A weekend in Malacca

photos taken in Jonker Street

Last month I went to Malacca for a wedding dinner. In fact, I was excited about the trip. It had been few years since my last visit to Malacca. Furthermore, I was going to meet up with some of my university mates, some of them whom I did not meet since graduation. It was a short trip and most of the time was spent for wedding and reunion. Honest enough, there was nothing special to blog about. But I still wish to share with you some of the Malacca food and place especially the good Ayam Percik stall at a tucked-away location.

first reunion lunch

We started the long journey on Sat morning. After 4 hours of driving from Ipoh, we reached Malacca at 12 noon, just in time for lunch. The first meal was Boon Loong Char Siew rice at Jln Bunga Raya. Besides Char Siew, we also ordered bean curd, roasted pork and fish ball soup. The Char Siew was supposed to be good but turned out average. Have I gone to the wrong stall? I wondered.


inside Tan Kim Hock

After that, we walked to Tan Kim Hock(N02º11.940' E102º15.137') where I bought some cincalok, belacan and palm sugar. I was just about to order the durian cendol from the same shop and was told by my local friends that the cendol was no longer nice. Then, we decided to go for No1 Kopitiam Nyonya Cendol at Jonker Street.


Coca-cola collection in No1 Kopitiam Nyonya Cendol

It was not the first time I tried the cendol here, but it has never disappointed me so far. The auntie would place the cendol, red bean, coconut milk and shaved ice in the bowl. Generous drizzles of melted palm sugar syrup were then poured on top. Malacca palm sugar had a stronger fragrant needed to make a perfect bowl of cendol. With the hot weather outside, this was definitely the best dessert to have.

No1 Kopitiam Nyonya Cendol

Chicken rice balls and chicken

For the next day’s brunch, we went for Malacca famous specialty, the chicken rice ball at Chung Hua. The 3 famous restaurants for chicken rice balls, Zhong Hua, Hoe Kee and A’Famosa were all nearby. I have no idea which restaurant serves the best chicken rice ball as each of them has their own supporters.


The museum Cafe 88

Since we were in Jonker Street again, we went for another round of cendol. This time, we picked The Museum Café 88. Museum Café decorations were bound to make us feel like we were back in the olden days. It offered a more spacious environment and a varied menu of local favourites. I wanted something different, so I ordered durian cendol. The cendol there definitely looked bigger size and more attractive. But it was too sweet to my liking. Most of us agreed that No1 Kopitiam served better cendol.

Museum Cafe durian cendol

I checked with my local friend on Pak Hassan Ayam Percik which I had read from a magazine. The ayam percik stall was in Hutan Percha, half an hour from Malacca town. That friend of mine told me that he had tried it many years ago. I had to persuade him to bring me there. He agreed. Thanks YC! I will remember your hospitality.


From left: Tanjung Kling beach, Restaurant Barkat Roti John

Since it was still early, YC brought us to our favourite Restaurant Barkat Roti John at Tanjung Kling. This was a must-visit restaurant every time I was in Malacca. The restaurant only operates at night, so I could only capture a photo of it and mark down the GPS coordinates(N02º13.610' E102º 08.988'). I will definitely come back for the Roti John again.



Clockwise from top left: ayam percik selling at RM1.70, the wooden house, ayam percik on the grill, marinated ayam percik

Hutan Percha was located north of Malacca, 8km from Alor Gajah toll. As we drove passed some scenic oil palm estate on a single lane road, we spotted the signboard for the turning to Hutan Percha. It did not take us long to locate Pak Hassan Ayam Percik stall hidden in this small Malay village.

Pak Hassan stall was nothing much than a wooden hut. Although the stall only opens on Friday and Sunday from 3.30pm to 7.30pm, Pak Hassan could sell 600 chickens per day. The well marinated chicken which was secured firmly on the bamboo stick with wires was barbequed over charcoal fire. Before the chicken was fully cooked, it was dipped into the red and spicy coconut gravy. The chicken was then barbequed again until it was fully cooked.


From left: ayam percik & bishop's nose, chicken liver

Our orders arrived shortly. Mind you that was because we were there early. There were only 3 barbequed items, Ayam Percik(BBQ chicken), Hati(Liver) and Bishop’s nose(Buntot). It was a different version from the famous Kelantan Yati Ayam Percik(I’ll blog it if I go again). But I was pretty sure it was the best Ayam Percik in West Coast. Another credit went to their rose syrup, it was the best syrup that I had ever tried so far.

rose syrup

Direction to Pak Hassan Ayam Percik(N02º 26.860' E102º 17.830'):

turn right at this junction

then turn left

turn right again and you will smell the ayam percik

My Malacca trip ended perfectly with Pak Hassan Ayam Percik.

Updated 14/11/09:
The above gps coordinates point to the entrance of hutan perca. For Pak Hassan Ayam Percik, the gps coordinates are N2º 26.612' E102º 17.964'.