11 Foods To Try During Hari Raya

There’s nothing in this world like the food you will find in Malaysia during Hari Raya. The delicacies served during Hari Raya Aidilfitri are at the top of most visitors’ must-try lists.

Hari Raya marks the end of Ramadan - the fasting month for Muslims worldwide. What follows a month of fasting is a whole month of celebrations and incredible dishes, many of which can only be found this time of year.

“You don’t have to be Muslim to enjoy Hari Raya food. Malaysian open houses welcome everyone - it’s one of the few times a year you’ll see entire streets transformed into dining destinations.”

Quick Reference: 11 Hari Raya Dishes

Lemang

Lemang can take four to five hours just to cook, and it is well worth the wait. The cooking process has gone unchanged for generations. Lemang is coconut milk, sticky rice, and a little salt wrapped in fragrant banana leaves, stuffed into hollow bamboo sticks, and roasted over an open fire.

You will know Lemang when you see them lined up in a row being cooked at stalls, set against the fire slightly slanted and turned so everything cooks evenly. Lemang is served with shredded beef, chicken, or curries.

Ketupat

Ketupat is the symbol of Hari Raya. Like Lemang, it is a way to enjoy rice that replaces regular steamed rice. Ketupat is like a dumpling where rice is packed into a diamond-shaped pocket made from woven palm leaves, then boiled. Once fully cooked, the woven palm wrapper is cut and peeled away so the rice inside can be sliced and served with rendang.

Rendang

Rendang is a slow-cooked dry curry that is the star of any Hari Raya table. Beef is simmered for hours in coconut milk and a paste of lemongrass, galangal, turmeric, ginger, garlic, and chilies until the liquid evaporates and the meat is coated in aromatic spices. The slow cooking process makes the beef incredibly tender. Rendang keeps well and often tastes even better the next day.

Serunding

Serunding is a dry, shredded meat floss - usually beef or chicken - cooked with spices, coconut, and kerisik (toasted grated coconut). It has a texture similar to floss and is packed with flavour. Serunding is commonly eaten with Ketupat or Lemang, and adds a savoury, nutty crunch to any dish.

“The texture of serunding is unlike anything else in Malaysian cuisine - fine, dry, intensely flavoured, and completely addictive when sprinkled over ketupat.”

Dodol

Dodol is a sticky, sweet toffee-like confection made from coconut milk, jaggery (palm sugar), and rice flour. It requires hours of continuous stirring over a low fire - traditionally done in a large wok by several people taking turns. Dodol is a Hari Raya staple, sold in blocks that you slice into small pieces.

Kuih Raya (Hari Raya Cookies)

No Hari Raya celebration is complete without an assortment of cookies. Kuih Raya includes varieties like:

• Kuih Bangkit - soft, melt-in-your-mouth cookies made from tapioca flour and coconut milk, shaped into delicate flowers
• Semperit - buttery, crumbly cookies piped into ribbon shapes
• Pineapple Tarts - buttery shortcrust pastry filled with sweet, tangy pineapple jam
• Cornflake Cookies - crunchy clusters held together with a sticky caramelised syrup

These cookies are typically stored in large decorative jars and offered to every visitor who comes to call during the festive period.

Lontong

Lontong is a dish of compressed rice cakes served in a mild, creamy coconut vegetable curry. Unlike Ketupat, which uses woven palm leaves, Lontong rice cakes are wrapped in banana leaves and boiled. The rice cakes are sliced and served with a lightly spiced coconut gravy containing vegetables like cabbage, long beans, and carrots.

Acar

Acar is a pickled vegetable relish that cuts through the richness of the other dishes on the Hari Raya table. It is made from cucumbers, carrots, and pineapples pickled with vinegar, sugar, turmeric, and chili. The sweet, sour, and spicy flavours provide contrast to the heavy, savoury dishes.

Sate (Satay)

Satay makes an appearance during Hari Raya, with families firing up grills to cook skewers of marinated beef or chicken. The skewers are served with a rich peanut sauce, cucumber and onion pieces, and Ketupat. Satay is a social food - people gather around the grill while the skewers cook.

Air Katira

Air Katira is a refreshing Hari Raya drink made from rose syrup, milk, basil seeds, and ice. The basil seeds swell into little gelatinous pearls that float in the sweet, floral drink. It is served to guests as a welcoming beverage and provides relief from the tropical heat.

Bubur Lambuk

Bubur Lambuk is a savoury porridge traditionally distributed during Ramadan, but leftovers and variations carry into Hari Raya. It is made from rice cooked with chicken or beef broth, lemongrass, ginger, and spices, and topped with fried shallots, spring onions, and kerisik.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Hari Raya in 2026? Hari Raya Aidilfitri in 2026 falls around late March or early April, depending on the lunar calendar. The celebration lasts for the entire month of Syawal, with the first week being the most festive.

Can tourists visit open houses during Hari Raya? Yes - open houses are a key part of Hari Raya culture. Many families welcome visitors of all backgrounds, and the government organizes public open houses as well.

What is the most important Hari Raya dish? Ketupat (compressed rice cakes in woven palm leaves) served with rendang is the iconic Hari Raya combination.

Are these dishes available all year? Some - like satay and rendang - are available year-round at Malaysian restaurants. Others like Lemang, Ketupat, and Dodol are seasonal and primarily found during the Hari Raya period.

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