Managing meals in Malaysia

Cheryl Moderator

Member since 15 October 2018

CherylModerator21 November 2025 09:28:56

14940

Hello everyone,

Managing meals day-to-day can sometimes be a real mental challenge, even more so when you land in a new environment, with different schedules, habits or ingredients. How do you manage your meal routine as an expat in Malaysia? We invite you to share your experience in order to help fellow expats and soon-to-be expats.

What are the main changes you have made to your meal routine since settling in Malaysia?

Did you face any challenges to adapt to new meal habits?

Do you cook fresh meals everyday or do you meal prep? Why?

If you live with your family, do you prepare meals for everyone for school or work? Are canteens available?

Do you usually eat out for lunch or dinner or do you prefer eating at home?

What surprised you the most about meals in Malaysia, either in terms of habits, timing, portions, meal composition, food culture, etc.?

Share your insights, experience and meal routines!

Thank you for your contribution.

Cheryl
Expat.com Team

DSP RELO New member

Member since 13 April 2018

DSP RELONew member02 December 2025 07:29:06

Managing meals in Malaysia can be quite a challenge — but in the best possible way. The food landscape is incredibly diverse, and often very different from what many of us are used to in the West. I certainly never expected that one day I’d be happily eating Indian bread and curry for breakfast!

Western options do exist, of course, but you won’t find pork bacon or pork sausages unless you’re “in the know,” as most restaurants here are halal.

Lunchtime is also a shift from the Western “quick sandwich and a juice.” In Malaysia, lunch tends to be a proper meal, with countless choices across cultures:

Chinese

Indian

Malay

Arabic / Middle Eastern

Western

And there’s truly something for every budget. As the saying goes — you get what you pay for:

RM 15 – Low-cost meals with a drink (still tasty and filling)

RM 30 – Mid-range options offering more variety

RM 40 and above – Higher-end cafés and restaurants

Malaysia’s food scene is vibrant, accessible, and full of surprises — and navigating it becomes part of the experience of living here.