Aug 2

Langkawi Dishes You Must Try [2024]

Whether you are a foodie or just occasionally enjoy dining out, a vacation to Langkawi would not be complete without sampling its unique and varied cuisines. No matter how long you stay, take the opportunity to taste delectable dishes from across the island. You will find an abundance of choices at well-known tourist destinations like Pantai Cenang and Pantai Tengah, as well as in luxurious, world-class hotels.

GULAI PANAS

This flavourful curry is a must-try for fans of spicy dishes. Unlike the rich and thick conventional curries, Gulai is tangier and more watery. It is best enjoyed piping hot, poured over rice, and paired with ulam-ulaman (local vegetable salad) and sambal belacan.

Photo credit: [Gayatravel] – https://www.gayatravel.com.my/langkawi-culinary-adventure-26-must-makan-places-for-foodie-fiestas/

BRONOK

Despite its unusual name, raw bronok (a type of sea cucumber) makes for a distinctive, delicious, and highly addictive salad known as Kerabu Bronok. The bronok is sliced and mixed with shredded cashew leaves, sambal, chilli, grated coconut, galangal, and other condiments. With its crunchy, chewy, and salty texture, this iconic appetiser is a must-try dish that is exclusive to Langkawi.

Photo credit: [Rajalepak] – https://rajalepak.com/2020/04/14/bronok-makanan-istimewa-dari-bumi-mahsuri-langkawi/

MEE KETAM (CRAB NOODLE)

Mee Ketam, one of Langkawi's most well-known delicacies, captures the spirit of the sea on your plate. It consists of yellow noodles topped with fresh flower crabs and served in a thick sauce made from sweet potatoes that has been cooked for hours with crab shells to create an incredible flavour. The juicy crab flesh, complemented by a squeeze of lime juice, adds a refreshing tang. Although Malaysians enjoy Mee Udang (prawn noodles), Mee Ketam is so delicious that it leaves you wanting more!

Photo credit: [Rolling Grace] – https://www.rollinggrace.com/2022/05/best-things-to-do-in-langkawi-malaysia.html

LAKSA KEDAH

This spicy rice noodle dish is a must-try when visiting Langkawi. Mackerel, fragrant herbs, and tamarind— the main ingredient that gives the soup its unique tanginess—combine to create an appetising and tart broth. A half-hard-boiled egg tops the laksa, with thinly sliced cucumber, lettuce, pineapple, onion, mint leaves, and chillies as garnish.

Photo credit: [Jun and Tonic] – https://junandtonic.com/blog/2017/7/20/kedah-laksa

SUP GAMAT

One of Langkawi’s standout specialties is the unique sea cucumber soup known as Gamat. Gamat is praised for both its flavour and its traditional medicinal properties, including its use in Gamat oil for healing wounds. Sup Gamat is a concoction of chopped sea cucumbers cooked with various herbs, combining gastronomic and medicinal qualities.

Photo credit: [Foodtrail] – https://foodtrail.my/en/langkawi/

LAKTUD

Laktud is a seaweed species that grows quite far from the coast and has several medicinal uses. Try this seasonal treat if you come across it, as it is not usually accessible outside of its harvest season. Among its many health benefits, Laktud is said to help lower cholesterol, enhance general well-being, and have wound-healing properties.

Photo credit: [Tourism Kedah] – https://www.facebook.com/tourismkedah