SHAH ALAM - GrabFood Malaysia turned up the heat this year with the GrabFood 5-Star Awards 2024, celebrating the restaurants that have truly captured the hearts (and taste buds) of Malaysians.
This year’s awards showcased the crème de la crème of the culinary scene, with 148 top-rated restaurants making it to the finals.
The public didn’t hold back—almost 20,000 votes poured in over a month, proving just how much Malaysians love backing their favorite eateries.
With nearly 40 million ratings submitted on the platform, GrabFood is not just delivering meals but shaping dining trends while giving merchant partners a big boost.
This year’s winners highlighted the rich and diverse flavors of Malaysia, from cozy hawker stalls to trendy cafes. Categories like ‘Budget-Friendly Favourites,’ ‘Rising Stars,’ and ‘Best of the Best’ honored restaurants from all corners of the country.
Grill Fish snagged the prestigious "Best of the Best” award, while Nasi Ayam Gepuk Original Korn Kitchen took home the "Rising Stars” title, earning applause for their commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.
The awards also introduced new categories, including the ‘Trending Dine-Out Restaurant’ award, reflecting Grab’s vision of supporting restaurant growth both online and offline. This move aligns with the dynamic evolution of Malaysia’s F&B industry, catering to changing consumer preferences.
Grab Malaysia’s Director of Commercial and Deliveries Jiong Jian Tan said Grab has become an essential part of Malaysians’ food journey, offering more than just convenience.
He said that in 2024 alone, merchant partners on GrabFood earned over RM3 billion, with SMEs seeing a 20 per cent increase in earnings year-on-year.
"Grab has become a key part of Malaysians’ everyday food journey, offering more than just convenience — we’re a platform for discovering great food, supporting local culinary talent, and connecting people to their favourite restaurants.
"The GrabFood 5-Star Awards is our way of celebrating the incredible achievements of our merchant partners, especially local SMEs, while reaffirming our commitment to helping them grow through innovative tools, valuable insights, and creating demand.
"In 2024 alone, GrabFood’s merchant-partners collectively earned more than RM3 billion, with SMEs experiencing a 20 per cent year-on-year growth in earnings, demonstrating how digital platforms can drive sustainable growth for local businesses," he said.
For Nengbakso siblings Noerisda and Bazirah, winning the 'Crowd’s Favourite Healthy Asian Food' category was a defining moment.
"Winning the GrabFood 5-Star award for the first time is a huge milestone for us. The ratings and reviews built trust among customers, encouraging repeat orders while increasing awareness of both our restaurant and signature dishes.
"With Grab’s marketing tools, we were able to reach more customers, strengthen our branding, and ultimately boost sales," they said.
Agrain's CEO and co-founder, Kee Wei Chuah whose brand won the 'Crowd’s Favourite Healthy Food' award, echoed similar sentiments.
"For Agrain, we always strive to understand what our customers want and ensure we are delivering on that. Winning this award is not just about recognition - it also strengthens our brand.
"The Grab app plays a crucial role in boosting our visibility, and with greater visibility comes more opportunities for business growth," he said.
The GrabFood 5-Star Awards 2024 also marked a groundbreaking partnership with Tourism Malaysia through a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC). This collaboration aims to elevate Malaysia’s gastro-tourism scene while unlocking growth for local food businesses.
Grab’s extensive reach is undeniable—serving 1 in 20 people across Southeast Asia and used by 65 per cent of foreign tourists in Malaysia.
By highlighting 5-star-rated restaurants as culinary hotspots, Grab is making it easier for tourists to dive into the country’s rich food culture.
Commenting further, Director General of Tourism Malaysia Datuk Manoharan Periasamy said this partnership not only enhances the tourist experience but also reinforces Malaysia’s standing as a world-class food destination.
"Tourism Malaysia is proud to collaborate with Grab Malaysia to position Malaysia as a global gastronomic hub. Initiatives such as the GrabFood 5-Star Awards not only showcase our culinary diversity but also empower and enable local entrepreneurs to reach greater heights.
"We look forward to leveraging the Grab platform and its extensive scale to make it even more convenient for tourists and travelers to discover the culinary hotspots all across Malaysia in enhancing their experience and appreciation of our rich food culture.
"Furthermore, we hope this initiative will open more platforms to other corporate companies to willingly work with Tourism Malaysia as strategic partners on our way towards VM2026," he said.