Donald & Lily Restaurant

Donald & Lily Restaurant
No. 16 Jalan KSB 1
Taman Kota Shah Bandar
Malacca
Central Malacca 75200
Malaysia

Wed - Sun: 9am - 3:30pm,
Closed Mon & Tue

https://www.facebook.com/donaldandlily/

Huat Laksa (MYR RM25.90 / SGD $8.50)

Tasty, Homely Peranakan Meals

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 6
Ambience & Setting: 6
Food & Beverage: 7
Service: 6
Value for Money: 7
Spent about MYR RM21 / SGD $7 per person.


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Since their establishment in 1980 as a small stall, and subsequently as a stand-alone eatery in May 2012, Donald & Lily Restaurant, named for the eponymous husband and wife owners (Donald Tan & Lily Lee), have been serving up tasty, home-style Peranakan meals. Such is their consistent standard that Donald & Lily Restaurant is an institution in Malacca, Central Malacca, Malaysia, popular not just with tourists, but with locals, for their affordable, casual, homely everyday dining. Donald & Lily Restaurant is, I feel, the minimum entry level of a good Baba-Nyonya eatery.

Ambience at Donald & Lily Restaurant is casual functional. The simple place is neatly arranged with functional metal and plastic furniture, lit with natural sunlight, and cooled with ceiling fans. The atmosphere is bustling, people chatting happily, the tight walls bouncing sound around. Queues tend to form at the entrance during peak meal periods.

Service at Donald & Lily Restaurant is partially self-service. Staff are quick to seat you and take orders, displaying decent product knowledge on the menu, but you'll have to self-help for cutlery. Payment is sometimes made over the counter, and sometimes tableside if staff are available. The high turnover means staff work quickly, be it fulfilling orders, or cleaning up.

Food at Donald & Lily Restaurant is traditional Peranakan cuisine, and of a quality that defines it as a benchmark for good, entry-level Baba-Nyonya dishes. They use fresh ingredients, and flavours are bold and robust. Portions are sized for individuals, but most people order to share for communal group dining anyway. Prices are affordable, though it's risen slightly over the years; budget about MYR RM21 / SGD $7 per person.


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Donald & Lily Restaurant Signage

Donald & Lily Restaurant Facade

Menu

The Couple

Top 50 World Street Food Masters 2017

The Kaya Roti Panggang / Coconut Jam Toast (MYR RM2 / SGD $0.70) is a simple snack, but i felt it wasn't that great, as the bread was rather dry in texture. It's a decent foil for the rich kaya / coconut jam though.

Kaya Roti Panggang / Coconut Jam Toast (MYR RM2 / SGD $0.70)

Kaya Roti Panggang / Coconut Jam Toast

Kaya Roti Panggang / Coconut Jam Toast

The Mee Rebus (MYR RM6.90 / SGD $2.30) has a rich, thick gravy, but their version is more sweet than savoury salty in taste. Fairly generous with the toppings of boiled egg, bean sprouts, tofu beancurd, and cucumber. Also rather heavy with both yellow egg noodles and potatoes, I recommend sharing.

Mee Rebus (MYR RM6.90 / SGD $2.30)

Mee Rebus

The Mee Siam (MYR RM6.50 / SGD $2.20) has less gravy than I'm used to, but it still retains the signature sharp sour spicy taste. The generous toppings of bean sprouts and tofu beancurd lend a nice contrast of textures to the smooth silky rice vermicelli noodles. This is rather addictive.

Mee Siam (MYR RM6.50 / SGD $2.20)

Mee Siam

The Ayam Pongteh / Stewed Chicken & Potato In Salted Bean Sauce (MYR RM9.50 / SGD $3.10) is deeply earthy salty savoury in flavour, served with soft chap chye / mixed vegetables stew and white rice. The potatoes, chicken chunks, and shiitake mushrooms are tender and soft, yielding easily. A delicious and satisfying meal.

Ayam Pongteh / Stewed Chicken & Potato In Salted Bean Sauce (MYR RM9.50 / SGD $3.10)

Ayam Pongteh / Stewed Chicken & Potato In Salted Bean Sauce

The Nasi Ketuk Ayam Rendang (MYR RM10.50 / SGD $3.50) is so pretty, with its vibrant butterfly pea flower infused rice. The chicken rendang lends bold savoury spice notes, complementing the floral savoury earthy flavours of the dish. The fried egg was rather oily though. The name actually means 'knock rice', and it's named because when cooking it, there is a tendency for the rice to stick to the inside of the bowl, which needs to be knocked for the rice to come out.

Nasi Ketuk Ayam Rendang (MYR RM10.50 / SGD $3.50)

Nasi Ketuk Ayam Rendang

Nasi Ketuk Ayam Rendang

They offer 2 versions here, with the entry level Laksa (MYR RM6.90 / SGD $2.30) having savoury earthy floral sweet spicy flavours, with a good mouthfeel of the coconut milk. The key lies in their use of fresh coconut milk, giving it a lovely brightness. The more luxurious Huat Laksa (MYR RM25.90 / SGD $8.50) is an over-the-top extravagance that invokes awe, but the flavour profile remains the same as its cheaper cousin. If you're going for everyday dining or a light meal, get the former; but if you're going for special or memorable, get the latter.

Laksa (MYR RM6.90 / SGD $2.30)

Laksa

Laksa

Huat Laksa (MYR RM25.90 / SGD $8.50)

Huat Laksa

With the Tofu Beancurd Rojak (MYR RM13 / SGD $4.30), I decided that while I've had better versions from street side stalls, the rendition here is tasty and sufficient enough, especially since you're in a more clean, sanitary, family-friendly environment. It's decently satisfying with its complexity of textures and flavours.

Tofu Beancurd Rojak (MYR RM13 / SGD $4.30)

Tofu Beancurd Rojak

Tofu Beancurd Rojak

The Cendol (MYR RM4.20 / SGD $1.40) is noted for being among the better versions around. The layered flavours of earthy sweet floral are pleasant enough, and this chilled dessert is a good rendition. Are there better versions out there? Yes. But this remains, to me, a "silver medal" quality dessert.

Cendol (MYR RM4.20 / SGD $1.40)

Cendol

Cendol

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