Malacca Dining & Entertainment

                                  



                                                                                 Malacca Dining

Malacca's rich Peranakan culture has given birthed to a variety of delicious food that is spicy and sweet, referred to as 'Nyonya' food. The Nyonya style of cooking is the result of a fusion between Chinese and Malay ingredients and recipes, the result of Chinese traders in the past settling in Malacca and adopting the Malay way of living.

Malaccan Nyonya food is also distinct from Penang Nyonya food, where it can also be found. Favouring more spices and coconut milk, the result is a sweeter blend of cooking with a fiery tinge. In comparison, Penang Nyonya food favours a more practical style of cooking, employing simpler ingredients with a helping of 'Belacan' (Black prawn paste). Malaccan dishes are definitely cooked up with more time in the kitchen, the women taking great pride in their wok.

On the other hand, there's also plenty of Malay, Chinese and Indian dishes to savour. Not surprisingly, many tourists flock around the streets of Malacca to feast on the culinary delights that it has to offer. Eating is never a problem as there are plenty of restaurants and stalls to choose from just by driving through town. Some of Malacca's signature dishes can be seen below.

   Assam Laksa

The soup is the important base for this dish of rice noodles. Using cucumber, lettuce, pineapple, onion and mint garnishing, the soup is brought to a boil with a generous helping of fish stock - Thick rice noodles are then poured into a bowl of the hot, tangy soup. The result is a fiery dish with a sweet aroma that will titillate your taste buds.

   Hainanese Chicken Ball Rice

A Malaccan speciality, the Chinese chicken rice dish found across Malaysia is served
differently. Instead of a plate of rice, diners are given balls of rice cooked in chicken stock. This is eaten together with delicious roasted chicken and a bit of garlic and cucumbers.

   Satay Celup

Satay Celup is another unique dish found in Malacca. It is similar to a Hong Kong dish called 'Lok Lok' that is popular in major cities such as Kuala Lumpur. Here, an assortment of raw and semi-cooked seafood, meat and vegetables skewered on sticks are dunked into a boiling pot of water. It is then eaten with a special sauce similar to conventional satay sauce.

   Curry Debal





Curry Debal or 'Devilก's Curry is a fiery hot dish that is unique to the Kristang culture (Descendants of Portuguese colonists who settled in Malacca). It is indeed very spicy as the name implies. The secret to the curry's delicious taste is a blend of candlenuts, galangal and vinegar. Curry Debal is often served during special occasions among the Portuguese community in Malacca. .

   



    Chinese

Chinese Szechuan, Cantonese, Hainanese and Shanghai foods can be dined on. Fried chicken or frog legs with dried chillies and steamed fish with spicy Szechuan sauce are some of the Szechuan dishes. "Dragon Chicken" - deep fried de-boned chicken and fried crispy vegetables in garlic and oyster sauce is an example of a Cantonese dish. Popular Hainanese dishes are mutton soup and beef steamboat. Braised pig trotters with brown sauce eaten with steamed buns is one well-known Shanghainese dish you could have.


   Satay

Ngah Satay - Jalan Bukit Baru
Satay Stalls - Jalan Ayer Molek/Duyong

   Roti Canai

Madinah Restaurant, Jalan Merdeka
Madras Café, Jalan Temenggong

   Portuguese Food

Papa Joe Pub Restaurant, Portuguese Settlement
San Pedro Restaurant, Portuguese Settlement

   Indian Food

Banana Leaf Restaurant, Jalan Munshi Abdullah
Veni Restaurant, Jalan Temenggong

   Fast Food


KFC - Jaya Jusco, Mahkota Parade, Plaza Hang Tuah, Jalan Mata Kuching, TESCO Hypermarket
McDonalds - Jaya Jusco, Mahkota Parade, Kotamas Shopping Complex, Soon Seng Plaza, Taman Buaya Melaka
Pizza Hut - Mahkota Parade, Jalan Bendahara
Malacca Chinese Food - Hiking Parade, Taman Melaka Raya Lim Tian Puan Restaurant, Jalan Tun Sri Lanang
Kenny Rogers Roaster - Mahkota Parade





                                                                                Entertainment in Malacca


     A'Famosa Animal Safari, Cowboys & Waterpark

   Animal Safari

Hang on tight in the cage-like trucks! The Safari Park adventure at A'Famosa is about to begin. This is the only safari park in Malaysia where you can see wild animals like tigers, lions and sunbears up close and in the open as the trucks stop right next to them. But before you get to see the lions, you have to pass through the rough and bumpy Jungle area and cross Crocodile River.

There really are crocodiles in thewater! The tigers, lions and sunbears roam in their own areas, and are prevented from escaping by the electric fences.

The Safari Park also has a Herbivore area, where Barbary sheep, deer, camels, zebras and ostriches roam freely in the open while the giraffes munch happily on tree leaves. Again, the trucks will stop near these animals for visitors to have a good look.

With more than 100 animal species, the 150-acre Safari promises great fun and excitement. There are also fascinating and entertaining Animal, Elephant and Bird shows. Adding to the adventure are the elephant, camel and pony rides. Take a stroll through the Walk Area where you can enjoy the company of the Tanzanian flamingos, black and white swans, Australian Bennett wallabies, North American raccoons and the Malaysian tapirs.

There is also a Dairy Farm with a herd of cows. In the Farm House are fluffy chickens and ducks as well as cuddly kittens and puppies. Hop on the motor raft to get to Monkey Island inhabited by brown lemurs, squirrel monkeys, capuchins, white-handed gibbons and red-handed tamarins.


   Wild West Show

The Wild Wild West show in the public square, starring cowboys and Red Indians on horseback, is like a scene from the movies and provides hilarious entertainment for the whole family. Watch them perform stunts and tricks such as standing on the galloping horses. After the show, try your hand at archery. In the evening the Cowboy Town comes alive with food outlets serving local and western cuisines, a pub, a beer garden, live bands, karaoke, a disco and a children's park.

   Water World

The Water World is another popular attraction. Set in a 20-acre landscaped area, the park features a Wave Pool, Lazy River Tube Ride, the very popular Family Raft Ride, High Speed Slides and Wild Waterslides with high speed bends, loops and twists. Younger children have their own Tots Activity Pool with mini slides, water sprays and Aladdin's Arabian Village.

There is also a range of sports and recreational activities including horse-riding, kite-flying, cycling, tennis, basketball, fishing, jungle-trekking and golf in one of the top golf courses in Malaysia. Accommodation is available at the A'Famosa Resort Hotel, bungalows and the Condotel. Getting around is easy and convenient with the internal shuttle service.

   How to Get There

About a 60 minute drive from Kuala Lumpur via the North South Expressway. Exit at Simpang Empat / Alor Gajah toll.

 
  Opening Hours

Water World: Mon - Fri: 11am - 7pm
Sat, Sun, Public / School Holidays: 9am - 8pm
Animal World Safari: Mon - Sun: 9am - 7pm
Cowboy Town: Evenings.