This is Melaka’s hidden food secret, Yee Kiau Mee or Yee Kiau Noodles, which is actually fish paste and noodles served in either soup or dry style. There are apparently some stalls that sell this but only two or three, which are very good.
These amazing fish paste noodles are also usually found around the main town area. One of the well known Yee Kiau Mee in Melaka is found at Kampung Lapan and only sold during the day.
Yee Kiau Mee in Melaka
The original dish comes with a selection of Fish Balls and Fish Cake, and you can choose your type of noodles, but many other new generation stalls give you more variety, like a Yong Tau Foo selection.
Yee Kiau Mee is best tried in kon low or dry soy sauce styled. However, you can also order it in the soup style for those who prefer it this way.
Some stalls serve this with pork lard oil and the pork lard or chee yau char, while some even throw in some sliced roasted pork or char siew, but you can instruct them to hold all of these when you place your order.
Your order usually comes with a bowl of soup and a small plate of cut red chill or the stall’s own homemade chill sauce. Some stalls will mix the chilli sauce into the black sauce mixture if you want it with just plain chilli, best to let them know if you want the chilli on the side.
One of the Yee Kiau Mee stalls in Melaka
The funny thing about Yee Kiau Mee is that you can only find the best ones in Melaka. If you go around Malaysia, you will never see any stall selling this dish.
What comes close to this is Fish Ball Noodles or Kampar Noodles, but the comparison is too far apart. So for the true foodie or food lover, you need to go to Melaka to try this dish.
There are several stalls that sell this unique noodle and one of the well-known places is called Oriental Cafe in Melaka. However, you must take note of their opening days and times as from what I know, they close on Monday and Tuesday.
Conclusion
If you are also looking for some local stuff, check out this article on the food souvenirs to buy in Melaka, as you may end up buying not one but a few of them.
This article is also in conjunction with my Visit Malaysia Year Food Special. So next time you are visiting the historical city of Malacca, ask some of the locals to find some good Yee Kiau Mee in Melaka or by the other name, which is fish cake noodles.