I recently spent a few days in Malacca, trying out the restaurants and food stalls recommended by local friends. This "Where to eat in Melaka" list below is organized chronologically based on our visits. We strive to provide as much unbiased and objective information as possible.
Melaka is a historical city that has earned UNESCO World Heritage status. It has a rich history with multicultural influences, intermarriage, and the blend of Eastern and Western cultures. It significantly influenced the culinary landscape of Melaka, giving rise to a unique cuisine known as Nyonya cuisine, along with many other local food specialties.
Join me on this food-hunt journey in Malacca!
1. Popiah Ta Chong 大衆薄饼
When we arrived at this popiah shop around 11 a.m., there was already a long queue of customers. The shop does not have air conditioning but is equipped with 6 to 7 fans that keep it cool. It was also spotless and well-organized.
There are two queues: one for preorders and another for walk-in customers. Since we had already placed our order via WhatsApp a day before, they prepared it precisely at the pick-up time we requested. Therefore, the popiah was incredibly fresh when we got it.
The workers wore masks and gloves while preparing the popiah, and I was impressed with their cleanliness. She worked very professionally, placing the popiah skin on the chopping board and adding a smaller piece to create a double layer in the center. Then, she said various ingredients, including lettuce, dried tofu, a sweet and savory sauce, yam beans, an egg, and pork cracklings.
Most orders were for takeaway, and only two tables were available. When I was there, there were no dine-in customers.
The popiah's flavor is lighter than the ones we tried in Ipoh, which had crunchier ingredients. It ultimately comes down to personal preference: My wife preferred the Ipoh version, while I liked the one from Ta Chong better.
Address: 145, Jln Tengkera, Taman Kota Laksamana, 75200 Melaka. Phone: 019-657 5851.
2. Tengkera Duck Noodle 大树下鸭面
We arrived at the second eatery of our trip, which further enhanced our impression that eateries in Melaka are very clean and tidy. Like the popiah store we visited earlier, this shop specializes in just one item: Duck Noodle. The noodles are prepared at a small station set up at the entrance. This family-run business is now in its third generation, and the current shop has been operating for 15 years.
Although the noodle shop does not have air conditioning, it is equipped with fans and has a cozy atmosphere.
The noodles we ordered were served with basic yet delicious ingredients, including braised tofu, egg, shredded duck meat, and bean sprouts. The soy sauce-based braising liquid was very nice and paired well with the bee hoon we chose.
Address: 33, Jalan Kota Laksamana ½, Taman Kota Laksamana, 75200 Melaka
3. Putu Piring Melaka
Next, we visited the famous Putu Piring Tengkera shop to try the Melaka dessert called Putu Piring.
Putu piring is a traditional Malay dessert made from rice flour with palm sugar (gula melaka) as the filling.
The workers were busy making putu piring at the front of the shop, which assures us that it is always fresh and served warm.
The staff fill the specially made molds, known as "piring," with the rice flour batter before transferring them to the steamer. Once cooked, another worker removes the putu piring and passes it to another station where shredded coconut is added. Watching the entire process is a delightful experience as they carry out each step seamlessly and effortlessly.
The rice flour cake itself is not very sweet, which provides a delightful contrast to the much sweeter palm sugar filling. The shredded coconut topping adds slight sweetness and saltiness to the Putu Piring.
Address: 252, Jln Tengkera, 75200 Melaka, Phone: 017-672 8971
4. Ee Ji Ban Chicken Rice Ball
We decided to have lunch at Ee J Ban Chicken Rice Ball. While it may not be as famous as the rice ball restaurants on Jonker Street, it is air-conditioned and Halal. Since we had already tried the chicken rice balls at Jonker Street before, comparing it to another restaurant would be nice.
Ee J Ban uses iPads to place orders instead of relying on memory while busy chopping and preparing the chicken. The restaurant has been around for 25 years, and the owner recommended that we drizzle the chicken with their homemade soy-based sauce.
The food quality is quite comparable to that at Jonker Street. In addition, they offer better service and a comfortable, air-conditioned environment.
Address: 275, Jalan Melaka Raya 3, Taman Melaka Raya, 75000 Melaka, Phone: 011-5120 3631
5. Calanthe Art Cafe
Calanthe Art Cafe is in the center of the Jonker Walk area. Its unique interior design features numerous pots and pans fixed on the walls and hundreds of cans on the ceiling, mainly Carnation evaporated milk cans. Old vinyl records are even used as part of the ceiling decoration. This creative design is unlike anything I've seen before.
The cafe primarily serves Western dishes as well as local Nyonya cuisine. The warm lighting creates a comfortable atmosphere. We ordered Pongteh Chicken, which is braised chicken with Chinese mushrooms and potatoes in soy sauce.
The Nyonya Laksa is rich in coconut milk and not very spicy, with a hint of belacan flavor. It is also served with bean curd skin stuffed with fish paste.
The food was moderately good, but I was mainly drawn to the cafe's unique decoration than the meals themselves.
Address: 11, Jalan Hang Kasturi, 75250 Melaka, Phone: 06-292 2960
6. 荣茂茶室 Restoran Rong Mao
My local friend recommended this restaurant for my dim sum breakfast. Rong Mao is very well maintained, clean, and bright inside. It has also installed many ceiling fans to keep customers cool and comfortable.
The owner prepared dim sum at the steaming station in front of the shop. He also doubles up to serve customers when free. The dim sum follows Hong Kong tradition, except one dish is made with otak-otak.
There was ample space between the tables, and I felt very comfortable enjoying morning tea while savoring steaming hot baskets of dim sum. The taste is above average, particularly the Char Siu Bao, which is made in the Hong Kong style. Its signature bursting top reveals the filling inside.
Address: 32, Jalan Tukang Emas, 75200 Melaka, Phone: 012-833 7632
7. The Daily Fix Cafe
Besides looking for good food to eat in Melaka, we also want to soak in the relaxing ambiance of some of its cafes. Since 2014, Daily Fix Cafe has offered customers a unique, soothing, and unwinding experience. Housed in one of the traditional Chinese shop lots, the cafe maintains much of the original architecture and decor.
The crew offers us a unique table converted from an old sewing machine.
The cafe is located at the rear of the shop lot. The front portion is a souvenir shop, which they also own. We bought some postcards there to send to our family and close friends.
We have to place an order at the counter and settle the payment first. We ordered their famous pancake, which is made with pandan (screwpine leaves) flavor and served with palm sugar on the side. The pancake was crispy and coated with caramelized palm sugar. Their menu also includes burgers, pasta, and more.
Address: 55, Jalan Hang Jebat, 75200 Melaka, Phone: 013-290 6855
8. Dapur Cho Cho
Dapur Cho Cho is a store that offers authentic Nyonya kuih.
Located about a 15-minute drive from Jonker Walk, the shop is housed in a standalone wooden house where all the kuih is made on-site. The Nyonya kuih is renowned for its authentic flavors, which attract customers from other towns and even as far as Singapore to place orders.
Dapur Cho Cho prefers customers to order in advance via WhatsApp so they can make the kuih accordingly for the collection time. They only offer takeaway service, and the store has no seating area.
We ordered some Nyonya kuih on our way to a short hiking trip at Bukit Beruang. The ondeh-ondeh was still warm when we received it, and the palm sugar filling oozed out to fill our mouths once we took a bite!
Address: 6, Jalan PB5, 75350 Batu Berendam, Melaka, Phone: 012-276 8606
9. Wild Coriander Melaka
We return to the town for lunch at Wild Coriander, an elaborately decorated restaurant serving authentic Nyonya cuisine. Like many other establishments, it is in an old shop lot but has been refurbished to retain the traditional setting and furniture.
We ordered a chicken rendang set and pai tee for two. The chicken rendang is perfectly cooked, with the flavors of the spices melding and deepening through prolonged cooking. It is served with four types of rice: regular white rice, glutinous rice, nasi lemak, and blue rice colored with Bunga Telang (butterfly pea flower). The dish is accompanied by achar (pickled vegetables) and a hard-boiled egg. I particularly enjoy this rendang style because it is dry and has an intense flavor.
It is a great spot to try all the Nyonya food in Malaka.
Address: 40, Jalan Kampung Pantai, 75200 Melaka, Phone: 012-683 7213
10. Beh Leh Hainam Satay 老王沙爹
After a short rest at the hotel, we headed to Beh Leh Hainam Satay to sample the local pork satay. Upon arrival, a long queue of customers was already waiting at the entrance.
The restaurant is fully air-conditioned and decorated in the traditional Chinese style. Some very old cooking utensils are hung on the walls as part of the design. At the entrance is a small glass-paneled room where the staff grill the satay.
The satay sauce is unique because it contains peanuts and pineapple puree, giving it a slightly tangy, fruity-sweet flavor.
We ordered the pork, chicken, and pork intestine satay. The satay's flavor lacks the cumin and coriander of the Malay satay. However, the sauce tastes unique because of the pineapple puree rather than the lemongrass or galangal flavors in Malay-style satay sauces. Overall, the flavor is distinct, which makes it taste different from other satays in other places.
Address: 313, Jalan Gajah Berang, 75200 Melaka, Phone: 012-682 9355
11. Pak Putra Restaurant
When it comes to what to eat in Melaka, we want to venture out of the local Nyonya cuisine. We had our dinner at Pak Putra Restaurant, which serves Pakistani and Indian food.
This restaurant is at a double shop lot with additional tables and chairs along the service road. A large tandoor is prominently placed at the entrance, where fresh naan is prepared. This reminded me of our trip to Pakistan two years ago, where nearly every restaurant served freshly made naan with every meal.
We ordered chicken biryani, tandoori chicken, butter chicken, garlic naan, potato curry, and a lamb dish. Overall, the flavors were excellent. The chicken biryani was the best, as the chicken was not only well-marinated and juicy but also not excessively charred, which happens in many other restaurants.
Address: 56 & 58, Jalan 4, Taman Kota Laksamana, 75200 Melaka, Phone: 012-601 5876
12. Nyonya Delight
We went to Pulau Besar near Malacca the following morning and then returned for lunch at Nyonya Delight. Nyonya Delight is a home-cooked restaurant converted from a traditional house next to the main road. The dining experience feels truly homestyle, with minimal decoration, making it feel like we were eating with a local family.
It was difficult to locate the restaurant, as trees partially obscured the signboard. We drove by slowly several times and still missed it.
The furniture consists of wooden tables and chairs, and the menu offers a small selection of unpretentious daily dishes the family prepares. The ambiance features few commercial elements, so we feel the cozy, homey atmosphere.
We had Nyonya lontong, a coconut cream-based soup prepared with compressed rice. It is served with carrots, cabbage, and beancurd skin. The soup is topped with anchovies and a fried egg. It can be described as a noodle soup, except that the noodles are replaced with compressed rice.
The Nyonya ayam rendang is prepared with chicken drumsticks cooked in a curry with toasted shredded coconut (kerisik). The ikan goreng cencaru with sambal is a whole, deep-fried fish served with sambal as a topping.
We also ordered their Nyonya laksa, which was served with hard-boiled eggs, tofu puffs, fish cakes, and bean sprouts.
The cincaluk fried egg was slightly overly salty. This may have been intentional, as cincaluk is made with fermented shrimp with salt.
Overall, the ambiance attracted me, and I felt like I was having lunch with a traditional Nyonya family.
Address: 2199-C, KM8, Jalan Batang Tiga, Barat, 76400 Tanjung Kling, Malacca, Phone: 016-365 9775
13. The Stolen Cup
We had our afternoon tea at a boutique café called The Stolen Cup. It's one of the many laid-back cafés in Melaka, with numerous clocks hanging on the walls. Near the entrance, a giant alarm clock was two feet tall.
We found a seat inside the café, an old Chinese building converted into a modern cafe. We enjoyed having croissants and green tea latte while listening to traditional Chinese pop music from our great-grandmother’s era.
I took time to relax and enjoy the lazy afternoon, appreciating the unique decoration and furniture that give The Stolen Cup its uniqueness.
Address: 12, Jalan Hang Jebat, 75200 Melaka, Phone: 012-698 9130
14. Ryan Kota Satay Celup
Regarding what to eat in Malaka, we would not miss having satay celup. This time, we wanted to explore a newer place with an open-air al fresco style.
The owner, Ryan, explained that his specialty is the satay dipping sauce. He said the sauce should be bright in color. If it turns darker, it is no longer fresh.
Ryan also shared some of his trade secrets for preparing the sauce. The most interesting part was heating the sauce base until it boiled and then ladling the toasted peanuts in batches. Gradually, the sauce thickened.
He emphasized the importance of cleanliness in the restaurant and provided standard scoops and slotted spoons for customers to use when selecting ingredients. He consistently reminded us not to dip our forks and spoons in the sauce to keep it hygienic..
The skewers were neatly arranged in a large refrigerator. The restaurant was spotless and tidy, a refreshing change from some other establishments we had visited before, which were less orderly.
Ryan Kota is one of the restaurants we will revisit on our next trip to Malacca.
Address: 21, Jalan KLJ 10, Taman Kota Laksamana, 75200 Melaka, Phone: 019-684 6684
15. ATLANTIC NYONYA @ MELAKA RAYA
I returned to Melaka about a week later since Kuala Lumpur is only a two-hour drive away. This time, we visited two more places to eat in Malaka and stayed overnight. The first restaurant we chose for lunch was Atlantic Nyonya, which has several branches in Malaka.
The interior of the Melaka Raya branch is decorated with many large plates hanging on the walls. It was fully air-conditioned and very comfortable. Once seated, we browsed through the menu and selected a few of our Nyonya favorites.
We ordered the signature pineapple rice. This rice was served in an empty pineapple shell, but its taste differed significantly from Thai pineapple rice. The main ingredients were shrimp, meat floss, a five-spice meat roll, and fish cake. The rice was likely flavored with yellowish turmeric. Overall, it was very flavorful, and I highly recommend trying it.
Next, we ordered okra topped with sambal. The okra was either blanched or steamed until tender-crisp, and the spicy topping, which was mainly made with chili, belacan, dried shrimp, and lime juice, complemented it well.
Lastly, we tried the rendang chicken. The chicken was very tender but differed from the rendang we had a week earlier at Wild Coriander. It was on the milder side and less spicy. You will love it if you cannot handle much heat.
Address: 100, Jln Merdeka, Taman Merdeka Jaya, 75000 Melaka, Phone: 0168555789
16. Geographér Café
We had an early dinner at Geographér Café, which was established in 1991 and is now one of the top-rated places to eat in Malaka on Tripadvisor. It stands out on Jonker Walk as a prominent corner shop with a bright yellow and green exterior.
The café has retained the interior decor of the traditional Chinese shop lots. It includes Western cuisine and local Nyonya dishes and is particularly famous for its pizza.
We ordered a vegetarian nasi lemak and a garlic cheese pizza. Since the nasi lemak was vegetarian, it did not include anchovies but substituted them with water spinach (kangkong) and sambal. The pizza crust was crispy, and the flavors of cheese and garlic were perfectly balanced.
The café mainly played old English songs from the sixties, which evoked a sense of nostalgia and made me feel like I was traveling back to my teenage years.
Address: 83, Jalan Hang Jebat, 75200 Melaka, Phone: 06-281 6813
🎞️ Watch the video of our food-hunting trip in Melaka
Please watch the video we made for our trip to Melaka. As below:
These are all the places to eat in Melaka we visited during our two trips to Melaka. However, this is not an exhaustive list, as there are many more places we wanted to try.. Melaka has become our favorite spot to relax, and we will return to explore more restaurants and attractions.