Food is a huge part of culture and in Southeast Asia, it’s also a point of national pride.
With bold spices, diverse influences, and deeply rooted traditions, it’s no wonder that food comparisons between countries often stir up lively debates online.
That was exactly the case when a Filipino user took to Threads recently to express just how much they loved Malaysian cuisine, so much so, they’d travel just for it.
As a Filipino… Malaysian food is top-tier. I would fly to KL just to eat Malaysian food.”
But what really caught people’s attention wasn’t just the compliment. It was the way the user tackled a common response they often receive when expressing such views.
Pinoys who always say ‘hindi lang siguro masarap luto sa bahay nyo’ (Maybe the food just isn’t cooked well at your place.) can f*** off. We are entitled to our own opinions.”
To avoid misunderstanding, the user made sure to clarify that their post wasn’t about disliking Filipino food.
I never said anywhere that Filipino food is not good. I love Filipino food, it’s just that Malaysian food is on a different level. Please don’t take this post out of context.
For those still saying “di lang masarap luto sa inyo” (The food’s just bad at your place), this weak ass argument when it comes to comparing cuisines never fails to entertain me.
A Mix of Agreement, Nuance, and Food Talk
The post quickly gained traction and opened up a space for others particularly fellow Filipinos to share their thoughts.
Many agreed with the sentiment, while others offered more detailed comparisons between both cuisines.
One user broke it down by highlighting the different flavour profiles:
“🇲🇾 – Using coconut, curries, aromatics, spices, palm sugar, and peanuts gives Malaysian dishes a very balanced taste. I’m Bicolano so I’m used to spicy food, I really enjoy their sambal.
🇵🇭 – Filipino food leans more on raw sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, and tomato-based condiments. The flavour is a bit more fixed depending on the dish. But I’ll say this, our desserts still stand out compared to Malaysia’s.”
Meanwhile, another netizen acknowledged the reality without taking offence:
“As much as I want to defend Filipino food, it’s true. Good food shouldn’t be hard to find. And everyone’s taste is different, people are 100% entitled to their own opinions.”
Why Some Filipinos Keep Coming Back
As the conversation continued, more Filipinos began sharing their personal experiences of enjoying Malaysian food, many of them having spent time in Malaysia either for work or travel.
One person recalled their time living in the country:
“I learned to love Malay, Chinese-Malay, and Indian-Malay dishes. Every week, my wife and I would buy char kway teow from the night market or eat nasi lemak for breakfast.”
For others, the food was so compelling that it influenced their travel plans and even led them to settle down in Malaysia.
“When I used to travel, I always made sure to pass through KL not for sightseeing, but to eat. I’d plan my budget trips tightly elsewhere but splurge on food in Malaysia.
Now I live here, and when people ask me why, I just say: the food. I still love Filipino dishes, though.”
And sometimes, it’s really that simple:
“I can eat nasi lemak every day.”
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