Popular Southeast-Asian Breakfasts

Unlike our usual eggs and bacon, Southeast-Asian breakfast dishes are colorful and packed with bold flavors.

Nasi Uduk, Indonesia

Rice and Indonesians could never be apart. Their staple breakfast meal—Nasi Uduk—is steamed rice cooked in coconut milk. It is served with tempeh, fried anchovies, lots of chilies, and a choice of meat.

Khao Neow Sang Kaya, Thailand

Thai breakfast is quick and taken in much smaller bites. Khao Neow Sang Kaya is a delicious, rich sticky rice cooked in coconut cream topped with custard—all conveniently wrapped in a banana leaf.

Bak Kut Teh, Malaysia

Much like the country itself, Malaysian cuisine is incredibly diverse. Apart from their national dish Nasi Lemak—fragrant coconut rice served with sambal, peanuts, fried anchovies, and egg—Bak Kut Teh is a Hakka breakfast consisting of slow-cooked pork in a complex broth of herbs and spices.

Fish Amok, Cambodia

This Cambodian staple dates back to Khmer Empire and became one of Cambodia’s national dishes. It is a fish curry dish cooked with thick coconut milk and kroeung spices. It is either steamed or baked to achieve a rich, mousse-like texture.

Banh Cuon, Vietnam

Vietnamese breakfast is usually lighter than most but its flavors are distinct, fresh, and tart. Banh Cuon is steamed rice rolls with fillings made of ground pork, shallots, and mushrooms. It is served with a vibrant, tangy dipping sauce.