Knowing how to order food in Malay will instantly upgrade your travel experience.

You’ll get better service and wider smiles at local restaurants and street food stalls.

Food is a massive part of the culture in Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei.

Locals deeply appreciate it when you try to speak their language during a meal.

This guide will give you the exact phrases you need to eat out like a local.

Greeting and getting a table

When you walk into a restaurant or a local stall, you first need to state how many people are in your group.

The staff will usually ask you how many people are eating.

You can simply reply with the number of people followed by the word orang (people).

They might also ask if you want to eat at the restaurant or take the food away.

This is a very common question at street food markets and mamak stalls.

Reply with makan sini if you’re staying to eat.

Reply with bungkus if you want your food packed to go.

Ordering food and drinks

Once you sit down, you need to grab the waiter’s attention.

You can politely call them over by using family terms.

Use abang (older brother) for younger or middle-aged men.

Use kakak or just kak (older sister) for younger or middle-aged women.

Use boss for stall owners, which is a very friendly and local way to get someone’s attention.

When you’re ready to order, you can use the phrase nak order (want to order).

To ask for a specific item, use the word nak (want) or minta (request).

Notice that the quantity usually comes at the end of the phrase in spoken Malay.

Let’s look at some essential food and drink vocabulary you’ll need for your meal.

Customizing your order

Southeast Asian food can be incredibly spicy and the local drinks are often very sweet.

You’ll probably want to adjust your order to suit your personal taste.

The word kurang means “less” and is highly useful for ordering drinks.

If you don’t want an ingredient at all, use tak nak (don’t want) or tanpa (without).

If you have allergies or dietary restrictions, it’s important to communicate them clearly before ordering.

Asking for the bill

When you’re finished eating, it’s time to pay for your meal.

In many smaller local stalls, you simply walk up to the cashier at the front to pay.

If you’re at a restaurant with table service, you must ask the waiter for the bill.

The most natural way to ask for the bill in Malay is to use the word kira (calculate).

You can also ask the waiter exactly how much the total is.

If the food was delicious, you should absolutely let the staff know.

The word sedap means delicious in Malay.

Saying this will guarantee a big smile from the people who cooked your meal.