A little sambal goes a long way, even across continents.
A Malaysian-American family living in the US has warmed hearts online after sharing how they brought classic Malaysian flavours to an American school’s cultural food fair.
And yes, nasi lemak, kuih bakar, and sirap bandung were all on the menu.
Wanted to serve roti canai at first
In a TikTok video shared by @kumaarfamily, the dad explained that they initially just wanted to serve roti canai and chocolate milk.
But after seeing the effort other families were putting into their cultural booths, the family decided to go all out.
Together with his wife and kids, they cooked up a full Malaysian spread — complete with nasi lemak, spicy sambal, and even sirap bandung as a refreshing drink.
To top it all off, they added kuih bakar for dessert.
They also went the extra mile by decorating their booth with the Jalur Gemilang, making sure Malaysia was repped proudly.
Sambal so good, Americans tapau-ed it
The food didn’t just look good, it tasted amazing too, according to those who tried it.
Many visitors, unfamiliar with Malaysian cuisine, were blown away by the flavours.
Some even came back for seconds and asked for extra sambal. One guest apparently grabbed a container from another booth just to take more home.
The family prepared small portions for up to 250 guests, and by the looks of it, every bite counted.
@kumaarfamily What Americans think of Malaysian Nasi Lemak! #nasilemak #foodies #malaysianfood #malaysia #kumaarfamily ♬ Married Life (From "Up") – Gina Luciani
Malaysians beam with pride
The video has since gone viral, with netizens flooding the comments section to praise the family’s effort.
Many said they felt emotional watching Malaysia’s signature dishes win over foreign hearts, while others said it inspired them to do the same overseas.
“Malaysia on the map because of nasi lemak,” one person wrote.
