Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner in Malacca

A UNESCO World Heritage site, Malacca, or Melaka, is a state in the west coast of Malaysia. It used to be ruled by the Portuguese, Dutch, and the British, and has a rich Peranakan heritage. There are many wonderful things to do and see in Malacca, but this article will highlight the best attribute of the city, the incredible food!  

How to Get There

There’s a small airport in Malacca but Malaysians and Singaporeans tend to take a bus there from Kuala Lumpur, Singapore or Johor Bahru. There are tour operators that provide this service and the buses are really comfortable. If you’re feeling adventurous, you may rent a car and drive there yourself from any of the major cities. Once you get there, everything is pretty much walking distance in the city center or you can easily take cabs everywhere.

BREAKFAST/BRUNCH

Low Yong Moh Restaurant

You’re on vacation! Sleep in and have a lovely dim sum brunch at one of the oldest restaurants in Malacca. Established in 1947, this family business is a five-minute walk to the touristy Jonker Walk but located at a quieter street. The restaurant is famous for its dumplings and pork buns, and I especially loved the steamed pork ribs in black bean sauce. The portions are small but it’s perfect to be able to try many different dishes.

32, Jalan Tukang Emas, 75200 Malacca

+60 6-282 1235

Closed Tuesdays

Opening hours: 6 a.m. – 1 p.m.

LUNCH

Nyonya Delights

This little restaurant lives up to its name! It’s about a 15-minute drive from the Jonker Walk but it’s certainly worth the trip. The restaurant is located in the car porch of the owner’s house so watch out for a wooden sign along the sidewalk to lead you to the right place. It’s actually not uncommon to see people running businesses out of their homes in Malacca. The food is literally homecooked and everything was delicious!

My favorite dish, mee siam, was spicy and sour, and the shredded cucumber made it so refreshing. The laksa has a wonderfully spicy broth that uses fresh lime juice to cut through the heaviness of coconut milk. Cool yourself down with an iced limau (lime) drink that’s freshly made and not too sweet, and the amazing dessert of chendol gula melaka (shaved ice with palm sugar). They also sell baked nyonya desserts like love letters and kueh bangkit (tapioca cookies). Their kueh bangkit was the best I’ve ever tasted. These delicate cookies melt in your mouth!

2199-c, KM8, Batang Tiga Barat, Tanjong Keling, 76400 Tanjung Kling, Malacca

+60 16-365 9775

Closed Mondays, Tuesdays & Wednesdays

Opening hours: Thursday – Sunday, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Huang Chang Chicken Rice Restaurant

Huang Chang Restaurant is about a 12-minute drive from Jonker Walk, in a residential neighborhood away from the crowded tourist areas. They specialize in the dish Malacca is famous for – chicken rice balls. The rice is cooked in chicken broth loaded with garlic and ginger, and formed into little bit-sized balls. They’re served with chicken smothered in a gorgeous soy and sesame oil sauce, and zesty garlic and ginger chili sauce. There are other chicken rice balls restaurants in the central tourist areas but locals swear by Huang Chang. The rice and chicken were really tasty, and it’s worth hopping into a taxi to have lunch there!

BB, 376, Jalan B B 1, Taman Damai, 75350, Malacca

+60 6-317 0299

Closed on Thursdays

Opening hours: 7:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.

DINNER

Aunty Fatso

Aunty Fatso serves up Chinese style seafood with a bit of a twist. Besides crowd favorites like chili crab, steamed whole fish, and stir-fried scallops, they also serve up unique dishes like milk crab and prawn cheese bee hoon (rice noodles).

Milk crab is basically crab cooked in condensed milk and spices, making it sweet, salty, spicy and a touch creamy all at the same time! It’s really filling so order that if you have a large group of friends to share it with. The prawn cheese bee hoon reminded me of fettucine. It wasn’t so much cheesy as it was slightly creamy, and wasn’t as heavy as I thought it would be. The name of the restaurant made me chuckle. Don’t trust a skinny cook eh?

Jalan Melaka Raya Taman Kota Laksamana Jaya, 75000 Malacca

+60 12-611 6996

Closed on Mondays

Opening hours: 5 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Teo Soon Loong Seafood Restaurant

This Teochew restaurant is popular with locals and tourists alike. It used to be in a tiny coffee shop before relocating to a fancier and much larger space. If you’re not familiar with Teochew food, it’s the cuisine of China’s eastern Guangdong Province. It’s quite similar to Cantonese food in technique and style like braising and steaming, to highlight the flavors of the main ingredients.

This restaurant serves all the Teochew hits like steamed whole fish, braised duck, and fried hor fun (flat rice noodles) with chye poh (preserved radish). It does get pretty packed during weekends so it’s best to make reservations before you go.

No. 42 & 44, Jalan KPKS 1, Kompleks Perniagaan Kota Syahbandar, Malacca 75200

+60 6-288 0209

Closed on Mondays

Opening hours: 12 p.m. – 2:30 p.m., 6 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

This article is now available as a mobile app. Go to GPSmyCity to download the app for GPS-assisted travel directions to the attractions featured in this article.