Name: Peninsula Malaysian Cuisine
Price range: $$

Peninsula Malaysian Cuisine Information

Tucked away on Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis, Peninsula Malaysian Cuisine offers an inviting escape into the rich and vibrant flavors of Malaysian cooking. As soon as you step inside, the cozy, unpretentious atmosphere makes it feel like you've discovered a hidden gem, offering a warm and welcoming space to unwind and enjoy a meal that’s packed with authentic taste.

The menu is a delightful showcase of Malaysian cuisine, offering a variety of dishes that are as colorful as they are flavorful. For those unfamiliar with Malaysian food, the experience can feel like a journey through diverse tastes and textures, thanks to the influence of Chinese, Indian, and indigenous Malay flavors. A must-try is the Roti Canai, a crispy, flaky flatbread that’s perfect for dipping into a rich, flavorful curry. It’s the kind of dish that leaves you wanting more, its simplicity elevating the complex layers of flavor in the curry sauce.

Another highlight on the menu is the Nasi Lemak, often considered the national dish of Malaysia. This plate of fragrant coconut rice, paired with sambal (a spicy chili paste), fried anchovies, hard-boiled egg, and peanuts, provides a balance of heat, sweetness, and crunch that’s just irresistible. For those who enjoy a bit of spice, the Laksa - a tangy noodle soup with a base of coconut milk, shrimp, and a touch of chili - is an experience you won’t want to miss.

One of the standout features of Peninsula Malaysian Cuisine is its commitment to fresh ingredients. The flavors are bold but balanced, never overpowering, and each dish comes out hot and carefully prepared. The Satay skewers, served with a peanut sauce that’s both creamy and savory, are a perfect appetizer, offering a satisfying bite of grilled meat with a depth of flavor.

The service here is friendly and attentive without being intrusive, making it easy to settle in and relax. The staff are knowledgeable about the menu and are more than happy to offer recommendations based on your spice preferences or dietary restrictions. They’re also quick to make you feel at home, enhancing the overall experience.

What sets Peninsula Malaysian Cuisine apart from other restaurants in the area is its ability to transport diners to Malaysia with every bite. Whether you're a seasoned fan of Southeast Asian food or a newcomer to the flavors of Malaysia, there's something here for everyone. With its flavorful dishes, friendly service, and welcoming ambiance, this is a spot that’s perfect for a casual meal with friends or a cozy dinner for two.

Business Info

What People's Say About Place

As one of the few, if not the only place, that has nasi lemak, this establishment does a great job in providing dishes that range from Chinese to Malaysian to Singaporean cultures. I believe that since COVID they have transitioned to takeout only, and it's great to see that the business is still thriving even if they are still operating under the takeout only model despite how the world has evolved away from the pandemic. For the few dishes that I came here for, qualities varied, with some dishes lacking flavor while others simply sloppily created. The Hainanese chicken relied solely on the extra dipping sauces for flavor while the chicken itself had no flavor alone. The nasi lemak had good flavor mainly because of the sambal, and the chicken had good texture. I didn't see any peanuts in the dish, which I thought was needed for nasi lemak. The sizzling beef and ginger scallion duck had pretty expected flavor because of their ingredients, meaning that what they looked like was what they tasted like, if that makes sense. When I got food from there a second time 4 months later, overall the food was better. The chili tofu wasn't spicy at all even if I asked for spicy in my original order. The char kway teow had both good flavor and soft texture, allowing a positive tasting experience. The sambal shrimp had a good amount of vegetables and not enough shrimp, and had very good flavor because of the sambal infused with the dish. Because their menu is huge, I think they have an adequate selection of options that can serve customers of all kinds. Even though this is not one of my favorite spots within the Twin Cities, the dishes they have already solidifies this establishment as a "must not miss" within the area.

I wish I had known about this place when dine in was an option. I lived in Malaysia for a few years and have tried several restaurants in different states that say they are Malay. However, it wasn’t the same. I had resolved to just find “American” Malay when someone told me of this place. To my surprise my favorite Malay food was available and amazing. Chicken Satay (Malay) is different than other satay and this place nailed it! I also tried the Roti Canai (presented slightly different than stands in Malaysia) and the flavor brought me right back to Kuala Lumpar… . I will be ordering from them again!

I ordered vegetable fried rice no eggs. Wow it had so much flavor! It was piping hot, No soy sauce needed! I also ordered one of the mango cream desserts and it was so good I wish I would have got another, the mango was ripe and sweet, perfect for my first try, will definitely be back. Thank you!

My first time trying indonesian/malaysian/singaporean food, and let me tell you, it was very good. I had Char Kwai teoy, chicken satay, roti cana, and pilut hitam, and it was really good. I am super impressed guys. You guys did good and I would most definitely eat this food again. Good job.

It’s take out only, but they are my favorite Asian food in the area. They have a ton of options, very fair prices and serving sizes, and are open late. Delicious food with authentic options and really good drinks. We go back all the time.

We had food delivered for a party, and it was hands-down an amazing experience ! The service was impeccable and the food was Malaysian-certified to be the best Singaporean/Malay food in town. My personal favorite was the green curry, but there was no dish that we did not like. Highly recommend!

Please ignore all other comments about dining in. It's for take out only. The food is pretty good, perhaps not very authentic (depending on what standard you use), but it is very legit and a very good value for the price. It has mixed Malay and Thai food style offerings. The Malay style food is pretty legit IMHO, they have Nasi Lemak, Rendang, Belacan style stit fry, Kari and Laksa. Recommended dishes are Nyonya Laksa, Nasi Lemak, Rendang and their squid stir fried dishes. I wish they have dine in....

We enjoyed the dinner here. It was empty when we came in, but it was a nice atmosphere. Food came fast and it was delicious. We would definitely come again when we are in town. Noodles were fairly standard, soft shell crab was good but I forgot and just got it spicy... a bit too much spice. Combo app was nice.

Peninsula Malaysian Cuisine