America conquers with bombs, Malaysia conquers American hearts with Nasi Lemak
According to a recent video that has been going viral, a street vendor could be seen enjoying patronage and praises from a good number of American customers. And the meal? Nasi Lemak.
He remarked that some even came back for a second helping. The brief video did not provide any details about the venue, but it is safe to say that the people enjoyed a hearty meal that we Malaysians can identify with.
Nasi Lemak mendunia di Amerika. Rupanya dorang memang suka makam sambal pedas agaknya 😂 pic.twitter.com/Ftk5dV2qXK
— kamaghul deghaman (@kamaghul) June 20, 2025
However, Malaysian netizens who viewed the video were rather sceptical, with some pointing out that the customers were mostly asians.
Then there was netizen @GmJCrypt who claimed the dish belonged to Indonesia, not Malaysia.
'Later, many more Singaporeans will claim the Nasi Lemak as their own,' said @BottomSepi.
Away from the culture war, @PrsonStufJunrio added that it was unsurprising that Americans would love Nasi Lemak since they had a taste for hot stuff from Mexico.
A sharp-eyed @CosmicCabbages immediately identified the person in the video as Kumar Family who has a Youtube channel. Apparently, he married an American.
But should we stop at Nasi Lemak? Apparently not, with @cygaraga recommending Malaysians to introduce QR payment and parking sensors to America soon.
It appears however, that this was not the first time Nasi Lemak was introduced in America.
While exploring a farmer's market in Honolulu, Hawaii in 2024, TikToker Aiman came across a stall selling what appeared to be nasi lemak.
Initially thrilled to find a taste of Malaysia so far from home, his excitement quickly faded when he discovered the dish was not halal—it included pork floss as one of the toppings.
Despite the disappointment, Aiman struck up a conversation with the vendor and uncovered the fascinating backstory behind the stall.
The chef, Andrew Presslar, shared that he first encountered Malaysian cuisine while working in New York.
There, he collaborated with chef Zach Lazio, who ran a Malaysian restaurant. It was through this experience that he was introduced to nasi lemak.
Presslar explained that the rich and complex flavours of Malaysian food captivated him, and he soon became 'obsessed' with its unique taste profile, describing it as 'second to none.'
Inspired by his time in New York and eager to bring those flavours to a new audience, he launched his own version of the dish in Hawaii—though not without his own local twist.
While the non-halal adaptation may not cater to all Malaysians, Presslar's story highlights how Malaysian cuisine continues to influence and inspire chefs across the globe. —June 6, 2025
Main image: @kamaghul
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