Melaka Jalan Bunga Raya Famous Fishball Lobak

Melaka Jalan Bunga Raya Famous Fishball Lobak

My father is a Malaccan and we often go there for holiday even though most of our close relatives now stay in Kuala Lumpur. He often brought us back to visit our relatives and also looking for good food.

His story on good food at Jalan Bunga Raya is endless. He told us about the famous fried oyster omelette and also his favourite “fishball lobak”. I have blogged about the fried oyster omelette a few years ago, you can read it at Famous Fried Oyster Omelette @ Jalan Bunga Raya, Melaka (Malacca) but I have not blog about this “fishball lobak”.

This “fishball lobak” is nameless, the owner would cycle with his stall behind (attached to his bicycle) around the town center. However he would usually stop at Jalan Bunga Raya.

The owner is an old man and his children are reluctant to continue his business due to the tediousness and the hard work needed. He has to wake up every morning at 4 am to prepare and to cook his food. Then, he will cycle to places and stop there to operate his business. He has been doing this for decades.

He often joked with my father and asked us whether are we interested to learn how to make his delicious “fishball lobak”. He feared his good food will not pass on.

Why is it called “fishball lobak”? For those who tasted Melaka’s pale yellow skinned fish ball, the texture and the taste is different with the fishballs from Kuala Lumpur. Melaka’s fish balls fillings are softer and least “bouncy”. According to my father, they would call it fishball or lobak or fishball lobak.

A plate of fishball lobak cost only a few ringgit, it depends how much you want. The fishball lobak consist of fried fishball, crispy “cracker”, fried taufu (beancurd) and fried yam with cucumber and sweet starchy paste and also chili sauce. This is a typical fishball lobak, a Malaccan food which is easily available at most stalls in Melaka. Thus, don’t just eat satay celup or the chicken rice balls, you can also try the fishball lobak.

Wilson Ng