It’s heartening to witness how Malaysian cuisine is gaining recognition across the globe. A recent TikTok video has highlighted a nasi lemak stall at a farmer’s market in Honolulu, Hawaii, which has piqued the interest of many.
TikTok user @aimanariffinnnn stumbled upon this gem on 19 October, noting that it was the only stall at the market offering Malaysian fare.
Photo via TikTok (@aimanariffinnnn)
What made this discovery even more surprising for Aiman was the fact that the stall was owned and operated by an American from New York, Andrew Presslar. Presslar recounted how he first encountered Malaysian cuisine while working for a chef named Zach Lazio, who ran a Malaysian restaurant in New York. From the moment he had his first taste, he became captivated by the distinctive flavours.
Presslar passionately described Malaysian food, saying, "The flavours of Malaysia are second to none. Everything is so bright and vibrant—it’s spicy, sweet, salty, and sour. It all works together so well." He went on to explain that while Malaysian cuisine is not widely known in Hawaii, once customers sample a plate of nasi lemak, they tend to return for more.
Unfortunately, Aiman couldn’t provide a personal review of the nasi lemak as the dish served at the stall contained pork, which is not traditionally used in the recipe. Aiman was particularly surprised to find pork floss in the dish, something he had never seen in nasi lemak before.
Reactions from netizens were mixed, with some noting that certain elements of the dish appeared to be off. One user cheekily commented, "Bro, tell him to upgrade his sambal," while another remarked, "His sambal looks more like the one for mixed rice, not nasi lemak."
Although Presslar's version of nasi lemak may not be entirely authentic, it’s encouraging to see people from other parts of the world enjoying a taste of Malaysia’s rich culinary heritage. The fusion of Western influences with our unique Malaysian flavours is intriguing, and who knows—it may even inspire people to visit Malaysia and savour the real deal.
A special thanks goes out to Andrew Presslar for introducing our local cuisine to Hawaiians, helping them get a taste of our vibrant food culture!
