9 of Our Favourite Melaka Foods That You Must Try at Least Once (+ Where to Find Them!)
Recently, I’ve been lucky enough to spend a couple of weeks in Melaka with my family on a well-deserved vacation. While we were there, I never realised how diverse the state’s cuisine was and I was blown away by the different food that I gladly chowed down.
Now, I just can’t wait until I get the chance to visit the state again just to feast on as many Melaka foods from the restaurants that I visited.
While waiting, I decided to create a personal checklist of the dishes that I loved the most and I thought to myself “Hey, this would make for a great blog!”. Fast forward to today, and I’m proud to share it with you, so without further ado, here are some of the best foods in Melaka:
Satay at Sun May Hiong Satay House
Website: https://www.facebook.com/sunmayhiong/
Address: 50/52, Jalan Kota Laksamana 1/1, Taman Kota Laksamana
Contact details: +60 17-639 3421
Operating hours: Wednesday to Monday: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Cost: $
Satay is easily one of Malaysia’s most iconic street foods so it’s really a must-try when you get a chance to visit the country. Although I’ve tried this dish loads of times in the country, it still blew me away when I tried it in Melaka, more specifically, at Sun May Hiong Satay House.
It may be because of recency bias, but I think this may be the best place to try this dish. For starters, their satays are perfectly cooked, featuring just the right amount of char on the surface of the meat.
Furthermore, we couldn’t get enough of their homemade peanut sauce, which further enhanced the taste of the roasted skewered meat. Speaking of meat, you can also choose from 4 different kinds of satay: chicken, pork, pork intestine and pork liver!
Pro tip:
If you want to add a twist to your regular old satay, we recommend dipping them into their delicious homemade pineapple sauce! The added acidity and slight sweetness change the entire flavour, creating a whole new dish, or at least in our opinion.
Chicken Rice Ball at Chung Wah
Website: https://www.facebook.com/cocomi108/
Address: 20, Lorong Hang Jebat
Contact details: +60 12-307 7030
Operating hours: Thursday to Monday: 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM
Cost: $
Some locals will say that it won’t be a complete visit to Melaka without trying chicken rice balls, and quite frankly, we agree a hundred per cent!
It’s equal parts simple and iconic, which is something not a lot of dishes can pull off! We do assure you though, that what it may lack in pzazz, is made up for by its interesting texture and flavour.
The rice balls themselves weren’t too moist or dry and they served as perfect vessels for the flavour brought by the roasted chicken.
Pro tip:
If you don’t like the location or the overall feel of Chung Wah, we also recommend Nanyang Chicken Rice Ball, Jonker Chicken Rice Ball and Hoe Kee Chicken Rice.
Putu Piring at Putu Piring Tengkera
Website: https://www.facebook.com/p/Putu-Piring-Melaka-100031660665453/
Address: 252, Jalan Tengkera
Contact details: +60 17-672 8971
Operating hours:
- Monday to Friday: 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
- Saturday: 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Cost: $
One of my personal favourites during my vacation to Melaka was Putu Pring, and I think locals will agree that the best place to get it is Putu Piring Tengkera. This humble stall is run by a lovely couple and they serve the most authentic and delicious version of this dish.
Putu Pring is essentially a ball made out of rice flour that is filled with gula melaka, also known as palm sugar. To top it all off, these chewy and gooey nuggets are coated with freshly grated coconut, adding another layer of texture and flavour to the mix.
What I personally love about this dish is that it’s so easy to eat. You can have it to go and visit various spots in Melaka while munching on this sweet and salty dessert.
Pro tip:
Putu Piring Tengkera is an attraction in itself so it would be best to visit it as early as possible if you don’t want to wait in long lines. Your best bet would be to visit during the weekdays, as this is when there are virtually no crowds in the waiting in line.
Durian Pancake at The Daily Fix Café
Website: https://www.facebook.com/thedailyfixcafe/
Address: 55, Jalan Hang Jebat
Contact details: +60 13-290 6855
Operating hours: Daily from 8:45 AM to 5:30 PM
Cost: $$
From one sweet treat to another, the durian pancakes at The Daily Fix Café are a must-try for those who are looking to expand their range of flavours. As you may know, durian as a fruit doesn’t have the most pleasant smell, but trust us, this dish will make you forget about that.
For starters, the pancakes themselves are masterfully made, featuring smooth surfaces and an overall fluffy texture. The main highlight of the dish, however, is the fresh durian filling that oozes as you take a bite out of the pancakes.
Aside from the pancakes, however, another reason we recommend this cafe is because of its cosy and lively ambience. Featuring bricks and exposed beams, this place will make you feel like you’re dining in an industrial-style loft in the middle of New York!
Pro tip:
If you’re looking for something heavier, we can also recommend their wide range of sandwiches. Whether you’re looking for ham, cheese, chicken or anything in between, they have it in the kitchen!
Asam Laksa at Jonker 88
Website: https://www.facebook.com/jonker88/
Address: 88, Jalan Hang Jebat
Operating hours:
- Sunday to Thursday: 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM
- Friday and Saturday: 9:30 AM to 7:30 PM
Cost: $
Jonker 88 is another go-to restaurant for locals who are looking for cheap eats in Melaka. They serve one of the best versions of Asam laksa in the state, as they’re not too spicy but not too weak as well—just how we like it!
We also think that it’s one of the best value-for-money dishes in the state, as the bowl of laksa itself is quite overloaded with toppings. Featuring prawns, tuna, bean curds, hard-boiled eggs and more, it’s impossible not to loosen your belt after eating this scrumptious dish!
Another reason why we recommend Jonker 88 as the quintessential laksa spot in Melaka is because of its historical significance. The place itself is an old-timey storehouse that still displays its vintage interior in all its glory to this day.
Pro tip:
If you find their laksa a tad bit spicier than your taste, we recommend ordering one of their desserts to cleanse your palate with something sweet! They offer ice cendol, ice kacang and other traditional Malay sweets.
Duck Drumstick Noodle at Tengkera Duck Noodles
Address: 33, Jalan Kota Laksamana 1/2, Taman Kota Laksamana
Operating hours: Wednesday to Monday: 7:00 AM to 1:30 PM
Cost: $
The duck drumstick noodle is one of my favourite dishes to get during our vacation in Melaka because of how rich and loaded it was for a cheap price. Everything is nailed to a tee, from the duck’s crunchiness to the gravy it’s drenched in.
You can get it at the aptly named Tengkera Duck Noodles restaurant, which has been serving this dish for over 70 years! Their recipe to success wasn’t overnight at all, as the literal recipe has been passed down from 3 generations.
So, if anyone can create the perfect duck drumstick noodle, it would be them with no questions asked.
Pro tip:
Since this spot is an attraction in itself, you can expect it to be almost always packed. As much as possible, we recommend visiting it early in the morning during weekdays to avoid long queues.
Fried Oyster Omelette at Oh Chien
Address: 70, Jln. Bunga Raya, Kampung Jawa
Operating hours: Wednesday to Thursday, Saturday to Monday:: 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Cost: $
Once the sun sets in Melaka, people would usually start going to bars and pubs. As for me, you’ll find me lining up at Oh Chien at Medan Makan Boon Leong for their famous fried oyster omelette, which by the way, only sells for RM6—how crazy is that?
It’s not always you’ll get to try oysters this way, and we’ve got to say, we kind of prefer it over eating them raw. The addition of seasoning and the overall crunchy texture of the oyster makes it all the more delicious for our taste buds.
This delicious dish is served by the streetside by one man, who prepares the dish in front of you using a single gigantic wok. Seeing him at work is like watching a show, with the end being you getting your freshly made oyster omelette.
Pro tip:
This humble hawker stall almost always features a long queue. If you want to skip the long lines, we recommend getting there as early as possible, even before they start opening their doors.
Cheesy Prawn Vermicelli at Restoran Tong Sheng
Website: https://www.facebook.com/RestoranTongSheng/
Address: 377 & 378, Jalan Melaka Raya 6, Taman Melaka Raya
Contact details: +60 16-776 7811
Operating hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM, 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM
Cost: $$
Tasting the cheesy prawn vermicelli dish wasn’t on my bucket list during our trip to Melaka, but I’m glad I tried it! Prior to trying this dish, I never thought that shrimp and cheese went well together and oh how wrong that was.
Restoran Tong Sheng masterfully crafts this dish, as it features just the right amount of cheese that doesn’t overpower the sweet meat of the prawns. Plus, the added texture of the bee hon completes the overall dish.
Lastly, we also recommend ordering one of their fresh coconuts for your drink of choice. It’s the perfect beverage to wash the seafood flavour off your mouth and refresh yourself at the same time.
Pro tip:
While you’re here, we also recommend checking out their other seafood offerings like the fresh milk crabs, fried squid and black pepper crab.
Onde Onde at Baba Charlie Cafe
Website: https://www.facebook.com/babacharlienyonyacake/
Address: 631, Jalan Siantan, Taman Siantan Seksyen 2
Contact details: +60 19-666 2907
Operating hours: Friday to Wednesday: 8:30 AM to 7:00 PM
Cost: $$
Onde onde is another easy-to-eat sweet we highly recommend when you’re visiting Melaka. It’s these bite-sized balls made out of sweet rice that have been filled with palm sugar.
To top the dish off, the balls are coated with tons of shaven coconut adding another layer of texture to the overall snack.
You can find it in tons of cafes and dessert shops, but the place we tried during our vacation was Baba Charlie Cafe. Aside from onde onde, you’ll also find tons of other Malaysian desserts and cakes while you’re here.
Pro tip:
If you’re looking for something that can cool you down in the hot Melaka weather, we recommend trying out their ice cendol! This dessert features shaved ice topped with various kinds of syrups, grass jelly, beans and other sweet ingredients.