Part 6: 3 of our favourite MUST-eats in Melaka

These eateries we recommend survived the pandemic. We are grateful for that and we made sure we patronised them when we came this time! They have a unique flavour that you just don’t get from our gentrified malls in Singapore (and to some extent Malaysia too). Brands with food from central kitchens that they just reheat are being sold to us at a handsome profit. These businesses have the financial backing that many small eateries don’t and they repeat themselves like clones in every mall. Our hawkers and small eateries are the ones that form the unique character of our collective food culture. We need to support small businesses that continue to contribute to that. 

Drum roll…..

1. 北栈食馆 Bei Zhan Restaurant (Non Halal, Chinese Cuisine)
   
   Address: No. 43 Jalan Kota Laksamana 2/17, Seksyen 2, Taman Kota Laksamana, 75200 Malacca
   
   Opens Daily, 11am-230pm, 5-9pm
   
   
   This is almost always our first stop on any road trip. They pride themselves in home cooked dishes that we are familiar at a Chinese restaurant. Amazing taste, affordable prices. They do serve seafood like crabs, scallops and prawns as well as roasted pigs. We ordered the “boring” regular stuff because it was the taste of home!
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Steamed Grouper (Hong Kong Style)

Sweet and Sour Pork

Minced Pork with Egg Toufu

Bitter Gourd Fried Egg

Stir fried Shanghai greens

Gingko Nut Pumpkin Yam paste

1. Jonker 88 (Chendol Jonker 88)
   
   Address: 88, Jalan Hang Jebat, 75200 Melaka
   
   Opens Daily, 9am to 530pm, Friday and Saturday 9am to 730pm
   
   
   You really need to have a lot of patience and plan your route carefully to score a place in there. They are ALWAYS packed and there is always a queue. The shop is right beside the statue of of a very famous man from Melaka, Datuk Dr. Gan Boon Leong (he was a famous bodybuilder who won Mr Universe).
   
   They are famous for Baba Goreng Goreng (Fried delicacies), Baba Laksa and their Cendol. We were lucky to have a bench seat to eat our Cendol/Shaved ice. 

The gula Melaka was to die for.....warm caramelised aroma on cold refreshing ice. 

Look at their flushed faces! The shaved ice was the perfect solution!

So packed we only got bench seats, a long line of people were still waiting outside...

​Oh the warm gula Melaka just blows your mind away. Its caramelised sugar taste warms your heart as the cold ice cools your body from the tropical heat. The jelly and red beans added to the myriad of textures. We enjoyed it so much we had a second round at an alternative location behind the main Jonker street the next day.

The Kappan House Restaurant

Address: 20, Jalan Tukang Besi, 75200 Melaka

Opens Daily, 11am to 8pm

Another day at Jonker Street they kept asking for the "sour ice dessert"!
​It's actually jelly with passion fruit sauce. Sure keeps them cool and gives them lots of energy. 

It is a small charming place. A classic shop house that fits less than 20 people. Expect queues. It seemed like 3 people ran the entire shop and were pretty overwhelmed at times. I liked their shaved ice thingy but the Cendol was better at Jonker 88. 

​Selvam Restaurant

Address: 3, Jalan Temenggong, Bandar Hilir, 75100 Melaka

Opens Daily, 8am to 8pm

Our favourite Indian restaurant in the whole of Melaka! Maybe even Malaysia! They serve amazing South Indian cuisine on banana leaf. It is walking distance to the Dutch Square and Jonker street. It is hard to miss the green signage and painted exterior. 
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Vegetable rice set

Briyani rice set with chicken

For those who know matt, no, he didn't eat the cucumbers. HAHA!

Debra says this is goat intestines and she loved it. 

I loved this! Fried but still soft and juicy

Come early to get your favourite thosai and masala thosai!

Remember that it is called Roti (Plain prata) or Roti Telur (Egg Prata) in Malaysia.
Name differences aside, taste equally awesome though!

I absolutely love the flavours in this shop. The spice level is acceptable (Debra begs to differ because she isn’t very good with spice haha!). The curries are all delicious and portions are generous. Fried meats remain succulent and veggies were well flavoured. One thing about Indian cuisine is the explosion of flavours that I just can’t get enough of. Its one of those places that I order as much as I can eat without worrying about the bill. A Vegetable rice set is RM7, Masala Thosai is RM3, and Roti Canai is RM1.20.

Very few of us have the tenacity and time to whip up these amazing Indian dishes on a regular basis. There is SO much heavy cooking and effort involved. I’m so thankful for businesses like this!


Bonus

We know there’s many out there who are huge fans of Chicken rice balls. We don’t like that super famous ones along Jonker. We just never had good memories of eating chicken rice balls. We decided to give it a try by ordering supper via Grab Food on one of the days from this Hawker Stall:

海南鸡饭粒MVKKK Hainan Chicken Rice Ball (Located in Restaurant Ming Huat)

Address: Jalan Ujong Pasir, Melaka, 75050 Malacca
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It turned out fine! The kids actually liked it and Debra said it was quite delicious. Only cost RM8.90 for 6 balls with chicken on Grab Food

Do you have any recommendations that you think will join this favourite’s list? Let us know in the comments and we will go and try them!

We are due for a major announcement about our shop! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay updated! 
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