Melaka restaurants and dining
Melaka's chicken rice ball restaurants are famous
Melaka is a food-lover's paradise with high quality Malay, Indian and Chinese restaurants as well as the unique Peranakan or Baba-Nyonya cuisine which has made dining in the city famous. While it was once only served up at family dinners, these days flocks of tourists come to Melaka restaurants especially to try this peculiar blend of Eastern and Western flavours.
Dishes are typically different from those eaten by Peranakan people in Penang, with specialities such as ayam buah keluak (chicken stewed with a bitter fruit) plus ayam pongteh (chicken/pork in a bean sauce) extremely well received. Chicken rice ball is another speciality of Melaka restaurants which actually has its routes in the food of Hainanese immigrants from China.
Yet another typical Melaka dish is satay celup, where meat, crabsticks, fishballs or prawns are placed on skewers and dipped into simmering satay sauce to cook. While the infamous 'devil curries' created by Portuguese-Eurasian restaurants in Melaka are also found here and not for the faint-hearted.
Some local Malay delicacies in Melaka include Asam Pedas. Often considered to be the signature dish of Melaka State, this hot and sour curry is normally accompanied by plain white rice and is popular both for lunch or dinner. Extremely spicy sambal sauces, including Sambal Belacan, should be tried by visitors and are normally eaten on the side of spicy curries. Cencaluk, made from fermented krills, is easy to find around Klebang Beach but are not for the unadventurous with its unfamiliar aroma.
Malay restaurants in Melaka
Dine in atmospheric courtyards
Sajian Ummie Seafood Restaurant
One of the city's very best seafood restaurants with fish, shrimp, cuttlefish and crab cooked however one desires. Have your choice grilled on the barbecue or perhaps baked, fried or steamed. Selection of Malay and Western sauces to accompany your food are available. Umbai Floating Seafood Village, 14km from Melaka, Tel: +60 (0)13 340 0664 $$$
Tranquerah Bistro
Spacious canteen in courtyard within Melaka Heritage Square which serves delicious yet cheap Malay staple dishes for just a few ringgits. (18 Jalan Hang Jebat) $
Peranakan restaurants in Melaka
Restoran Peranakan
Great Peranakan food made from authentic local ingredients and served in a spacious courtyard by a traditional house. A full range of authentic Baba-Nyonya dishes are on offer as well. 107 Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock $
Riverine Coffeehouse
Home cooked Peranakan dishes such as sweet Nyonya pastries and coconut-rich curries are served in a lovely setting by the river. 108 Lorong Hang Jebat, Tel: +60 (0)17 755 6767, open 11:00 - midnight $$
Kapitan House
Celebrity Baba-Nyonya chef Kenny Chan opened his Melaka restaurant here to great fanfare. It remains one of the most popular spots in town for traditional kueh bongkong or apam berkuah. 71-73 Jalan Merdeka, Taman Melaka Raya, Tel: +60 (0)6 282 6525 $$
Price guide
$ – dishes under US$3; beer US$2; local spirit US$2.50;cocktails US$3
$$ – dishes US$3-10; beer US$2.50; local spirit US$3; cocktails US$4.50
$$$ – dishes US$10-20; beer US$4; local spirit US$4.50; cocktails US$6
$$$$ – dishes over US$20; beer US$5; local spirit US$5; cocktails US$8
Chinese restaurants in Melaka
Capitol Satay Celup
This is one of the most popular restaurants in Melaka for satay celup, and visitors can be certain of sampling the real deal. Take your pick of meat or seafood skewers and simmer them in a vat of deliciously spicy satay sauce on your table. A memorable treat. 41 Lorong Bukit China, open daily 19:00 - midnight $
Hoe Kee Chicken Rice
This Melaka restaurant is very popular for lunch and boasts of being one of the city's original purveyors of traditional chicken rice ball dishes. It naturally has a huge local following here, so arrive early to avoid waiting in line. 4 Jalan Hang Jebat, Open daily 0830 - 1500 $
International restaurants in Melaka
Sri Lakshimi Villas
This South Indian Melaka restaurant is popular with vegetarians and boasts a range of fabulous masala dosas and cheap yet filling thali sets. 2 Jalan Bendahara $
Coconut House Studio
Popular for thin-crust pizzas from its wood-fired oven, this Melaka restaurant is contained within a lovely Peranakan house with courtyard dining. There is an gallery and library here as well. 128 Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, Open 11:00 - midnight $$
Sibaraku
There are two Melaka restaurants here side-by-side, one serving all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet with the other Japanese sushi a la carte. 1 Jalan Merdeka, Tel: +60 (0)6-282-4869 $$
