Malacca - Good Food To Try

Must try food in Malacca !!

Consolidated based on our experience during the few recent trips to Malacca (a.k.a Melaka).
Good, nice, authentic, famous, local, culture heritage food NOT to be missed!

	Family Heritage Nonya  Cuisines           : Nonya Must try dish!   : Pineapple curry fish, Butter scallop MS Rating        : 4.25/5 Location           : Bukit Beruang, 75450 Melaka, Malaysia                           (Tel) 06-2327116 Business Hours : 12:00pm-3:00pm / 5:30pm - 10pm
	Pink Berrys  Cuisines           : Dessert Must try dish!   : Durian King dessert  MS Rating        : 4.25/5 Location           : Pahlawan Melaka Megamall  Website            : www.justberrys.com.my
	Bunga Raya Porridge Cuisines           : Chinese Speciality         : Pork Porridge MS Rating        : 3.5/5 Location           : G20, Jalan PM 3, Plaza Mahkota, 75000 Melaka.                          Miss Tam (016- 753 1816)  Business Hours: 12pm-2pm / 7pm-10pm                             (off) Chinese Lunar 1st, 2nd, 15th, 16th.
	Wok & Pan  Cuisines           : Western Speciality         : Mexican Pork Chop, Chicken cutlet, mushroom soup   MS Rating        : 4/5 Location           : No. 22 G, Jalan PM 4, Plaza Mahkota, Melaka Business Hours : 12pm to 3pm, 6pm to 10pm                           (Closed on Monday)
	Ban Hong Xiang Tea House（万鸿香茶楼） Cuisines           : Dim Sum Speciality         : Fried Carrot Cake, Fried Oyster    MS Rating        : 4/5 Location           : Jalan Gajah Berang. No. D, Jalan Bachang,Melaka                          GPS: N2.208833, E102.242667
	Nadeje Patisserie Cafe Cuisines           : Western Dessert Speciality         : Mille Crepes - Original, Cheese, Pralilne    MS Rating        : 4.25/5 Location           : UB051-053 Dataran Pahlawan Melaka Megamall Contact            : (06)2843469 Business Hours : 10am to 10:30pm
	Restoran Aunty Lee Cuisines           : Nonya  Speciality         : Fried chicken, Cincalok Omelette, Sambal Prawn Petai, Fried fish with chilli     MS Rating        : 4.5/5 Location           : 385 Jalan Ujong Pasir, Melaka 75050, Malaysia Contact            : (06) 2831009 Business Hours : 11:30 am - 2:30pm, 6pm - 10 pm (Close Tues)
	Cockles at Dirty Lane Cuisines           : Roadside Cockles and Lala    Speciality         : Cockles, Lala, 4 treasures     MS Rating        : 3.75/5 Location           : Jalan Bunga Raya (besides Madam King's) Contact            : (06) 016-645 8108 Business Hours : 7 - 11pm (closed on Saturday)
	Pak Putra Cuisines           : Indian     Speciality         : Chicken Tandoori, Naan      MS Rating        : 4/5 Location           : Jalan Laksamana 4, Melaka, Malaysia                          (Along the main road in Taman Laksamana)                          (GPS) N2.194833 E102.243550 Contact            : 012-601 5876 Business Hours : 6.00pm to 1.00am (closed alternate Monday)
	Jonker 88   Cuisines           : Nonya Speciality         : Nonya and Baba Laksa, Chendol      MS Rating        : 4.25/5 Location           : 88, Jalan Hang Jebat (Jonker Street) Contact            : 606-2868786 Business Hours : 10am -
	Capitol Satay Cuisines           : Satay Celup  Speciality         : Big prawns MS Rating        : 4.25/5 Location          : 41, Lorong Bukit Cina, 75100, Melaka Contact            : 06-2835508 Business Hours : 5:30pm - 1am
	Medan Ikan Bakar (Muara Sungai Duyong) Cuisines           : Malay Seafood  Speciality         : Fried Tumeric Fish, Nasi Lemak       MS Rating        : 4.5/5 Location           : KM 4-5, Jalan Padang Temu, Permatang Pasir                          GPS (N2.174500, E102.289167) Contact            : 019-248 9525, 012-636 2339 (Pak Azmi) Business Hours: 5pm - 12am (no rest day)
	Kedai Kopi Chung Wah Cuisines           : Hainanese Chicken rice Speciality         : Chicken rice ball, Chicken       MS Rating        : 4/5 Location           : Lorong Hang Jebat                          (Opposite San Shu Gong)                          GPS: N2.194833, E102.247167 Contact            : 06-2849660 Business Hours: Daily 7.30am to about 3pm (or sold out)
	Puteri Erra Roti John Cuisines           : Malay Roti John Speciality         : Batang Biasa Roti John       MS Rating        : 4/5 Location           : Medan Selera Bunga Raya (Opposite Majestic Hotel, behind Putra Specialist Hospital) Contact            :  Business Hours : Opens daily 6-11.30pm
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Malacca Day 1c - Dinner and Hotel

Free and Easy Malacca - Day 1 Itinerary

1) Drive up to Malacca/Tangkat through Tuas (~3hr)
2) Breakfast at Tangkat - Jia Jia Ba Ku Teh
3) Lunch at Family Heritage Cafe
4) Shopping and R&R
  - Dessert at Pahlawan Melaka Megamall
5) Dinner at Melaka Plaza
  - Pork Porridge
  - Wok & Pan
6) Menara Taming Sari
7) Massage


Dinner at Melaka Plaza, which is just next to Mahkota Parade shopping mall.

Pork Porridge @Restoran Bunga Raya Porridge, Mahkota Plaza  
GPS: 2.189833, 102.247000
It was Saturday night with heavy traffic jams, our eating kakis decided to go somewhere nearby for dinner.  We decided to head to Bunga Raya for Pork Porridge which is supposed to have operated for a few generations.

Bunga Raya Porridge

It was actually an old coffee shop along some dark street Jalan pm 3, besides the pasar malam. The store only offer a few staple food items - Porridge, Mee Hoon Kueh and different Mee or noodle soup. We ordered pork porridge, which is their main speciality. 

Menu

There was only one cook in the kitchen, it took really long before our food was served.  With all the hype about the shop being around for few generations and the long long wait, our expectation was naturally raised.  Sadly, it was quite a disappointment.  The congee wasn't really  smooth as what we expect, the century egg seems to have an additional smell which we are not used to and their pork slice wasn't that tender. 

The saving grace was their minced meat balls, it was fragrant and flavourful.  Not sure if it was the sole fish or fried shallots that make it tasty and stand out from the rest.

Pork Porridge with Century Egg

Initially we were thinking of having something light for dinner to clear our digestive system after all those heavy meals.  However, we refused to end our first day in Melaka with disappointment and thus we walked across the street to jalan pm4 in search for another round of dinner. 

Western Food @ Wok & Pan (East Meet West Cuisine)
Wok & Pan is just one street next to Bunga Raya Porridge and opposite to Nadaje cafe (main store), selling the famous mille crepe.

Wok & Pan Restaurant

Was wondering what was this cool cafe opposite of Wok & Pan while we were waiting for our food. Realised that it was the main branch of the famous Nadeje cafe. Nice place to enjoy dessert.

Nadeje Cafe opposite of Wok & Pan

Being a busy Saturday night, the wait is not just for the food, but you have to wait for the seats, wait to order, wait for our drinks, wait for the cutlery, wait for the bill, wait for the change ... what a long waiting night!

The mushroom soup (RM3.50) was quite creamy and smooth, it would have been better if there are more mushroom taste to it. Maybe those who doesn't like their mushroom soup too "mushroomy" will love it. To drink it while its hot, we drank directly from the bowl since it takes forever for the cutlery to be made available to us. 

Mushroom Soup
Rating: 4/5

Chicken chop with secret Hainanese Sauce (RM9.50), the word "secret" raised our expectations. It had to be as good as the chicken chop offered in restaurant Hua Mui in Johor, if not better. 
The chicken chop was nicely fried and very crisp with the batter coating. Ironically, the disappointing part happened to be the secret Hainanese sauce, its too sourly and sharp and the HP sauce is too overpowering.
Without the secret Hainanese sauce, the chicken chop is quite a nice item, just that it will be a bit dry.

Chicken Chop with Secret Hainanese Sauce
Rating: 4/5

Mexican Pork Chop @ RM12.50.  Now we come to one dish that really worth the wait. This Mexican pork chop was well marinated, nicely grilled and topped with the Mexican sauce which really give it a unique taste. The Mexican sauce contains diced cucumber, tomatoes, peppers, onions, chilli and vinegar which really complement the slightly charred pork chop. Yummy !!

Mexican Pork Chop
Rating: 4.5/5

BBQ Pork Chop (RM10.50).  Couldn't really recall how this pork chop taste like, guessed it didn't really stand out with the Mexican Pork Chop.  Only recalled our food kakis commenting that the pork chops are too thin. The potato wedges were quite nice.

BBQ Pork Chop

There was a choice of frozen or fresh local fish, we ordered the fresh fish fillet which cost RM21.00. Almond Nut Fish Fillet served with Jacket Potato and Salad, liked how the fragrant roasted almond taste enhanced the fresh fish fillet.  This dish also offered various texture - crunchy almond, crispy fried batter and soft fish fillet. Quite nice. 

Almond Nut Fish Fillet
Rating 4/5

We missed out the popular dish - Grilled Herbs & Honey Pork Rib @RM28.00. Happened to saw multiple big slabs of pork ribs at the back of their kitchen. Although the cleanliness of back kitchen is dubious but the pork ribs still look appetizing to me :)

After we finished all the food, our beverages were still not served. We simply cancelled the order and pay for our meal.

Wok & Pan
Address : No. 22 G, Jalan PM 4, Plaza Mahkota, Melaka
Contact  : 017 673 8896 / info@wokandpan.com
Business Hour : 12pm to 3pm, 6pm to 10pm (Closed on Monday)


Night Market 
There was a night market at Mahkota Plaza when we were there on Saturday night. Besides the usual food items, clothes, bags they also have fishes and pets for sales.

Night Market at Plaza Mahkota

Menara Taming Sari
The Menara Taming Sari observatory tower is just next to Mahkota Plaza.  Menara Taming Sari offer a 360 degree revolving ride up to a height of 110 metres, providing a paranomic view of the heritage town from the cabin deck.
Daily 10am - 10pm. Adult / Child : Rm20 / Rm10

You can actually catch a good glimpse of the tower along the small lane that cut across the Jalan pm 3-5 streets.

Menara Taming Sari

Fenix Inn

We choose to stay in Fenix Inn, a budget inn with good location. Fenix is within walking distance from the shopping malls (Mahkota Parade and Pahlawan Malaka Megamall), central location to the heritage town. 

The room was small and basic. for a budget hotel, it was nice that they provide floor mat, electric kettle and individual air-con which you can control. There is no lift in the hotel, which may not be convenient for the elderly. There is no complimentary bottled water or tissue, only limited toilet paper were provided and it took the staff a really long time to replenish. 

Valet parking and free parking provided, however do note that it will take some time for them to get your car. 

Fenix Inn

Service was "inn" standard. There were no housekeeping provided during our stay. When we requested for housekeeping at the front desk, the staff reply was "you should have hang out the tag on your door to request for housekeeping". ...Ok, at least she agreed to send someone to tidy up the room before evening. 

However when we were back at night, room was still in its original state. We decided to just settle for a change of towels. The dear service staff came empty handed after a long wait to "inspect" first before another long wait for him to come back with clean towels. 

Massage @Topic Healthcare

There is also a healthcare centre just opposite Fenix Inn which you can relax and have a massage after a tired day.  


It seems that massage wasn't really that common in Melaka.  Unlike the usual touristy areas, it took us quite some time to find massage at shopping malls, which the standard was kind of disappointing.

Maybe massage wasn't really commonly accepted in this small Malay heritage town and it explain why the massage centre need to put such explicit sign that "No sex service is to be provided".

"No Sex Service" Sign at Massage Healthcare Centre

One hour body massage is around RM32~35 during non-peak (weekday or weekend before 7pm) while RM48.60 for weekend night.  Our Chinese massuers who seems to be from China were very skillful, much better than the massage in the shopping mall.

Topic Healthcare website http://www.topichealthcare.com

Malacca Trail Map

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Malacca Day 1b - Family Heritage Cafe

Free and Easy Malacca - Day 1 Itinerary


1) Drive up to Malacca/Tangkat through Tuas (~3hr)
2) Breakfast at Tangkat - Jia Jia Ba Ku Teh
3) Lunch at Family Heritage Cafe
4) Shopping and R&R - Dessert at Pahlawan Melaka Megamall
5) Dinner at Melaka Plaza - Pork Porridge - Wok & Pan
6) Menara Taming Sari
7) Massage

Family Heritage Cafe @ Melacca
We met up with the rest of our kakis at Family Heritage Cafe which is slightly away from the Malacca heritage town central but also away from the traffic jam. This cafe is just opposite the Petronas petrol kiosk.

Family Heritage Cafe

We were still quite full with the heavy breakfast and thought that nothing can really entice us anymore.  But the pineapple curry fish whet our appetite and get us started for another round of makan.

The curry was nice, not too hot and with a refreshing pineapple fragrance and taste. Loved the thick pineapple puree on the top layer of the curry.  Tender fish, ragrant curry and refreshing pineapple blend so well together to give a nice unique taste. Must try!

Pineapple Curry Fish
Rating: 4.5/5

Read about chinchalok omelette on the Internet when searching for Nonya food in Malacca.  Maybe my expectation was raised after reading the reviews and was kind of disappointed when I tasted it.  It was a basic egg omelette with slight mouldy taste from the chinchalok which wasn't really complementary to the egg.

Chinchalok Omelette
Rating: 3.5/5

Sambal Petai Prawn, another famous Nonya dish in Malacca.  Petai or Peteh is also call stink beans, which is an acquired taste just like durian. My kaki loved how the petai taste infused into the prawn with sambal chilli and the intense charcoal-like burnt taste. Eating the Petai itself is a challenge, it gets really bitter as you chew further.  Most of us settled with just eating the prawn only.

Sambal Petai Prawn
Rating: 3.75/5

Butter scallop was a nice dish - half shell scallops sauteed in buttery creamy sauce with chopped garlic. The sweetness from the scallop, salty buttery sauce with strong garlic taste was great.

Butter Scallop
Rating: 4.25/5

Ayam Pongteh is another popular Nonya dish which is usually cooked during festive occasions like Chinese New Year. Flavours supposed to set in and taste better if this Nonya chicken and potato stew was kept overnight.  Pongteh is fermented salted soy bean paste which is used to cook the dish. This dish is sweet and savoury, order this dish if you want something non-spicy.

Ayam Pongteh
Rating: 3.75/5

Their peanut soup was quite nice as well.

Peanut Soup

A meal in Malacca is only complete with Chendol as dessert. Finely shaved ice topped with gula Melaka and coconut milk.  The gula melaka wasn't too strong or sweet, nice for those who doesn't like their dessert too sweet.

Chendol
Rating: 4/5

Family Heritage Cafe

No. 658-F, Jalan Intan, Taman Bukit Melaka

Bukit Beruang,

75450 Melaka, Malaysia

Tel: 06-2327116

Business Hours : 12:00pm-3:00pm / 5:30pm - 10pm


Shopping - Hatten Square / Pahlawan Melaka Megamall / Plaza Mahkota
Shopping, an activity to be included into your Malacca itinerary. There are a number of gigantic shopping malls at Malacca central, all next to one another.

Hatten Square - a new shopping mall besides the Hatten hotel. Besides the popular Tang Shifu and Häagen-Dazs right next to the Hatten Square main entrance, there are some stalls catering for the younger crowd like the dreamy pink Crepe Signature cafe, bubble tea kiosk Chatime.


Plaza Mahkota - largest shopping mall in Malacca with cinema, bowling alleys, Parkson and of course the popular Mille crepe Nadeje Patisserie. 

(CW)Crepe Signature, Chatime, Massage, Gaming Event

Pahlawan Melaka Megamall - affordable shopping at the basement. There is a Polo Haus store which always have a selection on 50-70% discount which is worth a look.

Pahlawan Melaka Megamall
(baked sweet potato, tidbits, fountain, fish maw)

We were very lucky to come across this desert kiosk near the fountain at the basement of Pahlawan Melaka Megamall - Pink Berrys. We were handed some flyers which consist of discount coupons to promote this new dessert kiosk.  We were pleasantly surprised with the cheap delicious durian dessert @ RM8.  


The Durian King dessert was layered with shaved ice, durian puree, topped with big chunks of durian flesh and some pamelo pulps. The pamelo pulps was a smart way to balance the rich creamy jelat-ness of the durian. Their Mango Tango drink is quite nice too, we got Mango Honeymoon @RM6 which is mango smoothie topped with fresh mango cubes.  

Dessert @Pink Berrys

Pink Berrys
Location           : Pahlawan Melaka Megamall 
Website            : www.justberrys.com.my

Malacca Trail Map

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Malacca Day 1a - Tangkat

Free and Easy Malacca - Day 1 Itinerary

1) Drive up to Malacca/Tangkat through Tuas (~3hr)
2) Breakfast at Tangkat - Jia Jia Ba Ku Teh
3) Lunch at Family Heritage Cafe
4) Shopping and R&R
  - Dessert at Pahlawan Melaka Megamall
5) Dinner at Melaka Plaza
  - Pork Porridge
  - Wok & Pan
6) Menara Taming Sari
7) Massage


We start off early on a Saturday morning around 7+am.  The drive up to Malacca (aka Melaka) was smooth - quick or immediate clearance at Tuas customs, smooth traffic on the highway.  For rest stops,give the old Yong Peng a miss.  We choose a bigger scale rest stop before Yong Peng which has a big hawker centre with lots of stalls and most importantly, clean toilets with lots of cubicles and toilet paper.

Tangkat - Jia Jia Ba Ku Teh (家家)
Finally reached Tangkat for our breakfast (or brunch) Follow the way to Tangkat Hospital.  Turn right along Jalan Payamas towards Tangkat Hospital and turn left at the muddy car park of Jia Jia Ba Ku Teh.

View from Carpark

From the kitchen, you can witness the preparation, basket of marinated and fried chicken feet, pig trotter to be chopped and some organs in the bucket. The environment wasn't that clean and there are lots of houseflies, avoid it if it will spoilt your appetite.

Food In Preparation

It will take some time for the bak ku teh to be ready.  While waiting for the food, you can buy otak from this friendly uncle who operates just at the side of the coffee shop.

Otak at the Coffee Shop

Coffee shop settings with more 10 tables. Seems like booking is possible for their regular clients where they get the table setup before they arrive. They have a open kitchen at the front to do the final preparation before serving. Ingredients ordered will be added to a claypot and heat up, topped with fried beancurd and vegetables.

Dinning Area & Preparation at the Front Kitchen

We ordered a pot of tea (茶王) and get ready the black sauce for our Bak Ku Teh.  Their black sauce is very thick and nice. Pour it to the saucer with chilli only as it gets watery if mixed with the garlic. Only topped up with garlic after dipping in the sauce.

Chilli, Garlic and Black Sauce & Tea

Finally our Bak Ku Teh was served. Piping hot herbal soup with pork ribs, pork belly and pig liver, each ingredient cost RM8. Mushroom, vegetables and fried beancurb were "complimentary".
The herbal soup was very soothing, not overpowering with herbal and have a nice sweet after taste. Pork belly was excellence with the thick black sauce with chopped garlic. Pork liver were tender, you will need to quickly eat them up before they turned dry in the claypot.
The waiter topped up the Bak Ku Teh soup with a small bowl. The refill was not as clear and my lunch kaki find that the sweet aftertaste was not as strong, maybe because the refill soup is without the additional meat taste.

Bak Ku Teh
Rating: 4.5/5

We ordered a pot of Pig Trotter as well.  The pig trotter was not as nice as their bak ku teh.  The pig trotter skin was chewy with collagen but the vinegar was a bit sharp.

Pig Trotter
Rating: 3.5/5

What really draw us here was not so much of their bak ku teh but their chicken feet!!  Their chicken feet was one of the BEST that we've tried. The chicken feet was marinated (saw some orange peel) and deep fried. It is then fried with their secret sauce and steamed before serving.
The chicken feet was slightly chewy and not soggy or watery type.  The thick thick flavourful sauce cling to the chicken feet nicely and the raw garlic and chilli add oomp to the chicken feet. Yummy!

Chicken Feet
Rating: 4.75/5

Jia Jia Bah Kuet Teh 家家肉骨茶
38, Jalan Kemajuan, off Jalan Payamas, Tangkak, Johor
GPS: N2.272500, E102.544500
Hours: 7:00am to 2:00pm


Other Tangkat Delicacies 


Tangkat Beef Noodles
If your stomach still have some space, you can try the Beef Noodles at Jalan Solok which had also start up a branch at Malacca.

Tangkat Hua Bee
There is a a traditional bakery Hua Bee 和美 just a few stalls next to the Beef Noodles which sells nice traditional snack.


Tangkat Map

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Malacca (Melaka) - Heritage Town

Itinerary for our 3 days Malacca trip

Free and Easy Malacca - Day 1 Itinerary 

1) Drive up to Malacca/Tangkat through Tuas (~3hr)
2) Breakfast at Tangkat - Jia Jia Ba Ku Teh 

3) Lunch at Family Heritage Cafe
4) Shopping and R&R
  - Dessert at Pahlawan Melaka Megamall
5) Dinner at Melaka Plaza
  - Pork Porridge
  - Wok & Pan
6) Menara Taming Sari
7) Massage

Free and Easy Malacca - Day 2 Itinerary 

1) Dim Sum at Ban Hong Xiang Tea House
2) Baba Charlie for Nonya Kuehs and snack 
3) Sightseeing - Heritage Trial 

4) Dessert at Nadeje

5) Dinner at Auntie Lee
6) Cockles at dirty lane
7) Supper at Pak Putra

Free and Easy Malacca - Day 3 Itinerary 

1) Brunch at Chung Wah Chicken rice ball  
2) Jonker 88  

3) Stroll at Jonker Street 

4) Shopping and Sightseeing
5) Dessert at Nadeje
6) Seafood at Muara Sungai Duyong

Top Activities in Malacca
- Foodie expedition
- Heritage Trail
- Shopping


Top 3 Melaka local food
- Chicken Rice Ball ->*my recommendation: Chung Wah (中华茶室) 
- Baba Nyonya Food -> *my recommendation: Auntie Lee
- Satay Celup -> *tried Capitol Satay

Refer to the following map for My 3D2N Malacca Trail

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