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Nasi Lemak In Hawaii Farmer's Market Sparks Mixed Reactions From Malaysians

"The flavours of Malaysia are second to none," the American stall owner said.

Cover image via @aimanariffinnnn(TikTok)

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A recent TikTok video showcasing a nasi lemak stall at a farmer's market in Honolulu, Hawaii, has caught the public's attention

TikTok user @aimanariffinnnn shared his discovery of the stall on 19 October, noting that it was the only stall at the market selling Malaysian food.

Image via @aimanariffinnnn(TikTok)

He was surprised to learn that the stall was owned and operated by an American man from New York

Andrew Presslar, the owner, explained that he first discovered Malaysian food in New York, where he worked for a chef named Zach Lazio, who ran a Malaysian restaurant.

Presslar told Aiman that he became completely obsessed with Malaysian food after his first taste.

"The flavours of Malaysia are second to none," he said.

"Everything is so bright and vibrant — it's spicy, it's sweet, it's salty, and sour. It all works together so well.

"It's a cuisine that, here in Hawaii, not that many people know about, but once they taste the sample, once they have a plate of nasi lemak, they always come back," Presslar remarked.

Andrew Presslar, the owner of the nasi lemak stall.

Image via @aimanariffinnnn(TikTok)

Unfortunately, Aiman was unable to review the nasi lemak because it included pork in the recipe

Aiman also expressed his astonishment, noting that it was the first time he had seen pork floss used in the dish.

Image via @aimanariffinnnn(TikTok)

Netizens had mixed reactions, with many pointing out that Presslar's nasi lemak seemed off — especially the sambal

Image via @aimanariffinnnn(TikTok)

"Bro, tell him to upgrade his sambal hahaha," one user said.

"But seriously, his sambal looks more like the one for mixed rice, not nasi lemak," claimed another.

"The sambal is not authentic," another person commented.

However, others praised the effort to introduce Malaysian food to a wider audience

Image via @aimanariffinnnn(TikTok)

"Even foreigners have learned to eat nasi lemak... it's undeniable, that nasi lemak has a unique taste. He even wrote 'Malaysian coconut rice'. How can we not be proud?" said one user.

"Wow... proud and thankful towards that guy... the name remains unchanged... thank you...," said another.

"Nasi lemak is going global," another proudly remarked.

Watch the full video here:

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