A Malay man recently took to Facebook to question a long-standing Chinese banquet practice: why is fried rice almost always served right at the end of the meal?
In his anonymous post on Meanwhile In Malaysia, he said he never understood why the dish arrives only when most guests are already full.
Why serve fried rice last?
At Chinese wedding dinners, he added, some guests may have even left by then, leaving the untouched fried rice sitting on the table.
He also expressed frustration that hotels do not allow guests to pack the food, calling it a waste.
Why can’t fried rice be served earlier, maybe together with the soup? If it is served at the same time as the chicken, fish or vegetables, would that not make more sense?”
The post, which he said reflected a question that has puzzled him for years, ended with a request for netizens to help explain the cultural logic behind the tradition.
Netizens explain banquet culture
The topic quickly sparked a colourful and friendly multicultural discussion, with many netizens stepping in to explain the customs, meaning and kitchen flow behind Chinese banquets.
According to them, the sequence of dishes is tied to symbolism, respect and tradition. Premium dishes such as fish, chicken, prawns or sea cucumber are served first to honour the guests, as these are considered the “main stars” of the banquet.
“Fried rice is served last for a reason. Some guests arrive late or are busy helping the couple, especially the brothers and sisters group, photographers or helpers. Rice at the end ensures there is still food for them to fill their stomachs.”
Others added that rice dishes are relatively inexpensive compared to the earlier dishes. Serving it at the end also acts as an “extra filler” in case anyone is still hungry.
Some commenters pointed out that at community or restaurant banquets, guests usually pack up leftover food to bring home, so the fried rice does not go to waste.
However, they acknowledged that hotels are stricter with food policy, which explains why leftovers cannot always be taken away.
Despite the different viewpoints, many Malaysians praised the conversation for being respectful, informative and uniquely multicultural.
The original poster later thanked netizens for the explanations, saying he finally understood that fried rice is not “the last dish because it is least important,” but rather a gesture to ensure no one leaves hungry.
