One such destination in Malaysia that boasts a culinary extravaganza is Malacca, a small coastal town which is full of multi culture history dominated by European, Malay, Chinese and Indian influences. Hence, Peranakan culture and cuisine was born.
In order to explore this multifaceted town is by taking a walk down their night market, the iconic Jonker Street Night Market. It features more than hundreds of hawker stalls displaying numerous local, foreign and even trendy food and beverage.
60 Street Food In Jonker Street Night Market
1. Coconut Ice Cream
Infused Thai-style coconut ice-cream served in a coconut bowl. Topped with salt roasted peanuts and love fruits, glutinous rice or love fruit, this dessert will brighten up your night for sure.
2. Deep Fried Ice-Cream
An awesome combination of cool, creamy ice-cream encased in crispy hot batter is totally a delectable dessert. Choices from classic ice-cream flavors such as yam, cream corn, chocolate and vanilla.
3. Ice-Cream Rolls
Freeze-fried right before your eyes pan a -30 Degree Celsius pan, then topped with peanuts, sprinkles, love letters or choice of fruits. You definitely would be spoil with their various selection of ice-cream flavors such as blueberry, matcha, double chocolate, mango peach, lemon and many more.
4. Fried Quail Egg
Almost similar to Japanese Takoyaki, these fried quail eggs is cooked in hot round moulds and filled with various ingredients such as sausage, crab sticks, bean curd or corn. Then drizzled with mayonnaise, cheese and barbecue sauce for a flavorful blast in the mouth.
5. Pan Fried Taiwanese Sausages
Instead of having it plain, we recommend you to season your Taiwanese sausage with their different types of sauce or powder available. Come with a nice crunchy skin and juicy meat, we bet that you would not be able to resist these delicious sausages.
6. Popcorn Chicken With Baked Cheese
Crispy one-bite size popcorn chicken drowned in overloading cheese sauce and melted mozzarella cheese layered on top. It could be the best choice for every cheese lovers who demand for over-flowing cheesy experience.
7. Hotdog Waffle
A popular snack that children can’t get enough of nowadays. It is an easy combination of sweet waffle and cheesy or black pepper flavor hotdog wrapped. You can choose to finished it with a dash of mayonnaise, chili sauce and barbecue sauce or not.
8. Assorted Flavor Chicken Chop
Origin from Taiwan, this fried chicken chop had always become a common street food at any night market all the times. Using a whole seasoned boneless chicken breast or chicken thigh, this huge crispy chickenery snack is generously coated with various spicy or savory seasonings. For spicy lovers, we recommend that adding chili powder is a must, along with pepper salt.
9. Fried Carrot Cake
A Malaysian favorite savory dish. The cubed carrot cake is actually made of steamed radish and rice flour batter. These cubes are then fried together with eggs, chopped pickled turnips, diced garlic, crunchy bean sprouts and Chinese seasonings. You may add on some sambal sauce to level it up as a spicy dish.
10. Fried Oyster Omelette
Its generous proportion of oysters had become the highlight of the stall. Not overly starchy or oily, this fried oyster omelette is a perfect match with rice or just eaten alone.
11. Breakfast Muffin
Also known as Chinese Burger. This night market food doesn’t use egg like usual burger, but use egg and flour mixture. For the fillings, they are use ham, chicken floss, crab meat, octopus or sausages. A small shutouts for meat lovers, no VEGE involved.
12. Sweet Egg Muffins
Vanilla flavored sweet egg muffins with assorted flavor fillings such as red bean, kaya, chocolate and peanut butter in the middle. Buttery salt on the surface and creamy inside. Freshly cooked and served on spot.
13. Malt Sugar And Ting Ting Candy
Probably everyone’s childhood favorites. Traditionally made from white sugar, maple syrup, honey and maltose and shaped skillfully till the candies harden, 100% handmade. It may gives you a sugar high, but what harm is an occasional candy, huh?
14. Muah Chee
Along Jonker Street, you will find a cute and friendly old uncle who slowly snipping away the soft glutinous rice sticks, then rolling them up in sugary peanut mixture. Soft and doughy on the inside while sweet and crunchy on the outside. This is the reason why you should try muah chee in Jonker Street night market.
15. Durian Balls
Made with real durian flesh and free of artificial flavor, these durian balls are incredibly creamy of its custard-like pulp. You shouldn’t miss it if you are a true durian lover. Since durian is seasonal fruit, you could only get it from month of April to June. It comes in a bite size too, where you can enjoy it while continuing your food trip at Jonker Street Night Market.
16. Yogurt Ice-Cream
Everyone knows that yogurt is good for health but the highlight of this ice-cream would be its egg-shaped container. Made with real fruit juice and homemade yogurt, it comes with variety of flavors to be chose from. Most recommended mint, dragon fruit, lychee and lime flavored pop.
17 .Light Bulb Drink
Trendy bubble milk tea or colorful mixed fruit tea in a bulb which follows Seoul, Korea latest trend. An epic Instagram-worthy drink. The light bulb bottle could be reused again or keep as decoration after finishing the drink.
18. Baby Bottle Drink
Followed by Light Bulb Drink, Instagramers start with another new trend by creatively invented the baby bottle drink. The rules are similar to light bulb drink, where they only changed the bulb to baby bottle.
19. 60’s Fruit Tea
There is nothing better than a chilled bottle of iced tea to cool down when Jonker Street Night Market was crowded. Give these colorful bottle of iced teas with fruity flavor a try. They would not make you down with their natural sweetness of fruits.
20. Gula Melaka Cendol
You can’t leave Malacca before trying their Baba Cendol or Gula Melaka Cendol. It is a truly refreshong dessert to end a hearty meal. A pool of fresh coconut milk, corn, pandan jelly, kidney beans and a generous layer of concentrated local gula melaka on finely shaved ice is what we are talking about.
21. Durian Delights
Rejoice, durian fans! Normal Gula Melaka cendol is awesome enough but adding a huge scoop of creamy and fresh custard-like durian pulp would be more awesome right? Here, in Jonker Street night market, you are able to grab this durian delights during the durian season (April to June) every year.
22. One Bite Durian Puff
If Durian Cendol still unable to satisfy your inner durian junkie, you MUST try the one-bite durian puffs. Its layer of puff pastry stuffed with fresh creamy non-dairy cream and real durian flesh make the puff hard to resists. So, remember to eat this in a single bite for an unexpected explosion of flavors.
23. Milo Ais Kepal
Am upgraded version of Milo Dinosaur. Ais Kepal Milo comes with smooth shaved ice and a thick layer of concentrated Milo syrup and drizzling of condensed milk. Garnished with more Milo powder and chocolate sprinkles making it looks more chocolatety and appetizing. You may request for a scoop of vanilla ice-cream as extra topping if needed.
24. Colorful Nyonya Kuihs
The only one of possibly hundreds of foodstalls that sell traditional Nyonya Kuih. Only natural ingredients are used and no artificial coloring are added. These nyonya kuihs are balanced with sweetness from natural sugar and richness of coconut milk too.
25. Watermelon Handbag
This watermelon handbag allow you to bring and drink watermelon juice to anywhere at anytime. Its watermelon juice is freshly obtained on the spot and no sugar syrup is added.
26. Coconut Water Balls
Skillfully cut by employees, this ball of coconut juice is void of any thick outer skin while retaining the coconut water inside. Every sip would be as refreshing as it can get while sauntering down Jonker Street night market.
27. Coconut Shake
Blended with real coconut milk, condensed milk, ice, shredded coconut and sugar syrup, coconut milkshake would be a great choice yo overcome Jonker Street night market hot night. Vanilla ice-cream sometimes would be added for a thicker and milky texture of that shake too.
28. Avocado Milkshake
This avocado super smoothie works great for breakfast, lunch and dinner for anyone who are dieting or having gym training. Avocado is low in fructose but high in healthy mono saturated fat, which could easily burned for energy. Research even found out that adding an avocado into your smoothies helps you absorbing more antioxidants molecules.
29. Just P.I.O
Blended with only real ripe mangoes flesh, this smoothie would be the next popular drinks among mango lovers. Surprisingly, you can find one of their ‘outlets’ available at Jonker Street Night Market. Without any addition of sugar or coloring, Just P.I.O mango smoothie is a healthy drink that is suitable for everyone.
30. Thai Milk Tea
As a milk tea or green tea lover, you should not missed Thai milk tea and Thai green tea available in Jonker Street night market. Using the finest tea leaves imported from Thailand and milky condensed milk, Thai Milk Tea would be both fragrant and milky. An additional of whipped non-dairy cream provide a smoother texture to the tea too.
31. Toilet Bowl Ice-Cream
An interesting idea to prank your friends or family members with this crazy toilet bowl ice-cream. The toilet bowl model serves as a ‘bowl’ to hold your choices of ice-cream along with its toppings such as sprinkles, chocolate chips, peanuts and sliced fruits.
32. “Blood” Packs
Well, it is another weird snacks that you could find in Jonker Street night market. It is actually fruit juice or Ribena drink in plastic ‘blood packs’. This idea was originated from Halloween parties which uses red rose syrup reassembled as human blood and blue champagne as alien blood. Another interesting part of this drink would be the label sticker stick on it, where you can write your name and blood type if preferred.
33. Candied Fruits
Chocolate or syrup coated fresh strawberries, grapes or mixed fruits of the day. Surprisingly, the sugared syrup would look like a crystal coat that protect the fruits under the light source. On the other hand, the chocolate is semi-sweet and not overly concentrated or dilute.
34. Curry Fish Balls
For those who are looking for a bit of heat, be sure to try this interesting dish. Made from fish paste that’s rolled into a bite sized ball, this humble ingredient is taken to another level with thick and spicy curry bath.
35. Flower Pot Ice Cream
Also known as Bonsai ice-cream, you might already guessed it reassembles a flower pot. You may choose your favorable ice-cream flavor as the base first. Followed by crushed Oreo which assembled the dirt, a stalk of parsley for plant and a gummy worm as a earthworm.
36. Potato Twisters (Tornado Potato)
Deep fried spiral-cut whole potato in a skewer which is also an usually seen night market food. Optional to brush with various of seasonings or sauces such as cheese powder, tomato sauce, seaweed powder, honey, mayonnaise, garlic powder and barbecue sauce based on personal preferences.
37. Nyonya Laksa
At almost every similar hawker stall, you can grab yourself a bowl of delicious Nyonya Laksa. The Nyonya Laksa Broth is created by using only the freshest chicken and prawns for thick and flavorful taste. Besides, this bowl of Nyonya Laksa also had fishballs, fishcakes, vegetables, taufu pok and fried fu zhuk for added substance.
38. Si Bao
Something similar to a combination of rojak and chee cheong fun. The difference is that this dish consist of sliced cucumbers, fishcakes, tauhu and fu zhuk deep fried in savory batter too.
39. Liquid Nitrogen Korean Snack Food
Liquid Nitrogen snacks and drinks have been popular since last summer to beat off the heat and watch smoky nitrogen vapor exhale out of their mouth, making a must-have list for every Instagramers and trend followers.
40. Raindrop Cake
The Raindrop Cake, also known as Mizu Shingen Mochi, looks just like it sounds; a drop of rain. This calorie free dessert is actually made of agar and mineral water, served together with Kinako, roasted soy bean flour and Kuromitsu, black sugar syrup.
41. Steamed Cartoon Pau
As you know, normal paus with ordinary white color mantou-like buns and bland surface is getting boring right? Hence we would introduce you the character steamed bun available in Jonker Street Night Market which are more colorful and cute. These paus come in various type of fillings such as pandan, kaya, salted-egg custard, red beans and even gula melaka flavored coconut flakes. What’s make the paus special is not only its appearance, but also its ingredient. The owner only use natural coloring from her garden while preparing these paus.
42. True-Blue Peranakan Popiah
Originated from China, Nyonya Popiah is made of fresh egg wraps and vegetable fillings. However, a True-Blue Peranakan Popiah would uniquely added pork lark as a final touch before serving the wrap. So, please be sure to ask the stall owner before buying if you are a Muslim traveler.
43. Pie Tee
This Nyonya Kuih is literary so ‘pre-tty’. It is actually a snack made of fried batter top hats stuffed with refreshing mix of seafood, vegetables, lime and chili sauce. It could be a great appetizer before digging in any Peranakan food.
44. Sambal Lala
You won’t regret trying this dish as their clams are really large in size and fresh. With the briny taste eliminated, the only thing you can get is just slippery morsels of seafood that slide down your throat, packing with fiery spicy sambal.
45. Stinky Tofu
It is a Taiwanese-style fermented tofu with strong odor. Unlike cheese, stinky tofu fermentation does not have a fixed time or formula for starter bacteria. Hence, this brine fermentation may take as long as several months and every stinky tofu recipe are various from each others. Accompanied by its special sauce, stinky tofu would taste spicy and leaving an indescribable smell in the mouth.
46. BBQ Giant Scallop With Vermicelli
Another interesting food that could be found is this BBQ-grilled giant scallop with vermicelli. The scallop is grilled on its opened shell with a crack egg, then topped with vermicelli noodles and sprinkling of spring onions. This results in a fresh seafood dish that you won’t forgot.
47. BBQ Fresh Seafood
One of the luxurious food found in Jonker Street Night Market. You can’t really miss it while browsing the hawker section that sells fresh seafood and grilled oysters. Their tender and juicy oyster meat, with a dash of fresh lemonade or special sauce prepared by owner. It could be a heaven for all seafood lovers.
Also Read: Seafood Restaurants In Johor Bahru
48. 30cm Long Fries
This ‘uneasy’-to-eat fried potato snack which goes viral during these several months could be found in Jonker Street night market too. Choices of sauce or seasonings such as chili powder, garlic powder, seaweed powder, mayonnaise, barbecue sauce, and their significance cheese sauce could be added also.
49. Dim Sum
Dim sum are steamed Chinese cuisine prepared as small bite-sized portion. It could be a great choice for supper if you feel hungry during the night. These juicy and meaty dim sum would surely warms you up and make you full. Besides, the stall also sell Xiao Long Bao (steamed bun filled with sweet barbecue pork), shao mai (steamed dumplings with pork or chicken), guotie (pan fried dumplings with vegetable and pork fillings), spring rolls, turnip cake, and Chinese sticky rice.
50. Fried Squid
Pretty large whole squid that was covered with savory batter and then deep fried in high temperature oil. The crispiness pf the crust turns out just right and the squid is not overly cooked. Considered as an awesome snack that is great for sharing.
51. Chicken Rice Balls
AN authentic Malacca specialty which is a MUST TRY food at Jonker Street night market. These firm balls of rice are actually made of compressed cooked rice in flavorful chicken broth. This lead to a special change of Hainanese Chicken Rice texture . Usually served with smooth and juicy chicken meat drizzled with delicate sauce and homemade spicy sauce.
52. Satay Celup
Malacca’s satay celup allows you to cook your choice of meat and vegetables in a boiling pot of satay sauce. Mostly offers a wide pick of fresh ingredients including fish balls,squid, bean curd and chicken balls.
53. Lok-Lok
Similar to Satay Celup, Lok-Lok also provide variety selections of meats and vegetables to be manually cooked by yourself. The difference is that it requires you to cook your choice of ingredients in boiling hot soup, not satay sauce.
54. Bamboo Chawanmushi
A chawanmushi stall serves up the steamed egg custard and seafood tom yum in bamboo cups. That’s one cup of egg-cellent goodness and one cup of spicy yum side by side.
55. Nyonya Chang
Glutinous rice dumplings filled with spicy meat fillings made of mixture of meat, vegetables, candied winter melon and spices. Then wrapped in bamboo leaves and steamed. Unlike other dumplings with only white or soy sauce color glutinous rice, Nyonya Chang has a deep blue streak as its classic authentic appearance as a result from butterfly pea flower juice added during its preparation process.
56. Pineapple Tarts
Trust us, this pineapple rolls will MELT. IN.YOUR.MOUTH for sure as you take a bite of it. Fully handmade from the beginning, the owner guaranteed that their pineapple fillings are not overly sweet or dry and the outer layers are buttery and soft. High recommendation to bring home as souvenir.
57. Portuguese Egg Tarts
Perfect snack to have while walking along Jonker Street. They are small, portable and would not make any mess while you are doing shopping (unless you dropped them accidentally). The crust is buttery and flaky, while its steamed egg mixture is sweet and smooth. Besides, their caramelized layer really gives an additional mark to the whole Portuguese Tart.
58. Agar-agar
If you starts to feel peckish, get some colorful sweet agar-agar. These refreshing light snacks would try their best to beat the heat of the crowds.
59 .Ice-Cream Popiah
Getting enough of savory popiah(spring roll)? Try a sweet version popiah then. This stall owner is genius enough to create a dessert version of popiah by combining crushed peanut candies and scoops of ice-cream. Be sure to eat it before the popiah skin gets soggy from the melting ice-cream.
60. Fried Popiah
Similar to Lumpia in Indonesia. For the fillings, it has vegetables, scrambled eggs and meat. However, please be aware that some stalls may use crispy pork lard as one of the fillings too.