Sarawak Tourism Board
5 Best Food To Try In Sarawak And Where To Find Them
Despite what an international website thinks of our local food recently, Malaysia is a food haven; there’s no question about that.
And when it comes to food havens in the country, states like Penang, Ipoh and Melaka come to mind, and for good reason.
But did you know that Sarawak, too, has their own unique dishes too? In fact, some of these dishes can only be found in the Land of the Hornbills!Advertisement
Sure, you can find these dishes in the city, but why settle for imitation when you can have the real deal in Sarawak?
If you’re wondering what these dishes are, sit back and prep your tummies, because we at Rojak Daily will be sharing ‘em with you now:
How can you go to Sarawak and not have Kolo Mee? One of the more famous Sarawakian dishes, you can consume this mee in various ways and flavours: barbeque pork oil, dark soy sauce or spicy soy sauce. The noodles used for Kolo Mee is springier than the typical wantan mee, so you’ll get a totally flavourful and satisfying meal.
#1 Kolo Mee
How can you go to Sarawak and not have Kolo Mee? One of the more famous Sarawakian dishes, you can consume this mee in various ways and flavours: barbeque pork oil, dark soy sauce or spicy soy sauce. The noodles used for Kolo Mee is springier than the typical wantan mee, so you’ll get a totally flavourful and satisfying meal.Our recommendation:
Although you can find Kolo Mee almost anywhere in Sarawak, tourists and locals alike will most likely recommend you to check out the one served at Oriental Park Café. Located in a small alley in Gertak Lane, this café offers two types of kolo mee: red and white. They even make their bouncy egg noodles in-house, so you know you’ll be getting something good.
Oriental Park Café
Although you can find Kolo Mee almost anywhere in Sarawak, tourists and locals alike will most likely recommend you to check out the one served at Oriental Park Café. Located in a small alley in Gertak Lane, this café offers two types of kolo mee: red and white. They even make their bouncy egg noodles in-house, so you know you’ll be getting something good.Address: Gertak Lane, 93000 Kuching, Sarawak
Hours: Daily, 7am-1pm
Phone: 082-419 124
How unique is this dish, you ask? Well, it even has the word ‘Sarawak’ in its name, so you know it’s one of the die-die-must-try dishes/desserts when you’re in Sarawak. The colourful and flavourful Kek Lapis, also known as the Sarawak Layer Cake, is synonymous with the state. The cake has a firm texture, and the layers are usually ‘stuck’ together using jam. There’s no way you can go to Sarawak and not eat or bring one home.
#2 Kek Lapis Sarawak
How unique is this dish, you ask? Well, it even has the word ‘Sarawak’ in its name, so you know it’s one of the die-die-must-try dishes/desserts when you’re in Sarawak. The colourful and flavourful Kek Lapis, also known as the Sarawak Layer Cake, is synonymous with the state. The cake has a firm texture, and the layers are usually ‘stuck’ together using jam. There’s no way you can go to Sarawak and not eat or bring one home.Our recommendation:
If you’re looking to bring home some Kek Lapis Sarawak, you can find none better than those sold at Kek Lapis Dayang Salhah. The small little shop is located on the opposite side of the Waterfront Main Bazaar, so you would have to pay RM1 to cross the river, but don’t worry, it’s well worth the price. They sell a wide variety of Kek Lapis, so you’ll definitely be spoilt for choice.
Kek Lapis Dayang Salhah
If you’re looking to bring home some Kek Lapis Sarawak, you can find none better than those sold at Kek Lapis Dayang Salhah. The small little shop is located on the opposite side of the Waterfront Main Bazaar, so you would have to pay RM1 to cross the river, but don’t worry, it’s well worth the price. They sell a wide variety of Kek Lapis, so you’ll definitely be spoilt for choice.Address: Petra Jaya, 40, Jalan Gersik, Kampung Gersik, 93050 Kuching, Sarawak
Hours: Daily, 9am–11pm
Phone: 082-445 040
Penang and Johor usually hog the limelight when it comes to laksa, but Sarawak Laksa is more than capable enough to give them a serious run for their money. What makes the Sarawak Laksa different is that the base of the laksa broth is cooked by adding prawn shells into it. Together with the spicy yet tangy soup base, rice vermicelli is topped with peeled prawns, omelette strips, bean sprouts, chicken strips and coriander leaves. Sounds like the perfect dish for rainy weather, don’t you think?
#3 Sarawak Laksa
Penang and Johor usually hog the limelight when it comes to laksa, but Sarawak Laksa is more than capable enough to give them a serious run for their money. What makes the Sarawak Laksa different is that the base of the laksa broth is cooked by adding prawn shells into it. Together with the spicy yet tangy soup base, rice vermicelli is topped with peeled prawns, omelette strips, bean sprouts, chicken strips and coriander leaves. Sounds like the perfect dish for rainy weather, don’t you think? Our recommendation:
You know they serve one of the best Sarawak Laksa in town when the late Anthony Bourdain is a huge, huge fan of this small little café. In fact, Bourdain, who first visited Choon Hui Café in 2005, has returned many times for their Sarawak Laksa, once even buying a round of meals for all the patrons in the café at the time. They serve the laksa filled to brim with spices you can only get in Sarawak, as well as king prawns, poached chicken and omelette strips. But be warned though: you may have to wait a while, but hey, good things are worth the wait.
Choon Hui Café
You know they serve one of the best Sarawak Laksa in town when the late Anthony Bourdain is a huge, huge fan of this small little café. In fact, Bourdain, who first visited Choon Hui Café in 2005, has returned many times for their Sarawak Laksa, once even buying a round of meals for all the patrons in the café at the time. They serve the laksa filled to brim with spices you can only get in Sarawak, as well as king prawns, poached chicken and omelette strips. But be warned though: you may have to wait a while, but hey, good things are worth the wait.Address: 34, Jalan Ban Hock, 93100 Kuching, Sarawak
Hours: Daily, 6:30am–12pm
Phone: 082-243 857
If you’re looking for a dish that’s exclusive to Sarawak, this is it. Only found in the state of Sarawak, the dish is exactly as it sounds: a plate of fried kueh tiaw drowned in a generous amount of tomato sauce. If you’re having a bad day, we can guarantee that a plate of Tomato Kueh Tiaw will cheer you up as it is the perfect comfort food for people of all ages.
#4 Tomato Kueh Tiaw
If you’re looking for a dish that’s exclusive to Sarawak, this is it. Only found in the state of Sarawak, the dish is exactly as it sounds: a plate of fried kueh tiaw drowned in a generous amount of tomato sauce. If you’re having a bad day, we can guarantee that a plate of Tomato Kueh Tiaw will cheer you up as it is the perfect comfort food for people of all ages.Our recommendation:
You can find one of the more pocket-friendly but still super yummy Tomato Kueh Tiaw at the Hui Sing Hawker Center, located at Taman Hui Sing in Kuching. Head on over to Stall No. 9 and order yourself a plate of Tomato Kueh Tiaw as it comes with a generous amount of kueh tiaw, chicken strips, char siew and fish cakes. Yummy food without breaking the bank? We like!
Stall No. 9 (Hup Ghim Heng), Hui Sing Hawker Center
You can find one of the more pocket-friendly but still super yummy Tomato Kueh Tiaw at the Hui Sing Hawker Center, located at Taman Hui Sing in Kuching. Head on over to Stall No. 9 and order yourself a plate of Tomato Kueh Tiaw as it comes with a generous amount of kueh tiaw, chicken strips, char siew and fish cakes. Yummy food without breaking the bank? We like!Address: Taman Hui Sing, 93350 Kuching, Sarawak
Hours: Daily, 5pm–11pm
Phone: N/A
Another one of Sarawak’s most unique dishes, the broth in a typical Kueh Chap dish is cooked using pork ribs and slices of ‘kueh’. ‘Kueh’, if you’re wondering, is something like a rice cake, and it is complimented with pork slices and innards, such as pig intestines, braised egg and dried bean curd. Coupled with the broth, the flavour of the dish is to die for.
#5 Kueh Chap
Another one of Sarawak’s most unique dishes, the broth in a typical Kueh Chap dish is cooked using pork ribs and slices of ‘kueh’. ‘Kueh’, if you’re wondering, is something like a rice cake, and it is complimented with pork slices and innards, such as pig intestines, braised egg and dried bean curd. Coupled with the broth, the flavour of the dish is to die for.Our recommendation:
With over 34 years of experience, Woon Lam Café is the place to be if you want to have the best Kueh Chap in your life. According to locals, the owner of the stall is very particular about the freshness of the ingredients he uses, so he personally goes to the market himself every morning to purchase them. The crowd, however, is something you would have to brace for, but the wait time is totally worth it.
Woon Lam Café
With over 34 years of experience, Woon Lam Café is the place to be if you want to have the best Kueh Chap in your life. According to locals, the owner of the stall is very particular about the freshness of the ingredients he uses, so he personally goes to the market himself every morning to purchase them. The crowd, however, is something you would have to brace for, but the wait time is totally worth it.Address: 187-189, Jalan Song Thian Cheok, 93100 Kuching, Sarawak
Hours: Daily, 6am–6pm
Phone: 082-244 929
This list got you hungry, and you can’t wait to fly to Sarawak just to fill your tummy with these yummy dishes?
There’s no better time to visit Sarawak then this year-end, especially when the school holidays is just around the corner.
The ‘Visit Sarawak’ campaign is now underway, and the Sarawak Tourism Board has tonnes of events and promotions lined up for you.
From places to visit to things to do and of course, restaurants to try all the dishes we mentioned above, the Sarawak Tourism Board is more than happy to help make your trip to Sarawak the best family vacation you’ve ever had.In fact, you could contact them directly to get some recommendations, and they’ll be glad to help plan out your itinerary. Just treat them as your personal travel guide.
And here’s more good news: the Sarawak Tourism Board wants to send you and a friend (or a family member) to Sarawak for a FREE three-day-two-night stay via their ‘Jom Makan Angin Di Sarawak’ contest.
All you have to do is click on this link, insert your most creative caption and voila, you’re in the running to win a free holiday to Sarawak.So, what are you waiting for? Put on your creative thinking cap and start cracking, because a free trip to Sarawak waits for no man (or woman).
For more info on events and promotions, head on over to official 'Visit Sarawak' Facebook page by clicking here.
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