Top 10 Fish Sauces in Malaysia 2024 for Cooking

Last updated: January 2024

Fish sauce is a salty condiment made from fermented fish. It is a staple in many Asian cuisines, particularly Vietnamese and Thai cuisine.

Many scholars believe that the flavorful sauce may trace its origin to an ancient Roman colony in Africa.

According to history buffs, the people of ancient Carthage have long been making sauce from fermented fish.

When the Cathaginians were conquered by the Romans, their fish fermentation techniques also spread throughout the European continent, and then to Asia via the Silk Road.

Many centuries later, fish sauce remains a popular condiment around the world. It is commonly used in cooking meals and as base for other sauces, dips, and dressings.

And as Asian cuisines and tastes vary from one country or region to another, fish sauces also vary in terms of the kinds of fish used and other ingredients, which influence their unique flavors.

In this list, we present the Top 10 Fish Sauces in Malaysia for your gustatory pleasure. Try one or try them all!

The 10 Best Fish Sauce in Malaysia for Cooking

1. Knife Thai Fish Sauce

Knife Thai Fish Sauce – Fish Sauce Malaysia

Knife Thai Fish Sauce contains no artificial colouring and no preservatives. This fish sauce originating from Thailand is just what you need when you’re looking to add a tasty tang to your food, be it as a seasoning or as a dipping sauce.

If you find soy sauce too much for your palate, the Knife Thai Fish Sauce would be a good alternative. It is characterised by a clear and light colour and is made using anchovies mixed with salt and sugar.

The Knife Brand Thai Fish Sauce is certified halal by the Central Islamic Committee of Thailand too, so it’s a good companion for any Asian cuisines.

The 750ml bottle is good for 50 servings, with 15ml or 1 tablespoon per serving.

Get the Knife Thai Fish Sauce 750ml at

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2. Chin-su Nam Ngu Fish Sauce

Chin-su Nam Ngu Fish Sauce – Fish Sauce Malaysia

Chin-su Nam Ngu is one of the most popular fish sauces in Vietnam. This fish sauce is a favourite among many Malaysians because of its delectable taste and versatility. The Chinsu Nam Ngu Fish Sauce can be used as a dip, marinade, or spice when cooking.

This delectable fish sauce is made from anchovies from Vietnamese waters such as Nha Trang, Phan Thiet, and Phu Quoc. Only fresh, moderately large fish are used.

Small fish are returned to the sea, while spoiled fish are removed completely.

The anchovy extract is processed according to a double pasteurization system and then bottled in an automated and sterilized environment.

It is also said that each bottle of fish sauce goes through 15 stages with 40 quality checks before it’s distributed in the local and global market.

We love to use the Chinsu Nam Ngu Fish Sauce for stock, soup or broth.

Get the Chin-su Nam Ngu 500ml at

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3. Korean CheilJedang Fish Sauce for Making Kimchi

Korean CheilJedang Fish Sauce – Fish Sauce Malaysia

If you like cooking Korean food, then we recommend giving this Korean Fish Sauce a try. It’s ideal for making kimchi and other Korean dishes.

This fish sauce is also made from anchovies and coarse sea salt through fermentation.

Anchovy fish sauce is considered an essential ingredient when making different types of kimchi, along with shrimp fish sauce, to accelerate the fermentation process.

It can also be used to season soup and blanched vegetables. This would give side dishes and soups that extra umami.

Some Korean dishes you can make using this fish sauce are pork bone soup or gamjatang, radish kimchi, toran-guk or taro soup, dakgaejang or spicy chicken and vegetable soup, Korean steamed egg, mandu-guk or dumpling soup, gogi sundubu-jjigae or spicy soft tofu with beef, chayote kimchi, seafood pancakes, and fresh kimchi salad.

Get the Korean Fish Sauce for Making Kimchi 800g at

4. HHC Sotong Sos Ikan

HHC Sotong Sos Ikan – Fish Sauce Malaysia

The HHC Sotong Sos Ikan / Sotong Brand Fish Sauce is halal certified and is processed from high-quality ingredients.

It does not contain any flavour enhancers or chemical preservatives, so you only get the good stuff. Naturally pressed from sea salt and anchovy extract, it’s best used for Thai dishes, dipping sauces, and salad dressings.

Like other Thai fish sauces, this fish sauce is amber in colour and is known for having a more pungent and saltier flavour than Vietnamese fish sauce.

It’s full of essential nutrients contained in fish, such as protein, iodine and vitamins A and D, which are further enhanced by fermentation.

Get the HHC Sotong Sos Ikan 880g at

5. Ferry Brand Fish Sauce – Anchovy

Ferry Brand Fish Sauce Anchovy – Fish Sauce Malaysia

Ferry Brand Fish Sauce – Anchovy is made from salt, water, and you guessed it – anchovies. This fish sauce is certified halal by the Islamic Committee of Thailand and is a good substitute for salt. It brings a more savoury umami taste to whatever dish you like.

A little goes a long way too, which means you don’t need to use a lot to enhance the flavour of your food.

You can use this fish sauce for vinaigrettes, pasta sauces where you’d normally use anchovies, marinades, braised meats, stir-fry dishes, and soups. It’s pretty much a staple in Thai dipping sauces, which range from garlicky to spicy.

You can also try making your own homemade Pad Thai, whose basic ingredients include rice noodles, eggs, tofu, and a sauce made with dried shrimp, chili, tamarind paste, palm sugar, and of course, fish sauce.

Get the Ferry Brand Fish Sauce – Anchovy 700cc at

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6. Happy Home Vegetarian Fish Sauce

Happy Home Vegetarian Fish Sauce – Fish Sauce Malaysia

Up next in our list is the Happy Home Vegetarian Fish Sauce. It enhances the delicious flavour of food and is suitable for vegans. It is made from soybeans and processed with water, salt, sugar, vegetarian seasoning, soy sauce and flour.

It’s manufactured right in Johor by Happy Home,