For buffet fans, Plaza Market Cafe, which serves Peranakan cuisine with an international twist, is a pretty good bet with its homely setting. The window blinds feature vintage-inspired images, adding an old-school vibe to the place that we like. Plus, the food is competent—it can’t beat those found in classic Peranakan restaurants like The Blue Ginger and House of Peranakan Cuisine—but its buffet format is a draw for families. We especially liked the babi ponteh (pork served with soy sauce)—the meat pieces were substantial, tender and succulent. The assam gulai (curry fish) was also a hot favorite—the fish meat may have been a tad tough, but the gravy was spicy and sour. But what took the cake was the dessert oh ni (hot yam pudding served with ginko nuts). It was one of the best we’ve ever had and was not too sweet—even comparable to those found in Malacca. The bak kut teh (pork ribs in herbal soup) here was also superb: The meat was soft and the fragrant herbal soup, better than those in Kuala Lumpur. This place should focus more on its Peranakan selection that it’s strong in and do away with its Western and Japanese counters which really don’t add much. With that, Plaza Market Cafe could perhaps excel in dishes like ayam buah keluak (chicken cooked with a truffle-like black nut) and popiah.
Plaza Market Cafe is now Asian Market Cafe.
