EATING OUT in KUCHING

Kuching has a great deal to offer the adventurous gourmet. As well as typical Malaysian and Western fare, there is a whole range of local delicacies worth trying - see Sarawak Specialties. There were more than a thousand food outlets in Kuching. We strongly recommend those visitors who have a little time get out and about in Kuching's suburbs and make own dining discoveries. Those who like Malaysian food you could discover some best Malay food in Kuching City.

Kolo Mee of Kuching is worth a try. Cooked to perfect softness and coated with an effective bland of oil and vinegar, it is savory and piquant.
Kolo mee or 'koh-loh mein' (egg noodles, flash-boiled and then served with sliced roast pork), This noodle dish comprised of dry egg noodles, which have been quickly blanched and tossed with seasoning such as shallot oil, pork oil and vinegar/ before it's topped with generous servings of sliced char-slew (barbecued pork), minced pork or beef and some leafy greens. Other variants of toppings include prawns, cuttlefish, pork ball and even wanton dumplings.

A bowl of this hearty dish usually starts from RM2.50 and can be found practically everywhere in kopi Ham (coffee shops) and hawker centers.

A few of Kuching's popular Kolo Mee can be found at KY Cafe (Sekama Road), #40 Teck Huat (Open Air Market), Ah Ping Mee Stall (Siang Siang Food Court, Tabuan Jaya), Min Kuan (Carpenter Street), Sin Lian Shin (Green Road) and Ah Pi Kolo Mee (4th Mile Expert Food Court).

Lemang Pandan (Bamboo Rice)
Rice cooked in green bamboo with flavouring from pandan leaves and banana leaves.
Lemang can take up to four hours over wood fire and requires constant attention.
The rice is first infused with pandan and then cooked over open fire or hot charcoal in a bamboo stick that is lined with banana leaves.
Young bamboo is used as it has moisture that cooks and flavours the rice better.

Kuching Laksa (Sarawak Laksa)
Kuching Laksa is a spicy curry soup base served with rice vermicelli.

Spicy coconut belacan (fermented prawn paste) - based broth is poured over ingredients comprising of beehoon (thin rice vermicelli), prawns, shredded chicken, omelette strips and taugeh (bean sprouts), the mouth-watering Sarawak Laksa is a must-have for first-time visitors of Kuching.

Once served, it is best to enjoy it while the dish is still piping hot. If you like an added zing or heat, squeeze some lime juice and add belacan to the your bowl of laksa which is readily available for breakfast, lunch and even dinner at most kopi Ham (coffee shops), hawker centres and even hotels.

Sarawak Laksa is available at :
Chong Choon Cafe (Abell Road),
Foody Goody (Stutong Road),
Chong Hui (Ban Hock Road),
Spring Cafe (Palm Road)
Barett's Laksa (Bormill Estate).

Manok Pansoh
On the other hand, the State is also known for some traditional dishes made popular by the indigenous people of Sarawak. One of these dishes includes the popular Manok Pansoh which has become a regular dish item at various social functions around town.
Originating from the Ibans - the largest ethnic group in the State, Manok Pansoh or Ay am Pansuh (which literally means Bamboo Chicken) is cooked whereby chunks of chicken pieces are stuffed into a bamboo along with other ingredients such as lemongrass, tapioca leaves, mushrooms and even the optional rice wine, and cooked over an open fire.
Through this method of cooking, the bamboo seals in the flavours and imparts a distinctive aromatic flavour to the tender chicken pieces.
To try this tantalising dish for yourselves, Manok Pansoh is available at Aroma Cafe (Tabuan Road), The Cottage (Bukit Mata Road), Nori 10 Cafe, My Village Baruk (Kampung Boyan) and various hotels in Kuching.

STEAMBOAT

HORNBILL CORNER
85 Ban Hock Road, Kuching. 082-252670 Open 5pm - 12:30am

GARDEN STEAMBOAT
Jalan Nanas, Kuching. 082-257777 Open 5pm - 12am

VEGETARIAN FOOD

ZHU SAN YEN VEGETARIAN
Lot 165 Jalan Chan Chin Ann 082-230068 Open 8am - 2:30pm, 5pm - 9pm

LIFE CAFE
108 Ewe Hai Street (Carpenter Street) 082-411754 Open 11am - 10pm

MOMENTS
106 Ewe Hai Street (Carpenter Street)

FAST FOOD
KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN
Sarawak Plaza, Riverside Complex, Wisma Saberkas, Jin Satok, Open 9:30am - 10pm

SUGAR BUN
Riverside Complex, Jalan Satok. Wisma Saberkas & Electra House. Open: 9:30am - 10pm

MC DONALDS
Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kuching. Open 9:30am - 11pm

KYROS KEBAB
Jalan Satok, Kuching. (near Wisma Satok) Open 9am 10pm

ALL JOY BAKERY
No. 8, Khoo Hun Yeang, Kuching

ALL JOY GOOD FOOD CENTRE
U.G. 1A, Grd Fir, Wisma Saberkas

MALAYSIAN FOOD

KHATULISTIWA RESTAURANT
Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kuching. Open 24 hours.

SINGAPORE CHICKEN RICE (SCR)
Jalan Song Thian Cheok & Jalan Rubber, Kuching. Open 10am - 9pm

SUAN CHICKEN RICE
Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kuching.

My Village Baruk
Kampung Boyan
082-375470 / 0168585470 082-448970 Email:baruk@streamyx.com Open 5pm - 1am

JAPANESE FOOD
MINORU
Lot 493-G, Section 10, Rubber Road. 082-251021 Open 11am - 2:30pm, 6pm - 10:30pm

AKIRA
Lower Ground, Sarawak Plaza. Open 10am - 9:30pm

TEN-ICHI (Lok Thian Restaurant)
Bangunan Bee San, Jalan Padungan. 082-331310 Open 11am - 2pm, 6pm 10pm

HANANI JAPANESE RESTAURANT
Lot 94, 3rd Mile, Jalan Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce,
(next to Informatics College) 013-8252214 Open 11am - 3pm / 5pm - 10:30pm

ICHIRO SHABU SHABU
1st Floor, Lot 11379, Tabuan Height PH Commercial Centre, Jalan Song 082-454709 Open 5:30pm -11pm

INDONESIAN FOOD
MINANGKABAU NASI PADANG
168 Jalan Chan Chin Ann, Kuching.

G's MENU NASI PADANG
Jalan Bukit Mata Kuching, Kuching. Open Sam - 10:30pm

INDIAN FOOD

SERAPI RESTAURANT
(Holiday Inn Kuching) 082-423111

BUKHARI CAFE
Jalan Satok, 93400 Kuching (Sunday Market) Open 7am - 5pm

BOLLYWOOD CAFE
66 Carpenter Street, Kuching. 019-4386232 / 019-8170005 Open 8am - 6pm

BRIYANI CAFE
16, Main Bazaar, Kuching. Open 7am - 8pm

AMMAH CURRY HOUSE
Jin Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce, Kuching. (behind Impiana Hotel)

LYN'S TANDOORY
Lorong 4, Nanas Road, Kuching. 082-234934

LL BANANA LEAF
Lrg Rubber 1, Rubber Road, Kuching. Tel: 082-239404 Open 7:30am - 9pm

PRATA a SUCH
Medan Melor, Jalan Kulas, (behind Pizza Junction) 016-8957111 / 019-4399894 Open 8am - 5pm

SAHABAT CAFE
Sect 10, Lorong 7, Salan Satok, Kuching. 012-8830336

AZREEN CAFE
Lorong Satok 12, Jalan Satok, 93400 Kuching.

SRI SHAN Curry B Such
Lot 383, Pesiaran Ban Hock 082-244118 / 012-8893008 Open 7am-10pm (Tue-Sat) 7am-3pm (Mon-Sun)

RAHAMATH CAFE
No 19, Jalan Padungan, Kuching.

THAI FOOD

MANGO TREE RESTAURANT
Jalan Crookshank, Kuching. 082-257886 Open 11am - 2pm, 6pm - 11pm.

COCA RESTAURANT
Level 3, Crown Plaza Riverside Hotel, Open 11:30am - 10:30pm

BANGKOK RESTAURANT
(Lok Thian Restaurant)
Jalan Padungan, Kuching. 082-331310 Open 11am - 2pm, 6pm 10pm

SEAFOOD

TOP SPOT FOOD COURT
Jalan Bukit Mata Kuching, Open 6pm - 10pm

BENSON SEAFOOD
Jalan Abell, Kuching. 082-255262 Open 10am - 10pm

THIAN COURT SEAFOOD
Crown Square, Jalan Pending, Kuching. 082-344497 / 8

ROCK ROAD SEAFOOD
Jalan Rock, Kuching. 082-241575

KUCHING FOOD CENTRE
Jalan Chan Chin Ann, Kuching.

SEA GOOD
off Ban Hock Road, Kuchtng. 082-251397

HONG KONG RESTAURANT
Ban Hock Road, Kuching.

AH KA SU SEAFOOD
17, Green Hill Road, Kuching. Open 7am - 6pm

PURE FISH BALL CAFE
214 Jalan Padungan, Kuching. 082-235816 / 013-8229744
Open 10am - 10pm

COFFEE SHOPS

Coffee-shops with their attendant food-stalls are dotted all over town. Some of the most interesting and traditional ones are found around Jalan Carpenter, Main Bazaar and Padungan Road, The coffee shops on Lebuh Temple are conveniently located near the budget hotels on Jalan Green Hill, and serve a wide selection of dishes, including good roasted chicken rice (Green Hill Cafe).

At lunchtimes, many coffee shops serve economy rice, mixed rice, fast food or nasi campur. These are four different names for the same dish - a plate of rice with portions of meat, fish, curry and vegetables selected from the delicacies on display.

COFFEE BARS

Bing, 84 Pandungan Road. Kuching's trendy cafe hangout. Stylish interior, serves a range of coffees, teas and light snacks. Air-con lounge area at front, open smoking area at the back. WiFi access. Tel: 421880.

Black Bean, 87 Ewe Hai Street. Small cafe located in the heart of old Kuching offering Sarawak-grown coffee and a range of Chinese teas. Tel: 420290. 9.30 am - 6pm. Closed Sun.

Café Cino in the Hilton serves up a range of continental coffees, specialty teas and fresh fruit juices, plus a variety of panini, bagels and sandwiches as well as freshly baked breads and pastries. WiFi access plus two PC terminals for customers' use.

Coffee Bean - the Kuching branch of this international chain can be found on the terrace outside Sarawak Plaza.

Deli Cafe, 88 Main Bazaar. Ground floor coffee bar and patisserie with an art gallery in the 1st floor. WiFi access.

The Seattle Coffee & Tea Co, Merdeka Palace Hotel. Local branch of this famous chain, featuring a very wide range of freshly roasted coffees and freshly brewed teas served with cakes and pastries. WiFi access.

TOP SPOT FOOD COURT
Jalan Bukit Mata Kuching, Kuching. Open actively 5pm - 10pm
A wide range of food stalls set in landscaped surroundings on the breezy top floor of a car park. Choices include Malay curries, Malay and Chinese seafood, clay pot dishes, satay and even steaks. Unusual and very popular.

SAUJANA FOOD COURT
5th floor of the car park near the Mosque, Jalan Masjid, Kuching. Open 7am - 5pm
Take the lift to reach the food centre. Mostly Malay cooking with some stalls selling seafood.

MEDAN PELITA FOOD COURT
(Medan Pelita basement) Wayang Street, Kuching. Open 11am - 5pm
At basement of Star car park complex, Air conditioned food court with stalls selling the full spectrum of hawker favorites. Convenient location near Main Bazaar.

TUN JUGAH FOOD GALLERY
(Tun Jugah Shopping Centre) Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kuching. Open 9am - 9pm
Modern food court on the 2nd floor, with a good choice of food including a selection of Chinese dishes and Malay hawker-stall favorites.

CHINESE FOOD CENTRE
(opposite Chinese temple) Carpenter Street, Kuching Open 7am - 10pm
A wide range of Chinese food stalls. One sells excellent fish balls (afternoons only), while another sells superb fish and prawn soup from late afternoon until late at night.

PETANAK CENTRAL MARKET
Jalan Petanak, Kuching. Open all day and night.
Above the central wet market. Head here early in the morning to soak up the previous night's liquid refreshment. Light snacks, full seafood indulgences, it's all here. While the night-owls tuck in and attempt to stay awake, the market comes alive and a new day begins. Good atmosphere, best at 4 am.

Sarawak Plaza Food Court
Next to Holiday Inn. Good selection of Malay, Chinese, Japanese and Western food stalls in the basement of this busy shopping centre. 10 am to 10 pm.

OPEN AIR MARKET
Jalan Market, Kuching. Open all day and night.
Opposite Electra House. Oddly named, as the whole food market is covered for at least 50 years yet retaining its original name when the location was started as open air food hawkers area. A wide selection of Chinese and Malay food stalls. Some very reasonably priced seafood and noodle stalls operate late into the evening. Famous for beef noodles, rice porridge and fresh soya bean milk.

KUBAH RIA
Jalan Matang, Kuching. (across river near Satok suspension bridge) Open 7am - 10pm
A bit difficult to get to unless you have transport. Try the delicious Sop Kambing (mutton soup) at Doreen Abdullah's, served with noodles, rice or crusty French bread.

Satok Bridge
On river front below Satok bridge. Excellent barbecued chicken and seafood.

LAKE PARK RESTAURANT
(Reservoir Park)
Jalan Taman Budaya, Kuching. Open 5pm - 12am 082-374188

FOOD CENTERS are popular eating places amongst locals. There is always a wide selection of value-for-money stalls and you can select food from as many as you like. If you are not familiar with a dish, just be adventurous and try it.
Recently middle-class restaurants/cafes are booming in Kuching, several of such outlets are established, each competing hard in providing innovative dining atmosphere and food presentation

GO FURTHER

ANIMALS

Wildlife and Environmental Protection in Sabah

ENVIRONMENT

Environment of Tawau

HISTORY & CULTURE

Tawau Cultural Festival

TRAVEL

Tourism in Sabah