We all want to go out for lunch, it’s one of the essential Malaysian rituals. Sometimes, lunch can be found by the roadside. Roadside food is like a loot box – full of surprises, whether it’s being served by a celebrity or the presence of airborne seasoning. Just don’t let the uncertainty bring you down.
Thankfully, Malaysia’s roadside food is usually filled with good surprises, and we are proud of our culinary heritage—just ask Fan Bing Bing or Wayne Lai. Food is a journey of discovery and exploration, and earlier this week, some Chinese tourists had a little adventure of their own.
In a TikTok video taken in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, we see a group of curious foreigners walk by an open car boot. They invite their peers over to marvel at the sight of it, with each pulling out their phones and documenting the encounter. The subject of today’s novel discovery? Nasi lemak sold from an open car boot!
The seller in the video was friendly, attempting to help them with the translation app on one of their phones. Eventually, the crew found out what it was, and after some discussion amongst themselves, they delightfully ordered some. With smiles all around, they wave at the camera before leaving.
As of now, the video has gathered 1.5 million views on TikTok, with countless netizens chiming in on the whimsicality of the situation. There was also some debate as to where the tourists originate from, as they are heard speaking Cantonese, a dialect that is present in Guangzhou and Hong Kong. Others commented on the number of servings purchased: “It’s rare to have enough nasi lemak, of course the guy took 10, that’ll be enough for sure (laughing emoji).”
It is nice to see that if there is one thing that unites us all, it’s coconut milk rice, sambal, fried anchovies, a hard-boiled egg, and if you’re lucky, maybe a chicken rendang. A tropical country has the benefit of more fragrant spices and fruits, a side effect of having to fend off fungi and pests from the tropical weather. As Malaysians, we should embrace our soft power and heritage.
Watch the viral clip below:
@yusufflearntosing Siapa paham apa dorang cakap ni? lain doh cina dorang ni #nasilemak #sarapanpagi #kotakinabalu #nasilemakpakusupkk #sabahancrew_fams
Sources: TikTok
Gan contributed to this article.
