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This Spotlight is sponsored by Grab Malaysia.
Whether you're chasing the perfect nasi lemak or hunting down a legendary plate of nasi kandar, food is often the highlight of travelling around Malaysia
According to Grab Malaysia, 87% of travellers choose their next destination based on local cuisine, showing just how powerful food is in shaping travel decisions.
Plus, with Visit Malaysia Year 2026 is putting the spotlight on gastronomy and cultural experiences, this statistic becomes even more relevant.
To put Malaysian eateries in the limelight, Grab Malaysia, with support from Tourism Malaysia, has launched Grab 5-Star Eats, a new in-app food guide designed to help travellers and locals discover the country's best eateries through real customer ratings.
Essentially,Grab 5-Star Eats is powered by real ratings from customers inside the Grab app
The feature highlights food merchants who consistently receive top ratings on a 0–5 scale, awarding them a 5-Star Eats badge that signals exceptional food quality and service.
Users can browse eateries by category and location, navigate to them easily, and even book a ride or order delivery from the same platform.
"Food is the heart of the Malaysian experience, and we want to make sure every traveller finds the best our country has to offer," said Tan Jiong Jian, Grab Malaysia's Director of Commercial and Deliveries.
Beyond helping people discover good food, the guide is also designed to recognise and elevate small and medium food businesses
The 5-Star Eats badge highlights merchants who consistently receive strong customer feedback, giving them national visibility and helping position them as must-visit destinations for travellers.
Some of the featured eateries include:
- Village Park Restaurant (Klang Valley): Famous for its nasi lemak ayam goreng.
- Deens Maju Nasi Kandar (Penang): Known for its queue-worthy curry combinations.
- Thong Kee Cafe (Klang Valley): Beloved for its classic kopitiam breakfast and signature "1+1" coffee.
- King Kunyit (Melaka): Viral nasi ayam kunyit spot that started as a roadside stall.
- Grill Fish (Kota Kinabalu): Buginese-inspired seafood dishes.
- And many others…
Many of these businesses started small (from humble stalls to neighbourhood cafés) and built loyal followings through consistent flavours and word of mouth.
For some merchants, joining Grab has also helped them expand their reach beyond physical locations through delivery and online discovery.
To bring the digital food guide into the real world, Grab also unveiled the Grab 5-Star Eats Mural at Jalan Hang Kasturi, near Pasar Seni
Created by Malaysian artist Nasuha Ibrahim, the mural acts as an illustrated food map celebrating Malaysia's diverse food culture and iconic eateries.
The artwork features local landmarks alongside top-rated food spots, encouraging visitors to explore the city while discovering new culinary gems.
Interestingly, the mural also lights up from 7pm to 1am daily, turning the wall into an interactive night-time attraction for visitors exploring the area.
