Classic east coast

Kelantan, peninsular Malaysia’s northern most state, came under a Thai kingdom centuries ago. Hence, traces of Thai influence can be seen in its cuisine. Kelantanese cuisine is more aromatic and has lively range of flavours especially sweet and creamy. Typical dishes to try are nasi kerabu (herbal rice), ayam percik, (grilled chicken with sweetish creamy curried coconut sauce), nasi dagang (rice with tuna fish curry) and sweets exotically named jala mas (golden net), puteri mandi (the bathing princess), and cik mek molek (pretty maiden). Inexpensive food spots are night market at Padang Garong in Kota Bahru.

Terengganu’s 225-kilometre-long coastline and deep waters favour plentiful bounties of the sea. Seafood is fresh and inexpensive. Try sotong sumbat (stuffed squids), nasi dagang (fragrant unpolished glutinous rice steamed with coconut milk and served with tuna curry). Inexpensive food spots are Central Market and along Pantai Batu Buruk.

Pahang’s coastline, especially around its capital, Kuantan, and the popular Telok Cempedak attracts seafood restaurants. Its hill resorts, Cameron Highlands, Frasers Hill and Genting Highlands offer dining with a difference. Cameron Highlands is well-known for its English cream teas and English cuisine – the influence of British in Malaya, but there are Indian and Chinese Restaurants. Steamboat is a popular evening dining out choice of many tourists to the Highlands. Skewers of meat slices, seafood and vegetables are cooked in steaming hot soup by diners themselves. There are also many tea plantations with tea shops which offer tea and shortbread. Eraser’s Hill, a small hill getaway, has none of the Blitz of Cameron Highlands or Genting Highlands but it offers comfort food dining. Genting Highlands Resort the comprehensive hill resort is well-known for its slick entertainment and sophistication in its numerous dining outlets and restaurants.