The sight of roti canai being expertly tossed high into the air by Muhammad Muiz Ruzaini and Mohamad Zul Imran Zulkifle, combined with the tempting aroma, has whetted the appetites of visitors, some of whom are willing to queue for up to two hours.
Muiz said he had not expected to be selected as part of the Malaysian delegation to Expo 2025 Osaka, where he would showcase the rich flavours of Malaysian cuisine on the world stage.
What makes the experience even more rewarding is the overwhelming response from visitors, the Kedahan added.
“Many praised the deliciousness of the roti canai and gave very positive feedback, both in terms of taste and our presentation.
“After they ate, many would come up and say ‘oishi’ (delicious). Some even repeated it seven times,” he said, adding that most of the visitors were from Japan, South Korea and China.
The freshly made roti canai, served with chicken curry and dhal, is priced at 1,680 yen (about RM50) per serving. Daily sales average between 1,000 and 1,600 pieces, underscoring its growing popularity.
Zul Imran, who hails from Penang, expressed hope that the growing popularity of roti canai at the expo would help elevate it on the global culinary map and inspire more tourists to visit Malaysia.
Meanwhile, visitor Yoko Yoshinaga, who visited Malaysia 30 years ago, described the dish as “sweet and addictive”, saying it had a “unique texture”.
“This is my second time having roti canai. I first saw it on X, and the unforgettable taste brought me back. I lined up again just to relive the experience,” she said.
Another visitor, Hanako Sekimukai, said she was pleasantly surprised by its flavour.
“I’ve been to Malaysia before but I never had the chance to try roti canai. The chicken curry served with it wasn’t too spicy, which made it even more enjoyable,” she said, adding that the cultural performances at the pavilion brought back fond memories of her time in Malaysia.
Located on a 2,655-sq-m site across three floors, the Malaysia Pavilion reflects the nation’s diverse culture and dynamic economy. Themed “Weaving a Future in Harmony”, it highlights our country’s commitment to a sustainable, inclusive and forward-looking future.
In 2023, TasteAtlas, a global food database, ranked roti canai among the top 100 best street foods in the world.