Nasi Kandar is popular in northern West Malaysia especially in Penang, but now is sought after by Malaysians all over the country. The term Nasi Kandar is derived from the action of this rice seller who carries the baskets containing the food on his shoulder using a pole.

The rice is complemented with many other dishes such as beef, fried chicken, curried spleen, fish egg, and fried prawn or squid, eaten with vegetables such as brinjal, okra or bittergourd.