or even by the roadside saves rental costs so food is usually much cheaper.
2. You'll be amazed to know that well patronized roadside hawkers will have their food sold out even before you begin your work at around 7 am. So this makes a good reason for you to wake up earlier and get to work early (No, I am just kidding on this one) ok, the reason is if they are sold out today, tomorrow's dishes will be cooked fresh from the market
3. Dirty and hygiene issues are weak excuses not to try them. Those many patrons flocking over the stall every morning means the food is nothing more than a wholesome home cooked meal
4. Get a chance to meet and mingle with the locals. Hawker restaurants have an informal setting which allows everyone to meet and chat at anytime that conventional restaurants don't.
5. Most of these home-made chefs-by-training have their local recipe passed on by their ancestors. If you are in Kuala Lumpur, some of these hawkers come from other rural areas or other states like from Kelantan or Terrenganu so you get to taste their authentic Nasi Dagang and Nasi Kerabu without having to travel. Sounds like a good deal?
Are you convinced now and get out there and try them? Or have I not. Please do contact us if you wish to add any points here or ask us a question.
