For travellers heading to Melaka, Jonker Street is often the obvious stop for the city’s famous chicken rice balls and Nyonya cuisine.
But those willing to venture beyond the usual tourist trail can discover a different side of Melaka’s food scene — including a low-key restaurant tucked inside an industrial area in Ayer Keroh.
Suukee Restaurant, located in Ayer Keroh’s industrial park, serves up Hainanese-style kampung chicken rice, chicken rice balls, Nyonya laksa and other dishes that cater largely to the local crowd.
A Local Spot Away From the Tourist Crowd
Suukee is located at 73 Jalan Eco 2, Zon Industri Ayer Keroh Baru, an area that is hardly what most visitors would associate with a food destination.
The restaurant sits among factories and businesses, where workers looking for a filling lunch are more likely to prioritise hearty food over a photogenic dining experience.
That gives Suukee a distinctly different atmosphere from the restaurants concentrated around Melaka’s historic centre.
The restaurant previously operated in nearby Ayer Keroh Heights before moving to its current premises. Its new location is more polished, with air-conditioning, laminated menus and a dedicated drinks station, but its food retains the straightforward character of a traditional kopitiam.
Kampung Chicken Rice Is the Main Attraction
Suukee’s signature kampung chicken rice is the obvious place to start.
The restaurant uses Hainanese-style preparation, with the kampung chicken described as naturally sweet, tender and springy.
The accompanying oil rice is aromatic and is also available in the restaurant’s distinctive chicken rice balls.
These rice balls are relatively substantial, with the rice tightly packed into compact portions — meaning diners may want to pace themselves before ordering too many.
A bowl of clear soup accompanies the chicken rice, while the restaurant’s chilli sauce adds a sharper, more piquant element to the dish.
For diners who want something different from the standard chicken rice combination, Suukee also serves dishes such as braised chicken feet with mushrooms and crispy fried chicken intestines.
Don’t Skip the Kopi
The drinks menu stays close to Suukee’s kopitiam roots.
One recommendation highlighted in the review is kopi C with butter, which combines coffee with a creamy richness while retaining the strong caffeine kick associated with traditional local coffee.
Those looking for something more soothing can opt for one of the restaurant’s chicken soups with red dates.
The old cucumber and lotus root versions are particularly traditional, evoking the kind of soups commonly associated with home cooking.
Nyonya Laksa With Kampung Chicken
Chicken rice may be Suukee’s signature offering, but the restaurant’s menu also embraces Melaka’s Peranakan culinary heritage.
Among its revamped offerings are Nyonya mee siam with ayam berempah and Nyonya laksa served with Hainanese steamed kampung chicken.
The Nyonya laksa combines a strongly spiced curry paste with a rich, coconut-based broth.
Slices of kampung chicken are placed on top, bringing a springy texture and milder flavour to the creamy laksa.
The combination gives the dish a distinctly local character, bringing together the restaurant’s Hainanese chicken specialty with one of Melaka’s best-known Peranakan dishes.
Traditional Desserts Complete the Meal
Suukee also offers Cantonese-style tong sui, or sweet soups, for dessert.
Options include black glutinous rice with red bean as well as a peanut and sticky rice porridge.
The desserts provide a sweeter and more traditional finish after the richer chicken rice or laksa dishes.
A Convenient Detour From the Main Tourist Route
For visitors entering or leaving Melaka via the Ayer Keroh area, Suukee can offer a convenient alternative to heading into the busy historic centre just for a meal.
Its industrial-park location also means it is geared more towards everyday local dining than destination dining.
The restaurant is open daily from 10am to 9pm.
Suukee Restaurant 速记食坊
73 Jalan Eco 2,
Zon Industri Ayer Keroh Baru, Melaka.
Phone: 014-620 6610.
For travellers looking beyond the familiar Jonker Street food circuit, Suukee offers a taste of another side of Melaka — one where kampung chicken rice, Nyonya laksa, traditional soups and kopitiam coffee are served in an everyday setting where locals can simply drop in for a satisfying meal.
