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FOODS & DRINKS
| Copyright © 2005 B Jaya Marketing. All Rights Reserved. |
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Relax . Indulge . Enjoy
| MALAYSIA |
The lure of good food is as much a part of Malacca's magnetism as its narrow streets, old
shophouses and ruins of European empires. To many, Peranankan or Straits Chinese
cuisine, that unique blend of Chinese and Malay cooking styles evolved from the social
dynamics of colonial chapters, springs to mind instantly with all its trademark piquancy.
However, a diversity of cuisines has also proliferated from the colourful historic and ethnic
tapestry of this city. In other words, the choice is vast.
Peranakan
You can't think of Malacca without thinking Nonya cooking. Its influence is pervasive and
lasting with its imprints found in a great many menus in this city. Hotel coffeehouses, cafes,
even pubs frequently carry one or more Peranakan items as a main course, a light meal or
finger food. Specialist restaurants are predictably abundant. Standards are competitive and
differences are more of decor and premises. The nicely upholstered Seri Nyonya Peranakan
Restaurant is highly accessible with superb service to boot. The Galleri Cafe leverages on the
marvelous restoration of Hotel Puri to add great ambience to commendable food quality. For
authenticity of locale, Restoran Peranakan comes up top with a setting that is as close to
dining in an upper-class Straits Chinese home of the bygone era as it can possibly get. Over
at Taman Melaka Raya Ole Sayang Restaurant and Manis Sayang Restaurant are popular
with package tourists.
Malay
Malacca satay is a speciality of this city. It is different from satay found elsewhere in the country
because the accompanying sauce is based on belimbing (a small sour fruit) rather than
peanuts. Good satay are found in the numerous hawker centres and corner coffee shops
across the city, among which Restoran Jahara rates as one of the best in the business.
Likewise, some of the best authentic Malay fare hails from humble premises and
surroundings. Try, for instance the Jalan Melaka Raya Food stalls located directly across the
Makhota Parade shopping centre. Other close contenders include Restoran Anda and
Restoran Sri Percik. The southern coastal suburb of Klebang Besar is known especially for its
grilled fish and seafood and many roadside stalls are open until late in the evening.
Indian
Good North and South Indian fare is in abundance and available for a song. The city's Indian
commercial enclave revolves around the junction of Jalan Bendehara and Jalan Laksamana
and there are several long-serving restaurants in the area. The Selvam Restaurant and
Caterers, for instance, is a typical coffee shop style of eatery offering both North Indian
(Tandoori, chapati, paratha) and South Indian (rice served in banana leaves) delights.
Elsewhere, Lakshmi Villas, Restoran Veni and Banana Leaf Restaurant are old hands of the
trade and rarely disappoint.
Chinese
A variety of Chinese dining options abound throughout the city. There is a meal and a locale to
suit every taste and wallet. The grandest and the most richly priced are typically found in the
swankiest hotels. Heading this list are Long Feng Chinese Restaurant and the Golden
Phoenix. A dozen more of the lantern-adorned and auspiciously decorated temples of feast
dot the district of Taman Melaka Raya. Most carry a more or less standard Cantonese-centric
menu with the occasional specialty of the in-house chef. Hong Fook Restaurant ranks as one
of the most well regarded and well patronised, with Zong Hua Shark's fin Seafood Restaurant,
Ocean Shark's Fin Seafood Restaurant and Restoran Keng-Dom providing earnest
competition in a crowded segment.
Numerous Chinese vegetarian restaurants do a brisk business from a constant stream of
visitors to the 300 temples in and around the city. The quality and imaginativeness of the
dishes -- ever tried vegetarian African Duck? -- are capable of making temporary dietary
converts out of even the most ardent meat lover. Chances are you will find something out of
the ordinary and to your taste from among Mei Lin Vegetarian Restaurant, Yang Sheng
Vegetarian Restaurant, Ci Sin Vegetarian Restaurant and Jitseng Vegetarian Restaurant, at
varying price points and comfort. Malacca is also particularly famed for a delicious variation of
the chicken rice theme -- chicken rice balls. The specialty here is the golf-ball sized flagrant
rice balls, which are cooked to perfection in butter and ginger and served with a plate of
succulent steamed chicken. Hoe Kee Chicken Rice is purportedly the inventor of the dish and
operates from the same pre-war shophouse as it did 3 decades ago, while Famosa Chicken
Rice Ball is a recent upmarket entry. In the Chinatown, Restoran Swee Kee serves a mean
dish of the conventional Hainanese chicken rice.
Eurasian
Eurasian cuisine in Malacca revolves around a fusion of Portuguese and local cooking styles
-- Devil's Curry and Kapitan Curry being its most prominent representation in the local food
landscape. For a tasting, try Portuguese Restaurant in Taman Melaka Raya and Restaurant
San Pedro at the Portuguese Square. The Heeren House Cafe too serves selected
Portuguese fare for lunch and dinner.
Others
For Japanese food, Kampachi Restaurant is a safe bet. Korean fare is limited and a rare find
is Ye Da Won Restaurant. Many hotel coffeehouses feature comprehensive yet eclectic menus
comprising a good representation of local and Western selections. In particular, Rest House
Cafe, Garden Cafe and Straits Cafe stand out. Besides the hotels, western cuisines -- of the
non-fast food variety -- are served in many pub dining locations, where food, beers, music,
dancing, MTV, games and even Karaoke often come in a single package. Indeed, travellers
used to cosmopolitan tastes and lifestyles will find both food and ambience totally agreeable
in a bevy of chic and happening haunts such as Discovery Cafe, Coconut House Studio,
Restoran Hoi San, Bulldog Cafe, Baba Cafe, Geographic Cafe and Harpers Restaurant.
shophouses and ruins of European empires. To many, Peranankan or Straits Chinese
cuisine, that unique blend of Chinese and Malay cooking styles evolved from the social
dynamics of colonial chapters, springs to mind instantly with all its trademark piquancy.
However, a diversity of cuisines has also proliferated from the colourful historic and ethnic
tapestry of this city. In other words, the choice is vast.
Peranakan
You can't think of Malacca without thinking Nonya cooking. Its influence is pervasive and
lasting with its imprints found in a great many menus in this city. Hotel coffeehouses, cafes,
even pubs frequently carry one or more Peranakan items as a main course, a light meal or
finger food. Specialist restaurants are predictably abundant. Standards are competitive and
differences are more of decor and premises. The nicely upholstered Seri Nyonya Peranakan
Restaurant is highly accessible with superb service to boot. The Galleri Cafe leverages on the
marvelous restoration of Hotel Puri to add great ambience to commendable food quality. For
authenticity of locale, Restoran Peranakan comes up top with a setting that is as close to
dining in an upper-class Straits Chinese home of the bygone era as it can possibly get. Over
at Taman Melaka Raya Ole Sayang Restaurant and Manis Sayang Restaurant are popular
with package tourists.
Malay
Malacca satay is a speciality of this city. It is different from satay found elsewhere in the country
because the accompanying sauce is based on belimbing (a small sour fruit) rather than
peanuts. Good satay are found in the numerous hawker centres and corner coffee shops
across the city, among which Restoran Jahara rates as one of the best in the business.
Likewise, some of the best authentic Malay fare hails from humble premises and
surroundings. Try, for instance the Jalan Melaka Raya Food stalls located directly across the
Makhota Parade shopping centre. Other close contenders include Restoran Anda and
Restoran Sri Percik. The southern coastal suburb of Klebang Besar is known especially for its
grilled fish and seafood and many roadside stalls are open until late in the evening.
Indian
Good North and South Indian fare is in abundance and available for a song. The city's Indian
commercial enclave revolves around the junction of Jalan Bendehara and Jalan Laksamana
and there are several long-serving restaurants in the area. The Selvam Restaurant and
Caterers, for instance, is a typical coffee shop style of eatery offering both North Indian
(Tandoori, chapati, paratha) and South Indian (rice served in banana leaves) delights.
Elsewhere, Lakshmi Villas, Restoran Veni and Banana Leaf Restaurant are old hands of the
trade and rarely disappoint.
Chinese
A variety of Chinese dining options abound throughout the city. There is a meal and a locale to
suit every taste and wallet. The grandest and the most richly priced are typically found in the
swankiest hotels. Heading this list are Long Feng Chinese Restaurant and the Golden
Phoenix. A dozen more of the lantern-adorned and auspiciously decorated temples of feast
dot the district of Taman Melaka Raya. Most carry a more or less standard Cantonese-centric
menu with the occasional specialty of the in-house chef. Hong Fook Restaurant ranks as one
of the most well regarded and well patronised, with Zong Hua Shark's fin Seafood Restaurant,
Ocean Shark's Fin Seafood Restaurant and Restoran Keng-Dom providing earnest
competition in a crowded segment.
Numerous Chinese vegetarian restaurants do a brisk business from a constant stream of
visitors to the 300 temples in and around the city. The quality and imaginativeness of the
dishes -- ever tried vegetarian African Duck? -- are capable of making temporary dietary
converts out of even the most ardent meat lover. Chances are you will find something out of
the ordinary and to your taste from among Mei Lin Vegetarian Restaurant, Yang Sheng
Vegetarian Restaurant, Ci Sin Vegetarian Restaurant and Jitseng Vegetarian Restaurant, at
varying price points and comfort. Malacca is also particularly famed for a delicious variation of
the chicken rice theme -- chicken rice balls. The specialty here is the golf-ball sized flagrant
rice balls, which are cooked to perfection in butter and ginger and served with a plate of
succulent steamed chicken. Hoe Kee Chicken Rice is purportedly the inventor of the dish and
operates from the same pre-war shophouse as it did 3 decades ago, while Famosa Chicken
Rice Ball is a recent upmarket entry. In the Chinatown, Restoran Swee Kee serves a mean
dish of the conventional Hainanese chicken rice.
Eurasian
Eurasian cuisine in Malacca revolves around a fusion of Portuguese and local cooking styles
-- Devil's Curry and Kapitan Curry being its most prominent representation in the local food
landscape. For a tasting, try Portuguese Restaurant in Taman Melaka Raya and Restaurant
San Pedro at the Portuguese Square. The Heeren House Cafe too serves selected
Portuguese fare for lunch and dinner.
Others
For Japanese food, Kampachi Restaurant is a safe bet. Korean fare is limited and a rare find
is Ye Da Won Restaurant. Many hotel coffeehouses feature comprehensive yet eclectic menus
comprising a good representation of local and Western selections. In particular, Rest House
Cafe, Garden Cafe and Straits Cafe stand out. Besides the hotels, western cuisines -- of the
non-fast food variety -- are served in many pub dining locations, where food, beers, music,
dancing, MTV, games and even Karaoke often come in a single package. Indeed, travellers
used to cosmopolitan tastes and lifestyles will find both food and ambience totally agreeable
in a bevy of chic and happening haunts such as Discovery Cafe, Coconut House Studio,
Restoran Hoi San, Bulldog Cafe, Baba Cafe, Geographic Cafe and Harpers Restaurant.
| B Jaya Holiday Leisure |