Whenever I visit Melaka, I have a few "standard" eateries I'd visit without fail. One of them is Donald & Lily, a Nyonya food restaurant serving simple yet delectable Nyonya delights!
Donald & Lily has been around since around 1980, operating just as a small stall back then, but has since evolved and now occupies an entire shop lot at Taman Kota Syah Bandar! It is just about 5-10 minutes' drive from Melaka old town area. Parking there is a breeze - lots of parking lots, and no parking touts nonsense...yet. (please remain this way).
Who are Donald and Lily, you might wonder? They are the husband and wife team that owns this shop. You will see their portraits around the interior of this shop. Donald & Lily is only open for breakfast/brunch/lunch from 9:30am to 3:30pm. Do come early to avoid disappointment, as I've read many reviews claiming that some of the popular food items get sold out post-1/2pm!
Because of the restrictions imposed during MCO, the seating capacity of Donald & Lily has been reduced. It has always been a popular place and now with the limited seating capacity, expect to wait if you arrive at peak hour (after 12pm!).
It used to be a self-service restaurant where you order and pay at the counter, but I noticed that the waiters are now taking orders from the table instead, from my two visits during RMCO (Once in July, and once in September).
The Food
There are only a few items on the menu of Donald & Lily. Expect the usual Nyonya Food suspects such as Nyonya Laksa, Mee Siam and Popiah. One food item that really caught my eyes (& taste buds and my heart) is Nasi Ketuk Ayam Rendang, which literally translates to "Knocked Rice with Chicken Rendang".
My theory on why it's called Nasi Ketuk - the chicken was cooked till so tender it slides off the bones easily, as though it has been "ketuk"-ed many times :p Do yourself a favour and order this dish, please! This is definitely my favourite dish there - the rendang and sambal were fragrant and not too spicy (for me, I recognise my spiciness tolerance as "mild"). ON TOP OF THAT they used the blue rice (rice infused with blue pea/butterfly flower!). Always thought that rice tastes better when it's cooked this way :)
Rich. Creamy. Fragrant. Not toooo spicy. I love this. Nuff said.
There's also the extreme/premium version of Nyonya Laksa with seafood that is seemingly rather popular too, served only on weekends here at Donald & Lily. Never tried it before and probably won't be trying it out anytime soon, as I'm not too much of a fan of seafood.
Cendol RM5.40
This is by far my favourite cendol in Melaka, simply because it's not too sweet and the gula melaka used isn't too thick unlike some very famous place along Jonker Street ahem. But taste is subjective :) What I like might not be the same as what you like! And do share with me what's your favourite place for cendol too!
I've been to Donald & Lily countless time, and they've never failed to disappoint me so far :) But again, taste is subjective. Try at your own risk!
No. 16, Jln KSB 1,
Taman Kota Shah Bandar,
75200, Melaka
Opening Hours:
Wednesday - Sunday, 9:30am - 3:30pm (Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/donaldandlily/
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