Welcome to Street Eats, our series that covers our favourite street food from around the world
Today, we’re taking a look at Malaysia, a country that offers up a tasty selection up when it comes to what you can eat, on the street. In fact, Malaysia offers such an array of snacks – from noodles to fruit juice, fried sweets and sizzling satay – that it’s really hard to pick just one. So, I’m not going to! This time I’m going to highlight the one street snack that, during my travels to Malacca, Kuala Lampur, Penang and Langawki, took me the farthest away from my comfort zone (and another that I hope never to have to taste – or smell – ever again). When it comes to the most unique street snack in Malaysia, my vote goes to…
#1 Street Snack in Malaysia: Bullfrog
I never believed people when they described something as tasting “just like chicken”… until I tried Bullfrog.
What is it?
It’s bullfrog! Cooked in a broth with onions and chives (if memory serves me right). It is surprisingly soft, not at all chewy or tough, if you eat around the veins and small bones that is. It’s also relatively easy to stomach, until you flip it over and see that it is, in fact, a dead frog. In your bowl. I may have cut this meal a little short…
Where can you find it?
You can try bullfrog on Alor Street, one of the best places to find street food in Kuala Lampur! The hawkers of Alor Street fill up the night skies with smells that will make your mouth water and tempt you to indulge in the unknown.
It smells like rotten chicken
…and tastes like it too (or something as similar in grossness – I’ve never had rotten chicken, thankfully). What is it? It’s Durian Fruit; you either love it – or you don’t. I proved to be one of those who do not. Known for it’s strong smell and creamy texture, and referred to by many as the “King of Fruits”, Durian fruit is covered in a thorny husk that protect the fruit inside, from which juices and sweets are made.
I had the fortunate opportunity to try Durian fruit for the first time in a Malaysian hostel, at which point I was convinced it tasted like dead chicken, that had then sat under the sun for far too long. When my husband and I traveled to Cambodia a few weeks later, I realized he hadn’t had the chance to sample this royal delight. So, at a bus stop between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, we bought some durian-flavoured cookies. My husband took one bite and kindly passed on the rest of the cookies to a group of children congregating nearby. What can I say – some things are meant to be.
What’s your favourite Malaysian street snack? Leave it below! Want to read more about Malaysia or street food around the world? Check out:
Two days in Malacca: The Perfect Pit-Stop
Street Eats, Cambodia: Mangosteen or Rat on a Stick?
Street Eats, Thailand: Mango Sticky Rice or Dried Crickets?
Most of Malaysians are not eating frogs. But maybe a few of us do eat frogs but im not frog eater. :S If frog is in my bowl, im sure i will vomit immediately, eww. Durian is sweet, creamy taste you know(and gassy). I never heard someone eat durian ‘dead chicken flavoured! This is new. Have you ever try eating ‘Nasi Lemak’ at Malaysia? Nasi Lemak one of the most favourite food in Malaysia. And people eat them everyday too. If you want to eat Nasi Lemak, ask people around(in Malaysia) to find true Nasi Lemak. Cuz, not all people expert in cooking Nasi Lemak, but still want to sell the Nasi Lemak. Normally it cost around RM1.20. USD maybe., $0.30. Try it 😀 !
Nasi Lemak is delicious, I agree!!! And don’t worry, I know that most people don’t snack on bullfrog, but it was indeed my most unique food experience while in KL. I take it you are one of the people who like Durian? I couldn’t stand it – but I will try it again next time I visit, maybe in fruit shake form – perhaps my palate has matured! Thanks for your comments!
Superb post.Greetings.jalal
Thanks Jala! Glad you enjoyed the post!
Rotten chicken !?!
It totally smelt like rotten chicken to me! I couldn’t stand it! What was your experience with Durian fruit?