Malaysia may be Southeast Asia's most underrated food destination. The multicultural mix of Malay, Chinese, and Indian influences creates an unparalleled street food scene. Nasi lemak (coconut rice with sambal, peanuts, anchovies, and egg) is the national dish — available from roadside stalls at breakfast for under $1.
Char kway teow, Penang assam laksa (sour fish noodle soup — among the world's 50 best foods), roti canai with dhal, Hainanese chicken rice, and satay with peanut sauce are essential. Penang is consistently voted one of Asia's top food cities — the night hawker stalls along Gurney Drive are not to be missed.