Eating out in Negeri Sembilan is usually an enjoyable experience as there is a wide variety of food to choose from. Western fare is easily available and is found throughout the state. Chinese and Indian cuisine in Negeri Sembilan also rank high among gourmets.

For those who love hot and spicy Malay food, the dishes found in Negeri Sembilan are usually prepared according to the Minangkabau tradition which often uses generous amounts of cili padi, or small hot chillies. A very popular dish is masak lemak cili api. The sauce is made from coconut milk blended with turmeric powder and ground cili padi. It is then added to fish, meat or vegetables.

Another specialty of Negeri Sembilan is lemang , glutinous rice cooked in coconut milk and served with rendang, a curried meat dish. Lemang is a must for the family meal during the annual Muslim Hari Raya festival. These local delicacies can be found at many roadside stalls in the state. For seafood lovers, the many restaurants in Port Dickson offer an exciting and delicious array of sea-food preparations.