Restoran Baba Ang — Restaurant in Malacca

Unacceptable treatment by insolent owner. The restaurant is only as good as the dining experience... blacklisting Baba Ang as we were left with very bitter aftertaste.

Calling for more stringent measures by Tourism Malaysia Melaka & Ministry of Tourism to keep businesses involved in culinary tourism in check.

Made dinner rsvn for 31 Aug. On arrival, no welcome nor greeting. Approached owner seated at cashier's to check on booking. Owner just waved us to the table. Diners in search of refined, warm service are well advised to look for it elsewhere. Access to restaurant was through the back, past kitchen stewarding, whilst the "front" is shuttered. Gives the impression that hospitality is not prioritised. Early red flag.

During ordering, daughter checked with server if we could order rice for 2 pax only - server said OK (party of 3 but daughter & I are small eaters). Ordered ikan masak lemak nenas, half portion (need to request, not in menu) sambal babi, 2 rice, 3 drinks & cendol. Sambal babi tasty but swimming in oil; ikan masak lemak a tad fishy tho curry was rich & flavourful.

Whilst having dinner, noticed owner having an issue with staff, ended with him smacking the head of one of them in admonishment. Even if in jest, this was harassment. Cringed at the demeaning behaviour. Second red flag.

Dinner done, proceeded to cashier's to settle bill. Daughter pointed out that we were charged for 3 rice despite only having ordered 2. Owner justifying himself in raised voice - should pay for what we ate, rice charged per head, rice not cheap, setting unfair precedent to other customers.

Daughter’s explanation that she had checked with server prior fell on deaf ears. Repeatedly said we didn’t understand him but did he understand us & acknowledge our issue? I had a spoonful of rice but principle of matter was that we ordered 2 rice, & server consented. Doesn't make sense that diners are auto charged per head for rice, regardless of what we need. Understandable had the rice been refillable, but that’s not indicated - cost structure was tantamount to daylight robbery. If "fairness to the business" is what's being considered, control serving size & charge by the bowl like other establishments. Ludicrous to charge by headcount just coz you are “running a business” and “rice is not cheap”. Precisely why diners should be given a choice to order according to needs, without prejudice, so we don’t waste! If you are cost conscious, so too are we! Questionable business ethics with elements of profiteering. Restaurant targets large groups. Third red flag.

Owner failed to honour what staff had consented to but instead of being contrite, he went on offensive mode. Last straw was his dirty tactic of condescendingly asking my daughter to respect "uncle" who was older, professing that he has a daughter who knows how to respect her elders. Insulting & irrelevant to issue. Hitting it low coz his argument was not valid. Evident when server confirmed what we said. If his idea of respecting the elders is by being a doormat to unethical practices & being submissive simply by virtue of him being older, then good luck to the daughter!

Owner seems to have anger & conflict management issues. Shut me down when I tried to explain. "I am not talking to you!" Displayed arrogance by slapping wad of cash earnings on countertop in show of superiority. Roped in "supporter" by presuming my daughter's boyfriend understands his stance. Despite interjecting numerous times to correct him, "uncle" refused to allow him to talk… believing what he wanted to believe.

Conclusion: Owner is arrogant with blatant disregard for customer service. Shouldn't even be in customer-centric business. In the world of F&B, that would mean satisfying diverse tastes, preferences & expectations. As customers we will exercise the right of choice to avoid unethical businesses.

Be nice to your customers. They make, or break you. Respect is earned. Deal with the issue. If you stand to be corrected, be gracious about accepting it, regardless of...

• on my 3rd visit yesterday (Sunday, eve of PH), as it was my sister's choice. Not mine!

Appointment made for 6-7.30 pm. Arrived at 5.45 but d gates n outside parking areas were closed. Requested to be opened, but they were too arrogant, said it's only open at 6pm. There were half a dozen cars queing up, n main road was busy. Felt like we were begging to be fed! 😭

When we got our preassigned table, there were 3 groups/tables in d small room, but only 1 person taking our orders. This created another bottleneck, n messed up from an otherwise a good culinary experience. Though, Baba Ang himself was polite, I think they shd reevaluate their MO. I'll avoid this restaurant if I were u. 😢

Foodwise, reasonable. Being a Peranakan ourselves, we were very critical of d taste. Udang masak Lemak nanas was better n sweeter this time - maybe d pineapple was sweet. But can't exactly figure out what was missing - maybe kurang Pedas.

Jenahak goreng geram asam was good n crispy, but sayang terlalu garing n dry for some. I love my fresh fish garing on d outside but d flesh shd be still tender n moist on d inside. Braised pork belly was good, better w d chili cuka - good complement. Daun keledek, goreng bawang putih was fine - not over fried, at all. Portions were generous even though we tot we order small dishes.

Cendol durian for RM25 was good for me - though my sis prefer it a little sweeter. Maybe it wud be good if d customers can add themselves (citarasa sendiri) d gula Mlka like what we had at Wagon Cendol in Malim

We had 6 dishes for 6 pax, bill was RM325, I think as I did not get d chance to pay this time.

**On our 2nd visit, we got the chicken buah Keluak dish. Gravy was thick n of the right taste n balance. Chicken pieces were bite sizes. Buah Keluak was a little small than what we used to have at home. Maybe getting harder to buy good large buah Keluak these days. Think I need to check it out at the pasar first 🤗😜🫣

Authentic Nyonya food. Loved the Chicken Buah Keluak though the gravy is slightly watery. Udang masak lemak nenas was fine, could be better if natural santan was used as it was a little sour, maybe from the pineapple. Ayam goreng berlada was fine n the portion was generous. Steamed Sambal bendi was overpriced for such a simple dish; the sambal was good though. Cendol was good, the santan...

If you ever find yourself craving a feast that feels like a warm hug from heritage, Restoran Baba Ang in Malaysia is an absolute must-visit! The moment you step inside, the place greets you with its cheerful Peranakan touches—batik tablecloths, old-school décor, and walls telling the vibrant story of Baba-Nyonya culture. There’s an easy buzz of conversation, happy families, and that inviting, homely scent of spices in the air. Honestly, it’s the type of spot that instantly lifts your mood and makes you want to linger.

The food? Pure comfort with a punch! Their rendang chicken is fall-apart tender, coated in a thick, spicy gravy cooked slow with coconut milk, lemongrass, and a medley of warming spices. The Turmeric Fried Chicken Wing is next-level—crispy skin that crunches with every bite, then reveals juicy, flavorful meat laced with earthy turmeric and a gentle peppery zing. Don’t even get me started on the mutton curry: hearty chunks of mutton and potatoes swimming in a rich, fiery sauce packed with aromatic spices. It’s the kind of dish that begs to be mopped up with rice.

You have to try the Telur Dodar Cincalok too—it’s this fluffy omelette jazzed up with cincalok, giving it a tangy shrimp kick that’s super moreish. Kangkung belacan is definitely a favorite: water spinach expertly stir-fried with spicy, fragrant shrimp paste that hits all the right savory notes. Save space for Cendol Baba! This dessert is a tropical dream in a bowl—smooth coconut milk, pandan jellies, and lashings of sweet palm sugar syrup over shaved ice, perfect for cooling down.

And before you leave, check out their snacks-selling corner! From traditional kuih to Nyonya rice dumplings bursting with seasoned pork, mushrooms, and sticky glutinous rice, there’s no shortage of treats to bring home. Trust me, you’ll be tempted to load up—because at Baba Ang, the flavors and the memories stick with you, long after your...