Seafood @ Portuguese Settlement, Melaka
January 12, 2009 | 53,980 views
The revamped Portuguese Settlement seafood stalls over at Ujong Pasir, Melaka
Few years ago, the place looked different, with the stalls all arranged in another manner. Naturally, to get the best view while dining, everyone would patronize the furthest stall, right by the sea, hence affecting the other stalls’ business. And of course, Choosing-A-Restaurant 101 : Pick the stall with the MOST customers still rang true.
But this time around, the whole stretch of stalls have relocated to the newly-built court, facing the sea, with paved walkway, and al fresco dining area as well as lighted ones. No prize for guessing which is the preferred choice.
We picked stall number 4 (there are 10!), with the name “88 Sea Front Restaurant” as it was the most crowded that evening
Some have commented that the Malay seafood and ‘ikan bakar’ (grilled fish) over at Umbai area (way further than this) are better. Even my aunt (who visits Melaka about a gazillion times per year – she’s a tour guide, btw) recommended the ‘ikan bakar’ over at Umbai. But there’s always another visit, right?
Steamed Lala (clams) with Garlic and Chilli Padi, Kangkung (water convolvulus) stir-fried with Belacan (fermented shrimp paste?) and Batter-fried Squids
Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year …. Portuguese style?
You opted for Stall no.1? Anyway, during my visit, stall no. 5 was more crowded, yea, the food is good and I love the Christmas decoration of the neighbourhood there!
[Reply]
blogging on a monday morning?? ;p
wahh so fast got comment alrei ah!
[Reply]
I went to one called Fresh Oysters Corner, also a crowded stall, wonder if it’s the same.
[Reply]
did u try the famous pisang goreng?
[Reply]
ohhh, another part of melaka i’ve yet to visit! and ya lor, i oso cant remember the last time i talk to the neighbour. hmmm, nvm, cny coming. sure hafta greet them one..hehehe
[Reply]
it looks sooooo much prettier now!
[Reply]
i just love this place!!! maybe i should just move there!! haha …
[Reply]
Err.. I think there are nearer options for seafood inside Melaka town itself 😛
[Reply]
After looking more pictures of Melaka… I guess it’s an absolutely a must visit 😀
[Reply]
Quite a simple seafood dinner, huh?
[Reply]
Oooh I’m surprised it was a mere RM15 per pax! Totally expecting this to be ripoff central?!
[Reply]
Portuguese Settlement is one place I have not visited in Melaka… I usually go for the other yummy foods around town. Maybe its time i try this in my next visit!
[Reply]
SimpleGirl : it’s stall number 4 i think. Stall no 5 is the one with the MOST publicity. hehe … kept on pulling ppl.
thenomadGourmand : yeah … unlike most jobs, our Mondays do not revolve around more workload,
Precious pea : hmm, all the stalls looked the same lah … haha. cant actually differentiate them, aside from the crowd.
kampungboycitygal : which one!?!! I didnt know lah. aiya, should’ve searched for that. near to Port Settlement?
Nic : so can get angpau ah? alamak. like that also can? *_*
Cumi n Ciki : yeah … guess the tourists brought some fame n fortune?
Duckie : hahaha, and join the Portuguese? 🙂 nice idea.
jason : yes ah? y din u say so? but its different feeling eating by the seaside, and in town lah.
Selba : yeah, it’s a UNESCO World Heritage site. and Penang as well.
Little Inbox : yeah, we were prepared for supper. it’s our … 5th or 6th meal of the day anyway.
550ml jar of faith : yeah, it’s cheap. believe it, or not. 🙂
PureGlutton : yeah, sometimes the food in town can be… repetitive. but i’ve yet to find a good Nyonya restaurant. anyone?
[Reply]
Hi!
Just went to Melaka and had no idea where to eat seafood and googled in the hotel and found your blog. So we went to the Portugese settlement and had seafood at Stall 4 (on 26th June 10) and Stall 4 Food really sucks. Not a single dish was good. Devil Curry came cold, La La was not fresh, Spicy Crab was fresh but not well made, Otak both steamed and baked with chili were actually the same and not tasty. The Butter prawns were not fresh as well. Pls do not recommend stall 4. We were really disappointed.
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
June 28th, 2010 at 3:05 pm
Hi Vivian.
My experience back in Dec of 2008 revealed that Stall No 4 was okay, the clams were fresh. I never liked their grilled fish though, as I find them rather bland.
I did not try the other dishes.
I sympathize with your mediocre outing. And thank you for sharing.
A friend of mine recommended a rather hidden restaurant BEHIND this row of stalls facing the sea. Claims that the food served there is very authentic, and deserving a try, esp their devil curry chicken. Forgot the name though, sorry.
[Reply]
jewel Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 2:45 pm
Hi, to me stall no 2 is still the best. The main dish is the portuguese style eggplant (muliu)… Its very delicious. and also try the butter garlic prawns/scallops, baked fish, their famous chilli crabs and curry dable. never regret trying their food. We also can find them on facebook! Rstoran Joan N El’Chicos.
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
June 4th, 2012 at 11:02 pm
Ok, thanks. I prefer the one BEHIND all the stalls though, named San Pedro – http://www.j2kfm.com/tag/san-pedro-portuguese-restaurant/
[…] Malacca 2011 – History. Diversity. Gastronomy (Part 1/2) Malacca 2011 – History. Diversity. Gastronomy (Part 2/2) Motormouth In Malacca Again (Part 1)Donald & Lilly’s, Tengkera Nyonya Kuih & Nadeje’s Mille Crepe Cake Seafood @ Portuguese Settlement […]
hi,
can u know address “seafood-portuguese-settlement-melaka”.
[Reply]
Hi… i went for stall no 2… it was so good.. all the dishes… cant rely on the crowd..
[Reply]
Try the butter garlic scallop and prawns… it was superb.. and the egg plan cooked in portuguese dishes. Only stall no 2 have that dish..
[Reply]
till what time ll the portuguese settlement ll b open in nght?
[Reply]
Hi everyone,i have tried at portuguese stall #2 and the food was really good…u can check on facebook where they post their seafood pictures..joan & el’chico’s restoran..i wish to go there again soon.. 🙂
[Reply]
Stall 8 was a letdown. Food tastelesd and not worth the price.
[Reply]
WARNING TO EVERYONE REGARDING SEAFOOD STALLS AT PORTUGUESE SETTLEMENT, MELAKA, SEPTEMBER 2017. A VERY BAD EXPERIENCED AS A BUNCH OF US ARRIVED AT THE CAR PARK & WAS SWAMPED BY ABOUT 8 OF THE STALL WORKERS (LIKE IN ZOMBIES MOVIE) KEPT PERSUADING AND BUGGING US TO EAT AT THEIR RESPECTIVE STALLS. AFTER 2 MINUTES, WE JUST SAID OK WE’LL GO TAKE A LOOK & DECIDE LATER. BUT THEY COULDN’T SHUT UP, KEPT FOLLOWING BESIDE US AND REPEAT, REPEAT TILL ANOTHER 5 MINUTES WHEN WE WERE JUST NEAR THE STALLS & WE SHOUTED BACK AT THEM TO LEAVE US ALONE. EVEN THEN THEY SAID WE GOT NO CHOICE, IT’S OUR JOB & BLA, BLA, OURS IS BETTER, DONT TRUST OTHERS, BLA, BLA. IN THE END WE, JUST GOT BACK TO OUR CARS AND LEFT WITHOUT SEEING THE FOOD THAT THEY HAVE! WORST EXPERIENCE EVER & IN MY OPINION, THE PLACE SHOULD BE CONVERTED TO A BETTER TOURIST ATTRACTION & NOT SOME DIRTY FOODCOURT
[Reply]