'Barbie' star Simu Liu says he wants to travel around Malaysia with Michelle Yeoh and Ronnie Chieng

Simu Liu stars in 'Barbie' which is set to open in Malaysia on July 20, 2023. Photo: AFP

When StarLifestyle got the Chinese Canadian actor Simu Liu on the phone recently, we had to ask him if he has a favourite Malaysian food.

After all, Liu – who will be seen in the upcoming movie Barbie – filmed the 2021 Marvel flick Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings with two Malaysian stars namely Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh and Ronnie Chieng.

The 34-year-old said: “Oh my God, yes, of course.

“When we shot our movie in Sydney, Australia, where there's such a strong Malaysian presence, we found an incredible Malaysian restaurant with chilli crab.

“And chilli crab is the thing where I cannot, for the life of me, find in America. There's no good chilli crab in America.

“I'm gonna put it out there right now, you can print that – there's no good chilli crab in America. And it's terrible, because I love it so much,” said Liu, who was a regular in the Canadian sitcom Kim's Convenience before he was picked as the first Asian superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Shang-Chi.

He added: “And it was Michelle who picked this restaurant ...

“We'd go, honestly, once every other week. It was just so good. And we'd get chilli crab.”

Liu also named his other Malaysian favourites: “Rendang, Roti (Canai), Nasi Lemak, Hainanese Chicken Rice, Char Kway Teow ... I could go on for ages.”

When we asked him why he hasn't visited Malaysia yet, Liu said: “Yeah, I know. I know. I've been trying to rope Ronnie in to bringing me around Malaysia, to be my tour guide.

“Yeah, I want to do Malaysia with him. And with Michelle.”

Fans can check out Liu when the Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling-led Barbie movie opens at cinemas nationwide on July 20.