AISALICIOUS: MALACCAN FOOD

Peranakan Food is a mixture between Chin ese and Malay ingredients and recipes. A variety of delicious food that is spicy and sweet, referred to as Nyonya food. Malaccan Nyonya food is using more spices and coconut milk, the result is a sweeter blend of cooking with a fiery tinge. Malaccan dishes are definitely cooked up with more time in the kitchen, the women taking great pride in their wok.

RESTORAN PERANAKAN

Address: 107 Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lok, Malacca 75200

Phone: +606 284 5001
Opening Hours: Monday - Sunday 12:00 - 14:30 & 18:30 - 22:00

My first meal in Malacca was at Restoran Peranakan. I remembered about Ikan Chuan- Chuan (deep fried snapper with ginger sauce), Ayam Pong Teh (braised chicken, potato with fermented soy bean sauce), and Sambal Udang (spicy shrimps) . But this time I was eating alone, so I ordered simply food. I ordered Okra (lady finger) and Tenggiri Assam Pedas (Peranakan-style sour & spicy Fish).

Top: Okra Sambal Belacan

Bottom: Tenggiri Assam Pedas

This is the signature dish of Malacca. A very hot and mild sour fish curry making it very appetizing and is best to go with white rice. Favorite among the Peranakan community, asam pedas is the perfect representation of their cuisine. All the spices and flavours that Peranakan cuisine is so famed for were in play: sweet, sour, spicy, and savoury.

Eating at Restoran Peranakan was a wonderful experience. The restaurant decorated with rare antiques such as a traditional wedding sedan and an Peranakan wooden bed.

Left:Antique decorations

Right: Traditional Peranakan wedding sedan

NYONYA KUIH

BABA CHARLIE NYONYA CAKE

Address: 72 Jalan Tengkera, Pantai 2C, 75200 Malacca

Phone: +60 19-666 2907

Opening Hours: 10.30am to 3pm daily. Closed on Thursdays.

Nyonya Kuih (kuih is a term for Malay cakes) are bite-sized dessert that are colorful and popularly taken as a snack. Some are steamed, some grilled but most are sweet. I watched Little Nyonya drama series and I was curious about the taste of Lempah Udang. (steamed glutinous rice roll stuffed with desiccated coconut filling).

Colorful Nyonya Kuih

Lempah Udang

JONKER 88

Address: 88 Jalan Hang Jebat 75200 Melaka, Malaysia

Phone: +60 19 397 5665

Opening Hours: 9:30 - 17:30

While exploring the streets of Malacca under the scorching hot sun, Jonker 88 is a good spot to take a break. Jonker 88 with rustic and nostalgic interiors. The place runs is like self-service food court where we have to find our own tables before queuing up at the stalls to buy food.

Baba Chendol, a traditional dessert made from green starched noodles with pandan flavoring, red beands, shaved ice, coconut milk, and gula Melaka (palm sugar). Each spoonful leaves behind a lingering sweetness and a creamy aftertaste from the fresh coconut milk.

Baba Chendol

Baba Laksa & Nyonya Assam Laksa. Brimming with ingredients, these assorted laksa broth are extremely addictive. Baba Laksa more creamier with an additional dash of coconut milk. Nyonya Laksa is more sour than spicy due to tamarind juice added.

Top: Nyonya Assam Laksa with prawn, egg, and bean curd skin

Bottom: Baba Laksa with stronger coconut milk

You can option for the Baba Laksa Kahwin Nyonya Assam Laksa which consists of a mixed broth from both the Baba and Nyonya Laksa.

CHUNG WAH CHICKEN RICE BALLS

Address: 18, Jalan Hang Jebat 75200 Melaka, Malaysia
Phone: +606 286 0121

Opening Hours: 7:30 - 15:00

This is a dish of Chinese origin and is most commonly associated with Hainanese cuisine. Steamed Hainanese chicken rice was originally shaped into balls. I ordered half portion Hainanese Chicken Rice Balls. Steamed chicken, together with super soft rice balls and their homemade chili sauce mixture of red chilies, garlic, ginger, and a touch of lime.

Left: Chicken Rice Balls

Right: Early morning before long queue

The chicken rice balls were moist, slightly sticky and full of fragrance, so much so you can eat it on its own. The chicken was juicy and the soy-based dipping sauce was delicately salty, with a lingering sweet after-taste.

CAPITOL SATAY CELUP

Address: 41 Lorong Bukit Cina

Phone:+ 606 283 5508

Opening hours: Wednesday - Monday 17:00 -23:00

Satay celup is an assortment of raw and semi-cooked seafood, meat and vegetables on skewers are dunked into a hot boiling pot of satay gravy. The best part of Capitol Satay Celup is their authentic peanut sauce rich with crushed peanut, spicy and sweet flavor.