Malacca Eating Spree

I’ve always wanted to do a proper “Bangsar Babe Eating Spree” since 2009, but after joining me for a few trips, my makan kakis waved the white flag. So my food trips comprise just rif and myself, and occasionally his friends. Good thing I found the perfect eating partner in Ken, who was able to keep up with our eating pace. We’re a match made in heaven…in the food world. 😀

Here’s a roundup of our eating spree – 40 dishes, 28 hours:

10.00am: Kuay Teow Th’ng with fried prawn fritters

Prawn fritters

Fish balls

You get a choice of mee, mihun or kuay teow. I generally like kuay teow, but for maximum satisfaction, go for the vermicelli and ask for “kar liu”.

Mee hoon (vermicelli) soup

Kuay Teow Soup

Extra ingredients (kah liu)

Humble setting

• Read my blog post on  Kuay Teow Th’ng here.

Kuay Teow Th’ng,
Jalan Tenkera
(opposite BAM and Wesley Church)

11.00am: Baba Charlie Lee (Nyonya Kuih)

Onde onde

Assorted Nyonya Kuih

Kuih Bongkong

Kuih Bongkong inside

In my opinion, Baba Charlie makes one of the best Nyonya Kuih in Malacca. One of my favourite things to eat here is the Kuih Bongkong (RM0.80). Kuih Bongkong has a smooth and silky texture – almost like the texture of a bean curd – and is eaten with Gula Melaka.

My loot, halfway 😉

Kuih Ketayap

Generously filled

They also sell a mean onde-onde; freshly made and large in size with a generous amount of Gula Melaka. Pop in into your mouth and let the brown sugar syrup ooze out. #shiok If you’re a fan of Kuih Ketayap, give Baba Charlie’s version a try. I usually buy 3-4 pieces for myself when I’m in Malacca.

Seri Muka

Kuih Seri Muka is usually green on top but the Malaccan version is topped with yellow custard. Below is a list of Nyonya Kuih you can get at Baba Charlie:

Know your Nyonya kuih

• Read my blog post on Baba Charlie Lee here and here.

Business is run at home

11.30am: Nyonya Delights

Ikan cencaru sumbat goreng

Chicken curry devil

Nyonya laksa

Our friend and rif’s Malacca guide (also called Ken) took us for some Nyonya food prepared by a former hotel chef in Malacca. I didn’t care much for the chicken curry devil and otak-otak, but the ikan cencaru sumbat goreng was very good. The sambal and rempah was aromatic and packed a punch, giving the fish a richer flavour. The Nyonya laksa was just alright in my books.

Nyonya Delights
2199-C, KM 8,
Batang Tiga,
Tanjong Keling,
76400 Melaka
Business hours: 7am-3pm (closed Tuesdays)
016-365 9775

12pm: Bukit Rambai Cendol and Tai Bak

Cendol Bukit Rambai

Best cendol in Malacca

The cendol (RM2.50 – small, RM3.50 – large) is top-notch. I have never eaten cendol this rich before. The green starch noodles were redolent of pandan leaves extract, while the lusciously thick and fragrant Gula Melaka left a lingering sweetness in my mouth. Tai Bak is also available, but I’m not a fan. Ken, the other Ken and rif liked it though.

Tai Bak

Aunty Koh

• Read my blog post on Aunty Koh’s Cendol and Tai Bak here.

1.30pm: Xiang Ji Pork Satay

Pork satay

Pineapple peanut sauce

This satay boasts just the right balance of meat and fat, and the combination of well-marinated pork chunks and pork fat melts in the mouth. I like the peanut sauce here as chopped pineapples are added, resulting in a sweeter and tangier gravy.

• Read my blog post on Xiang Ji Pork Satay here.

4.00pm: Klebang Coconut Shake

Coconut shake with ice cream

Curry puff for snack

What’s so good about a coconut shake, you ask? Given the crazy weather, an ice cold cup is god-sent. Coconut flesh and coconut water is blended with ice cubes and some vanilla ice cream. If you opt for the special version, you get a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. Refreshing, really.

• Read my blog post on Klebang Coconut Shake here.

5.00pm: Nadeje Patisserie

• Read my blog post on Nadeje Patisserie here.

6.00pm: Medan Ikan Bakar Muara Sungai Duyong

Special dipping sauce

Nasi lemak bungkus

We tucked into individual packets of nasi lemak, fried sotong, kepah masak halia and fish, cooked two ways. While you can’t go wrong with fresh seafood, the thing that differentiates this place from the rest is the special dipping sauce. Made with sweet soy sauce, belacan, cili padi, onions and lime juice, this tangy, sweet and savoury combination went well with the seafood.

Fried sotong

Grilled fish

Masak chilli fish

Kepah goreng halia

• Read my blog post on Medan Ikan Bakar Muara Sungai Duyong here.

7.30pm: Pak Putra Naan & Tandoori

We shared two chicken leg tandoori (RM7 each), “Jason” naan and garlic butter naan. “Jason” naan comprised onions, garlic, cheese, egg and butter – good stuff! The tandoori was as delicious as people claimed it to be. Generously seasoned and tandoor-ed till tender perfection, I almost wanted to order another portion for myself.

Chicken tandoori

Garlic butter naan

“Jason” special naan

• Read my blog post on Pak Putra Naan & Tandoori here.

9.00pm: Popiah at Jonker Street

Pork lard magic

This popiah (RM2 per roll) comprise fried sengkuang, beansprouts, fried shallots, cabbage, lettuce, diced tofu, shredded egg, Malacca sweet sauce and chunks of pork lard.

9.15pm: Fried Carrot Cake

Black sauce and chilli sauce

Fried carrot cake in Malacca comes with garlic, pork lard and black sauce. If you’re accustomed to the Penang or KL version, you’ll be in for a shock. The Malaccan version has no bean sprouts, preserved vegetables or chives.

By the way, this fried carrot cake is rif’s favourite. The uncle is stationed at Jalan Tengkera in the afternoon and sets up stall at Jonker Street at night.

9.30pm: Duck web & wings, Jonker Street.

And a quack quack here…

Ken spotted this stall selling braised duck web and wings in Jonker Street. Being the curious foodie he is, he ordered one to try. rif and the other Ken made a bolt because the sight of duck web made them squirm. To be honest, I was squirming inside because I’ve never eaten duck web before. It wasn’t as gross as I expected it to be, but I wouldn’t eat this again.

10.30pm: Chicken wings & oh chien

5-spice chicken wing

Oh chien

The chicken wings here (recommended by rif’s colleague) were seasoned with 5-spice powder and grilled till the edges are crisp. Tastewise, I found it just average as I prefer my chicken wings sticky-sweet. I didn’t care much for the Oh Chien either – the oysters were smallish and lacked flavour.

Chop Beeng Cheong
Kampung Lapan, Malacca

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NEXT DAY

9.00am: Duck noodles and loh bak

Fish skin fritters

Soon Yen along Jalan Tengkera is known for the Malacca-style Duck Noodles and you have a choice of soup or dry noodles. We opted for the dry noodles, tossed in thick gravy and topped with shredded duck meat. Ken asked for an add-on of braised beancurd and egg to eat with our noodles. Between the kuay teow, yellow noodles and vermicelli, the vermicelli tasted best with the gravy. Skip the kuay teow as the “kan sui” taste affects the gravy.

Duck noodles, kuay teow

Vermicelli

Yellow mee

Malacca style loh bak

The Malaccan loh bak (RM10 – large) is a simpler version of the Penang loh bak. This comprised fish balls, fish skin fritters and prawn fritters and came with a side of sweet dipping sauce and chilli. We ordered another large plate to share. rif also ordered the fried carrot cake, which isn’t as good as the one from Jonker Street.

Fried carrot cake

Kedai Kopi & Makanan Soon Yen
Kg 9, Jalan Tengkera,
Malacca

10am: Tai Bak and Kuih Badak

Tai Bak

Ken seemed smitten with the Tai Bak (ugggh) and wanted to try the tai bak from the stall next to Wesley Church. This was a huge disappointment – the flour noodles were bland and paste-y, while the sugar syrup has no pandan aroma or flavour.

Kuih Badak

Pisang Goreng

I tried the Kuih Badak and fried banana; the former was a snack that resembled a sui kow, but with bean sprouts and julienned carrots inside. Nothing special.

Tai Bak Stall
Jalan Tengkera
(next to Wesley Church)

11am: Durian Cendol and Tau Kua at Jeta Groves

Durian Cendol

Cendol with ice cream

Fresh durian

Tau kua

This is THE place to go to for durian cendol as they use only fresh durian, unlike the bogus version at Jonker 88.

• Read my blog post on Jeta Groves here.

11.45am: Pineapple tarts from Florence

Florence is rif’s former nanny and she makes on of the best pineapple tarts I’ve tasted. My mum in-law still makes THE best Malacca style pineapple tarts. 🙂

12pm: Icy White Coffee at Lao Qian Ice Café

Icy White Coffee

A tourist hangout place, but according to Ken, the Icy White Coffee is pretty good. I have to agree, although at RM5.80, it’s daylight robbery.

33 Lorong Hang Jebat,
Melaka
Tel : 06-282 8381

1pm: Nasi Lemak at Baba Charlie Lee

Stopped by Baba Charlie to tapau a few boxes of Nyonya kuih and 5 packets of nasi lemak.

1.00pm: Nyonya Laksa, Mee Siam, Pai Tee and Popiah at Baba Low

Mee Siam

Nyonya Laksa

Pai Tee

Popiah

My favourite place to eat Nyonya Laksa in Malacca, the son runs the Bangsar outlet which I reviewed here.

• Read my blog post on Baba Low here.

So there you have it. 40 dishes, 28 hours. This is how Bangsar Babe does her eating spree. Are you man enough to join? 😀