Kota Bharu is a cultural and culinary heaven. As the capital city for the state of Kelantan on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, Kota Bharu is a Mecca for unique Kelantanese traditions, food and heritage.

If you get the chance to visit Kota Bharu, here are the top five things to eat:

1. Nasi Berlauk

Nasi Berlauk or loosely translated as rice with curry is a staple breakfast for the Kelantanese.

While most Malaysians have nasi lemak or roti canai for breakfast, Kelantanese opt for a heavier breakfast, savouring packed rice with mostly fish or chicken curry.

The most famous nasi berlauk is Nasi Berlauk Air Dingin, which can be found at Kopitiam Kita. Nevertheless, nasi berlauk is available citywide in Kota Bharu.

Almost every corner serves this dish for breakfast. Most stalls allow you to choose your preferred curry to be packed with the rice.

2. Roti Titab

Roti Titab is toasted bread but with a twist as a wobbly half-boiled egg is placed in the centre with four lashings of kaya (coconut jam) spread out on the four corners.

The locals break the egg yolk so that it spills onto the toast, and spread the kaya evenly all over the surface.

The taste? Amazing! Roti Titab is available at Kopitiam Kita too. To get there, just point your car to this address: Taman Desa Jaya, 4357-A, Jalan Pengkalan Chepa, 15400 Kota Bharu, Kelantan.

3. Colek

Colek is deep-fried finger food doused in a spicy sauce. These include a medley of sausages, tofu, sweet cekodok (fritters), keropok lekor (crackers), and the lungs of cows.

These items are deep-fried, then quickly coated with a thick sauce and plated while still piping hot.

Colek may be a little unhealthy but it is super delicious.

4. Laksam

Laksam and Laksa Kelantan are two different dishes but share the same broth.

Malaysia is famous for its various laksa dishes, especially Penang Assam Laksa which made it to the list of top 50 best foods in the world complied by CNN Travel.

Malaysians are equally proud of their Laksa Sarawak, Laksa Johor, Laksa Utara and many other variants.

All laksa are different in terms of the noodles used and the broth. The Kelantan versions, Laksam and Laksa Kelantan share the same fish-based broth which is white in colour, probably due to the coconut milk.

The difference lies in the noodles as Laksa Kelantan uses traditional noodles whereas laksam uses rolled flat noodles.

Whichever you choose, the taste is fabulous and the sambal (chilli paste) adds extra spiciness.

5. Teh Tarik Madu

Malaysia’s favourite beverage is teh tarik, directly translated as “pulled tea” as the hot tea is “pulled” to cool it, causing a formation of tiny bubbles on the drink’s surface.

However, Teh Tarik Madu is different because the foam is just crazy! It has earned the nickname “diabetes drink” because of how sweet it is.

The taste is comforting and the foam is a quirky addition to the drink. Teh Tarik Madu is one of the more famous offerings at Warong Pak Mat in Pulau Pisang.

To get there, head towards Pantai Cahaya Bulan and turn left upon seeing a signboard which says “Kuala Besar”. This restaurant is open daily from 7am to 3pm except on Tuesdays.

Khai and wife Amira are Malaysian travel bloggers who blog at Kaki Jalans. Their travels have taken them to almost all the countries in Asean and five countries in Europe. They are still actively travelling and adding to this list.