4 must-try food places in Malacca

Celebrity cookbook author and Nyonya culinary expert, Debbie Teoh, shares the best bites in her hometown.

Local breakfast

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Kedai Kopi Juat Lye (371G Taman Peringgit Jaya, Tel: 60 6-325 3506) serves up authentic Malaccan yee kiao mee (egg noodles with springy fishballs, slivers of bean curd and spring onion). Order slices of toast slathered with butter and kaya (coconut jam) and dip them in kopi o kau (a dense brew of local black coffee).

Peranakan meals

For a few ringgit, you get a big bowl of the best Nyonya laksa (noodles in spicy coconut-based soup) or fishcake mee rebus (yellow noodles in a spicy potato-based gravy) at Donald & Lily (No. 16, Jalan KSB 1, Taman Kota Shah Bandar). Finish this off with a chendol, an icy dessert with gula melaka (brown palm sugar) syrup, coconut milk and sago.

Relaxing hideout

Kaya Kaya Cafe's (32 Jalan Tukang Besi, Tel: 60 6 281 4089) inner courtyard is very peaceful and is decorated with plants and stone sculptures. The food is natural and healthy with a fusion of Malay and European flavours - pastas, Belgian beer, and prawn sambal (chilli paste).

Street eats

You haven't been to Malacca until you've tucked into the hawker food from street stalls. On weekends, the action centres on Jalan Hang Jebat where you can taste the famous Hainanese chicken rice balls - orbs of rice cooked in chicken fat, served with steamed chicken and accompanied by a fiery chilli sauce.

This article was first published in Singapore Airlines’ travel magazine, SilverKris. Go to silverkris.com for more travel stories.