Malacca, Malaysia, is a foodie’s paradise – whether it’s street food or culturally significant delicacies, we’re absolutely dazzled.
Instead of camping in the long, snaking queues of famous restaurants, here are some places that serve equally good food and you won’t have to wait as long.
dim sum garden
Can’t decide what to eat?
Then chow down on Dim Sum Garden, where variety is the name of the game. A basket of dim sum is steaming at the entrance, and traditional dim sum trolleys deliver the dim sum here almost instantly.
Pick and sample popular dim sum such as char siew buns (RM3.50 (S$1) per basket for two), siu mai (RM3.80 per basket) and chee cheong fun with prawn and char siu filling (RM5 per plate).
Crowd favorites include the delicious Stir-fried Carrot Cake (RM6 per plate) and the signature Yong Tau Foo (RM9 for small, RM18 for large).
Dim Sum Garden is located at 3-1 & 5-1, Jalan Tamby Abdullah, Bandar Hilir, 75000 Melaka, Malaysia, Tel: +60 12 261 5700. Open Monday-Wednesday, Friday-Sunday 7am-2pm, closed Thursday.
Hideta’s kitchen wife
No trip to Malacca is complete without authentic Peranakan food.
For that, Siew Tin’s Nyonya Kitchen at Jonker Street is your best bet. While it’s easier to get a seat at this unpretentious restaurant, the food is just as authentic as it is at the famous ones.
Additionally, with its long care (Long table) is used for group banquets, it feels like dining in a Peranakan home.
Must-try dishes include the Ayam Buah Keluak (RM45 for a large portion), cooked with a special blend of spices, and the fresh and rich tamarind fish head (RM80 for a large portion).As a reward, their Sambal Shrimp Paste (chili sauce) so delicious!
Siew Tin’s Nyonya Kitchen is located at No. 7, Jalan Hang Lekir, Jonker Street, Melaka 75200, Malaysia, p.+60 6 286 2233.Open daily from 11am to 10pm
Olive Baker
“High-Fiber Healthy Warehouse” Olive Baker looks out to a serene pond view and serves up creative breakfast items.
The most popular Kaya Butter Toast Set (RM11.10) comes with eggs and drinks, and you can choose red dates, black sesame or coffee walnut bread.
For a heartier option, check out the Multigrain Bread Otak Set with Cheese Otak Otak (RM17.10), or enjoy breakfast eggs on a bagel with ham and cheese in the Onsen Egg Set (RM12).
Have you finished your breakfast? Say hello to the resident goose in the back.
Olive Baker is located at 4383c, Jalan Limbongan, Kampung Kolam Limbongan, 75250 Melaka, Malaysia, p. + 60 6 289 9116. Open Thursday to Monday 7.30am to 12.30pm, closed Tuesday to Wednesday.
wild parsley
For Peranakan cuisine with a modern twist, head to Wild Coriander for a meal by the Melaka River. Due to the tropical heat, it’s best to continue al fresco dining after sunset, when the river also lights up.
The pork-free restaurant serves individual portions of laksa (RM16.90) and nasi lemak with beef rendang (RM21.90), as well as appetizers such as pie (RM8.90 for five pieces) and Fruit Rojak (RM8. 90) Share.
Try the Wild Coriander Special (RM20.90), which features chicken rendang with four types of rice.
Wild Coriander is located at No. 40 Jalan Kampung Pantai, Melaka 75200, Malaysia, Tel: +60 12 380 7211. Hours of operation are Monday-Tuesday, Thursday-Sunday 3pm-10pm. Closed on Wednesdays.
Hainanese kitchen
Another popular food in Malacca is chicken rice balls. Historically, rice was pressed into a ball for quick consumption by laborers while keeping the rice warm for extended periods of time.
Today, Malacca is synonymous with chicken rice balls, and they are readily available, but only with silky steamed chicken like Hainan Kitchen.
Order tender chicken in fours (RM13.50), half (RM26) or whole (RM50), as well as rice balls (RM0.50 each).
They also serve fluffy rice if the meatballs are hard to handle. They usually sell out by noon, so get down early.
Hainan Kitchen is located at 203-D, Jalan Kenanga 3/29A, Jalan Gajah Berang, Melaka 75200. Malaysia, p.+60 16 329 9763. Open Wed-Sun 8am-2pm, Closed Mon-Tues.
Zhongtai Seafood Restaurant
Zi char restaurants in Melaka usually offer a wide variety of seafood cooked in various ways.
One dish that is very popular, even among the locals, is rice noodles with shrimp and cheese. Zhongtai Seafood Restaurant is a place where you can eat without waiting too long.
Using prawns in their cream cheese prawn mee hoon (RM95 for king prawns), you can taste the umami in every bite. The texture of the cheese gravy has a well-balanced viscosity, but if cheese is not your thing, try the Pan Fried Prawn Bee Hoon (RM38).
Zhongtai Seafood Restaurant is located at No. 267 & 267A, Jalan Melaka Raya 3, Taman Melaka Raya, Melaka 75000, Malaysia, p. +60 6 283 3822. Opening hours are Monday to Friday 10.30am to 12am, Saturday 8am to 12am and Sunday 10.30am to 12am.
Woods Book Bar
This unassuming little gem is tucked away in an overgrown garden, tucked away from a street of dilapidated workshops. As you enter through the outdoor garden, you immediately experience a change of Zen vibe.
Woods Book Cafe is a used book café where anyone is welcome to read and enjoy a light meal.
While you kill time, enjoy a book and snacks such as vegetarian and non-vegetarian versions of pizza (RM13.90), and a delicious cup of siphon coffee (RM10).
The Woods Book Cafe is located at 35, Jalan Gajah Berang, 75200 Melaka, Malaysia, p. +60 12-616 7128. Hours of operation are Monday-Tuesday, Thursday-Sunday 11am-6pm. Closed on Wednesdays.
Also read: Our Favorite Athens Cafes: Specialty Coffee, Brunch, and a Great Vacation Setting in Greece
This article first appeared on Urban Nomads.
