5 Best Nyonya Laksa in Malacca

Laksa, a bowl of noodles packed with a spicy punch, is commonly found in Singapore, and Malaysia. There are different variations though, and the key difference lies in its soup base, which contains either coconut milk, or fresh and sour assam. Last weekend, my friends and I decided to drive up to Malacca, and our goal was to suss out all the best nyonya laksa there. This type of laksa boasts a strongly-spiced coconut gravy which gives the dish a distinctive richness.

486 Baba Low

It was hard for us to locate 486 Baba Low as this rustic food stall is hidden beside a mosque, under the cover of trees. The menu is simple and straightforward, and written with chalk on black boards. We reached around 9.30am and it was already full house. Their signature Nyonya Laksa (5RM) consists of taupok, boiled egg, and fishballs. Infused with excessive coconut milk, the laksa is fragrant, with a mild level of spiciness. Add their special homemade sambal chilli that is made fresh daily for that extra kick!

Calanthe Art Cafe

Besides being famous for their offerings of coffee from 13 states of Malaysia, Calanthe Art Café is also frequently patronized for their laksa. Calanthe Laksa (12.80RM) features a delicious broth made from coconut milk, lemongrass, turmeric, dried prawn paste, shallots and other secret ingredients. What we enjoyed most was the crispy fried beancurd skin and mini fried fish balls that were served with the laksa. These ingredients are not commonly found in laksa served elsewhere, and gave the dish some texture. 

You can also go for something more unique such as the Claypot E-Mee Laksa (14.80RM). Thin fried noodles are served in laksa gravy, in a claypot. We preferred this version as the flavours were more outstanding and rich – so shiok!

Yung Lai Siang

At 5RM per bowl, the laksa here is served with a mixture of yellow noodles, meehoon, and some kuay teow. The hawker is very generous with the amount of toppings which include fried prawn crackers. This was certainly a first for us, and we were surprised that the crackers added a tasty crunch to the dish. The broth is not as thick and rich as those that we have tried elsewhere, but the flavour is just right. It’s light enough to be enjoyed more regularly.

Jonker 88

Although Jonker 88 is well known for their cendol, we thought that the Nyonya Assam Laksa (7RM) fares better. It tastes slightly similar to the sourish Penang Laksa with Assam broth, and is fiery spicy that we couldn’t finish our meal without breaking out in perspiration. If you prefer a heavier broth with a strong coconut milk fragrance, go for their Baba Laksa (6RM) which tastes similar to those that we have in Singapore. Want to have the best of both worlds? Well, the Baba Laksa Kahwin Nyonya Assam Laksa (7RM) is made for you! This broth is a combination of the soup bases from both the Baba and Nyonya Laksa.

Jeta Groves Nyonya Delights

We were very excited to try the nyonya laksa at Jeta Groves Nyonya Delights, as this stall is highly raved about by the locals. However, when we arrived around 11.30am on a Sunday morning, we were told that the laksa was sold out. We could only indulge in dessert. After one mouthful of their Durian Cendol, we decided that this stall is worth returning to. If their cendol is already so good, we believe that the standard of their laksa will live up to its reputation.

We also drove 45 minutes to Klebang area, and were so eager to try another recommended place for laksa – Nyonya Delight Homestyle Cooked Food. Unfortunately, they were sold out too. We learnt our lesson to go really early next time! If you’ve read about JOM Coffee, another café that serves laksa, do take note that they have removed this dish from their menu. Hope our list will help you in the planning of your trip to Malacca, and save you from making wasted trips, like we did. Enjoy!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visits and paid its own meals at the stalls featured here.