[Melaka] Hajjah Mona Asam Pedas

• Rating: 2 out of 5

• Price range: Average RM10 and above per meal

• Halal

• Ambiance: Hawker

• Style of cooking: Malay

• Address: 6, Jalan Laksamana 2, Taman Kota Laksamana, Melaka

• Business hour: Daily 5:00PM - 5:00AM; Sunday 9:00AM - 7:00PM

Many years ago, I visited the Hajjah Mona Asam Pedas and it quickly became one of the usual places I bring my Malay friends. Asam pedas is one of the famous dish in Melaka and it is said that your trip to Melaka won't be complete without savoring some asam pedas. But during my recent trip, the experience was quite disappointing. 

The fish pieces were very small, about one third the size of a palm. And the taste of the gravy was too salty. It wasn't spicy and the gravy is diluted. It didn't taste anything like how I remember it used to be. 

Typically, the asam pedas comes with a plate of rice with bean sprout and salted egg. The bean sprout didn't cooked well. Perhaps, the best dish is the salted egg. In Melaka, all asam pedas dishes come with salted egg. This is how the locals eat. 

We ditched the white rice and went for Chinese fried rice. The fried rice was too salty as well. 

You can find packages of nasi lemak on the table. Nasi lemak and asam pedas aren't the best combo, but if eaten by itself, the nasi lemak is too good to resist.

Overall, I think Hajjah Mona Asam Pedas is overrated. It isn't as good as how it used to be. The price is a bit too high for a humble dish. However, this place is still one of the local favourite. 

If you know any good halal asam pedas in Melaka, do recommend to us by commenting below.