Kuching Restaurant Tips by Sambawalk

BING Coffee: A laid-back cafe with a Balinese theme

A laid-back cafe with a Balinese theme that serves excellent Lattes and fresh fruit juices. They are also popular for their cakes, deli-style gourmet sandwiches and light meals.

They have very very confortable sitting. A cup of cafe latte RM9 (Apr 2009). I was sitting there at noon time for 1.5 hours, enjoying the coffee and reading and be away from noon heat!).

Address: Padungan Road

Comparison: more expensive than average

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 4

Theme: American

Any local coffee shop: Kolok Mee

Kolok Mee is a type of noodle dish commonly found in Sarawak. It is served throughout the day - for breakfast, lunch or even supper (though some eateries only serve kolok mee until noon because supplies run out). It is made of egg noodle, blanched in water that looks like instant noodle and served in a light sauce with some condiments like sliced pork, chicken cutlets, minced meat or sometimes (quite rare) shredded beef. The difference between Kolok Mee and Wantan Mee, which is popular in the Peninsula, is that Kolok Mee is not drenched in dark soy sauce and water is not added to the noodles when served. Kolok mee comes in two common flavors: plain or seasoned with red sauce (cooks tend to seasoned kolok mee with red sauce when they are served with pork). Occasionally, diners can also request their kolok mee to be seasoned with soy sauce, to give the dish a darker appearance and enhance its saltiness.

A dish can cost about RM3-4 (Apr 2009).

Comparison: about average

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 3

Theme: Local

Choon Hui cafe: Sarawak Laksa

Sarawak Laksa is the most noticably Sarawakian food in Kuching. It was a favourite among Sarawakian from Chinese and Malay decent. It has a base of Sambal belacan, sour tamarind, garlic, galangal, lemon grass and coconut milk, topped with omelette strips, chicken strips, prawns, fresh coriander and optionally lime. Ingredients such as bean sprouts, (sliced) fried tofu or other seafood are not traditional but are sometimes added. Non-Halal Sarawak Laksa can be found at most Chinese coffee shops while Halal Sarawak Laksa can be found at most Malay coffee shops (and some Mamak too). Halal and non-Halal Sarawak Laksa don't have so much difference, except with the usage of halal chicken meat, and the cooking utensils used by the cook. Chinese-version of Sarawak Laksa has less thicker gravy but rich with condiments and toppings, while Malay-version of Sarawak Laksa has thicker gravy but more 'taugeh' (or beansprouts).

Choon Hui cafe, Jln. Ban Hock (near Grand Continental Hotel) is one of the two famous laksa joint. Spicy and popular, get here before 10 AM.

It costs RM4 (Apr 2009)

Address: Jln. Ban Hock (near Grand Continental Hotel)

Comparison: about average

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 4

Theme: Local

Khatulistwa restro: Nice ceasar salad by waterfront

The restaurant is by the waterfront which has excellent river view. More importantly, the restaurant has very excellent ceasar salad (RM9, Apr 2009). Be sure you have it when you visit next time.

Comparison: about average

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 5

Theme: Local

James Brook restro: Nice restro & bistro by waterfront

It is a nice bistro to have a glass of afternno beer (RM9, Apr 09) and french fries (RM5). It is just by the waterfront.

Address: It is just by the waterfront.

Comparison: about average

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 4

Theme: Other