Where to Eat in Perlis: 3 Famous Local Restaurants I Tried

If there’s one thing I learned from my short trip to Perlis, it’s this:

Come hungry.

I went to Perlis for work and only had a little free time to explore, but thankfully, my local colleagues made sure I didn’t spend that time sitting around doing nothing. They took me around, showed me some of their favourite places and, most importantly, made sure I got to eat.

During the trip, I had the chance to try three popular local restaurants in Perlis, each in a different part of the state.

From a generous plate of Nasi Kawen in Padang Besar to smoked duck cooked in masak lemak in Kangar, and finally, a bowl of Perlis laksa in Kuala Perlis, each meal gave me a different taste of the state.

These aren’t meant to be a definitive list of the best restaurants in Perlis. They’re simply three local favourites I had the chance to try during my trip, and they’re places I’d happily tell another traveller about.

So, if you’re planning a food trip around Perlis, here are three places worth knowing about.

📍 Warung Seri Kesinai Indah, Padang Besar

My first food stop was Warung Seri Kesinai Indah in Padang Besar, where my colleagues introduced me to something called Nasi Kawen. I had never tried it before, so I was curious.

The dish came with fried rice, fried prawns and squid, soup, sambal belacan and chilli sauce. It was quite a spread, and the portion was apparently big enough for two people.

Apparently.

I finished the whole thing myself.

What I enjoyed about the Nasi Kawen was having so many different things on the plate. The crispy fried seafood, savoury rice, spicy sambal and chilli sauce meant I could mix things together and get a slightly different flavour with every bite. It was definitely the star for me, especially because of the variety on the plate.

I also ordered the chicken tom yam soup, which turned out to be another highlight of the meal. It was rich, spicy and exactly what I needed after walking around Padang Besar.

If you’re visiting Padang Besar and looking for a hearty local meal, this was one of the places I enjoyed during my trip.

📍 Wansyah Kitchen, Kangar

Next, my colleagues took me to Wansyah Kitchen in Kangar, where I got to try a few different Malay dishes. One of their bestsellers is Itik Salai Masak Lemak, so of course, I had to give it a try.

If you’ve never tried it before, it is essentially smoked duck cooked in a rich and spicy coconut gravy. It was served with sambal belacan and fresh ulam-ulaman, which made the meal feel even more like a proper Malay spread.

I ordered it because itik salai masak lemak is actually one of my favourite dishes. What I found interesting here was that they served the smoked duck separately from the gravy, unlike other restaurants I’ve tried before.

To be honest, I really enjoyed the gravy. It was rich, aromatic and comforting, with just enough heat to keep me going back for another bite. The duck, however, wasn’t quite for me.Somehow, the texture and taste just didn’t quite work for me, and duck also has a stronger hamis flavour, something I personally don’t enjoy

We also ordered cucur udang, and I’m glad we did. The fritters were crispy on the outside and came with peanut sauce for dipping. They made a great little appetizer while we waited for the main dishes. I could have happily eaten a plate of those on their own.

Wansyah Kitchen also serves a range of Malay dishes, including:

Set Nasi Biryani Kambing
Set Ikan Bawal Goreng
Keropok Lekor
Cucur Udang
Various smoked dishes and local favourites

If you’re someone who enjoys Malay cuisine and smoked dishes, this is probably the restaurant I’d point you towards first.

📍 Kak Su Laksa, Kuala Perlis

Then came the dish I was particularly curious about: Laksa Perlis.

I’ve tried quite a few versions of laksa around Malaysia, so I wanted to see how the Perlis version would compare. I visited Kak Su Laksa in Kuala Perlis, a local favourite known for its laksa beras.

The laksa itself was familiar enough to me, with a fish-based gravy served over rice noodles. What made the experience more interesting, though, was how it is eaten. The locals enjoy their laksa with pulut udang, a sticky rice dish made with shredded coconut and shrimp. There is also a little soy sauce involved.

That was new to me. Of course, I had to try it the local way. Personally, though? I still prefer my pulut udang on its own. 😂

I think that’s one of the fun things about travelling. You don’t have to fall in love with every local combination. Sometimes it’s simply about trying something you’ve never had before and deciding what you think of it.

✅ A Few Things to Know Before You Go

If you’re planning a food trip around Perlis, there are a few things worth knowing before you start eating your way around the state.

Look beyond the usual tourist spots.
Some of the best food experiences can be found at small warungs, roadside stalls and family-run restaurants rather than fancy restaurants. Don’t be afraid to stop somewhere that looks busy with locals.

Try the local dishes.
Perlis has its own food traditions, with dishes strongly influenced by the flavours of northern Malaysia. Look out for Perlis laksa, itik salai masak lemak, nasi kawen and other local favourites.

Expect generous portions.
Some local eateries serve surprisingly generous portions, especially when ordering rice dishes or dishes meant for sharing. If you’re travelling with someone, sharing a few dishes can be a good way to try more things.

Don’t skip the breakfast and lunch spots.
A lot of local eating in Perlis happens during the day, so don’t assume everything revolves around dinner. Some popular places can get busy during breakfast or lunchtime, especially with locals.

Bring some cash.
Smaller warungs and food stalls may not always offer cashless payment, so having some Malaysian Ringgit with you is still a good idea.

Ask the locals what to eat.
This is probably my biggest tip. If you’re staying at a hotel, travelling with locals or simply chatting with someone from Perlis, ask them where they actually eat.

That’s exactly how I ended up at these three places.

✅ Would I Come Back to Perlis?

Absolutely.

This was only a short trip, and I know I barely scratched the surface of what Perlis has to offer. I only got a small taste of the scenery, the shopping, the local food and everyday life here, but it was enough to make me want to come back.

My colleagues played a big part in making this trip memorable. They didn’t just show me around. They introduced me to places they actually enjoy, brought me to their favourite local restaurants and showed me parts of Perlis I probably wouldn’t have found on my own.

And honestly, that’s one of my favourite ways to travel. You can search for the most popular places online, but sometimes the best recommendations come from people who actually live there.

I came for work and left with good food memories, a few souvenirs, plenty of photos and a much better impression of the state.

There are still so many places I want to see, more food I want to try and more of Perlis I want to explore. This trip really changed my perspective of Perlis. I came thinking there wouldn’t be much to see, but I left realising just how much there is to discover.

Next time, I’m staying longer.

More From My Perlis Trip Here:

Until my next trip,
Auri Duham 🌻