When I posted about the excellent Nyonya food served at Unicorn Cafe (link –> HERE) a few months back, many readers and friends rejoiced, for they too have been searching high and low for a restaurant that serves good Nyonya food that is fairly priced.
Based on my observations, Nyonya restaurants that serves pork on the menu are lesser in number (correct me if I’m wrong) than those who steer clear of pork for business reasons.

Besides, Nyonya food/dishes are traditionally pork based (again, correct me if I’m wrong as I’m still learning) so I figured that if the restaurant serves pork, it is potentially “more authentic“.

Anyhow the happy discovery of Unicorn Cafe had lead to demand of a similar food establishment, but one suitable for the Muslim crowd.

Now, halal nyonya restaurant are non-existent in Melaka (perhaps only in Renaissance Hotel since they have a halal kitchen) but pork free ones are many.
Even some of the famous Nyonya restaurants like Donald & Lily Restaurant is pork-free. So a pork-free Nyonya restaurant isn’t elusive, but an excellent one is.

My search for the “best” Nyonya restaurant in Melaka continues. I have a few more in my list and I’m making regular trips to try them out.
Happily enough my perseverance has yielded some gems, one of which was the Bulldog Cafe on Jalan Bendahara,(just doors away from Majestic Hotel and Ramada Hotel).
All due credit should be awarded to my Melaka guide Choo (please contact her 017 – 944 4197 if you need a guide in Melaka as she is a certified one!) for her kind assistance.

Due to an earlier renovation work I was unable to visit in September, but now that Bulldog is operational again I wasted no time in arranging for a lunch session here.

The previous seating arrangement made use of older furniture (photo below from Bulldog Facebook Page) while the current furniture are modern and simple.

For me either one is fine, for I love the spacious area and the natural light.
Most of all, it is the food that matters to me.

Obviously I’ve been on the wrong trail, eating at almost 10 nyonya restaurants in Melaka & spending hundreds/thousands of RM on mediocre Nyonya dishes.
Excellent, pork-free, commercially available (not the “my mother/grandmother/aunty’s version is better”) nyonya food in Melaka is available at of all places, in an outlet known more as a pub than for food!

We begin lunch with their Nyonya Laksa (RM9).
This bowl offers all the prerequisite elements of an excellent laksa; rich, creamy with an abundance of flavours from the spices and good stock base.
The heat level is tolerable and the accompanying fragrant chilli paste is more than sufficient to add flavour to the broth if you need it.
I find it tasty enough without the need for the paste, though the excellent chilli is a potent mix of chillies (dry and fresh) with onions and candlenuts.
Some places skip the laksa leaf (Vietnamese mint), or daun kesom but not this bowl. It’s an aromatic herb that I find to be a prerequisite for the overall aroma and flavour.

BELOW: Bulldog Cafe’s Nyonya Laksa – 2 mid size prawns, cockles, fishcakes, shredded cucumber, julienned egg omelette and taupok (beancurd puffs). 

A standard bowl (hawker version) of Nyonya laksa in the streets of Melaka is RM4.50 – RM5.50.
For RM9 it is undeniably double the usual price but the taste, the comforts of air conditioning dining as well as the abundance of ingredients is certainly worth it.

The same chilli paste made its appearance again on Bulldog’s fried fish and we love it.
The fish is adeptly fried; non- greasy with a crispy outer layer and moist, flaky flesh within.

Bulldog Cafe’s pongteh (chicken stewed in a dark, sweet and savoury soy bean sauce) is thicker and tastier than most of the places that I’ve been.
The sweetness of the gravy is from the caramelized palm sugar (gula melaka) so it wasn’t the cloying saccharine sweetness that one gets from the cheaper or ‘cheat versions” of pongteh.

The chicken was cooked to perfect tenderness and came in generous chunks. The accompanying sambal belacan is potent and deliciously fiery-hot.

Nyonya Ayam Limau Purut: RM8 (S) and RM16 (M).
(Chicken cooked with aromatic spices and kaffir leaves).

Can you see the thickness of the spices for the curry? It tasted as good as it looks; spicy, rich and aromatic. Definitely one of the best Nyonya Ayam Limau Purut I’ve tasted!

Bulldog Cafe is certainly a surprising but happy find.
Their pohpiah (RM4/roll) is decent; soft and supple skin and plump with filling. The chendol (RM4) is fresh, the ice fine and the gula melaka fragrant.
Small beans are used (I abhor the use of kidney beans) and cooked until soft to bite, just the way I like it.

Since the chendol is good, we ordered the Ais Kacang (RM4) as well.

It is of almost similar components but we find the chendol a lot more satisfying!

Choo recommended the Beef Lada Garam so we added an order for it though we were really stuffed.
This is alike black pepper beef though milder.

Bulldog Cafe is an excellent choice for those seeking pork-free nyonya food.
I enjoyed my meal here and I would confidently recommend this place to friends and my readers. I’ve already listed down my choices for my next visit and I’m thinking of dropping in for the live band in the evenings too.

Next on my list:
Itik Tim
Ayam Tempra
Nyonya Otak-Otak
Nyonya Chicken Soup
Cincalok Omelette

For small groups, I would recommend their set lunches which are value for money.

Bulldog Cafe
145, Jalan Bendahara,
75100 Malacca City, Malaysia
Contact: +6016 303 3970 (Gene)
WAZE: “Bulldog Cafe Melaka” .
HOURS: Mon – Sat : 11.00 am to 2.00 pm. 6.30 to 10.00 pm.
**On Fri and Sat it is open til 12:00 midnight but only serving drinks after 10pm as there is a live band playing.

Signature: Classic Nyonya food, some western favourites.
Prices: RM4 for pohpiah and RM9 for a large bowl of laksa. (Prices are approximation, dependent on your actual order).
Coffee beans: Not focused on coffee.
Cakes: No.
Pork-free/Halal: Pork- free. Serves alcohol.
OOTD/Instagram friendly: The back portion of the cafe is full of nostalgic props!
WIFI: YES.
Tax: TBA.
Service: Warm, helpful, cheerful.
Your orders are served to you.
Ambience: Comfortable. Relaxed.
Aircon: Yes.
Outdoor seating: No.
Powerpoints for charging: NO.
Parking :Challenging. Roadside or around Ramada Hotel.
Payment: Eat first, then call for the bill to pay.

This was a post I’ve written back in 2013 and I have actually forgotten all about it.

Bee Bee Pineapple Tart came into focus again just a few weeks back when I was in Melaka in search for pineapple tarts for the upcoming 2016 Chinese New Year.
Someone suggested Bee Bee and I vaguely remembered that Bee Bee’s tarts wasn’t too bad from my last visit a few years back.
Since I couldn’t find my blogpost about it (though I was sure I did take some photos) I didn’t mind trying it again.

So this was my recent visit in mid December 2015.

NOTE: The following are TWO (2) reviews : one that I’ve written in 2013 (but unpublished) and another from my current visit in Dec 2015.

PART 1 : This is DECEMBER 2015:

The quality has dropped drastically.
This is RM15 for 17 pieces. The crust was almost burnt, dry and crumbly.
The jam was overly sweet for me as well. Anyhow I hope that it is just inconsistency and not the usual standard.

Well, at least the tarts are still handmade, baked tray by tray onsite.

PART 2 : This is end Oct- Nov 2013:

My unpublished review.
As you can see, I used to like it.

After sampling 7 variety of pineapple tarts bought from various shops around Jonker Street I half -decided that pineapple tarts from Melaka is just a bloody waste of time and money. Link to the comparison chart –> HERE.

Donn Donovey and Brian Moh was one the few friends of mine that recommended this Bee Bee place, but both could only give directions like “near the prison“, “one lone house” and the best part is, they don’t even remember the name of the shop!
How the heck would anyone be able to find Bee Bee’s then?

Well, I hope this post here would shed some light on this elusive “pineapple tart near the prison” outlet.
It is actually on one of the main roads in Melaka town, Jalan Parameswara and if you’ve been to Melaka often enough you would have driven past it somehow.
Only after yesterday did I realized that I have passed it many times, but never noticed its existence.

The reason is simple, it’s a non-descriptive house with no advertising aid whatsoever and it is nested within a large compound so it is not entirely from the road.

Park your vehicle on the side of the road and walk in.
As you approach the porch the unmistakeable waft of pastry baking assailed my nostrils. Yes, we are definitely at the correct place!

The production “factory” is small, cramped but efficient. The workers have their own “allocated space” at different corners and each worker is fully focused on her task.

As with all chinese kuih and pastries, aesthetics are vital. Every cookie/tart is in perfect form and uniform in shape and height and colour.

Years of practice, dedication and attention to detail was witnessed here.

Conclusion:
As I read this post over and over again I felt a bit sad. In 2013 I’ve had drafted this article with positivity, and now I will not likely ever purchase Bee Bee’s tarts again.
Has my tastebuds changed or has the quality dropped that much?

BEE BEE Pineapple Tarts,
307-A, Jin, Parameswara, Bandar Hilir
75000 Melaka
Tel : +606-2869735

The Kompleks Niaga Limbongan is alike a foodcourt.
Think of it as a muhibbah foodcourt where you can indulge in chicken rice balls, Nyonya laksa as well as roti canai and mee goreng in the early hours of the morning.

So what would it be for you?
Crispy, fragrant roti canai hot off the grill or sticky chicken-essence infused rice balls with soft poached chicken?

Else something as simple but would-never-fail-to-satisfy like half-boiled eggs with toast and a cup of coffee?

Well, like I said, all that can be enjoyed under ONE roof at Kompleks Niaga Limbongan from as early as 7am.

If you are in the mood for “Chinese” fair, then sit around this “Limbongan Hailam Kopitiam” stall which offers sells chicken rice balls, chee cheong fun and Nyonya Laksa as well as drinks.

Look out for this: Limbongan Hailam Kopitiam.

At this stage I’ll have to make clear that as “muhibbah” as this place may be, for commercial reasons the seating arrangements are split according to your choice of breakfast.

If you wish to indulge in eggs, toast and chicken rice balls, then select your table at Limbongan Hailam Kopitiam. If roti canai is what you are after, then park yourself over at Sofia Ismail or Faizal Mohd Yusof stall.

BELOW: The roti canai section : Sofia Ismail or Faizal Mohd Yusof.

Since I wanted to try both, I had to make 2 separate trips.
Here are the offerings from Limbongan Hailam Kopitiam; chee cheong fun, steamed pumpkin kuih/cake, Nyonya laksa, toast with butter and kaya as well as soft boiled eggs and chicken rice balls and poached chicken.

Both the chicken rice balls and poached chicken were decent; the meat a bit chewy, the chilli good, the rice balls fairly big and sticky.
It is usually sold out by 11am, so yes, even at “decent” standards (my personal yardstick) it is still popular!

BELOW: Chicken Rice Ball set for 1 pax: RM4.00. 5 balls and quite a fair portion of chicken.

So if you are hankering for Melaka chicken rice balls in the morning and do not fancy queuing like a silly cow at Chung Wah, this could be a viable alternative.
The service is efficient and you avoid paying good money to be treated with disdain and having to put up with uncomfortable (hot, packed and having other waiting patrons staring you down to hurry up so they can take your table) dining environment (over at Chung Wah).

While the chicken rice ball was ok, the Nyonya Laksa (RM4.50) was value for money considering the amount of ingredients thrown in.
We are looking at cockles (shriveled as they may be), cucumber, beancurd puffs, half a boiled egg, sheets of beancurd and beansprouts.
The unfortunate element?
The flat, bland tasting gravy. Sad isn’t it? It looks promising here but it could do with some salt and perhaps additional chilli.
But of course, it could be that we (4 of us shared this meal) were overly fussy and this is a good bowl of Nyonya Laksa. Try it yourself and let me know of your verdict.

This is uncommon anywhere else but in Melaka I presume?
Because I haven’t ate/seen chee cheong with steamed pumpkin kuih anywhere else but in a few coffeeshops in Melaka.
Tastewise both chee cheong fun and pumpkin kuih wasn’t particularly memorable.
RM3.00 for this dish. 

Well, at least the toast was acceptable and the kopi ais (iced coffee) is a solid boost of caffeine!
RM1.70 for toast and RM1.60 for kopi ais. 

***********************************************************************************************************

On my next visit we headed for the Roti Canai stall.
Said to be one of the best roti canai in Melaka, Faizal Mohd Yusof roti canai stall offers roti canai that are delightfully crispy and soft all at once with a myriad of curries not commonly available elsewhere.

You can opt for the basic dhall or fish curry or you can upgrade your meal with a side of mutton, pari (stingray) and siakap (Asian seabass) and sotong.

Roti canai : RM0.80 each.
Asian seabass (siakap) RM5.00 (meat/fillet), Siakap Fishhead (RM7.00).
Pari (stingray) RM4.50.
Sotong (cuttlefish) RM3.50.
Kambing (Mutton) RM4.50. 

My favourite is the mutton! It was tender and flavourful, obviously cooked for a long long time in the curry.
The fishes (both siakap and stingray) were fresh and flaky and the cuttlefish soft with a good bite.
All in all, we enjoyed all 4 variations of curries.

Even minus the frills, the roti canai alone deserves mention. On its own it is crispy and buttery. Dipped, as it should be, into one of the curries or dhals the roti soaks up the gravy which adds a fantastic array of flavors to the palate.

The drinks from their stall are good as well; thick and not overly sweet.

Conclusion: Great place for breakfast as it offers a good variety of food. I plan to order from the other stalls on my next visit just to check out what else is good here, but for now both the roti canai and Hailam stalls are the most popular options.

Kompleks Niaga Limbongan: 
Closed on Mondays.
5 Jalan Limbongan, Melaka.
Waze: “Limbongan Roti Canai” .

1. Stall: Limbongan Hailam Kopitiam
Closed on Mon. 
Hours: 5am – 1.30pm.
2. Stall: Faizal Mohd Yusof roti canai
Closed on Mon. 
Hours: 7am – 12.00pm

If you would like a taste of a mee rebus and rojak recipe that has spanned 3 generations, this is it.

Abdul Rahim Jenu, 68, has been selling mee rebus for almost 40 years.
Now in the third generation of business, his son, 41 year-old Mohd Nishar, helps him out daily and is set on continuing the trade.
A typical day begins at 5 am and the stall is ready to serve by 10 am.
By 12 – 1pm, all portions are sold out.

What is unique about this Mee Kahwin Melaka?
Well, it is a rather delightful marriage of mee rebus and Indian rojak. It has all the condiments of Indian rojak on top of a bed of yellow noodles.
So expect blanched yellow noodles topped with fried beancurd, hard-boiled egg, potatoes, crunchy bean sprouts, cucumbers, cut green chillies and my personal favourite; crunchy fritters. Crispy fritters soaked in gravy, half soggy and half crispy is my weakness! 

Mee Kahwin: RM4.00.

As you can see, the gravy in my spoon is lighter and runnier (Mee Rebus gravy) and the thicker, peanut-based, tangerine-hued gravy on the left of the plate is the gravy for the rojak.
To be honest, either dish in its original form is good, but blended together it transformed into a gastronomy creation of glee.

This Mee Kahwin is delectably enticing to the palate with its unique amalgamation of sweet, sour, savoury, spicy and nutty flavours.
It is a secret recipe passed down from Rahim’s father, Jenu Musahid who was an immigrant from India.
I watched in fascination as both Rahim and Nishar assembled each order and doused each plate with the aromatic gravy from the large cauldron.
Both worked efficiently and both are ever-ready with a smile 

*************************************************************

Other than the mee kahwin the locals flocked to Restoran Ming Huat for the nasi lemak.
Yes, the nasi lemak from this push cart at the right side of the restoran.

The variety here includes fried chicken, curries, cockles (kerang), cuttlefish, vegetables, fried tempe and the basics of peanuts, anchovies (ikan bilis), egg, sambal and fresh cucumber.

I piled my plate with rice, egg, squid, cockles (kerang), kangkong, tempe, fried anchovies, peanuts, sambal and cucumber.
I would highly recommend the sambal sotong which was really bouncy and went perfectly with the fluffy, grainy rice. The nasi lemak sambal is good too; a thick spicy paste unlike the usual sissified sweet versions. I absolutely abhor sweet sambals. Sambal is supposed to be spicy!
Both the kerang and cuttlefish seemed to be cooked in the same chilli paste, though the sambal kerang had onions added.
The egg, as you can see below, is over fried with crispy edges. I know some of you actually liked it this way but I thought it was a waste of a good egg.
This plate cost me RM7.00. I would have liked more protein, but they were out of fried chicken so this was the best I could manage. An item uncommon from the standard nasi lemak fare is the deep fried tempe.
If you like tempe then you might want to try it. 

All in all, I love coming here.
Busy and lacking any ambience whatsoever, Restoran Ming Huat is your typical local coffeeshop.
Other than the nasi lemak and Mee Kahwin, the roti canai stall and the chicken rice are highly recommended too. In conclusion, Restoran Ming Huat offers a variety of good food at reasonable prices under one roof.

It is also a locals’ favourite so if you are tired of the overpriced and commercial fare in town, swing by to enjoy the local fare.
Chinese-owned, its patrons are a mix of all races and everyone are seen tucking into their food heartily. It is truly a  muhibbah scene.  

** The friendly and hardworking people of Melaka’s best rojak/mee kahwin – Mr Nishar and Abdul Rahim – always smiling and polite.

**The humble, hardworking lady manning the Nasi Lemak stall:

By the way, Restoran Ming Huat is operational in the evenings as well. The evening crowd pours in for this nasi lemak stall which is run by a different proprietor entirely and has no relations to the morning stall.
I’ve tried the nasi lemak from this evening stall once but that was months ago.
I will post the pictures if I could find them!

Though it is obvious that 80% of the crowd is here for the Mee Kahwin and Nasi Lemak, I’ll be back for the roti canai and the chicken rice soon; both rated highly by the locals.
See that enthusiasm? Ok Uncle, I’ll order some roti on my next visit!

Restoran Ming Huat
Address: Jalan Ujong Pasir  (opposite the entrance to Portuguese Settlement).
Waze “Restoran Ming Huat” . 

Always in search for the best Melaka Nyonya food/restaurant, my friend and I decided to try out Samfu Restaurant about 2 weeks ago.

Located within the walls of Mimosa Hotel (old Lian Fatt building), the restaurant, as I was told, is not part of the hotel.
Separately owned and ran, its main entrance is at the right side of the building, right where the carpark is.

Thus the restaurant outer facade can’t be seen from the main road and I find that such a pity as the restaurant’s entrance is part of a pretty wall mural!

Since Samfu is a restaurant within a hotel (not particularly known one) I had predicted rather plain decorations for the restaurant.
Needless to say, the nostalgic theme of the mural was a pleasant surprise from the start.

Further surprise awaits diners inside the restaurant.
The dining space exudes comfort and charm, straddling casual and elegance easily. The deco was an eclectic mix of the old and the new.
Beautiful Peranakan wares are displayed, wooden colorful chairs gave pop of cheer and tables are nicely set apart with screens for privacy.
The most eye-catching item was however, the mural of a larger than life woman on the wall, no doubt the centrepiece of the dining area.

The ambiance was hushed and service is attentive.
As with the decor, the menu is an intermix of Peranakan and non-Peranakan.

Since there were only 2 of us dining that day, we ordered the suggested dishes of babi cili garam, chicken pork pongteh mix, itik Tim and chendol.

Rice comes in a big pot for you to scoop your desired portion and there is a old-fashioned hot tumbler for you to pour your own Lemongrass with Ginger drink. This is RM8 per bottle/tumbler while the rice is calculated at RM1.50/head.

I would highly recommend you to order this drink to share while enjoying your meal for it was most refreshing. While waiting for the food to arrive, I helped myself to the complimentary serving of achar on the table and found it extremely well prepared and highly addictive.

Once the food arrived, my eyes literally shone for everything looks delicious!

Every dish was excellent. The pongteh (RM23) is thick and flavourful; neither too sweet or salty. The texture of both types of meat were spot on, evident from hours of careful braising.
The belachan sambal is superb, rightfully spicy and sour.
The Itik Tim (RM8) is only available on Fri/Sat/Sun and it is one of the best Itik Tim I’ve tasted commercially. My search for an excellent Itik Tim is over. If you are a fan of Itik Tim, you must make haste to visit Samfu Restaurant. Remember, it is only available on Fri, Sat and Sunday!

The Pork Ribs Balinese (RM35) as evident from its name is not a Peranakan dish but it turned out to be my favourite dish for this lunch.
The meat is tender, the flavour is robust and spicy and the overall dish is fragrant from the chillies, garlic and pandan leaves.
Not a common dish no doubt but so enjoyable.

Babi Chili Garam (RM25) was an additional dish that we gave in to as the lady serving us repetitively recommended it throughout lunch. Since we could pack it home if we couldn’t finish it, we yielded to pressure and ordered it.
Besides, another friend of mine popped in to say hi and ended up staying for lunch.

No regrets for this one either. This is another dish superbly executed and by now I was already hoping to meet the chef.
Crispy, dry, fragrant and just nicely salty, each piece of meat had layers of soft fat and tender lean meat.

I was disappointed to discover that big kidney beans were used for the Chendol (RM4.50).
Other than that, it is a good chendol; fine ice drizzled with rich gula Melaka in fresh coconut milk.

Judging from our meal today, Samfu certainly deserves more recognition and more customers.
We pursued the menu and found the prices to be on par with other Nyonya restaurants but the quality level of its dishes are way above the others.

If you are in Melaka and sick of the usual suspects for a Nyonya meal, do swing by Samfu Restaurant.

The menu offers Peranakan traditional favourites as well as some Indonesian-inspired dishes and a few more out-of-the-norm items.
The usual Peranakan affair to expect are such as Pongteh, Masak Lemak Prawns, Chili Garam Kurau, Hu Piow Soup, Sek-bak w/ Tau-Kau & Eggs, Sambal Petai Ikan Bilis to Jenahak Kuah Lada.
Serai (lemongrass) King Prawns and Man Tou with Beef Rendang as well as some Indonesian-skewed dishes such as Fried Mackerel with Sambal Ijo (Indonesian green sambal), Balinese Pork Ribs and combo appetizers  like their (Vegetarian) Tempe, Spring Roll & Thai Style Tofu are popular too.

As guests of Samfu, you are entitled to free parking on the hotel grounds.
The eye-candy decor is welcoming and the matured staff are attentive and friendly. Food is great and though prices are on the slightly high side it is still worth the spurge for the taste and quality.

Yes, Samfu Restaurant could very well be one of the best Nyonya restaurant in Melaka now.
 

Prices are subjected to 6% GST. No service charge.
Total bill for our meal : RM112.90 for 3 pax dining.

https://www.facebook.com/SamFuRestaurant/
Hotel Mimosa, Jalan Bunga Raya,
75100 Melaka, Malaysia.
HOURS: Wed to Sun for lunch: 12pm – 2:30pm.
Dinner: 5:30pm – 9:30pm.
Closed: Mon & Tues.

+ 606-282-0113

I got Cerventus to thank again for this.
After ONE visit, I got hooked and now Ah Ho Nasi Lemak is one of my favourite breakfast spots in Melaka. Heck, Ah Ho might possibly be serving the best Chinese version nasi lemak in Melaka, for other than the Malay variant available at Ming Huat in Pasir Ujong I don’t think there are any other around that offers the same?
Well, if you have any to recommend, I’m all ears!

Step into the shop and you will realize that this is a coffeeshop style establishment with only ONE food option/stall.
It is Ah Ho’s nasi lemak, and well, Ah Ho’s nasi lemak.

My standard order is rice, sambal, chicken, squids, long bean and egg but one of the best reasons to head to Ah Ho Nasi Lemak is for the variety available which could potentially suit all appetites and tastebuds.

There is bound to be something that would catch your fancy; be it spicy or non-spicy, curries or fried, meat-free or to go all out on the meat/seafood.
The fried fishballs, sausages and fishcakes would appease the kids while the adults can enjoy everything else.

Whatever is it, Ah Ho’s signature fried chicken is a must have. On most instances it is piping hot as it is replenished every 15 minutes or so due the demand.

The skin is crispy, the marination light so the flavour of the meat is unmasked yet enough to provide taste and the texture is perfect; moist and tender all the way to the bone.
The chicken is undeniably fresh, for there were no odour or bruised/dark coloured flesh within.

If you want another option for chicken, the curry chicken is quite appetizing as well with its heavy turmeric nuances. I personally found it a bit salty.

BELOW: Juicy to the bone with crispy skin – good stuff!

BELOW: Chicken Curry.

For fish, your options are the stuffed fish with chilli paste, normal fried whole fish as well as fried fish cutlets.

I like the squids better, but there is cuttlefish too if you prefer that. I would recommend the sambal cockles (kerang) too.

All the fried processed items are not my kind of food, but hey, if you enjoy them, go ahead.

Say hi to this friendly, hardworking guy who serves each and every order.

Now, while having plenty of dishes to eat with your nasi lemak is a good thing, an excellent serving of nasi lemak should possess at least 2 of the core basics; aromatic, non-greasy fluffy rice and thick, punchy sambal.

Ah Ho’s sambal strikes a good balance; enough heat for chilli lovers but still tongue-friendly to diners with low tolerance of spice.
I personally love my sambal fiery but I enjoyed Ah Ho’s sambal nonetheless.

Price?
Pretty reasonable I would say for the portions. Our meals with 2 pieces of chicken and various add-ons rarely surpassed RM20.
I’ll get a breakdown of each item soon, for I rarely paid whenever I eat here and though I did wrote down the prices somewhere, I’ve misplaced my notes!

Nasi Lemak Dan Minuman Ah Ho
Jalan Gajah Berang, 75300 Melaka, Malaysia
Phone:+60 6-281 4853
Waze: ” Nasi Lemak Dan Minuman Ah Ho”
Hours: 8am til finish – 12pm or so.

Wok and Pan had fed hungry Malaccans and tourists since 2005.
Famous for their western repertoire, the Nyonya menu is often overlooked.

I thought that’s a shame, for some of the overrated Nyonya restaurants in Melaka couldn’t hold a candle to the Nyonya dishes Wok and Pan that I’ve had.
And Wok and Pan’s fish curry is touted to be the best there is in Melaka.

The Nyonya dishes here are likewise as generously portioned as their western offerings.
There isn’t a S, M, L portion but merely one standard size.

BELOW: Chicken Pongteh RM20 (standard).

The Chicken Pongteh goes for RM20, the Chap Chye RM18 and the Sweet and Sour Pork at RM15.

The Minestrone is cheap at RM5.00 though a bit watery for our preference while the Chicken Pongteh gravy was thick and savoury as it should be.
Every piece of chicken was tender with the flavours of the gravy well permeated into the meat. This standard portion consisted of 6 substantial pieces of chicken and easily sharable with 3 diners, alongside a vegetarian dish or another meat based dish.

For the 3 of us, the above was more than sufficient as even the Chap Chye was a monstrous portion as well.
Our only complaint was the sweet and sour pork was too little!

But of course that was because we love ku lou yok too much, and had to fight for the last piece.
Honestly the portion corresponds with the price and is pretty standard for a serving of sweet and sour pork in Melaka.

I love sweet and sour pork really.
It’s an appetizing dish due to the vibrant sweet and sour sauce but it is an art to be the sauce right, of which many establishments failed miserably.
Preferably it should be balanced (not just tasting like starchy ketchup) and bursting forth with sweet, tangy and sharp flavours. I disapprove of the goopy, sickeningly dimensional sweet sauce that is commonplace nowadays.

A great batter recipe also promises crispy and crunchy coating for the pork. The cornstarch coating should be thin enough for the sweet and sour flavors to seep into the meat and preferably coating chunky pieces of meat, not just measly thin slices.

Chef Lim dishes out of the best sweet and sour pork in Melaka; even better than most restaurants in KL too.
I’ve been to a number of Melaka dai chou (Chinese restaurants) in Melaka and his version is king.
However I must say that I would prefer the meat to be bigger.

From my previous visit (link HERE) I’ve tried the oyster omelette and it was one of my favourite order here.
To be frank the oyster omelette (RM10) didn’t have much oysters but I guess 4 oysters is ok for RM10?

But if you don’t think of it as an oyster omelette, but just an egg omelette WITH OYSTERS, then this is one of the most well-executed omelette we’ve ever had.
Fluffy, multi-layered and cooked to the perfect degree (no undercooked/wet or overcooked parts).

Wok and Pan Melaka serves excellent Nyonya food as well as pork ribs, burgers and pasta.
So if you are seeking a place to have the best of both worlds (Western + Nyonya) – Wok and Pan would be the place to go in Melaka.

The founder of the restaurant and his wife personally oversee the restaurant ops daily. Besides, the founder himself still reigns over the wok and pans in the kitchen so food is generally consistently good.

If you want to know more about Wok and Pan western dishes, do take a look here –>
http://www.rebeccasaw.com/affordable-western-food-pork-ribs-pork-burgers-and-steaks-in-melaka-wok-and-pan-nubacha/
I really enjoyed the ribs and steak and I find the prices value for money (compared to KL).

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Bits and pieces about Wok and Pan:
Wok & Pan East Meets West Cuisine Restaurant was established since year 2005.
The owner and also the chef of this restaurant was the ex-Executive Chef for Melaka Renaissance Hotel. His skills covers both western and Nyonya preparation and thus the restaurant is named Wok and Pan; with ” Wok” in reference to Asian style food while “Pan” is about western cuisine.

Wok and Pan
Address: 46, Jalan Melaka Raya 23, 75000 Melaka, Malaysia
Contact: +60 17-673 8896
Hours: 11:30 – 3:30pm, 6:00 – 10:00pm
Off day: Monday.

Prices: RM10 onwards.
Pork-free/Halal: Serves pork.
WIFI: No.

Tax: 6%, no service charge.
Service: Don’t expect too much.
Your orders are served to you.

Ambience: Comfortable. Casual.
Aircon: Yes.

Outdoor seating: Yes for dinner.
Powerpoints for charging: NA.
Parking : Roadside.
Payment: Eat first, then call for bill to pay.

My monthly trips to Melaka for both business and leisure gave me much opportunities to explore the bustling historically rich city, both culturally and much of its culinary offerings.

I’ve published an article on the best Nyonya chang, the best Nyonya kuih you can find in Melaka, the best cafes to hang out at and now, the best restaurant to satisfy your Nyonya cuisine cravings, which is of course, synonymous with the Melaka state.

After all, one of the frequently asked question is “Where is the best Nyonya restaurant in Melaka?”

I for one, won’t be able to say for certain which is BEST, though I can however, share what I think it’s best based on what I’ve eaten.

As with all food, bear in mind that taste is subjective and all outlets will experience ups and downs.
Constructive feedback/reports (if the food standards has dropped, service was bad on your visit) and recommendations are most welcome so drop me a message here (under comments) or fb.com/wackybecki or fb.com/RebeccaSawBlog.

I would like to add that I dined at these places with local Malaccan friends, I paid for my food and for some, I’ve visited a few times.

So here goes, 6 Nyonya restaurants that you should try, and another 8 that I’ve visited before and thus I’m including them as my own record.

My top choice (as of April 2016) goes to Samfu, Unicorn Cafe, Bulldog Cafe, Wok and Pan and for economical meals; Kafe Lin‘s.
For HALAL, there is only one which is Seri Nyonya at Equatorial Hotel.

The rest – Makko, Nancy’s Kitchen, Donald and Lily, Amy Heritage, Aunty Lee, Ole Sayang, Nyonya Sayang, Song Nyonya Cuisine are the ones that didn’t impress us (based on what we had), though as foodies, we wouldn’t mind revisiting since food/chef could have changed since our last visit.

If I do revisit any, I’ll update on the verdict.
Last but not least, any arguments of “our family’s home-cooked version is better” doesn’t count (unless you are inviting me over for a meal lol!).
It has to be something available commercially to the public.

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1. Samfu Restaurant at Hotel Mimosa
SERVES PORK.
Hotel Mimosa, Jalan Bunga Raya,
75100 Melaka, Malaysia.
Waze: “Mimosa Hotel”
Tel: + 606-282-0113
Hours: Wed to Sun for lunch: 12pm – 2:30pm.
Dinner: 5:30pm – 9:30pm.
Close on: Mon & Tues.What’s good: Pongteh, Itik Tim, Pork Ribs Balinese, Babi Chili Garam.Full story: http://www.rebeccasaw.com/good-melaka-food-nyonya-food-at-samfu-restaurant-mimosa-hotel/
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2. Unicorn Cafe
SERVES PORK.
626 JALAN MR 10, TAMAN MELAKA RAYA,
75000 MELAKA, Malaysia
Waze: “Unicorn Cafe”
Tel: 0163425365
Hours: Mon-Wed: 10:30 am-4:30 pm.
Fri-Sun: 10:30 am-4:30 pm

What’s good: Nyonya Popiah, Nyonya Laksa, Babi Asam, Pongteh Babi, Kuah Lada Ikan, Seh Bak, Lemak Sayur, Chendol, Nasi Lemak with Chicken Rendang.

Full story: http://www.rebeccasaw.com/unicorn-cafe-melaka-might-be-the-best-nyonya-restaurant-in-melaka/

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3. Wok and Pan
SERVES PORK.
46, Jalan Melaka Raya 23, 75000
Melaka, Malaysia.
Waze: “Wok n Pan Restoran”
Tel: +60 17-673 8896
Hours: 11:30 – 3:30 pm, 6:00 – 10:00 pm
Close on: Mon.

What’s good: Chicken Pongteh, Chap Chye, sweet and sour pork, oyster omelette, pork ribs, burgers and pasta.

Full story: http://www.rebeccasaw.com/good-nyonya-restaurant-in-melaka-wok-and-pan/

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4. Seri Nyonya Restaurant (halal)
HALAL.
Hotel Equatorial Melaka
Bandar Hilir, 75000, Melaka. Malaysia
Waze: “Equatorial Hotel Melaka”
Tel: 606 282 8333 Ext 3380
Hours: 12pm to 2.30pm
6pm to 10.30pm.
What’s good: Everything was just so-so.
However, for HALAL Nyonya, this is the best you can get in Melaka for now.

Full story: http://www.rebeccasaw.com/halal-nyonya-food-in-melaka-seri-nyonya-hotel-equatorial-melaka/

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5. Bulldog Cafe (pork free)
PORK FREE.
145, Jalan Bendahara,
75100 Malacca City, Malaysia
Waze: “Bulldog Cafe Melaka” .
Tel: +6016 303 3970 (Gene)
Hours: Mon – Sat : 11.00 am to 2.00 pm, 6.30 to 10.00 pm
**On Fri and Sat it is open til 12:00 midnight but only serving drinks after 10pm as there is a live band playing.

What’s good: Nyonya Laksa, fried fish, pongteh, Ayam Limau  Purut, cendol, Beef Lada Garam.
Note: We went on our own accord but the boss decided to treat us the meal when we called for the bill.
So this is the sole review here that I didn’t pay for.

Full story: http://www.rebeccasaw.com/good-pork-free-nyonya-food-in-melaka-bulldog-cafe/

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6. Kafe Lin’s
SERVES PORK.
73, Jalan Kristal 1
Taman Limbongan Indah
75200 Melaka.
Waze: “Kafe Lin’s”
Tel: 016 – 222 7762 (lin) 016 – 626 5681 (raymond)
Hours: 11:30 am – 8:30 pm
Close on Wed.

What’s good: Chilli garam babi (pork), Rendang Pai Kut (pork rib), Buah Kelauk Babi and stewed jicama.
This is an economical option for Nyonya food so please adjust your expectations accordingly.

Full story: http://www.rebeccasaw.com/lins-cafe-melaka-nyonya-dishes-chap-fan-economy-rice-style/

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Next, the nyonya restaurants which wasn’t memorable (with the exception of Nyonya Sayang and Donald & Lily) to us but I’m still open to revisit in the near future should there be changes in the menu/standards.

7. Restoran Nyonya Makko
PORK FREE.
123, Jalan Merdeka, Taman Melaka Raya,
75000 Melaka.
Waze: “Restoran Nyonya Makko”
Tel: 06 – 284 0737
Hours: Lunch : 11.30am – 2.45pm, Dinner : 6.00pm – 9.30pm.
Close: Tuesday.

What’s good: Nothing was particularly outstanding.
The chendol was diabetic-ally sweet, the vegetables oily, the keluak curry no hint of kelauk and the cincalok egg has no taste whatsoever of cincalok plus it was salty and soggy!

Full review: http://www.rebeccasaw.com/chendol-in-melaka-donald-lily-makko-jeta-groves-nancys-kitchen-justberrys/

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8. Restoran Nyonya Sayang
PORK FREE.
45 & 47, Jalan TMR, 21,
Jalan Melaka Raya 9, Bandar Hilir,
75000 Melaka, Malaysia
Waze: “Restoran Nyonya Sayang”
Tel: +60 17-368 1207
Hours: 11.00am-2.30pm, 5.30pm-9.30pm.

What’s good:
Our meal was satisfactory actually but it’s been 2 years since I was here so I’m unsure of the current standards hence I’m not shortlisting this as one of my top picks.
**Visit was in Jan 2014.

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9. Restoran Ole Sayang
198, Jalan Merdeka, Taman Melaka Raya,
75000 Melaka, Malaysia
Waze: “Ole Sayang Nyonya Food”
Tel: +60 6-283 1966
Hours: 11.30am-9.30pm
Close: Wed.

What’s good: The fish curry (Jenak) was good as we got thick and fresh but it cost us RM36 back in June 2015.
The pongteh was plainly sweet and the fried rice borderline edible.
**Visit was in June 2015.

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10. Donald and Lily Restaurant
No 16 (Ground Floor), Jalan KSB 1,
Taman Kota Shahbandar,
75200, Malacca.
Waze: “Donald & Lily’s Nyonya Food”
Tel: +60 6-284 8907
Hours: 7am-4.30am
Close: Mon.

What’s good: We only liked the chendol though we prefer the ice to be finer.
The Melaka version rojak (with fishcakes) was weird to us while the Nyonya Laksa was so-so.
I’ll have to try the other Nyonya dishes soon.
**Visit was in Oct 2013.

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11. Nancy’s Kitchen
SERVES PORK.
13, Jalan KL 3/8, Taman Kota Laksamana,
75200 Melaka, Malaysia.
Waze: “Nancy’s Kitchen”
Tel: +60 6-283 6099
Hours: Wed-Thurs 11am-5pm, Fri-Mon 11am-9pm.
Close on Tues.

What’s good: Both the pork pongteh and nyonya laksa were acceptable but I’ll recommend Bulldog Cafe or Unicorn Cafe’s version anytime.
The nyonya chang was really bad.
**Visit was in Oct 2013.

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12. Song Nyonya Taste Cuisine
SERVES PORK.
15 Taman Kota Laksamana
Jalan TKL 3/11
Seksyen 3 75200 Melaka
Waze: “Nyonya Taste Cuisine”
Tel: 0126389915/0146615170.

What’s good: The 5 of us didn’t like our meal at all as almost all the dishes bordered on the bland side.

The chicken curry is a unique version cooked in rempah but without coconut milk. Sadly the flavour of the gravy didn’t permeate into the chicken leaving us with bland meat.
The Pork tonghey with the addition of cincalok, daun limau & lemongrass fared better though the flavours were again, mild.
The Pong teh was sadly insipid as well, below par from Nancy’s or Nyonya Sayang. Our ladyfingers was fibrous and slightly chewy.
Last but not least was a dish of liver and bamboo shoots which was an acquired taste. We gave up on it.

Thankfully the guys were firm believers of “no food wastage” so they finished everything (minus the liver dish); a good thing since I paid almost RM100 ++ for this meal.
The upside for this outlet are the availability of unique dishes that are not commonly available in other Nyonya restaurants such as Kari Kambing Buah Keluak and Pork Tonghey.
**Meal was back in Jan 2014.

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13. Restaurant Aunty Lee
Jalan Ujong Pasir, Taman Sinn,
75050 Melaka, Malaysia.
Waze: “Aunty Lee Nyonya Food Restoran”
Tel: +60 6-283 1009
Hours: 11.30am-3.00pm, 6.00pm-10.00pm.
Close: Tues.

What was good:
We had this meal in May 2011 when Aunty Lee was still the queen of the kitchen and in control of the wok.

The meal was excellent.
Right now the reviews of Aunty Lee haven’t been too stellar so I’m not sure if I should pay her a visit. Anyone has any comments?

Rest well Aunty Lee. We hope you recover soon.

Just for my records:
Prawns – RM22.00
Fish Assam – RM14.00 (S), RM28 (B).
Cincaluk Omelette – RM11.00
Kangkung (water convulvus) – RM10.50
Ayam Cili Garam – RM10.00
Ayam Pongteh – RM10.00

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14. Amy Heritage Nyonya Cuisine
Bandar Hilir 75, Jalan Melaka Raya 24,
Taman Melaka Raya,
Melaka, 75000, Malaysia
Waze: “Melaka Amy Heritage Nyonya”
Tel: +60 6-286 8819
Hours: 11.30 am  – 2.30 pm, 6.00 pm – 9.30 pm.
Close: Mon.

What’s good:
We had watery Ayam Pongteh (RM18), passable Ayam Kari (RM18), decent Masak Titik Lemak (water convolvulus, cabbage & sweet potatoes in coconut milk) which for sure wasn’t worth RM14 and forgettable Nyonya Mee Siam at RM5/plate.
The otak shocked us with a thick chunk of fishcake right in the middle of the paste. That was RM5 and frankly we had expected actual pieces of fish.
The sambal is good, the chendol (RM2.80) ok and the RM2.50 Tai Bak (colorful rice noodles dessert in sugar water) was well, rice noodles in sugar water.
**Meal was back in Nov 2014.

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So there we have it!
My thoughts of 14 nyonya restaurants in Melaka.

I must have spent over RM1000 for this post. It was certainly an expensive journey in the search of Melaka’s best nyonya restaurant. LOL!

No doubt there are many more that I haven’t tried so please do send suggestions my way by commenting here or drop me a message me via fb.com/wackybecki / fb.com/RebeccaSawBlog .

** Constructive criticism welcomed. Rude comments or insults will not be tolerated, especially those by coward keyboard warriors hiding behind anonymity.

I was part of the 80% of the tourists to Melaka once, only knowing of Baba Charlie and steadfastly visiting BC each time I’m in Melaka.
I swooned over their bongkong and absolutely love the durian apam. I even wrote a glowing review of it.

Then things changed.
On one visit I was disappointed with the kuih. Perplexed, it hit me that the quality is sliding south faster than our ringgit.

Deprived of good kuih suddenly, I started to bug my ever reliable guide and friend Daniel Cerventus. “Eh, Melaka only one place got kuih ah?”
Overworked yet ever obliging, he was coerced into getting me other options, for he realized he will never hear the end of it from me if he didn’t.

Thus from his help I got to know of Bibik Ong and the kuih at the Yummy Food Court. Satisfied, I left him in peace for a while.

But of course, as expected I wasn’t satisfied for long.
Bibik Ong is hard to catch. Not only she only sells at a certain time, her kuih sold out fast. Grrrrr…

The Yummy Food Court at Sungai Ujong is also on evenings only. Kuih selection is limited as well.

And thus the quest for the best Melaka Nyonya kuih restarted anew.

Through some FB foodie groups I got to know of Nyonya/Baba Kim and Dapur Cho Cho.
I visited both last December, took photos and predictably, got caught up with work and travel and never posted about both.

So now I’m back (Sept + Dec 2015) and ready to document all these not as famous but offers delicious kuih lovingly handmade and taste fabulous too.

Here goes.

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Click on the “+” sign for the full review and pictures.

ADDRESSES:

1. Koh & Oon Nyonya Delight (known also as Baba Raymond)
Address: Jalan Tengkera, 75200 Melaka, Malaysia. 
Address 2: 336, Jalan Asean 2, Taman Asean, Jalan Malim, 75250 Melaka.
Hours: 8am – 10am
Waze: “Kedai Kopi & Makanan Soon Yen ”
Off day: Call and ask.
Contact: Ah Lim (Baba Raymond Koh) 012 – 661 8838 / 012 – 652 4705
Ah Hock (Francis Onn) – 012 – 666 7497

2. Kuih Nyonya Kim
Address: 9-1 Bt 4 1/2 Batu Berendam, Batu Berendam,
Alor Gajah, Melaka 75350.
Hours: 7am – 10am (call to check if there are any kuih left)
Off day: Tuesday
Waze: Not on Waze unfortunately.
Contact: 017 – 610 8262 / 06 – 317 2700

This is Nyonya/Baba Kim house.

This is the large open foodcourt beside Nyonya Kim.

Nyonya/Baba Kim’s menu:

3. Dapur Cho Cho
Address: 84-3, Jalan Mohd Zin Dsh,
Taman Padang Balang,
Batu Berendam, Melaka.
Hours: 7am – 7 pm
Call to reserve your orders or to inquire the type of kuih available.
Off day: NA.
Contact: +6012-276 8606
Waze: Not on Waze. 

Look for this:

At the far corner is this mamak shop. Dapur Cho Cho is at the other end, in a single story house.

This house is Dapur Cho Cho.

Dapur Cho Cho menu:

4. Bibik Ong Nyonya Kuih
Address: A stall outside Hilir Garden Ice Cafe at the junction of Jalan Low Hee Kong and Jalan Ujong Pasir.
Hours: 3pm – 5pm (call to check if there are any kuih left)
Off day: Not fixed.
Contact: 06 – 2844 598 

5. Yummy Garden Food Court
Address: Jalan Ujong Pasir, Batu Berendam, 75050.
Hours: 5 pm til late.
Off day: To be updated.
Contact: Mr Yee – 016 644 1525

This is my 4th visit to Wok and Pan.

Is it an obsession?
Not really, no. Or maybe, it is!

I’ve had very enthusiastically recommended Wok and Pan before for its western repertoire and I followed up with a Nyonya lunch shortly after.
One of my favourite restaurant in Melaka, Wok and Pan is an outlet that offers adeptly prepared western and Nyonya fare under the same roof.

With friends in tow, Wok and Pan’s extensive menu equates to less headache for the food guide (me) to plan a meal that pleases everyone.

Browsing the thick volume, a diner could choose to eat pongteh or curry fish head or a rack of ribs or a thick slab of steak.
Everyone at a table could savour something different or they could share their orders.

When I walked in today, I had planned a Nyonya lunch for myself while my companion was all prepared to tuck into a rack of pork ribs.

However, our plans were derailed when we saw the new items that was scribbled on the board.

The temptation of “Hainanese Pork Chop” overruled all senses.
My partner was game so we decided on the 2 specials from the whiteboard; a Spicy Oriental Pork Burger (RM16) and the Hainanese Pork Chop (RM13.50).

The Hainanese Pork Chop came with 2 tender pork loins drenched in light, sweet and tangy gravy with sides of crispy hot fries, housemade coleslaw and vegetables.
The gravy is lively (fresh and appetizing) and consistency-wise not overly starchy or watery. I personally found it excellent and rate it as of the best rendition of Hainanese pork chops I’ve had so far.

Generous amount of stewed onions, green peas and tomatoes came with the gravy and while the green peas could be of better quality, my friend and I agreed that this is a steal for RM13.50.

Our other order of Spicy Oriental Pork Burger (RM16) came with pork loin as well, but with 2 streaky bacon added plus generous garnish of shredded cucumbers and raw onion rings in a sharp, sweet and spicy dressing.

I loved the sauce as it was unlike your typical sweet sour dressing.

It is as a matter of fact, a custom blend of Wok and Pan’s fiery chilli sauce mixed with their popular honey chilli dip.
The crunchy cucumbers and fresh onions added a refreshing bite to the whole burger while the fresh lettuce and 2 thick slices of tomatoes made it a substantial meal on its own, not to mention that all of this was between a thick, crusty loaf.

For RM16, you get a side of superbly fried fries (non-greasy, crispy and fluffy inside) plus a side salad.
Talk about value for money!

There isn’t much dessert to be had here, but I was told that their Mango Cheesecake (RM9.90) is a bestseller.
It does look pretty doesn’t it?

Looks like I missed my Nyonya lunch this round (no regrets!) but that means I need to be back. On my to-try list are the Braised Nyonya Pork, Cincaluk Egg and Curry Fish Head.

Here, check out the superb sweet and sour pork, pongteh and oyster omelette I had previously –>  http://www.rebeccasaw.com/good-nyonya-restaurant-in-melaka-wok-and-pan/

For Wok and Pan’s repertoire of western dishes, do take a look here –>
http://www.rebeccasaw.com/affordable-western-food-pork-ribs-pork-burgers-and-steaks-in-melaka-wok-and-pan-nubacha/

The ribs and steak are pretty value for money (compared to KL) so if you are in Melaka and feeling carnivorous, this is the place to be!
Do be early (lunch by 12 pm or dinner by 6.30 pm ) or risk a long wait.
Also, don’t expect much of a service here.

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Wok and Pan
Address: 46, Jalan Melaka Raya 23, 75000 Melaka, Malaysia
Contact: +60 17-673 8896
Hours: 11:30 – 3:30pm, 6:00 – 10:00pm
Off day: Monday.

Prices: RM10 onwards.
Pork-free/Halal: Serves pork.
WIFI: No.

Tax: 6%, no service charge.
Service: Don’t expect too much.
Your orders are served to you.

Ambience: Comfortable. Casual.
Aircon: Yes.

Outdoor seating: Yes for dinner.
Powerpoints for charging: NA.
Parking : Roadside.
Payment: Eat first, then call for bill to pay.

Have you seen this type of achar (pickles)?

Would you like to try it?

Yes?
Well now you can!

There are many achar (pickles) available in the market; especially those of the Indian and Eurasion varieties but this Nyonya chili achar is one of the elusive and “lost” traditional pickle of the Peranakan cuisine.

It is a disappointing trend, but we can no longer deny that authentic recipes and kitchen prowess are dissipating as the current generation took no interest in preserving the skills and labour intensive recipes.
While there are many like myself who are interested to learn, many of the older generation folks prefer to only impart their secrets within the family.
As a result, (more often than not) such precious recipes and knowledge are buried along with them.

It is a sad sad case. But that’s how it is for now.

Thus that was the catalyst for the birth of Hearts & Hands.
I had wanted to work with homemakers and anyone, anyone who is willing to teach, share, make and sell traditional food or craft, namely in the effort to educate our current generation on how authentic recipes are like, while preserving the traditional and simultaneously generating an income to those makers/bakers/creators.

Check out other goodies on my site: http://heartsandhands.oddle.me/

These Nyonya Chilli Achar are selling at RM30 per bottle.

Ask anyone who is familiar with achar making and you would be told horror stories of the hours spent and labour intensive recipe.
Trust me, it makes life easier to buy them while you can.

Curious?
Try it! You can buy it from us from Monday – Sunday, 6am – 12am.

HOW TO ORDER: 

Whatsapp +6011 – 3938 5350 or FB message us at fb.com/withhearts.hands.

Just give us 24 hours notice to ensure that we could advise you on stock availability and suitable pick up time.

Price: RM30 for a jar.

Pick up : TTDI (address provided via Whatsapp). 
Delivery can be arranged via Zoom or GoGet.

For outstation orders, we deliver MONTHLY to Ipoh, Penang, Terengganu, Pahang, Singapore and Johor.

MORE INFO on Nyonya Chilli Achar :

What is Nyonya Chilli Achar?
How different it is from other achar such as the popular Penang one?

For a start, the main stars are green chillies and grated young papaya.  Other ingredients include cauliflower, garlic, cucumber and carrots. All of these are soaked in a vinegar, turmeric, sugar and god knows what-else solution.
It is popular in the southern region of Malaysia.

Laborious preparation is expected as days of cutting, shredding and drying of the ingredients are required. All of these are manual work done by hand.
The process is also dependent on the weather as it is dried under the sun for a certain required number of days before the ingredients are pickled in a cool, dry place.

The chilli might be deceiving at first but rest assured that it is not spicy at all.

As you bite into one and chew, you will enjoy a lifting sourness plus mellow sweetness that is pleasing to the palate.
It serves to open the appetite and trust me, one is never enough.

I particularly love the crunch of each bite and the young grated papaya stuffed within each green chilli.

As per tradition, it is pickled in glass bottles.

This Nyonya Chilli Achar is hardly available in restaurant or shops.
It is definitely worth grabbing a bottle as they possesses a unique, satisfying taste. Gift one to your aunty/grandmother/mother. I’m sure they will enjoy it!

HOW TO STORE, COOK and ENJOY this Nyonya Chilli Achar: 

SHELF LIFE:
>6 months to a year in the fridge.
Do not freeze.

Consumption:

Enjoy it on its own or with rice and dishes.
I cut into small pieces and add it into my salads as pickles. I use the liquid as vinaigrette too.

Peranakan Patisserie, ‘Kueh-kery’™ and Tea room – it does gives one pause doesn’t it?

Fancy branding, unique concept plus a nicely written online article about the inspiration of how this “Peranakan Patisserie, ‘Kueh-kery’™” came about – I must admit; it got me rushing over with high expectations and anticipation.

The actual venue bought me crashing down to earth.
Not that I meant it in a bad way mind you, but I’ve thought that Straits Affair possesses so much potential, but sadly underwhelming for the moment.

I had expected a prettily decorated cafe, or an “Instagrammable” cafe.

But no, it was a tad gloomy actually, rather bare save for a cupboard of Peranakan treasures and a mural on one of its walls.
The counter was empty and no tantalizing kuih was on display.
The outlet was quiet on a weekday afternoon and the furniture sparse.

BELOW: The one wall with a mural and the only cabinet with Peranakan treasures.

The menu offers simple savouries such as Nyonya laksa, pai tee, mee siam and an intriguing ‘Le Pongteh Baguette ‘ that might be worth trying besides the kuih.
Beverages includes hot and cold options of coffee. Soft drinks and chendol are available too.

Since I was alone I could only order a few kuih plus one drink.

Luckily for me the person on duty that day – Bryan served me additional kuih besides what I’ve ordered.
Needless to say, I accepted them with thanks. LOL!

BELOW: Straits Affair’s signatures – the fried ang koo kuih, the housemade Pang Susie, the best ondeh-ondeh (I know who made them) and the oh-my-god ‘ apom berkuah‘ (Peranakan pancakes with gula Melaka and banana) which is as delicious as it is elusive.

BELOW:
Fried Ang koo – a nostalgic snack because it just the way I used to enjoy any leftover or overnight ang koo kuih when I was young.
My grandma would usually deep fry it. Because of the heat, the skin will turn all gooey and chewy within.
Here at Straits Affair, it is healthier as it was pan fried.

PS: Guess what is my nail art?
It is Nyonya chang! Yes, I’m a lover of all thing Peranakan/Nyonya.

Pang Susie:
Handmade sweet potato bun with Eurasian Portuguese origin filled with Nyonya version spiced chicken meat and potatoes.
This was good – fluffy sweet bun filled generously with minced meat.

I enjoyed my meal and my time here. I have friendly Bryan to thank for that as he was most helpful and accommodating.
If you read the TripAdvisor reviews, you will notice that there were many positive reviews from some locals, but mostly foreigners about Straits Affair.
It is a nice, hidden, quiet place for those who appreciate the local Peranakan history. Bryan is more than eager to share his knowledge and love of everything Melaka.

However, if you are a local with no interest in history and is seeking a pretty cafe to use the WIFI and to take pictures, this might NOT fit the bill.

The kuih is priced at RM1.50 + each and the plates are pretty.
Do opt for tea or coffee with gula melaka if you are not having the chendol. The good quality gula melaka does wonders to your cuppa.

Conclusion:
I love and I’m in full support of the owners’ vision of showcasing Peranakan heritage through this “kueh-kery”.
Their aim to make authentic Peranakan kueh and desserts available to the public is certainly commendable

In addition to education, locals and foreigners can enjoy dainty pieces of local delicacies, savouries and beverages in an air-conditioned outlet.

While the decor and ambience could do with more work, it is still a decent place for some quiet time.
No WIFI is available at the moment.

Location:
The shop is tricky to locate but just remember that it is INSIDE the Cheng Ho Museum.
Take a right after you see the famous San Shu Gong corner lot on Jonker.
Waze for “Cheng Ho Museum” and you enter from either the front or side entrance at Jalan Tukang Emas.
Parking is well, a challenge.

Straits Affair
1, Jalan Tukang Besi, 75200 Melaka.

Hours: Mon-Fri: 11am – 8pm
Sat, Sun and on public holidays: 10am – 7pm.
Close on Wednesday.

So what happened?
Where is Aunty Lee?

Is the sweet lady still cooking or has she passed on the business?
Is the current Aunty Lee restaurant managed by her family members?
Is the food still the same?

So many questions and so many versions of the story had circulated since 2014 when Aunty Lee took ill and the restaurant was closed for a while.

Last week I was invited by Mr Michael for lunch at Aunty Lee.

Curious about Aunty Lee and the rumours behind her retirement, I accepted and of course, was looking forward to another meal here after so many years.

My first ‘Aunty Lee meal‘ was memorable. I even bought a passionate foodie and Dish Magazine co-founder, Catherine Bell to dine here in 2011.

BELOW: In 2011 – Catherine Bell, my buddy Daniel Cerventus were at Aunty Lee’s for dinner. Catherine loved the food!

Today in 2016, I am here again.

The chef is different, the management is different, the humble set up remained as it has for years at the same location and the food, well, it is good, but it is not Aunty Lee’s cooking.

Why?

Because Aunty Lee, god bless her soul, has passed on this April 2016.
In fact, she has retired 2 years ago.

The current king of the kitchen, Chef Anthony, an extremely capable chef himself (judging from my lunch) said Michael and himself took over since November 2014.

“Aunty Lee herself visited for meals a few times and had given her seal of approval,” Chef Anthony said.

In fact, Chef Anthony had learnt some recipes from Aunty Lee before she passed on.

However, as any cook will attest, “different hands will result in slight variations, even if the same recipes were followed to the ’T’.

And thus my advice?

Just enjoy the food as it is and keep wonderful Aunty Lee in your memories.

Accept that she has departed.

1. Stop comparing the current food to Aunty Lee’s cooking.
Aunty Lee Restaurant remains at the same location with the same humble interior and the food is overall good (depends on what you order of course).

However, it can’t be an exact duplicate of your “previous experience at Aunty Lee’s” simply because Aunty Lee is longer there.

2. Enjoy the food as it is.
Set your expectations accordingly and enjoy what Chef Anthony has to offer.

As a heads up, let me run you through my lunch.

My Lunch at Aunty Lee’s Nyonya Restaurant

My personal recommendations goes to the pai tee, the ayam purut, the bendi (okra) and the calamari.

The Pai Tee (RM25)

For RM25 you get 10 tart shells with enough fillings for well, 10 of course.
So it is RM2.50 each and frankly, for one that’s so well prepared, I would pay the price.
In case you don’t know, pai tee is easy to eat but laborious to prepare!

No sugar added into the stewed jicama, as it should be and the cups were perfectly fried – non-greasy on the fingers, thin and crunchy.

Ayam Purut (RM19)

This is a must-order.

The aromatic curry is delicious and rich while the chicken was cooked to the perfect doneness.

Here, take a look – smooth, supple flesh that was juicy to the bone. 4 pieces for RM19. Can I tapau please??

Sotong (RM19)

Squids in a Nyonya restaurant is likely to be fried with sambal and petai (stinky beans).

Here is a version that is perhaps, more acceptable for diners of all ages?
Not everyone fancies petai and there are some of us who don’t take spicy food.

But I haven’t met anyone who doesn’t like fried calamari rings, especially so for a portion so adeptly fried like this one.
The squids were perfectly cooked; bouncy with a nice chew to them without being rubbery. The flour coating was well seasoned and not overly thick.

Ayam gulung (chicken rolls) – RM20 for 10.

It seems that most fried items here are efficiently fried.

These meatrolls were likewise delightfully crispy yet non-oily. Meaty and tasty, I enjoyed them very much.

 Chap Chye (RM13)

I’m a big fan of chap chye but this portion was too small and a tad bland.

Bendi (RM11)

If you need your greens I’ll recommend you to go for this instead!

The humble steamed okras were simple stuff, but it is the topping of onions and chillies that gave the magic.

And of course, no visit to a Nyonya food outlet in Melaka is complete without a Chendol (plain RM4.50) and with added durian (RM6.00).

Good quality, thick gula melaka, fine ice, fresh coconut milk and small red beans (I HATE kidney beans) – yup, this is a good!

About the current team:

Michael, the nice guy who invited me is one of the 3 partners in this business.

Chef Anthony has worked for several hotels; namely the Hyatt Kuantan and also the Ramada Renaissance Melaka for about 13 years.
He owned a Portuguese restaurant now run by his brother at The Settlement.
He went on to open his own restaurant at Melaka Raya called ‘Chef Anthony’ serving Portuguese eurasian cuisine.
For Aunty Lee, he carried on the dishes that Aunty Lee had served according to the recipes by Aunty Lee.

Address:
385, Jalan Ujong Pasir, Taman Sinn,
75050 Melaka, Malaysia.
WAZE: “Aunty Lee Nyonya” .

Contact: +606-283 1009
Hours: 11:30 am –3 pm, 6 – 10 pm.
Close: TUESDAY.

5 years.

Imagine my disbelief when I was introduced to Nyonya Delights recently and finding out that they were operating for 5 years in this tiny space!
5 years serving good, homely Nyonya dishes and I’ve only knew about it now??

I’ve visited Melaka almost every month and I’ve dine at so many Nyonya restaurants. How is it that I didn’t know about this place?

This proves that there might be many more such old-time eateries in Melaka to discover and I’m glad as that translates to more Melaka food hunts for me!

The cafe operates on self-service concept but drinks were served to the tables.

Basically a home based operation, there are about 10 tables and less than 4 people running the show. Signages are a wooden plaque and a makeshift – banner hung across the front; which in reality isn’t much of a help since it is partly concealed by foliage.

Yes, it is easy to miss, and that is probably why it stayed “under the radar” for so long.

It patronage is mostly locals and the menu is standard for breakfast and lunch.
Daily operating hours are until 2pm but most dishes are usually sold out by 1pm.

Since there were 6 of us and items on the menu were limited to begin with, it was easy to try everything in one visit.

For RM5.00, the Nyonya Laksa was a version that triumphs over many in Melaka town.
Each serving was a fair size for a medium appetite diner and was loaded with the basics of beansprouts, fish cakes, julienned cucumbers.
Charges applies if additional toppings of egg, cockles etc are requested but all are fairly priced at RM1.00.

For a lighter meal, the Mee Siam (RM4) would be a good choice.
Simple fare as it may be, but getting the right balance of sweet, spicy and tangy flavours can be a challenge for the less experienced.

This version at Nyonya Delights however, hits all the right notes.
Likewise, the vermicelli was cooked to the right degree so it wasn’t too stringy nor mushy. Tossed in enough spices for that addictive heat and piquant sweetness, the owner of this dish proclaimed it excellent.
I took a bite and concurred.

You can opt for a simple version with added egg or upsize it by adding chicken rendang.
Don’t let the sambal on the side go to waste either; for it was one of the better sambal around!

The same spicy sweet sambal as well as the chicken rendang goes well with their Nasi Lemak too.

It was unfortunate that we took a big breast piece that turned out to be a bit stringy. However my friend who had breast pieces with his nasi lemak too said his chicken was fine.

I enjoyed my Lontong (RM4.00) as I’ve always loved lontong gravy with the stewed cabbage and with an added egg.
And of course, mix with plenty of sambal for that kick!

And of course, no “beverage” can compensate for a bowl of finely shaven chendol at a Nyonya restaurant.

Chendol (RM3.00 – S, RM6.00 – B).

Thick fresh coconut milk – check.
Fresh green jellies – check.
Aromatic gula melaka – check.
SMALL red beans – check! I think I’ve mentioned how much I hate kidney beans in my ais kacang/chendol before.

Marketing itself as the perfect venue for local and tourist alike to unwind with good home-cooked food, Nyonya Delights is easy to miss but worth the trouble to locate.

But the good food is not much of a surprise considering that the co-owner is a seasoned chef from Seri Nyonya Restaurant at Hotel Equatorial.

I’ve written about Seri Nyonya Restaurant at Hotel Equatorial recently (post HERE) but I wasn’t too impressed with my meal.
However, being the only halal JAKIM certified Nyonya restaurant in Melaka, it was worth featuring in my “20 Melaka Nyonya restaurants list.”

ADDRESS/CONTACT:

Contact: Charlie : 016-655 4714
Chef: Chef Bong Geok Choo

Address:
2199-C, KM8
Batang Tiga, Tanjong Keling
76400 Melaka.

Opening hours:
8 am – 2 pm
CLOSE: Wed & Thurs.

MAP: https://www.facebook.com/Nyonya-Delight-Homestyle-Nyonya-Food-113555155386419/?fref=ts

Dear friends, I have a written piece published in Going Places, the in-flight magazine of Malaysia Airlines Berhad this month!!

Naturally I’m thrilled to see my article and images in print, I mean this is Going Places after all. On every flight I take I would read the in-flight magazine from cover to back. No movies, no sleeping until I’ve finished reading it. For Going Places, Im particularly fond of anecdotes by Kam Raslan (he’s got an acerbic humour on things) and, well, you guessed it, food stories!

So imagine my delight to have contributed to an issue of Going Places this very August 2017!
Much gratitude goes to Sean (eatdrinkkl), who I don’t get to see often enough, but thankful to have him as a cherished friend for many, many years.

You can read  issues of Going Places here or you can just head over to Going Places FB page for the link to the August issue.

This is my article.

The illustration done of me for the writer’s bio is quite is unique don’t you think?

Speaking of bio, I had trouble describing myself – I mean as a writer you write about others easily, but hit a blank when asked to characterize yourself. At times like this I would ask for help, but unfortunately someone close to me couldn’t find the time to help out (a constant disappointment that I have to live with), so I babbled something for this (it’s in the little red box as below).
Think you have a better bio in mind for me? Tell me!

Anyhow, this is the original article submitted with addresses of outlets – I bet you would find them useful!

** Do keep in mind that this article was written based on a brief from the magazine and with specific word limit.  
Thus it is not as comprehensive as my typical long-winded articles but fret not, I’m compiling my 10-15 best Nyonya laksa, pork satay, chendol, etc lists and will be sharing those in separate postings soon!

Addresses :

• Original article as below – within 1000 words with 9 types of dishes and over 20 places listed.

As one of Malaysia’s oldest historical states and a proud UNESCO World Heritage Site, Melaka has emerged as a favoured tourism destination in recent years, a strong pull being its heritage hotspots as well as its vivid culinary offerings.
Its historical structures within the city are beautifully preserved and it remains as one of the few cities in Malaysia that continues to perpetuate the unique Peranakan culture.
Navigating around Melaka’s historic spots is fun but bound to work up an appetite so here are our top recommendations of its amazing cuisine to keep you satiated!

1. Nyonya Laksa

There are numerous versions of ‘laksa’ in Malaysia but the Nyonya Laksa is synonymous with Melaka cuisine.
Oodles of noodles are submerged in a creamy, coconut milk broth aromatic with spices and topped with tofu puffs, shrimp, beansprouts and egg.
The garnishing of laksa leaf, also known in Malay as daun kesum is a prerequisite for the overall aroma and flavour.
Need more heat? Just dunk more sambal into the soup.

BELOW: I love Nyonya laksa!
Eric’s Nyonya Laksa and Unicorn Cafe’s is good.

2. Chicken rice balls

An iconic Malaccan dish is Chicken Rice Balls. Similar to the classic chicken rice but with rice formed into bite sized orbs, this dish is enjoyed pretty much the same way; with roast or poached chicken plus condiments of soy and chilli sauce.
History has it that the rice was originally shaped as such because it kept warm longer when stored until mealtime, and this is convenient for labourers working on plantations to transport from home.
Another theory was that rice balls were more portable and easier to consume.
Today, rice balls are appreciated more as a novelty than anything else and Melaka has become the hotspot to enjoy it!

3. Chendol

Chendol is popular nationwide, but in Melaka this rich, sweet dessert had attained an almost revered status.

A typical bowl incorporates finely shaved ice, rich coconut milk, soft red beans and green jellies known as chendol strips.
The strips, customarily handmade au-naturale with pandan leaves, should be firm with a nice, springy chew. Sweetened with the distinct smoky, caramel-ish gula Melaka (palm sugar), a key ingredient for an excellent chendol, it offers an incredible reprieve from the scorching heat of Melaka.

A popular variation is topped with fresh durian pulp, but that is of course, best reserved for serious fans of the King of Fruits.
One of the best chendol we have had in Melaka was at Nyonyalicious where each bowl carries the perfect balance of creaminess, sweetness and amount of ingredients.
If you fancy yours with durian, head to Justberry’s. Feeling adventurous? Bulldog Café offers an alcoholic version with Baileys!

Below: Baileys + Chendol @Bulldog Cafe – a must-try! 

BELOW: Justberry’s – for the durian version.

4. Asam Pedas

If you love bold, spicy and sour food, then asam pedas is a must on your list.
There are several interpretations and there are endless adaptations; but suffice to say, it’s sour, spicy, and tastes extraordinarily satisfying. The seafood is almost secondary to the gravy and aficionados are known to drench the gravy on rice, with second (maybe third too!) helpings of rice being the norm.

And it is only in Melaka that your rice is served with vegetables, a dollop of sambal and a halved salted egg.

BELOW: The pasar borong one is still my top pick. There are 2 sections here – porkfree (Malay) and Chinese.

5. Nyonya/Peranakan cuisine

No visit to Melaka is complete without a feast of ayam pongteh (braised chicken in sweet bean paste), pai tee, keluak and ikan goreng cili garam (fried fish with chilli paste).
These are the few central dishes of Peranakan roots.

Among the hundreds of Peranakan restaurants in the city, with some housed in authentic Baba Nyonya house, a Peranakan meal goes beyond its delectable food for the traditional décor and exquisite Peranakan furniture serves to complete the experience so you can be immersed with the exciting culture while enjoying the food.

BELOW: Samfu Restaurant at Mimosa Hotel: Try the Babi Asam Belimbing.

6. Satay Celup

Satay Celup is another signature food of Melaka. Similar to steamboat, but with a twist where skewers of raw or semi-cooked meat, seafood and vegetables are dipped into a pot of thick, spicy peanut sauce instead of flavoured broth, it is an interactive, social meal as everyone gets to enjoy their choice of ingredients and cooking them in a communal pot.

BELOW: My pick – Bachang Roadside stall.

7. Pork Satay

Another popular skewered food in this state is pork satay and one can savour its innards like intestines and liver with as much gusto as the meat itself.
Some stalls offer chicken as alternative, but really, it is the pork variant that is outstanding.
Each stick holds alternating chunks of lean meat and fat, grilled over charcoal embers until juicy and lightly charred.
However the peanut gravy is what truly sets it apart from other satay nationwide.
Its recipe calls for pineapples (some with belimbi too) that impart a zesty flavor, not to mention fibre which gives it extra texture.

8. Nyonya Kuih

“Kuih ‘ refers to a range of local desserts, possibly sweet or savoury and usually in kaleidoscope of colours.
With its varying textures, flavours and appearances that captivate all the senses, identifying a favourite can be a tough call.
Yet when push comes to shove, the onde-onde would be our pick. This bite-sized kuih is made with glutinous rice flour infused with pandan (screwpine leaf) juice. Rolled into little orbs, filled with molten gula, poached and rolled in fresh grated coconut, the toffee-ish gula Melaka within literally bursts in your mouth as you take a bite!

Dapur Cho Cho makes the perfect onde onde so be sure to get some when you are in town!

9. Western

Western cuisine might not be directly associated with Melaka cuisine but one shouldn’t be so fast to dismiss the idea when there’s an outlet like Wok and Pan.
The menu here is ambitious, covering both Nyonya and western fare so this is one outlet where one can tuck into asam pedas and pongteh plus Hainanese Pork Chop and a whole rack of smoky pork ribs in one meal!
As one of the pioneers for pork based western restaurants, the love for their generous yet reasonably priced ribs is evident from the full house crowd they cater to daily.

Other great food in Melaka lists:

1. 14 Nyonya restaurants in Melaka to choose from
2. Best Nyonya kuih in Melaka
3. Buy the best Nyonya Chang (blue rice dumpling) in Melaka!
4. Best Cafes in Melaka to chill and some actually serve good food!
5. 18 Best Chendol in Melaka (TBA)
6. 8 Pork Satay in Melaka to Try (TBA)
7. 4 satay celup in Melaka and the best one is by the roadside! (TBA)
8. Nyonya Laksa – where’s the best? (TBA)
9. 15 Melaka Hotels that I’ve stayed in! (TBA)

And for EVERYTHING MELAKA (food, shopping, hotels), check this out –> http://www.rebeccasaw.com/tag/melaka/

** Going Places Magazine is now live digitally:
Website: goingplacesmagazine.com/facebook.com/goingplacesmagazine

Wok and Pan had fed hungry Malaccans and tourists since 2005.
Famous for their western repertoire, the Nyonya menu is often overlooked.

I thought that’s a shame, for some of the overrated Nyonya restaurants in Melaka couldn’t hold a candle to the Nyonya dishes Wok and Pan that I’ve had.
And Wok and Pan’s fish curry is touted to be the best there is in Melaka.

The Nyonya dishes here are likewise as generously portioned as their western offerings.
There isn’t a S, M, L portion but merely one standard size.

BELOW: Chicken Pongteh RM20 (standard).

The Chicken Pongteh goes for RM20, the Chap Chye RM18 and the Sweet and Sour Pork at RM15.

The Minestrone is cheap at RM5.00 though a bit watery for our preference while the Chicken Pongteh gravy was thick and savoury as it should be.
Every piece of chicken was tender with the flavours of the gravy well permeated into the meat. This standard portion consisted of 6 substantial pieces of chicken and easily sharable with 3 diners, alongside a vegetarian dish or another meat based dish.

For the 3 of us, the above was more than sufficient as even the Chap Chye was a monstrous portion as well.
Our only complaint was the sweet and sour pork was too little!

But of course that was because we love ku lou yok too much, and had to fight for the last piece.
Honestly the portion corresponds with the price and is pretty standard for a serving of sweet and sour pork in Melaka.

I love sweet and sour pork really.
It’s an appetizing dish due to the vibrant sweet and sour sauce but it is an art to be the sauce right, of which many establishments failed miserably.
Preferably it should be balanced (not just tasting like starchy ketchup) and bursting forth with sweet, tangy and sharp flavours. I disapprove of the goopy, sickeningly dimensional sweet sauce that is commonplace nowadays.

A great batter recipe also promises crispy and crunchy coating for the pork. The cornstarch coating should be thin enough for the sweet and sour flavors to seep into the meat and preferably coating chunky pieces of meat, not just measly thin slices.

Chef Lim dishes out of the best sweet and sour pork in Melaka; even better than most restaurants in KL too.
I’ve been to a number of Melaka dai chou (Chinese restaurants) in Melaka and his version is king.
However I must say that I would prefer the meat to be bigger.

From my previous visit (link HERE) I’ve tried the oyster omelette and it was one of my favourite order here.
To be frank the oyster omelette (RM10) didn’t have much oysters but I guess 4 oysters is ok for RM10?

But if you don’t think of it as an oyster omelette, but just an egg omelette WITH OYSTERS, then this is one of the most well-executed omelette we’ve ever had.
Fluffy, multi-layered and cooked to the perfect degree (no undercooked/wet or overcooked parts).

Wok and Pan Melaka serves excellent Nyonya food as well as pork ribs, burgers and pasta.
So if you are seeking a place to have the best of both worlds (Western + Nyonya) – Wok and Pan would be the place to go in Melaka.

The founder of the restaurant and his wife personally oversee the restaurant ops daily. Besides, the founder himself still reigns over the wok and pans in the kitchen so food is generally consistently good.

If you want to know more about Wok and Pan western dishes, do take a look here –>
http://www.rebeccasaw.com/affordable-western-food-pork-ribs-pork-burgers-and-steaks-in-melaka-wok-and-pan-nubacha/
I really enjoyed the ribs and steak and I find the prices value for money (compared to KL).

**********************************************************************************************************

Bits and pieces about Wok and Pan:
Wok & Pan East Meets West Cuisine Restaurant was established since year 2005.
The owner and also the chef of this restaurant was the ex-Executive Chef for Melaka Renaissance Hotel. His skills covers both western and Nyonya preparation and thus the restaurant is named Wok and Pan; with ” Wok” in reference to Asian style food while “Pan” is about western cuisine.

Wok and Pan
Address: 46, Jalan Melaka Raya 23, 75000 Melaka, Malaysia
Contact: +60 17-673 8896
Hours: 11:30 – 3:30pm, 6:00 – 10:00pm
Off day: Monday.

Prices: RM10 onwards.
Pork-free/Halal: Serves pork.
WIFI: No.

Tax: 6%, no service charge.
Service: Don’t expect too much.
Your orders are served to you.

Ambience: Comfortable. Casual.
Aircon: Yes.

Outdoor seating: Yes for dinner.
Powerpoints for charging: NA.
Parking : Roadside.
Payment: Eat first, then call for bill to pay.

My monthly trips to Melaka for both business and leisure gave me much opportunities to explore the bustling historically rich city, both culturally and much of its culinary offerings.

I’ve published an article on the best Nyonya chang, the best Nyonya kuih you can find in Melaka, the best cafes to hang out at and now, the best restaurant to satisfy your Nyonya cuisine cravings, which is of course, synonymous with the Melaka state.

After all, one of the frequently asked question is “Where is the best Nyonya restaurant in Melaka?”

I for one, won’t be able to say for certain which is BEST, though I can however, share what I think it’s best based on what I’ve eaten.

As with all food, bear in mind that taste is subjective and all outlets will experience ups and downs.
Constructive feedback/reports (if the food standards has dropped, service was bad on your visit) and recommendations are most welcome so drop me a message here (under comments) or fb.com/wackybecki or fb.com/RebeccaSawBlog.

I PAID FOR MY MEALS

I would like to add that I dined at these places with local Malaccan friends, I paid for my food and for some, I’ve visited a few times.

So here goes, 6 Nyonya restaurants that you should try, and another 8 that I’ve visited before and thus I’m including them as my own record.

My personal picks:

My top choice (as of April 2016) goes to Samfu, Unicorn Cafe, Bulldog Cafe, Wok and Pan, Aunty Lee and for economical meals; Kafe Lin‘s.
For HALAL, there is only one which is Seri Nyonya at Equatorial Hotel.

The rest – Makko, Nancy’s Kitchen, Donald and Lily, Amy Heritage, Aunty Lee, Ole Sayang, Nyonya Sayang, Song Nyonya Cuisine are the ones that didn’t impress us (based on what we had), though as foodies, we wouldn’t mind revisiting since food/chef could have changed since our last visit.

If I do revisit any, I’ll update on the verdict.
Last but not least, any arguments of “our family’s home-cooked version is better” doesn’t count (unless you are inviting me over for a meal lol!).
It has to be something available commercially to the public.

Full story: http://www.rebeccasaw.com/good-melaka-food-nyonya-food-at-samfu-restaurant-mimosa-hotel/

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2. Unicorn Cafe

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I was part of the 80% of the tourists to Melaka once, only knowing of Baba Charlie and steadfastly visiting BC each time I’m in Melaka.
I swooned over their bongkong and absolutely love the durian apam. I even wrote a glowing review of it.

Then things changed.
On one visit I was disappointed with the kuih. Perplexed, it hit me that the quality is sliding south faster than our ringgit.

Deprived of good kuih suddenly, I started to bug my ever reliable guide and friend Daniel Cerventus. “Eh, Melaka only one place got kuih ah?”
Overworked yet ever obliging, he was coerced into getting me other options, for he realized he will never hear the end of it from me if he didn’t.

Thus from his help I got to know of Bibik Ong and the kuih at the Yummy Food Court. Satisfied, I left him in peace for a while.

But of course, as expected I wasn’t satisfied for long.
Bibik Ong is hard to catch. Not only she only sells at a certain time, her kuih sold out fast. Grrrrr…

The Yummy Food Court at Sungai Ujong is also on evenings only. Kuih selection is limited as well.

And thus the quest for the best Melaka Nyonya kuih restarted anew.

Through some FB foodie groups I got to know of Nyonya/Baba Kim and Dapur Cho Cho.
I visited both last December, took photos and predictably, got caught up with work and travel and never posted about both.

So now I’m back (Sept + Dec 2015) and ready to document all these not as famous but offers delicious kuih lovingly handmade and taste fabulous too.

Here goes.

Click on the “+” sign for the full review and pictures.

ADDRESSES:

1. Koh & Oon Nyonya Delight (known also as Baba Raymond)
Address: Jalan Tengkera, 75200 Melaka, Malaysia. 
Address 2: 336, Jalan Asean 2, Taman Asean, Jalan Malim, 75250 Melaka.
Hours: 8am – 10am
Waze: “Kedai Kopi & Makanan Soon Yen ”
Off day: Call and ask.
Contact: Ah Lim (Baba Raymond Koh) 012 – 661 8838 / 012 – 652 4705
Ah Hock (Francis Onn) – 012 – 666 7497

2. Kuih Nyonya Kim
Address: 9-1 Bt 4 1/2 Batu Berendam, Batu Berendam,
Alor Gajah, Melaka 75350.
Hours: 7am – 10am (call to check if there are any kuih left)
Off day: Tuesday
Waze: Not on Waze unfortunately.
Contact: 017 – 610 8262 / 06 – 317 2700

This is Nyonya/Baba Kim house.

This is the large open foodcourt beside Nyonya Kim.

Nyonya/Baba Kim’s menu:

3. Dapur Cho Cho
Address: 84-3, Jalan Mohd Zin Dsh,
Taman Padang Balang,
Batu Berendam, Melaka.
Hours: 7am – 7 pm
Call to reserve your orders or to inquire the type of kuih available.
Off day: NA.
Contact: +6012-276 8606
Waze: Not on Waze. 

Look for this:

At the far corner is this mamak shop. Dapur Cho Cho is at the other end, in a single story house.

This house is Dapur Cho Cho.

Dapur Cho Cho menu:

4. Bibik Ong Nyonya Kuih
Address: A stall outside Hilir Garden Ice Cafe at the junction of Jalan Low Hee Kong and Jalan Ujong Pasir.
Hours: 3pm – 5pm (call to check if there are any kuih left)
Off day: Not fixed.
Contact: 06 – 2844 598 

5. Yummy Garden Food Court
Address: Jalan Ujong Pasir, Batu Berendam, 75050.
Hours: 5 pm til late.
Off day: To be updated.
Contact: Mr Yee – 016 644 1525

This is my 4th visit to Wok and Pan.

Is it an obsession?
Not really, no. Or maybe, it is!

I’ve had very enthusiastically recommended Wok and Pan before for its western repertoire and I followed up with a Nyonya lunch shortly after.
One of my favourite restaurant in Melaka, Wok and Pan is an outlet that offers adeptly prepared western and Nyonya fare under the same roof.

With friends in tow, Wok and Pan’s extensive menu equates to less headache for the food guide (me) to plan a meal that pleases everyone.

Browsing the thick volume, a diner could choose to eat pongteh or curry fish head or a rack of ribs or a thick slab of steak.
Everyone at a table could savour something different or they could share their orders.

When I walked in today, I had planned a Nyonya lunch for myself while my companion was all prepared to tuck into a rack of pork ribs.

However, our plans were derailed when we saw the new items that was scribbled on the board.

The temptation of “Hainanese Pork Chop” overruled all senses.
My partner was game so we decided on the 2 specials from the whiteboard; a Spicy Oriental Pork Burger (RM16) and the Hainanese Pork Chop (RM13.50).

The Hainanese Pork Chop came with 2 tender pork loins drenched in light, sweet and tangy gravy with sides of crispy hot fries, housemade coleslaw and vegetables.
The gravy is lively (fresh and appetizing) and consistency-wise not overly starchy or watery. I personally found it excellent and rate it as of the best rendition of Hainanese pork chops I’ve had so far.

Generous amount of stewed onions, green peas and tomatoes came with the gravy and while the green peas could be of better quality, my friend and I agreed that this is a steal for RM13.50.

Our other order of Spicy Oriental Pork Burger (RM16) came with pork loin as well, but with 2 streaky bacon added plus generous garnish of shredded cucumbers and raw onion rings in a sharp, sweet and spicy dressing.

I loved the sauce as it was unlike your typical sweet sour dressing.

It is as a matter of fact, a custom blend of Wok and Pan’s fiery chilli sauce mixed with their popular honey chilli dip.
The crunchy cucumbers and fresh onions added a refreshing bite to the whole burger while the fresh lettuce and 2 thick slices of tomatoes made it a substantial meal on its own, not to mention that all of this was between a thick, crusty loaf.

For RM16, you get a side of superbly fried fries (non-greasy, crispy and fluffy inside) plus a side salad.
Talk about value for money!

There isn’t much dessert to be had here, but I was told that their Mango Cheesecake (RM9.90) is a bestseller.
It does look pretty doesn’t it?

Looks like I missed my Nyonya lunch this round (no regrets!) but that means I need to be back. On my to-try list are the Braised Nyonya Pork, Cincaluk Egg and Curry Fish Head.

Here, check out the superb sweet and sour pork, pongteh and oyster omelette I had previously –>  http://www.rebeccasaw.com/good-nyonya-restaurant-in-melaka-wok-and-pan/

For Wok and Pan’s repertoire of western dishes, do take a look here –>
http://www.rebeccasaw.com/affordable-western-food-pork-ribs-pork-burgers-and-steaks-in-melaka-wok-and-pan-nubacha/

The ribs and steak are pretty value for money (compared to KL) so if you are in Melaka and feeling carnivorous, this is the place to be!
Do be early (lunch by 12 pm or dinner by 6.30 pm ) or risk a long wait.
Also, don’t expect much of a service here.

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Wok and Pan
Address: 46, Jalan Melaka Raya 23, 75000 Melaka, Malaysia
Contact: +60 17-673 8896
Hours: 11:30 – 3:30pm, 6:00 – 10:00pm
Off day: Monday.

Prices: RM10 onwards.
Pork-free/Halal: Serves pork.
WIFI: No.

Tax: 6%, no service charge.
Service: Don’t expect too much.
Your orders are served to you.

Ambience: Comfortable. Casual.
Aircon: Yes.

Outdoor seating: Yes for dinner.
Powerpoints for charging: NA.
Parking : Roadside.
Payment: Eat first, then call for bill to pay.

Have you seen this type of achar (pickles)?

Would you like to try it?

Yes?
Well now you can! 🙂

There are many achar (pickles) available in the market; especially those of the Indian and Eurasion varieties but this Nyonya chili achar is one of the elusive and “lost” traditional pickle of the Peranakan cuisine.

It is a disappointing trend, but we can no longer deny that authentic recipes and kitchen prowess are dissipating as the current generation took no interest in preserving the skills and labour intensive recipes.
While there are many like myself who are interested to learn, many of the older generation folks prefer to only impart their secrets within the family.
As a result, (more often than not) such precious recipes and knowledge are buried along with them.

It is a sad sad case. But that’s how it is for now.

Thus that was the catalyst for the birth of Hearts & Hands.
I had wanted to work with homemakers and anyone, anyone who is willing to teach, share, make and sell traditional food or craft, namely in the effort to educate our current generation on how authentic recipes are like, while preserving the traditional and simultaneously generating an income to those makers/bakers/creators.

Check out other goodies on my site: http://heartsandhands.oddle.me/

These Nyonya Chilli Achar are selling at RM30 per bottle.

Ask anyone who is familiar with achar making and you would be told horror stories of the hours spent and labour intensive recipe.
Trust me, it makes life easier to buy them while you can.

Curious?
Try it! You can buy it from us from Monday – Sunday, 6am – 12am.

HOW TO ORDER: 

Whatsapp +6011 – 3938 5350 or FB message us at fb.com/withhearts.hands.

Just give us 24 hours notice to ensure that we could advise you on stock availability and suitable pick up time.

Price: RM30 for a jar.

Pick up : TTDI (address provided via Whatsapp). 
Delivery can be arranged via Zoom or GoGet.

For outstation orders, we deliver MONTHLY to Ipoh, Penang, Terengganu, Pahang, Singapore and Johor.

MORE INFO on Nyonya Chilli Achar :

What is Nyonya Chilli Achar?
How different it is from other achar such as the popular Penang one?

For a start, the main stars are green chillies and grated young papaya.  Other ingredients include cauliflower, garlic, cucumber and carrots. All of these are soaked in a vinegar, turmeric, sugar and god knows what-else solution.
It is popular in the southern region of Malaysia.

Laborious preparation is expected as days of cutting, shredding and drying of the ingredients are required. All of these are manual work done by hand.
The process is also dependent on the weather as it is dried under the sun for a certain required number of days before the ingredients are pickled in a cool, dry place.

The chilli might be deceiving at first but rest assured that it is not spicy at all.

As you bite into one and chew, you will enjoy a lifting sourness plus mellow sweetness that is pleasing to the palate.
It serves to open the appetite and trust me, one is never enough.

I particularly love the crunch of each bite and the young grated papaya stuffed within each green chilli.

As per tradition, it is pickled in glass bottles.

This Nyonya Chilli Achar is hardly available in restaurant or shops.
It is definitely worth grabbing a bottle as they possesses a unique, satisfying taste. Gift one to your aunty/grandmother/mother. I’m sure they will enjoy it!

HOW TO STORE, COOK and ENJOY this Nyonya Chilli Achar: 

SHELF LIFE:
>6 months to a year in the fridge.
Do not freeze.

Consumption:

Enjoy it on its own or with rice and dishes.
I cut into small pieces and add it into my salads as pickles. I use the liquid as vinaigrette too.