6 Foods For A Full-Course Meal In Langkawi, Malaysia

Langkawi is an island that doesn’t rest on its laurels.

Sure, the pace of development is not as fast as Bali or Phuket but sometimes going too fast, too soon may not be a good thing. Langkawi still exudes a rustic charm seen from the paddy fields and quaint villages yet it is home to a great selection of cafes and restaurants with an international flair to it.

On a recent family trip, I decided to go cafe hopping around Langkawi to sample the most raved-about eateries by locals and visitors alike. I curated all the foods I tried as if I had a full-course meal, from appetizer to coffee. Here are six foods to savor in Langkawi!

1. Starters – Dutch Bitterballs at Yam Yam Restaurant

Yam Yam Restaurant, in Pantai Tengah, is run by a husband-and-wife duo adept in home-cooked comfort food. One of it is Dutch Bitterballs,  deep-fried beef balls made from a concoction of ground beef, beef broth, butter, flour with sprinkles of salt and pepper. These balls are breaded then fried before served with mustard.

It was my first time trying bitterballs and so I did not know what to expect but Yam Yam’s version tasted really good. The crunchiness on the outside gave way to a dense and meaty core on the inside. The bitterballs were quite bland by itself but it somehow felt really flavorful when they were dipped in mustard!

Lot 1697, Jalan Teluk Baru
Pantai Tengah
Tel: +6049523026 | Google Maps
Opening Hours: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, Daily except Tuesdays

2. Salad – Mango Smoked Salmon Salad at Smiling Buffalo

Smiling Buffalo is part of Panji-Panji tropical wooden homes in a village right by the Cenang River. It is more known for pancakes but my adventurous taste buds wanted to try their Mango Smoked Salmon Salad. This salad consisted of smoked salmon, mangoes, lettuce, tomatoes and feta cheese tossed with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

The result is a refreshing plate of greens where the savory salmon is perfectly balanced by the sweet mangoes. The rest of the salad acted as the supporting cast, providing a bit of crunch here and juice there. The final act was the zesty balsamic vinegar blending everything into one big harmonious bowl.

Panji-Panji
965, Jalan Pantai Cenang
Tel: +6049523319 | Google Maps
Opening Hours: 8:00 am – 6:00 pm, Daily

3. Mains – The Northern Sky at Huggin’ Hippo

Right smack in the middle of Pantai Cenang is Huggin’ Hippo, the cool sibling to the calm Smiling Buffalo. This beachfront cafe has a bit of retro vibe with its Vespa mopeds and records of 1970s rock bands like Pink Floyd and The Who. However, the food is anything but old school.

I plunged into its international fare of “The Northern Sky,” a pan-fried sea bass served on top of mashed potatoes, sauteed vegetables and Balmoral sauce. The two slices of sea bass were perfectly fried right to its skin and the pea-laced sauce complemented the fish with its strong buttery zip to the dish.

27 A, Jalan Pantai Cenang
Tel: +60122928102 | Google Maps
Opening Hours: 9:00 am – 9:00 pm, Daily

4. Dessert – Banana & Dark Chocolate Crepe at My French Factory

Just across the road from Huggin’ Hippo is the best crepe joint in Malaysia (prove me wrong!). My French Factory is led by a couple of French chefs who manufactures hundreds of salty and sweet crepes every day, with waffles and smoothies in between. The crepes are all made with organic buckwheat flour and gluten-free ingredients.

I went for bananes et sauce chocolat noir maison topped with vanilla ice-cream and it was the most fulfilling crepe I ever had. The edges of the crepe had a crisp burnt texture while the center is soft and somewhat gooey. The dark chocolate sauce had a nice bitter tang while the bananas and ice-cream provided a good amount of sweetness.

Ground Floor, Langgura Baron Resort
Jalan Pantai Cenang
Tel: +6049555196 | Google Maps
Opening Hours: 11:00 am – 11:00 pm, Daily except Fridays

Read Also: 5 Delectable Desserts to Savor in Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

5. Ice-Cream – Langkawi Durian Gelato at Gelato Cabana

There’s something about small towns producing great ice-creams. Gelato Cabana reminded me so much of Cameron Highland’s Mr Aisu in that both creameries produce their own ice-cream, source as much local ingredients as they can and are very passionate at what they produce.

Gelato Cabana has more than a dozen flavors to choose from but since it was still durian season, I had to try their Langkawi Durian Gelato. The smooth ice-cream emanated a strong aroma and each scoop felt like I was eating a piece of chilled durian flesh. Not a fan of durian? Do also try their Langkawi banana, mango and pandan coconut!

In front of Cenang Rest House
Jalan Pantai Cenang
Tel: +601123138269 | Google Maps
Opening Hours: 12:00 pm – 10:00 pm, Daily

6. Coffee – V60 Filter Coffee at Huggin’ Hippo

I made my way back to Huggin’ Hippo to sample one of the best filtered coffees on the island. The folks at Huggin’ Hippo offers two types of filter – Hario V60 and Aeropress  paired with Honduras El Guayabo coffee beans. I went with the V60 after reading that this filter produces a much clearer taste and scent.

The V60 filter clearly did not disappoint as the coffee was really smooth and the sweet and juicy flavor of the beans were accentuated. I only had to add a dash of milk since I like my coffee flat white while no sugar was needed because the V60 made sure I got the most out of my coffee beans.

27 A, Jalan Pantai Cenang
Tel: +60122928102 | Google Maps
Opening Hours: 9:00 am – 9:00 pm, Daily

Langkawi is highly accessible by flight as many airlines fly to this island every day. One of the best options for a city dweller like me is to fly Malindo Air from Subang Skypark, which is about 20 km from Kuala Lumpur. I got a great deal for my Malindo flight ticket on Traveloka which set the right tone for  my Langkawi food adventure.

I’m really ecstatic to discover that the cafe scene in Langkawi is vibrant and diverse like in many major cities around Malaysia. So if your palate is ready to taste the culinary treasures of this legendary island, go on and book Malindo flight right now!

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