Usually when we're too bored shopping and eating around KL, we'll make a trip down to Melaka for its famous cendol gula melaka and chicken rice ball. But before that, got to make sure that the weekend does not coincide with some public holidays, else Melaka will be packed jam with KLites and Singaporeans.
So here we are in Melaka one fine weekend :)
First stop, chicken rice ball, this time we tried a new place called Huang Chang in Batu Berendam, instead of the usual Chung Wah restaurant at Jonker.
packed during lunch time
This place is recommended by locals who used to work around there :). I favour the chicken rice balls as the rice here is less oilier compare to others out there. However, if you wish to just walk around Jonker, you can try out Chung Wah. To me, both restaurants are comparable, although the rice balls at Chung Wah are oilier, they are packed with more flavours. Try to be there early as both shops sells off their chicken rice balls really fast, especially during weekends.
chicken rice balls and hainanese chicken
Just outside the shop, there's a 'lobak' stall, you can even order it into the restaurant while you're eating the chicken rice.
take-away lobak
The prawn crackers and the fish cakes are good. :)
After having a satisfying lunch at Batu Berendam, we head back to the town area, this time trying hard to locate the nyonya kuih at Tengkera. Most locals knew about the kuih nyonya of Baba Charlie at Tengkera, so you can ask if you're lost.
However, I'll try to provide as much information about the location of this place as we've lost several times in the maze of Lorong Pantai Tengkera (Refer below for address). The roads there are small, just enough for a car to pass with two rows of houses at both sides of the road.
blue sign board showing Lorong Pantai Tengkera 2C and Baba Charlie in brown (if you can locate this you're safe :P )
the house of nyonya kuih
colourful kuih
If you want to have a try on these yummy nyonya kuih, be there early, as the owner told us they'll be closed by 3.30pm. I love the blue kuih to be dipped with kaya. :) yum~ sorry, I have no idea what it is called.
there are parking at the side of the house, next to the river.
Next, we stopped by at Jonker for the famous cendol and some shopping!
Jonker 88
We always stopped by Jonker 88 for their gula melaka cendol. It is always quite impossible to find an empty table inside without having to wait. Jonker 88 is actually a museum cafe, inside there are various exhibits from the olden days eg: old coins and photos.
cendol gula melaka and sago gula melaka
If you like durian, you can try out their durian cendol, too bad I'm not a fan of durian so I always go for their classic cendol gula melaka.
the history of gula melaka
Not too far from Jonker88 (opposite), there's a stall selling home made delicacies. There are bak chang, nyonya chang, suan pan zi (yam abacus) and some packed noodles. I bought the bak chang and homemade soy noodles (dou qian). The noodles is one of the specialties of Melaka. This type of noodle is non-oily, high in protein and has lower carbs, when cooked it is smooth. :)
me at the stall
Then we walked around the shops at Jonker, bought this and that :) went to a temple behind Jonker, Qing Yun Ting. This time, we did not go for stay celup. The previous trip to Melaka, we went for Ban Lee Siang at Jalan Ong Kim Wee or you can also try Capitol, at Lorong Bukit Cina. Satay celup shops open in the evening, at about 5.30pm till late. Satay celup is also one of the special food in Melaka, although it is almost similar to lok lok (one of the street food in malaysia).
Another popular food is oyster omelette (oh chien) in Jalan Bunga Raya. This stalls open in Medan Makan Bunga Raya at about 7pm till late. Be ready to wait as the queue is always very long. Waiting time varies from 30minutes to 1 hour. The last time we were there, we waited for about an hour. There's some other noodle shops there so you can eat while you queue. This is one of the best oyster omelette in Melaka, claimed by locals as the best.
This time we wanted to try out the portuguese food at the Portuguese Settlement so we skip the oyster omelette.
Portuguese Square at the Portuegese settlement in Ujong Pasir
baked fish portuguese style (RM25)
garlic lady fingers (RM8)
sotong fritters (RM12)
Portuguese Square in Melaka is called the Mini Lisbon, located in the more outskirt area of Melaka, Ujong Pasir. Upon arrival there at the settlement, you can see a lot of lighted neon lights which leads you the the eating place, Portuguese Square.
There are a row of stalls, all selling Portuguese Seafood, I chose the 88 Seafront Restaurant (stall no.4). The 'promoters' will promote their stalls, saying ' Hello Welcome, I am from number 2..or number 5... fresh seafood I am from number 6 etc. That was an example of what they say when you arrived there, so just make your choice and sit down to enjoy the food. The seafood there are relatively cheap, and fresh. The baked fish is good, goes very well with the garlic lady fingers.
Tan Kim Hock
Overall, a satisfying trip to Melaka, and if you want, do stop by at Tan Kim Hock's at Jalan Laksamana Cheng Ho to get some souvenirs and food like dodol back home. :) Do stop by earlier as they will be closed in the evening.
Address:
Huang Chang Chicken Rice Restaurant
BB-376 Taman Melaka Baru,
Batu Berendam,
75350 Melaka.
Baba Charlie Nyonya Kuih
72, Jalan Tengkera Pantai 2C,
Tengkera, Melaka.
(closed on Thursday)
HP : 0196662907
If you're coming from the town along Jalan Tengkera, look out for a mosque, masjid Tengkera after the school, turn left into Jalan Tengkera Pantai 2C, you'll be able to see the signboard as you turn in (as shown above).
Portuguese Square,
Portuguese Settlement, Ujong Pasir,
75050 Melaka.
