Malaysian food resembles the country: a blend of the cuisines from several different Asian cultures. Eating is almost a religion in Malaysia; suffice to say, it’s definitely one of the most popular past-times. There’s a lot of passion when it comes to food; getting a group of Malaysians to agree on which store serves the best noodles will stir up a heated debate, maybe even result in an all out argument. Driving to another state, even if it is 2-3 hours away, is a very common weekend activity. And calling up your friends and having a get-together over a meal or drinks sometime during the week is almost a given.

Malaysian food is a delicious and mouth-watering cuisine that transcends formal culinary classifications. Malaysian cuisine might not appear in fine-dining Michelin-star restaurants around the world, lacking the sophistication and elegance usually attributed to French or Italian cuisine, or the wondrous, zen-like beauty of Japanese cuisine. But the huge variety of flavors and the incredible (and subtle) fusion of so many different culinary cultures have turned Malaysia into a must-visit for the many gourmands and foodie lovers who travel to South East Asia. The popularity of Malaysian cuisine is clearly seen overseas, where Malaysian restaurants and eateries tend to create and maintain a long list of loyal fans and customers, and right here on her shores: visitors to Malaysia who have little firsthand experience with Malaysian cuisine leave with at least a single dish (but usually a whole lot more!) that they’ve fallen head-over-heels in love with.

Malaysia’s most famous dishes often differ from region to region, much like how a New York-style pizza differs from a California-pizza. Asam Laksa, a sour, fish-based soup, is a popular Malaysian dish, but Penang Laksa is very different compared to Johor Laksa (Penang and Johor being Malaysian states). As you can probably guess by now, the question of which tastes better can lead to arguments of epic proportions among Malaysians.

One very good thing about Malaysia is that when it comes to food, there’s no snobbery involved: Malaysians do not equate great food with expensive food. In fact, Malaysians will flock to a favorite open-air restaurant that’s a little run-down if it’s known for having the best and freshest seafood around rather than go to a fine-dining Western restaurant serving Chilean sea-bass. The good news for travelers who are on a shoe-string budget: delicious meals can be had for very affordable prices. A breakfast of roti canai (flatbread) with dhal and a steaming hot cup of coffee at the ubiquitous mamak stalls can cost as little as RM 2-3 (around USD 1).

Even if you have hankering for all your favorite foods, there’s no cause for concern: you’ll find McDonalds, KFC, Burger King, Starbucks and a lot of other Western options across Malaysia, especially in urban areas and bustling cities like Kuala Lumpur. You’ll be able to get any cuisine you’re craving for, with some of the most popular being Italian, Japanese and American cuisines.

With a gazillion eateries dotting the Malaysian landscape, there’s one concern travelers to Malaysia should totally dismiss from their minds: they’ll never lack for choices when searching for the next meal!