Malacca (also known as Melaka today) is a famous historical city, the ancient capital of Malaysia, and also the capital of the state of Malacca. From international trade, as well as the history of invasion by many powers, when coming to Malacca, visitors can easily realize the harmony between the cultures of China, Portugal, and the Netherlands, UK and Malaysia.
- What to eat in Melaka? — 10 Malacca famous food & must try food in Malacca
- Where to eat in Melaka? — Best restaurants in Melaka & best places to eat in Melaka
- Guide to Malacca nightlife — 10+ where to go, top things & what to do in Melaka at night
- Where to stay in Melaka? — 10 Top luxury hotels in Melaka & best hotels in Malacca
- Where to shop in Melaka? — 10 best places to shop in Malacca, Malaysia
Perhaps because of the interference of many ethnic colors and different cultures, the Malacca cuisine is also very diverse and unique, clearly different from the rest of Malaysia. Along with the journey to explore culture, history, and nature, join us on a culinary tour in Malacca. On this “food tour”, you can enjoy delicious, unique delicacy, and through the history of many of those dishes, it will certainly help you to some extent in learning about the interesting traditions of modern features of this ancient and beautiful city.
So, what to eat in Melaka? Let’s check our our top rated 10+ best Malacca street food, top food in Melaka, must eat in Malacca (must eat in Melaka), best food to eat in Malacca (best food to eat in Melaka), must try food in Malacca (must try food in Melaka) and famous food in Melaka as follows!
Cendol traditional sweet soup (# must eat in melaka)
Cendol with mung bean sweet soup is a traditional Malacca dessert, made from simple ingredients such as shaved ice, coconut milk, starch noodles (green color with pandan leaf flavor) and palm sugar. In addition, there are other additional ingredients that can be added such as: cream, caramel, vanilla, red beans, sticky rice, black sticky rice, jelly, corn, etc. Each spoonful will definitely be tasty, sweet, cool, leaving your taste buds with a lasting sweetness, cool creamy aftertaste and fresh vitality from pure coconut milk.
Cool cendol sweet soup is very suitable for the unpleasant weather in Malacca. Starch noodles, through the ingenuity of talented chefs, create short, soft and chewy noodles. Added to that is the green color and gentle aroma of pandan leaf flavor; sweet, greasy taste from coconut milk and palm sugar combined with a little cold shaved ice, this sweet soup becomes extremely great for hot days.
When talking about Cendol, it is impossible not to mention “Durian Cendol” – durian sweet soup. Durian is a fruit with a strange taste, but if you are a durian addict, don’t miss the durian sweet soup in this city, because Malacca is known as one of largest durian producers in the world. That’s Malaysia. It’s still milky coconut milk and short green noodles, but mixed in with it are durian segments with a sweet scent and greasy flavor, really attractive and stimulating to the taste buds.
Where to try: Jonker 88: No. 88, Jalan Hang Jebat and Jalan Laksamana, Malacca, Malaysia.
Chicken Rice Ball (# best street food in melaka)
Chicken Rice Ball in Malacca has a quite unique way of preparation and decoration. The origin of this dish comes from the Chinese who immigrated here, then over the years until now, this Malacca chicken rice is often served with Hainanese, Malaysian and Singaporean dishes.
The chicken part is probably the seductive flavor, attract many diners. The chicken is steamed or boiled, moderately cooked so it is very soft, fresh and juicy. Poured over the chicken is a sweet and spicy sauce (this is a typical sauce in Malacca). Rice is cooked with chicken broth, then other spices are added. When cooked, the rice will be taken out and then rounded or rolled up, taking on the texture of tiny little balls.
You can eat Chicken Rice Ball with a little grilled pork, braised eggs, or simply and lighter are herbs,… – all of which are very easy to combine. It can be seen that, after tiring moments of playing and exploring, chicken rice is the perfect choice for a full main meal, to recharge for the next journey.
Some places selling delicious Chicken Rice in Malacca:
- Chung Wah’s Restaurant: No. 18, Jalan Hang Jebat, Malacca, Malaysia.
- Hoe Kee Chicken Rice: No. 4, 6 & 8, Jalan Hang Jebat, Malacca, Malaysia.
- EeJiBan Chicken Rice Ball Halal: No. 275, Jalan Melaka Raya 3, Malacca, Malaysia
- Huang Chang Chicken Restaurant: BB 376, Jalan B B 1, Taman Damai, Malacca, Malaysia.
Nyonya Laksa (#must try food in malacca)
Coming to Malacca, you should not miss Nyonya cuisine – typical dishes of an attractive blend of Chinese and Malaysian cuisine. Nyonya originates from the Chinese immigrants, appearing 400 years ago, when they immigrated and marry native people. As for Laksa, it can be roughly understood as noodles/ vermicelli/ pho. Although Laska has many different variations, the main difference between them lies in the broth. Nyonya Laksa is one of the variations that attracts tourists and locals the most because the broth is bursting with coconut flavor.
Nyonya Laksa is inherently very spicy, but you can still ask the chef to estimate the right level of spiciness for you. The combination of spices and additional ingredients creates an extremely delicious and beautiful bowl of noodles. Usually, the “toppings” added to this dish will be: boiled eggs cut in half, shredded chicken, shrimp, fried tofu, shredded cucumber, sliced fish cakes, bean sprouts, and some vegetables. Along with that, the fresh, chewy noodles and the mildly spicy coconut curry broth are also very attractive, because they are all hand-made by the chefs at the eateries and restaurants. You can also rest assured that this dish does not contain any dyes that are harmful to your health.
Nyonya Laksa is truly a right choice for a warm morning, so don’t miss it. We recommend you try the mouth-watering Nyonya Laksa at Baba Low (served with homemade sambal chilli), Calanthe Art Cafe (known for its crispy fried bean curds and small fried fish balls) and Yung Lai Siang restaurant (serves a variety of toppings on top of rice noodles in a light coconut curry broth).
Visitors can enjoy Nyonya Laksa at some famous restaurants such as:
- Nancy’s Kitchen Restaurant: No. 7, Jalan Hang Lekir, Off Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, Malacca, Malaysia.
- Riverine Coffeehouse: No. 108, Lorong Hang Jebat Street (1st Cross Street), Malacca, Malaysia.
- Calanthe Art Café: No. 11, Jalan Hang Kasturi, Malacca, Malaysia.
- Baba Low: No. 486, Jalan Tengkera, 75200 Malacca, Malaysia.
- Yung Lai Siang Restaurant: Jalan Tamby Abdullah, Malacca, Malaysia.
Nasi Lemak (#must eat in malacca)
Nasi Lemak is a very famous dish in Malaysia in general, from street food to restaurants. Nasi Lemak can be understood as coconut rice, which is made from rice cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaves to create a hot, sticky, sweet-smelling rice dish. This dish is often eaten with chicken, anchovies, curry, cucumbers, peanuts and boiled eggs. For a fuller flavor, you can add a little spicy chili sauce (also known as sambal).
Although Nasi Lemak was originally invented as a breakfast dish sold by street vendors in Malaysia, it has now surpassed that original purpose. Today, Nasi Lemak has become a typical Malaysian national dish, which can be eaten anytime you want.
The dish is not only delicious on top, but it is also very hot and fragrant when carefully packaged in banana leaves, which is very friendly to nature. Because this is also street food, in Malacca, you can easily find it at street vendors or popular restaurants at affordable prices.
Where to try: New Wang Food Court: Jalan Tun Sri Lanang, Malacca, Malaysia.
Asam Pedas Fish
Asam Pedas Fish is also one of the traditional dishes in Malacca, with the main ingredients being seafood (usually cut fish), okra, eggplant, long green beans and tomatoes. This dish is cooked in asam juice (tamarind sauce) with chili and various spices. Tamarind sauce is very special, worth mentioning and tasting because of the elaborate processing process, which is soaking the tamarind pulp until it softens and then squeezing out the juice to cook with fish/seafood.
Asam Pedas Fish can be considered a fish curry that is sour, hot and very delicious. Because it is located right next to the sea, the fish in Malacca is especially fresh, or sometimes just caught. To ensure that you can maintain the best energy source, you should eat it with sticky white rice. Also because this is a traditional dish, the ingredients are not difficult to find, the processing process is not too complicated, so the price is very reasonable and you can find it in popular restaurants. to luxury restaurants.
Some famous places selling Asam Pedas Fish that visitors can refer to:
- Asam Pedas Kota Laksamana: No. 86, Laksaman 5 Street, Taman Kota Laksamana, Malacca, Malaysia.
- Cottage Spices Nyonya Restaurant: No. 171, Taman Melaka Raya, Malacca, Malaysia.
- Amy Heritage Nyonya Cuisine: No. 75, Jalan Melaka Raya 24 | Taman Melaka Raya, Malacca, Malaysia.
Sambal
Sambal is not really a dish, but rather a typical spice in Malacca like hot chili sauce or paste. Sambal are made from many different types of chili around the world. However, if you cannot eat spicy food, don’t hesitate and worry because it can be replaced with sweet peppers.
Other ingredients of Sambal Delicacies include: shrimp paste, fish sauce, garlic, ginger, chives, green onions, sugar, lemon juice, rice vinegar or other types of vinegar. If you want to prepare it yourself at home, you can buy pre-made and packaged sambals at supermarkets or food markets.
Sambal is used as a seasoning for many dishes. Some dishes that use sambal paste that are loved by everyone are: sambal sotong (main ingredient is squid), sambal ikan bilis (main ingredient is toad fruit), sambal kangkong (main ingredient is water spinach) and sambal chicken (main ingredient is fried chicken). If you want to try all 4 of these signature dishes, you must definitely visit Sambal & Style to enjoy the authentic sambal flavor.
Sambal & Style: No. 170, Jalan Bunga Raya Pantai, Malacca, Malaysia.
Duck Noodle
The uniqueness that attracts guests to Duck Noodle is the flavor of duck meat and broth. Duck noodles are made from eggs and flat rice noodles, then cooked with slices of roasted duck meat, bean sprouts, and herbs. A bowl of warm, fragrant noodles, along with tender pieces of roasted duck meat, is truly appealing to the taste buds.
In addition, you can also try the new duck meat noodles in herbal broth, which is especially good for your health and more delicious. Or as an alternative for hot days, the dry mixed duck meat noodles are also worth a try, because the succulent duck meat covers the bowl, accompanied by a small bowl of soup. Of course, for the most perfect flavor, add spice by adding a few slices of green chili or chili sauce.
A suggestion for Malacca-style duck noodles, where you can freely choose wet, dry, or herbal noodles is Tengkera Duck Noodle restaurant. This restaurant also has boiled eggs, tofu and minced meat as side dishes that are also worth trying.
Where to try
- Soon Yen Coffee Shop: No. 33, Jalan Hang Kasturi, Malacca, Malaysia.
- Tengkera Duck Noodle: Jalan Kota Laksamana 1/2, Taman Kota Laksamana, Malacca, Malaysia.
Satay Celup
Satay Celup is a specialty dish originating from Malacca. Satay Celup looks like skewers of raw or partially prepared food. It includes fresh ingredients such as seafood, meat, eggs, beans and vegetables. When using, you will dip those skewers into a pot of hot sauce such as satay sauce, chestnut sauce or spicy peanut sauce depending on the maker’s unique recipe to create different flavors.
Enjoying Satay Celup is best enjoyed on chilly nights or on boring rainy days. We believe it will be one of the most enjoyable and memorable experiences on your trip. The hot and spicy taste of Satay Celup will fill your cold or boredom. The two best places to eat Satay Celup in Malacca are Capitol Satay Restaurant and Ban Lee Siang Satay Celup. Of course, because the number of shops selling Satay celup is quite limited, avoid peak hours or come earlier to avoid having to wait in long lines and wait too long.
Capitol Satay Restaurant: No. 41, Lorong Bukit Cina Street, Bandar Hilir, Malacca, Malaysia.
Ban Lee Siang Satay Celup: No. 45-E, Jalan Ong Kim Wee, Malacca, Malaysia.
Nyonya Kuih
Nyonya Kuih (Nyonya is also known as a dish of the Peranakan community – Chinese people living in Southeast Asia; Kuih is a term for cakes, bread or even porridge in Malaysia) is a bite-sized dessert (ie medium or small), comes in many different fun colors and shapes.
Nyonya Kuih is commonly used as a snack in Malacca city. Most Nyonya Kuih today is one of the few pastries that are completely handmade from preparation to processing, then steamed or baked so they are very soft and pretty. Many cakes also have delicate borders printed on them, showing the ingenuity of the person who made them.
One of the Nyonya Kuih that is popular with consumers is Ondeh – ondeh cake. This type of cake is made from sweet potato flour or glutinous rice flour. These small and cute ondehs are coated with fragrant pandan juice, then rolled in local sugar or palm sugar and some fresh grated coconut. Ondeh dessert – ondeh is warm, sweet, and melts in your mouth when eaten.
Baba Charlie Nyonya Cakes: No. 72, Jalan Tengkera Pantai 2, Malacca, Malaysia.
Nancy’s Kitchen Restaurant: No. 7, Jalan Hang Lekir, Off Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, Malacca, Malaysia.
Klebang Coconut Milkshake
Klebang Coconut Milkshake can also be called in a more Vietnamese way than coconut milk shake in Klebang. The recipe for coconut milk shake seems simple, because it is a mixture of coconut water, pure fresh milk, ice cubes and vanilla ice cream mixed together in a blender. However, the end result of this odd mix is a very good taste.
In the hot weather of the Strait of Malacca, there is nothing better than enjoying a glass of coconut milk shake that is both sweet and cool. One of our suggestions is “Klebang Original Coconut Shake” – this is a place that contains a “special” huge portion of coconut milk shake and also has a lot of “toppings”, including an extremely large amount of vanilla ice cream, showing the generosity of the processor. Vanilla ice cream is also placed on top of shaken coconut milk, perhaps helping you create a feeling of excitement and refreshing your body in a surprising way. You can also rest assured that you can request to increase or decrease the number of stones to suit your needs.
Klebang Original Coconut Shake: Lot 130 Solok Kampung Bahagian, Klebang Besar, Malacca, Malaysia.
It can be seen that Malacca city has a rich and diverse cuisine. What could be more wonderful than being able to explore historical architectural works, beautiful natural landscapes, and enjoy many delicious, unique, Malacca-style dishes that cannot be found anywhere else in Malaysia. Finally, we wish your trip to Malacca to be fun and have full, delicious meals.
Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in and from Melaka you can refer to
- Melaka Day Tour with Attraction Tickets from Kuala Lumpur
- Historical Melaka Tour with Lunch from Kuala Lumpur
- Melaka Day Tour with Attraction Tickets from Kuala Lumpur
- Private City Transfers for Kuala Lumpur and Surrounding Cities
- [SALE] 4G Prepaid SIM Card (MY Airports Pick Up) for Malaysia
- 4G WiFi (MY Airport Pick Up) for Malaysia
- Malacca Night Tour with River Cruise and Trishaw Ride
- Historical Melaka Tour with Lunch
- Zoo Melaka Admission Ticket
- Melaka Wonderland Water Theme Park Ticket
- Melaka Crocodile and Recreation Park Ticket
- Kidzooona Ticket in Melaka
- Upside Down House Gallery Melaka Ticket
- Melaka Bird Park Ticket
Are you looking for Melaka travel guide? Read more: Malacca travel blog — The fullest Malacca travel guide for a wonderful trip to Melaka, Malaysia.