Food
Top 9 Food Spots in Kuching, Sarawak You Absolutely Can NOT Miss!
Get mouth-watering treats right in your feed! Like us:Now when we talk about Malaysia being a foodie’s paradise, we often talk about West Malaysia a lot, where the Peninsula lies. After all, with popular makan capitals like Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh and Penang, its hard to deny the region of its crowning status. HOWEVER, you’ll be surprised to know that West Malaysia doesn’t loose out on the foodie reputation ether. Discover a food haven in Kuching with these nine hotspots located within Sarawak’s capital, and be ready to salivate in the city of fluffy kitties! Listed in no particular order.
1. Chong Choon Cafe @ Jalan Chan Chin Ann
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No list about food in Kuching can truly be complete without first mentioning Chong Choon Cafe, typically the first stop to most Kuching food-itineraries. That’s for good reason too, because its Sarawak laksa is truly second to none. But bear in mind that they sell out ridiculously quickly, so come early ahead of all other places on your laundry list!
Reasons to visit/tips:
- Historically famed Sarawak laksa continues to bring in hoards of customers through the years with its rich broth that is prepared early in the morning.
- Come before 11:00am if you want to stand a chance to enjoy the laksa, as they are known to be sold out by noon!
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Address: 275, Jalan Chan Chin Ann, 93100 Kuching, Sarawak
Operating hours: Daily (6:30am – 12:30pm)
Contact: 012 – 856 2811
2. Noodle Descendants @ Jalan Pandugan
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There are a number of dishes that Kuching is famous for, but none are quite as famous as compared to Sarawak kolo mee. Similar to the Hong Kong kon lou wantan mee (dry-tossed wonton noodles), Kuching’s interpretation is served with red-rimmed char siew and minced meat in a clear sauce. Noodle Descendants located along Jalan Pandungan does the recipe justice and with a name that implies generations worth of business, how good the food is goes undisputed.
Reasons to visit/tips:
- The kolo mee and pork offal soup are guaranteed delicious; the broth in the latter is especially memorable for the sweetness it is imbued by the meticulously cleaned pork offal.
- Come early, as this store attracts wraparound lines. Patience is paramount, and expect to have to spend at least an hour’s worth of time between waiting for your seat and being served. Well worth it!
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Address: No. 188, Jalan Padungan, 93100 Kuching, Sarawak
Operating hours: Daily (6:30am – 12:30pm)
Contact: 012 – 856 2811
3. The Venue @ Jalan Airport
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This may SOUND like a posh private club or an upscale restaurant, but you’ll be surprised to know that The Venue in Kuching is in reality a Chinese seafood restaurant that is incredibly popular with local patrons. However, just like an upscale nightclub in T.R.E.C, you’ll be hard pressed to find a seat as a walk-in customer, especially when considering the long list of reservations.
Reasons to visit/tips:
- Book ahead to guarantee a spot, as tables in this restaurant fly quicker than cheap AirAsia tickets.
- The roast duck, with its incredibly crisp, thin skin and juicy meat, is d-i-v-i-n-e.
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Address: RH Plaza Commercial Centre, Off Jalan Airport, Lorong Lapangan Terbang 1, Kuching, 93250, Kuching, Sarawak
Operating hours: Wednesdays and Mondays (5:00pm – 11:00pm), all other days (10:00 am – 2:00pm, 5:00pm – 11:00pm)
Contact: 082 – 575204
4. Woon Lam Cafe 1999 @ Jalan Song Thian Cheok
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If you’ve never heard of kueh chap, you won’t be alone as its not a wildly popular dish among the Chinese diaspora in East Malaysia. A pork-based dish, its served with flat rice noodles and plenty of pork bits, from meat to innards, coated in a dark broth lined with shallot oil. Think bak kut teh, but with a few changes! So if all that gets your motor rumbling, then visit Woon Lam Cafe 1999 for some of the best kueh chap in Kuching.
Reasons to visit/tips:
- The kueh chap, brewed with a variety of spices and ingredients and filled to the brim with pork meat and various pork offal, will please pork lovers without question.
- The char kueh (fried rice cake) sold next to the kueh chap store is also a hit with restaurant patrons.
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Address: 187-189, Jalan Song Thian Cheok, 93100 Kuching, Sarawak
Operating hours: Daily (6:00am – 6:00pm)
5. Ah Kheng Belacan Bee Hoon @ Jalan Padungan
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This one is probably for the more adventurous eaters out there, as belacan bee hoon has a reputation for being a divisive dish. Plenty of Kuching locals love it, and turn to Ah Keng Belacan Bee Hoon when they have a craving. We’ll let you decide whether you like the dish or not, with its pungent belacan gravy flavour and the slices of cuttlefish that it comes served with.
Reasons to visit/tips:
- Sweet and salty tasting belacan gravy is poured over a bed of crisp, al dente bee hoon noodles, topped with slices of cuttlefish. Equal parts crunchy, chewy, and flavourful, according to locals!
- It’s strongly advised that you enjoy your noodles with a side of century egg to help tone down the taste of belacan.
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Address: Jublee Ground Hawker Centre Food & Drink, Stall No.1, Jalan Padungan, 93100 Kuching, Sarawak
Operating hours: Daily (12:00am – 6:00pm)
Contact: 016 – 808 9909
6. Tan Wan Kung @ Jalan Datuk Wee Kheng Chiang
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Obviously there isn’t just one kolo mee vendor in Kuching, which is arguably the very capital of kolo mee. Tan Wan Kung is another recommendation that scores high among kolo mee fans. This is especially true of the locals, who frequently occupy most of the tables here. If you’re looking for a less touristy kolo mee stall, then this one is the place to be.
Reasons to visit/tips:
- Super springy noodles that have a slight bite to them make this kolo mee particularly delightful. It isn’t mushy, and when topped with delicious, red-rimmed slices of char siew, you’re in for a truly unforgettable treat.
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Address: Lot 285, Jalan Datuk Wee Kheng Chiang, 93450 Kuching, Sarawak
Operating hours: Tuesdays to Saturdays (7:00am – 1:00pm, 3:00pm – 9:00pm), Sundays (7:00am – 1:00pm), closed on Mondays
Contact: 016 – 866 1243
7. 333 Fried Kway Teow @ Lor Wan Alwi 5
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Located in Yu Yuan Cafe, 333 Fried Kway Teow is well-remembered for its smoky flavour. Using the age-old method of cooking with charcoal, the stall draws in a large crowd for its varieties of char kway teow recipes. That’s alongside the other foods they serve here, which are also crowd-pleasers of equal merit.
Reasons to visit/tips:
- A number of different recipes are available for their signature char kway teow, but all are cooked the same over a charcoal fire. We recommend the salted-egg fried kway teow for its slightly gritty, savoury flavour that lingers on the tongue.
- The BBQ pork rice here is also a must try, but that’s assuming that it’s available! Tender, but still coming in with a springy bite, it’s truly a treat for the senses.
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Address: Yu Yu Yuan Cafe, 7, Lor Wan Alwi 5, Taman Wan Alwi, 93300 Kuching, Sarawak
Operating hours: Opens daily, except on Sundays (6:00pm – 10:00pm)
8. Old Rex Cucur Udang Cafe @ Rubber Road
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Cucur udang is a local snack that when consumed, can grow to become quite addictive. Made out of small prawns embedded in batter before being deep fried, these prawn fritters are often sold on their own, or served to accompany another dish. Think a savoury cookie meant for dunking in your soup! Old Rex Cucur Udang Cafe has a strong reputation for this delicious treat, and it’s been keeping a steady stream of customers coming back for years.
Reasons to visit/tips:
- Delightfully crispy cucur udang can be found here, served alongside dishes such as belacan beehoon. Never too greasy and tasting of prawns with every bite, you’ll be hard pressed to find fault with the cucur udang.
- The restaurant also has a signature drink called no mi teng, served with barley seeds, agar-agar, nata de coco, as well as fruits, set atop a hill of ice and syrup. Almost like ABC, only different!
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Address: 437-438, Rubber Road (Behind Singapore Chicken Rice), 93400, Kuching, Sarawak, 93400
Operating hours: Opens daily, except on Mondays (6:30am – 5:00pm)
Contact: 019 – 829 0029
9. Mira Cake House @ Jalan Brooke
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Kuih lapis translates from Malay into ‘layered cake’, and true to its namesake, these delectable little pieces of rainbow cakes are baked layer by layer, before being set atop one another and cut into sections, revealing a rainbow of buttery goodness in every bite. Famed in Sarawak where it hails from, there’s no better place to sample and buy a box of these delicious cakes home than at Mira Cake House.
Reasons to visit/tips:
- Highly reputed for their kuih lapis, this cake house has over fifty (yes, 50!) different types of kuih lapis variations for you to choose from.
- Cakes bought here are made in the traditional kuih lapis basah style, which tastes considerably more moist.
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Address: 43, Jalan Brooke, Kampung Gersik, 93050 Kuching, Sarawak
Operating hours: Daily (8:00am – 12:00am)
Contact: 082 – 440 077
Want to see more stuff like this? Don’t forget to like Munch to find out more about mouth-watering spots all over Malaysia!
Also read: These 5 Must-Try Chinese Restaurants in KL Share Over 200 Years of History Combined!
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