Wang Yibo Loves Malaysian Food
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He flew into Malaysia for the most serious week of his life. In a few days, he is supposed to race powerful cars at full speed, in a foreign country, for the very first time.
But that is not where his fans found him.
They found him sitting on a simple chair at a street-side food stall, chopsticks in hand, sharing a claypot dinner with his team — like any ordinary young man enjoying his evening. Within hours, the photos were everywhere. So what was one of China’s biggest stars really doing in Kuala Lumpur? Eating, yes. But the full story is much bigger than dinner.
The photos that set the fans talking
On Wednesday, October 14, Wang Yibo was spotted in Pudu, an old and lively part of Kuala Lumpur, enjoying claypot bak kut teh with members of his racing team, UNO Racing.
Bak kut teh is one of Malaysia’s most loved dishes — pork ribs cooked slowly in a dark, herbal soup, full of garlic and warm spices, served bubbling hot, often in a claypot, with rice on the side. It is comfort food. It is the kind of meal local people grow up loving.
Photos of the meal began moving around Weibo, the huge Chinese social media platform where Wang’s fans gather in millions. People loved how relaxed he looked — no red carpet, no bright stage lights, just a superstar in a cap, eating at a normal local shop. One fan even joked online that his Malaysia trip was quietly turning into a food show.
And the night was not over yet.
Later that night: the king of fruits
After dinner, Wang was seen again — this time at Jalan Alor in Bukit Bintang, the most famous food street in Kuala Lumpur, where rows of stalls stay open late into the night. Fans identified the stop as a durian shop called Duriyen Garden.
Durian is known across Asia as the king of fruits. It has a hard, spiky shell and a smell so strong that many hotels and trains ban it completely. But those who love it truly love it — soft, creamy and rich, like no other fruit on earth. Many visitors to Malaysia are scared to try it. Wang Yibo was not scared. He tried it on his very first food night in the city.
First the herbal soup. Then the king of fruits. Malaysian fans could not have written a better welcome.
The real reason he is in Malaysia
Now here is the part that makes this story serious.
Wang Yibo is in Malaysia to prepare for the 2026 China GT Championship season finale at the Sepang International Circuit, from November 6 to 8. Sepang is Malaysia’s great racing home — a huge, world-class track near Kuala Lumpur, famous for its two long straights where cars fly at terrifying speed.
This race is not a small thing for him. It will be his first overseas competition as a professional racing driver. Asia Daily reports that he is set to race with partner Mao Junhao in UNO Racing’s No. 85 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO, and that Sepang is the only venue outside China on the championship’s five-round calendar.
He is not treating it as a holiday. He arrived in Kuala Lumpur on October 11, and on October 13 he shared training photographs on Weibo — himself in the garage, and behind the wheel in full racing gear. He spoke about getting used to Sepang’s two long straights. Between the practice sessions and the race preparations, the food trips are simply how a young man is falling in love with a new city.
Reports also say a documentary about his racing life may be filmed during this trip, with a release expected in the summer of 2027 — which means this quiet week in Malaysia could one day be watched by millions.
From boy band stages to the big screen
If you do not know him yet, here is why the fans go crazy.
Wang Yibo, now 29, first became famous in 2014 as the main rapper and dancer of Uniq, a South Korean-Chinese boy band. He made his film debut in MBA Partners in 2016. Then came the role that changed everything: the hit drama The Untamed in 2019, which made him a star far beyond China. He followed it with Legend of Fei in 2020 and the film Hidden Blade in 2023.
For most people, that would be enough fame for one lifetime. Wang Yibo wanted something else too — speed.
The birthday decision that surprised everyone
His love of racing is not new. He made his professional motorcycle racing debut in Beijing in 2019, at the Michelin GPGP Grand Prix, and in 2024 he switched to GT car racing with UNO Racing.
Then, on his 29th birthday this year, he shared a decision that surprised the entertainment world: he wants to step back from acting, choose quality over quantity, spend more time outdoors — and give more of his life to professional motorsport.
Many stars say such things. Very few actually do them. But here he is, in Kuala Lumpur, training on a foreign track, preparing for the biggest race of his life — and eating bak kut teh like a local in between.
His fans, by all accounts, have only supported the move.
What happens next
From November 6 to 8, the dinner photos will be forgotten and only one question will matter: can the actor really race?
Malaysian fans will get to watch him in a completely different role — not the star of a drama, but a driver chasing the chequered flag at Sepang. And whatever happens on that track, one part of the story is already complete.
He came to Malaysia for speed. Malaysia fed him first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Wang Yibo in Malaysia? He is preparing for the 2026 China GT Championship season finale at the Sepang International Circuit, from November 6 to 8. It will be his first overseas competition as a professional racing driver.
What did Wang Yibo eat in Kuala Lumpur? Fans spotted him eating claypot bak kut teh with his UNO Racing team in Pudu on October 14, and later the same night he tried durian at Jalan Alor, Kuala Lumpur’s famous food street.
What is bak kut teh? It is a famous Malaysian dish of pork ribs cooked slowly in a herbal soup, usually served hot in a claypot with rice. It is one of the country’s most loved comfort foods.
How did Wang Yibo become famous? He debuted in 2014 with the boy band Uniq, then became a huge star through the 2019 drama The Untamed, followed by Legend of Fei and the film Hidden Blade.
When did Wang Yibo start racing? He made his professional motorcycle racing debut in Beijing in 2019 and switched to GT car racing in 2024 with UNO Racing.
Sources
- Malay Mail — From bak kut teh in Pudu to durian at Jalan Alor: Wang Yibo eats his way around KL ahead of Sepang race
- The Straits Times — Chinese actor Wang Yibo enjoys bak kut teh and durian in KL
- Asia Daily — Wang Yibo tries Kuala Lumpur favourites as he prepares for Sepang
- Malay Mail — From ‘Untamed’ fame to GT glory, Wang Yibo revs up Sepang showdown
- Photos from the scene: the Pudu dinner photo in the Malay Mail report · his Sepang training photos in the Asia Daily report
- The picture on this page is an original illustration made for Talha M Blog.
