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This Spotlight is sponsored by Grab.
With Visit Malaysia 2026 underway, Malaysia is expecting millions of visitors.
And the one thing that every tourist gets excited for is: The food!
From hawker stalls dishing out plates of nasi lemak to decades-old family-run restaurants, our food scene is basically a culture tour on a plate.
But with so many options (and limited tummy space), it's common for travellers to end up at a so-so spot instead of a real local favourite.
That's where the 'Grab 5-Star Eats' food guide comes in
Endorsed by Tourism Malaysia, the guide pulls together ratings and reviews from millions of Malaysians on the Grab app, so instead of guessing where to eat, you get the real deal, crowdsourced by actual locals.
Think of it as letting an entire country's worth of foodies point you in the right direction, whether you're after a classic Malaysian dish, an under-the-radar gem, or a heritage spot that's basically a local institution.
The food guide was featured at an exclusive Grab media screening, where guests got a first preview of episode three of the Rakan Grab Jelajah Malaysia series, which highlighted the 5 Star Eats food guide in action. More on that below!
In support of Visit Malaysia 2026, Grab has teamed up with Shahril Hamdan and digital content creator Sofyank to bring Malaysia's food stories to life
Hosted by Shahril Hamdan, Keluar Sekejap Lagi's 'Rakan Grab Jelajah Malaysia' follows Grab partners from Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam as they hop across Kuala Lumpur, Terengganu, and Sabah over three episodes, soaking up local traditions, communities, and of course, plenty of food along the way.
Along the journey, the series checks in on a handful of Grab 5-Star Eats favourites that locals keep coming back to, including familiar names like Village Park Restaurant and Hameediyah Restaurant (Jalan Bukit Bintang).
Now, Malaysians and travellers can use the guide to discover these merchants for themselves, including:
- Village Park Restaurant
- Hameediyah Restaurant (Jalan Bukit Bintang)
- Restoran Mat Binjai (Jalan Sultan Sulaiman)
- Borenos Fried Chicken (Asia City)
- A1 Chicken Rice (Lintas Plaza)
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Complementing the series is a visually stunning travel film by digital creator Sofyank.
If you've come across Sofyank's work before, you'll know he's the guy behind those jaw-dropping CGI videos. This time, he's turned his lens on Malaysia, blending real footage with seamless visual effects to bring the country's sights, sounds, and food to life.
Grab has also been equipping its driver-partners to be friendly, familiar faces for tourists
Some Rakan Grab driver-partners recently went through Kursus Mesra, a training programme by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) that preps tourism frontliners to make visitors feel welcome from the get-go.
Since driver-partners are often the first friendly face tourists meet after landing, a little extra training goes a long way in setting the tone for their whole trip.
Plus, Grab is making travel more accessible with the Visit Malaysia 2026 Travel Pass
International tourists can redeem the Visit Malaysia 2026 Travel Pass right in the Grab app, which comes with promos and savings on GrabCar and GrabFood.
As tourists around the world weigh their next holiday destination, Malaysia remains a country that's attractive for its food, culture, and warmth
And with Grab and Tourism Malaysia working hand-in-hand, discovering all of that just got a whole lot easier.
Whether you're hungry for good food or just unsure where to eat, open the Grab app and check out the Grab 5-Star Eats guide today!
Plus, if you're an international traveller visiting Malaysia, don't forget to claim your Visit Malaysia 2026 Travel Pass on the Grab app for extra savings.
