 Food
Like the rest of Malaysia, Langkawi's population
is made up of Malay, Chinese, Indian, Thai and others. Although each of these
groups interact with one another, they have more or less held on to their
roots. This uniqueness can be seen and found in many things, one of
which is food. The different cultures have passed on their own favourite
recipes, as well as adapting others to local tastes, ensuring an interesting
and wide range of cuisines to choose from. When eating, one can choose between
the simplicity of hawkers, the casual air of coffee shops or the elegant
ambience of international restaurants. Let your olfactory senses be your
guide.
In Kuah, the most developed town in Langkawi, myriad food stalls dot the
place. Hawkers are found in front of the City Bayview Hotel. The streets
behind the Sime Langkawi Duty Free Complex boasts Chinese coffee shops, serving
local dishes like Hainan chicken rice and char koay teow (Chinese style fried
noodles). For halal food, there are several
inexpensive Malay restaurants and food stalls along Kuah's seaside
promenade.
Fast food chains like McDonalds and Kentucky Fried
Chicken are also a familiar sight.
Being surrounded by the sea, it is not surprising that Langkawi's specialty
is seafood. The restaurants, stalls and hawkers serving seafood are simply
too numerous to name. Usually open in the evenings, you can either order
the catch of the day or choose your favourite, live, from aquariums. Some
of the more popular seafood eateries are in Padang Mat Sirat, Aquarium Seafood
Garden in Kuah, Kelong Seri Melayu in Teluk Burau, in Pantai Tengah and many,
many more.
Pantai Cenang, the island's liveliest beach, has some colourful dining outlets
serving all kinds of food. A popular place for good Chinese and western food
at reasonable cost is the Hot Wok Cafe. Coco Beach Seafood Paradise and Orked
Ria are two popular seafood outlets. For Malay and western fare, try the
Restoran Pantai at the northern end, a more pricey establishment but with
fine ambience. In between, there are The Backofen, a German restaurant, and
The Champor-Champor, a garden restaurant serving western and Asian cuisine.
Some of the hotels and resorts here also have in-house restaurants which
offer good food, especially the buffet meals.
At the adjacent Pantai Tengah, some decently priced eateries can be found.
A sample list include the restaurant at Charlie Motel (Thai/Malaysian food),
Hoyas Cafe (pastries and good breakfast meals), Safari Restaurant & Bar
and White Sand Seafood Restaurant (Chinese style).
The Berjaya Langkawi Beach Resort at Burau Bay houses a unique restaurant
on stilts 200metres at sea where diners' only access is to take a short boatride
from the resort's pier. Called Restoran Kelong Seri Melayu Langkawi, this
upmarket restaurant serves seafood/Malay cooking for those willing to
splurge.
The most interesting restaurant has to be Barn Thai, 10km from Kuah. Built
over a mangrove forest without destroying the environment, the restaurant
proper is located about 450 meters from the main entrance via a wooden boardwalk.
Dine to spicy Thai cuisine while cool jazzy music plays in the
background. Open for lunch and dinner.
Places to eat
Beach Garden Resort -
Beergarden, Pantai Cenang
Beach
(3 minutes to walk
south along the beach from Pelangi Beach Resort)
This German-managed beach front
restaurant serves fine Western and Asian dishes which go very well with ice
cold draft beer like the original and self imported "Schöfferhofer"
wheat beer or a bottle from the fine selection of white or red wine. Try
interesting cuisines from the Austrian Chef.
Boom Boom Corner (Pakistani
Restaurant)
At the intersection
between Pantai Cenang and Pantai Tengah (near Aseania Hotel)
Dine under a stylish tent roof and savour tasty
Asian dishes. Fast service but no alcohol.
Breakfast Bar, Pantai
Cenang Beach
Open from 7:00am to 1:30pm daily except Tuesdays
A good place for breakfast and easy on the pocket.
Try roti canai, a local favourite with yoghurt or a Western ham and cheese
sandwich to start of the day. The Breakfast Bar is a multicultural meeting
point. Leave the newspaper at the hotel. Here, you will be told the latest
news.
Fast
Food
Kentucky Fried
Chicken
• Jetty Point , Kuah (Town), 07000 Langkawi
• Langkawi Mall, Pokok Asam, 07000 Langkawi
• Telaga Harbour Park, Pantai Kok, Burau Bay, 07000 Langkawi
Mc
Donalds
• Im Shopping Komplex "Langkawi Fair" in Kuah
Little India - Kairali
Cuisine (Northern Indian and vegetarian cuisine), Pantai Cenang
Beach
Little India lies at Pantai Tengah, not too far
away from most of the hotels. For less than RM 30 per person you can already
enjoy a beautiful Set Dinner. You have the choice between a Vegetarian Set,
a Chicken Set, a Mutton Set and the Little India Special Set and none of
it will disappoint your taste buds.
Mare Blue (Italian
Restaurant), Perdana Quay inside Telaga Harbour Park in Burau Bay
Lorenzo, the chef of this Italian
Restaurant, is an original import from the country of the spaghetti. Located
right on the water front of Perdana Quay inside the Telaga Harbour Park,
the Mare Blu offers tasty food admidst a Mediterranean ambient right at the
water front (al fresco or air condition tables are available).
Restaurant Bob, Pantai
Cenang Beach
Restaurant Bob is a typical Malay open air restaurant.
Mostly frequented by locals and you can get a decent meal for a low price
at odd hours. It can be a rather romantic night for dinner with candlelight
and the soft galloping waves of the sea, only 100 meters away. However, do
not expect fine dining.
Restaurant Haji Ramli
(Thai Restaurant)
Jalan Pantai Tengah, Pantai Tengah, 07000 Langkawi
Serves traditional Thai and Malaysian dishes. No
alcohol.
Rose Tea (Thai
Restaurant), Pantai Cenang Beach
Rose Tea offers both local and Thai cuisines. Dine
al fresco and enjoy exotic seafood with a glss of tall, cool beer.
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