Melaka runs on its stomach, and once you look past the chicken rice balls and Nyonya kuih, the state turns out to be one of the best places in the country for a proper seafood feast. The coastline and the old fishing kampungs feed a scene that covers everything, from Chinese zi char kitchens plating steamed fish and butter prawns to spicy shellout pots you tip straight onto the table, and the smoky Portuguese seafood grills out at the Settlement. The catch is fresh, the sauces are loud, and the bill is usually kinder than you would expect for this much crab.
We did the digging so your weekend does not go to waste. Every restaurant here holds a Google rating of 4.0 or higher, pulled from thousands of real diner reviews, and we left out the places that have shut or slipped. We also kept the grilled-fish stalls for our separate Melaka ikan bakar guide, so this list stays focused on sit-down seafood restaurants. From long-running seafood houses in Melaka Raya to crab specialists and late-night siham spots, here are the 10 best seafood restaurants in Melaka to plan your next meal around.
Is There Halal Seafood in Melaka?
Yes, though most of the big-name seafood restaurants on this list are Chinese-run zi char kitchens or pork-serving Portuguese grills, so they are not suitable for Muslim diners. If halal matters to your table, the Portuguese Settlement and Umbai have Muslim-friendly grilled-fish options we cover in our Melaka ikan bakar guide, and there are halal-certified seafood outlets around town. Always confirm the latest certification directly with the restaurant before you book, as status can change and we never assume it.
Zi Char, Shellout or Portuguese Grill: Which Should You Pick?
It comes down to the mood. Chinese zi char spots like Tong Sheng and New Lagoon are the move for steamed fish, cereal prawns and a proper sit-down dinner with rice. Shellout places such as Cengkerang serve mixed seafood boils you eat with your hands, which suits a lively group night. And the Portuguese grills at the Settlement, like De Costa’s 8, are all about charcoal-baked stingray and chilli crab with a sea breeze. We have flagged which is which below so you can match the place to the occasion.
Table of Contents
- 1. Restoran Tong Sheng
- 2. Capitol Seafood Longkang Siham
- 3. Cengkerang Seafood Jumble
- 4. Restaurant Lee Swee Meng
- 5. Restoran New Lagoon
- 6. Da San Yuan Crab Specialty Restaurant
- 7. Caribbi Seafood Village
- 8. City Famous Seafood
- 9. Harbor Village Crab House
- 10. De Costa’s 8 Portuguese Seafood
1. Restoran Tong Sheng
Tong Sheng is the heavyweight of the Melaka Raya seafood scene, a proper Chinese seafood house that fills up fast for both lunch and dinner service. The kitchen is known for cooking the catch to order, and the soy-sauce steamed fish is the dish regulars steer newcomers towards, though the prawns and the house tofu earn their own following. It runs on reservations, so a booking saves you standing at the door, and the two-sitting service means you should turn up on time for your slot. Come with a group, order across the table, and let the fresh seafood do the talking.
Operating Hours: Tue–Sun 11:30 am – 1:30 pm & 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm; Mon closed
Address: 377 & 378, Jalan Melaka Raya 6, Taman Melaka Raya, 75000 Melaka
Tel: 017-631 7811
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
2. Capitol Seafood Longkang Siham
Tucked down a back lane off Jalan Bunga Raya, Capitol is the cult favourite for longkang siham, the tiny clams that give the place its name. It is a rough-and-ready alley setup, all small plates and plastic stools, closer to Malaysian tapas than a formal restaurant, and that is exactly the draw. Order the siham by the plate, add the claypot mala mixed seafood, and keep the drinks coming. It only opens for dinner and it gets busy, so go early or be ready to wait. This is a spot for people who like their seafood cheap, spicy and a little bit hidden.
Operating Hours: Wed–Mon 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm; Tue closed
Address: Jalan Bunga Raya, Kampung Jawa, 75100 Melaka
Tel: 019-364 3912
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
3. Cengkerang Seafood Jumble
Cengkerang has built one of the highest ratings on this list by doing the shellout format properly. This is hands-on eating: a jumble of prawns, crab, clams and corn cooked in the sauce of your choice, tipped onto the table, and attacked with gloves on. The friendly staff walk first-timers through the spice levels and combinations, which takes the guesswork out of your first pot. The setting in Taman 1 Lagenda is casual and made for groups, so bring friends and go messy. It opens for dinner only and skips Wednesdays, so plan the night around it. One of the best value seafood boils in town.
Operating Hours: Thu–Tue 6:00 pm – 11:00 pm; Wed closed
Address: 1, Jalan Lagenda 3, Taman 1 Lagenda, 75400 Melaka
Tel: 011-2074 8852
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
4. Restaurant Lee Swee Meng
A firm favourite for many Melaka regulars, Lee Swee Meng on Jalan Melaka Raya 35 is the kind of honest Chinese seafood and zi char kitchen you end up returning to every trip. The claypot dishes are what people rave about, and the fresh seafood plated up alongside them keeps the table full. It is unfussy, family-run in feel, and priced for a normal dinner rather than a splurge. There is a midday break between lunch and dinner service, and it closes on Wednesdays, so check the timing before you drive over. A dependable, no-drama pick when you want a solid seafood meal with rice.
Operating Hours: Thu–Tue 11:00 am – 2:30 pm & 4:30 pm – 9:00 pm; Wed closed
Address: Jalan Melaka Raya 35, Melaka Raya, 75000 Melaka
Tel: 010-796 2628
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
5. Restoran New Lagoon
Out at Kota Syahbandar, New Lagoon is the big, air-conditioned Chinese seafood restaurant Melaka families lean on for celebrations and Sunday dinners. The menu runs deep, from steamed fish and prawns to the dang gui pork ribs and a spread of home-style dishes that diners say punch above the price. Service is quick and the space is comfortable, which makes it an easy choice when you have a large table and mixed tastes to please. It opens daily with a break in the afternoon. Book ahead for weekends and big groups, then order generously across the seafood and meat sections.
Operating Hours: Daily 11:00 am – 2:30 pm & 5:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Address: 2, Jalan KPKS 3, Kompleks Perniagaan Kota Syahbandar, 75200 Kota Syahbandar, Melaka
Tel: 06-288 0889
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
6. Da San Yuan Crab Specialty Restaurant
If crab is the whole point of your night, Da San Yuan is the address. This open-air institution near Kampung Banda Kaba has been serving Melaka for decades, and the crab dishes are what built its name, cooked zi char style with the wok breath regulars come back for. It is small and a little rough around the edges, with tables spilling outside, but that is the charm of a proper old-school Chinese seafood spot. It opens for dinner only and closes on Mondays, so time your visit. Turn up early, order the crab, and settle in for a hands-on, sauce-everywhere kind of meal.
Operating Hours: Tue–Sun 4:30 pm – 10:30 pm; Mon closed
Address: 100, Jalan Temenggong, Kampung Banda Kaba, 75000 Melaka
Tel: 016-209 2771
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
7. Caribbi Seafood Village
Sitting on Jalan Parameswara, Caribbi is a roomy seafood village that suits big family dinners and group outings. Diners point to the fish head steamboat and the range of live seafood as the reasons to book, and the kitchen keeps the classics coming in generous portions. The setting is casual and easygoing, the sort of place where a long, noisy dinner feels right at home. It opens for both lunch and dinner most of the week, with dinner-only hours over the weekend, so check before a midday visit. Bring a crowd, spread the order wide, and take your time over the seafood.
Operating Hours: Mon–Fri 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm & 4:30 pm – 11:00 pm; Sat–Sun 4:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Address: 178, Jalan Parameswara, Taman Melaka Raya, 75000 Melaka
Tel: 011-1071 4770
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
8. City Famous Seafood
Regulars will happily argue City Famous is the best zi char in Melaka Raya, and the fried fish with its sambal on the side is the dish they send you in for. Beyond that, the threadfin and the otak-otak carry a home-cooked taste that keeps a loyal dinner crowd coming back. It is a straightforward neighbourhood seafood restaurant with friendly service and honest pricing, nothing flashy, just consistently good cooking. Lunch runs daily, while dinner service skips Monday nights, so double-check the timing. Order the fried fish first, then build the rest of the table around it. A quiet local champion worth seeking out.
Operating Hours: Mon 11:30 am – 2:30 pm; Tue–Sun 11:30 am – 2:30 pm & 6:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Address: No. 500, Taman Melaka Raya, 75000 Melaka
Tel: 012-609 0268
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
9. Harbor Village Crab House
On Jalan Merdeka in Taman Melaka Raya, Harbor Village Crab House brings a warm, home-cooked feel to the seafood table, and it holds one of the strongest ratings on this list. The asam pedas stingray is a standout, the chilli crab does the job, and diners single out the friendly boss and attentive staff as much as the food. Pricing is reasonable for the portions, which makes it an easy weekday dinner or a relaxed catch-up spot rather than a special-occasion blowout. It runs afternoons into the night and closes on Wednesdays. Come for the crab and the asam pedas, stay for the hospitality.
Operating Hours: Thu–Tue 1:00 pm – 10:30 pm; Wed closed
Address: 175, Jalan Merdeka, Taman Melaka Raya, 75000 Melaka
Tel: 017-887 9036
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
10. De Costa’s 8 Portuguese Seafood
Rounding out the list, De Costa’s 8 flies the flag for Melaka’s Portuguese seafood tradition, cooking at the open-air Medan Selera in the Portuguese Settlement. This is charcoal-and-sambal territory: fresh crab done salted-egg or black pepper, spicy asam grilled fish, and the baked stingray that regulars order without looking at the menu. Eating here comes with the sea breeze and the buzz of the Settlement stalls around you, which is half the reason people make the trip out. It opens for dinner every night. Point yourself at the crab and the stingray, and let the Kristang flavours carry the evening.
Operating Hours: Daily 4:30 pm – 11:00 pm
Address: Lot 8, Medan Selera MBMB, Perkampungan Portugis, 75050 Melaka
Tel: 011-1253 9271
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
Melaka gives you the full spread of seafood, and the right pick comes down to the night you are planning. For a proper sit-down Chinese seafood dinner with the family, Tong Sheng and New Lagoon are the safe, reliable choices. When the group wants something hands-on and loud, the shellout at Cengkerang or the back-alley siham at Capitol delivers the fun. Crab lovers should point the car at Da San Yuan or Harbor Village, and for that charcoal-and-sea-breeze Kristang flavour, De Costa’s 8 out at the Settlement is worth the drive. Every spot here clears a 4.0 Google rating, so you can book any of them with confidence.
Hours shift and the popular shops sell out or take a rest day, so a quick call or a look at Google before you set off will save you a wasted trip. Round up the crew, come hungry, and let the seafood pile up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which seafood in Melaka is halal?
Most of the seafood restaurants on this list are Chinese-run or serve pork, so they are not suitable for Muslim diners. For halal-friendly seafood, the grilled-fish stalls around Umbai and the Portuguese Settlement are a better bet, and we cover the Muslim-friendly ones in our separate Melaka ikan bakar guide. Always confirm the latest certification directly with the restaurant before you go, as we never assume halal status.
How much does a seafood dinner in Melaka cost?
It depends on the catch. A casual siham or shellout night at spots like Capitol or Cengkerang can land around RM40 to RM70 per person, while a sit-down zi char dinner with steamed fish and crab at Tong Sheng or New Lagoon runs higher once you add live seafood by weight. Crab and prawns are usually priced by the market rate on the day, so ask before you order if you are watching the bill.
Do I need to book a table for seafood in Melaka?
For weekends and larger groups, yes. Popular sit-down restaurants like Tong Sheng and New Lagoon fill up fast and run on reservations, so a call ahead saves you a wait. The alley and shellout spots such as Capitol, Cengkerang and Da San Yuan mostly work on a first-come basis and open for dinner only, so your best move there is to turn up early before the evening rush.
Where is the best seafood in Melaka for a group?
For a big, hungry group, the shellout at Cengkerang and the roomy tables at Caribbi Seafood Village are made for sharing, while Tong Sheng and New Lagoon handle large family dinners with a wide menu. If the group is up for a messier, hands-on night, a shellout pot or a crab feast at Da San Yuan gets everyone stuck in together.
Disclosure: This list was compiled by the team at My Weekend Plan after extensive research and shared opinions to suggest helpful recommendations for the public. The sequence of brands is in no particular order so if you have any other great suggestions too, please email us support@myweekendplan.com.my. For more information, kindly refer to our copyright, privacy & disclosure policy.
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