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1. Jonker88
First on the checklist of things to eat in Melaka has got to be Jonker88’s famous — maybe overhyped, but definitely still essential — cendol.
Slightly different from the ones around town, this cendol is heavy on the coconut cream and gula melaka, but makes for the perfect icy sweet treat after walking around Jonker Street in the heat.
What to order:Cendol, durian cendol, Nyonya curry laksa, asam laksa
Address:88, Jalan Hang Jebat, 75200 Melaka.
Operating hours:9.30am – 6pm (Daily)
2. Klebang Original Coconut Shake
You have to try the ‘special’ from Klebang Original Coconut Shake:an ice-blended coconut milkshake with an extra dollop ofvanilla ice-cream on top. It’s so refreshing on a hot day (read: everyday) with tiny addictive bits of coconut to chew on.
If you can’t find a seat at their humble eatery, you can also opt to takeaway from its roadside stall and enjoy the shakes while watching the sunset at Klebang beach, a five-minute drive away.
What to order:Coconut shake special
Address:Lot 130, Solok Kampung Bahagia,
75200 Klebang Besar, Melaka.
Operating hours:11am – 6.30pm (Saturday to Thursday)
2.30pm – 6.30pm (Friday)
3. Hoe Kee Chicken Rice
Located on Jonker Street, Hoe Kee Chicken Rice serves one of Melaka’s most signature foods you can’t miss during your weekend food trip – Hainanese chicken rice balls.
Head there a little earlier to avoid the lunch crowd. If you can’t, fret not, because service is fast and food is super easy to order, so the wait is usually not as long as it seems.
What to order:Chicken rice balls, steamed chicken, assam fish, stir fried cabbage
Address:468, Jalan Hang Jebat, 75200 Melaka.
Operating hours:9am – 4pm (Daily)
4. Sun May Hiong Satay House
The pork satay at Sun May Hiong Satay House is food that I will personally always go back to. The satay is juicy, tender, and nicely charred.
However, the winning feature has got to be the peanut sauce that it is served with – contrary to other Chinese satay places, the sauce here is cooked with pineapples, making it slightly sweeter and deliciously tart. They serve pork innards too!
What to order:Pork satay, liver satay, intestine satay
Address:50/52, Jalan Kota Laksamana 1/1,
Taman Kota Laksamana,
75200 Melaka.
Operating hours:9.30am – 6pm (Wednesday to Monday)
Closed Tuesdays.
5. The Daily Fix Cafe
Hidden behind a souvenir shop on Jonker Street, The Daily Fix Cafe is the perfect place to unwind after a long walk in the sun with its relaxed atmosphere, leafy courtyards, and vintage decor.
They serve great coffee and brunch, but if you only have stomach space for dessert, make sure to try their fluffy pancakes.
What to order:Coffee, pandan pancakes with gula Melaka, eggs Benedict
Address:55, Jalan Hang Jebat, 75200 Melaka.
Operating hours:10am – 6pm (Daily)
6. The Baboon House
If you would like more cafe fare, head on over to The Baboon House, a beautifully-renovated shophouse cafe cum art gallery that provides a quiet, cosy escape from Jonker Street.
They serve some of the best gourmet burgers in Melaka with their homemade recipes and quality ingredients – imagine pairing a grilled pineapple slice with a juicy beef patty. Yum.
What to order:The aloha cheeseburger, pork belly burger, honey mustard chicken burger
Address:89, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock,
Taman Kota Laksamana,
75200 Melaka.
Operating hours:10am – 10pm (Friday to Sunday)
10am – 5pm (Monday to Thursday)
Closed Tuesdays.
7. Nyonya Makko Restaurant
You can’t leave Melaka without eating at least one Nyonya meal.
There are many in the city, but you can check out Nyonya Makko Restaurant in Melaka Raya, which is a popular restaurant among tourists and locals alike for their homey cooking and on-point Peranakan flavours.
What to order:Pongteh chicken, masak lemak nenas fish, belacan kangkong, cincalok omelette
Address:123, Jalan Merdeka, Taman Melaka Raya, 75000 Melaka.
Operating hours:11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 9.15pm (Daily)
Closed on Tuesdays.
8. Capitol Satay Celup
Capitol Satay Celup has to be one of Melaka’s most famed haunts to eat at. However, be ready to line up as people throng this place way before its opening times on weekends.
They serve an array of fresh seafood, vegetables, meat, and fishballs to dip into their signature satay sauce. But if you’re feeling fancy, you can order their special premium items such as tiger prawns, abalones, and scallops.
What to order:Help yourself to whatever your heart desires!
Address:41, Lorong Bukit Cina, Bandar Hilir, 75100 Melaka.
Operating hours:4pm – 1am (Daily)
Closed on Monday.
*Update: Capitol Satay Celup sadly announced that they will be closing in November 2021. You can try worthy satay celup alternatives such as Restaurant Ban Lee Siang or McQuek’s Satay Celup.
9. Restoran Tong Sheng
Restoran Tong Sheng is a Chinese seafood ‘dai chow’ restaurant that serves many great dishes, but most notably, their cheese prawn bihun has propelled them to fame.
This place gets really busy on the weekends, and tourists are always willing to line up to eat here during peak hours so be prepared to wait for dinner.
What to order:Cheese prawn bihun
Address:377 & 378, Taman Melaka Raya,
75000 Melaka.
Operating hours:5.30pm – 11pm (Daily)
Closed on Mondays.
10. Medan Ikan Bakar Alai (Crystal Bay)
The grilled seafood and nasi lemak bungkus at Medan Ikan Bakar Alai, also simply known locally as Crystal Bay, will be worth your 20-minute drive from the city centre.
Located beside a fishing village, the food court has multiple stalls — all offering fresh seafood. You can choose any seafood of your liking and the cooking styles from their menu: anything from grilled, stir fried with sambal or salted egg sauce, battered and fried, and many more.
What to order:Grilled fish with sambal (ikan bakar masak sambal), three-flavoured fried fish (ikan masak tiga rasa), grilled squid (sotong bakar), fried battered squid (sotong goreng tepung)
Address:Crystal Bay, Jalan Alai Perdana 8, 75460 Melaka.
Operating hours:4.30pm – 6pm (Daily)
11. Kota Laksamana Asam Pedas Claypot
There are many places to enjoy asam pedas in Melaka, but Kota Laksamana Asam Pedas Claypot is popular as a late night hangout. Tables are opened outdoors on the street, so you can enjoy the nighttime breeze even though they are always packed.
As their name suggests, this place serves their asam pedas in a claypot. A set comes complete with rice, stir-fried veggies, and a salted egg.
What to order:Asam pedas ikan pari claypot
Address:86, Jalan Laksamana 5,
Taman Kota Laksamana,
75200 Melaka.
Operating hours:5pm – 2am (Daily)
Closed on Tuesdays.
12. Pak Putra Tandoori & Naan
Pak Putra Tandoori & Naan may be overhyped, but it is still a dependable and famed late-night supper spot for families and friend groups to hang out and enjoy cheese naan and tandoori.
What to order:Cheese naan (double/triple), tandoori chicken, butter chicken
Address:56 & 58, Jalan Laksamana 4,
Taman Kota Laksamana,
75200 Melaka.
Operating hours:5.30pm – 1am (Daily)
Closed on Mondays.
Melaka does not have a lot of nightlife. So, if you feel like having a place to relax after dinner, head on over to Porto Historia.
The building complex designed to follow Melaka’s architectural heritage is home to many popular bubble tea brands, including The Alley, Xing Fu Tang, Daboba, The Black Whale, Chatto, OneZo, Heesan Chatei, and I’Milky.
Address:Porto Historia, Taman Kota Laksamana Jaya, 75200 Malacca.
Operating hours:Most shops open from 12pm to 12am.