Eating Local Food in Kuching
Eating local food in Kuching is a must-do experience for any foodie traveller visiting the capital city of Sarawak. The flavours, ingredients, and cooking styles here are very different from those you commonly find in West Malaysia, making Sarawakian cuisine truly unique. From traditional Chinese coffee shops and riverside cafes to hidden local eateries around the famous Kuching Waterfront, visitors can easily discover a wide variety of authentic local dishes simply by exploring the town on foot.
Whenever I visit Kuching town, especially around the Waterfront area, I always enjoy searching for new restaurants and cafes serving exotic Sarawakian food, such as the famous Ayam Pansoh shown in the picture above. This traditional dish is prepared by cooking chicken with local herbs in bamboo over an open fire, giving it a delicious smoky aroma and a tender texture. Besides Ayam Pansoh, visitors should also try popular local favourites such as Sarawak Laksa, Kolo Mee, and Midin Belacan to fully experience Sarawak’s rich and diverse food culture.
Sarawak Laksa in Kuching
It has been quite a long time since I last wrote about food, and this time I decided to focus on Sarawakian cuisine because it is truly unique compared to the usual local Malaysian food found in West Malaysia. Among the many famous dishes in Kuching, Sarawak Laksa easily sits right at the top of the list as one of the most iconic foods visitors must try when exploring the capital city of Sarawak.
Many local travellers visit Kuching specifically to enjoy this special savoury noodle dish, which can be found throughout the city and the state. You will often hear locals, taxi drivers, and even tour guides recommending their favourite places to eat Sarawak Laksa in Kuching. Personally, I have tried many different versions over the years, and honestly, I still cannot decide which one is the best because every bowl seems to have its own unique flavour and charm that makes it memorable in its own way.
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| Sambal Sotong Sarawak (Squid Sambal). |
Borneo Delight Restaurant in Kuching
Borneo Delight Restaurant & Cafe is a simple and modest eatery located in the heart of Kuching, but what makes this place special is the wide selection of authentic Sarawakian dishes that are often difficult to find elsewhere. Apart from local Sarawak food, the restaurant also serves a variety of Chinese and Western dishes, making it a comfortable dining spot for both locals and travellers exploring Kuching town.
For those visiting on a hot day, cold beer is also available on the menu, but I would strongly recommend trying some of the traditional Sarawak food here instead. Popular dishes include the famous Ayam Pansoh, or Pansoh Chicken, traditionally cooked in bamboo; the ever-popular Sarawak Laksa; and the unique Umai, a traditional raw fish salad especially popular among local communities in Sarawak. Borneo Delight Restaurant & Cafe is located at Number 13, Wayang Street, just beside the well-known Hong San Si Temple in the old part of Kuching city.
Midin Sarawak
One of the recommended local dishes to try in Kuching was Midin, a unique Sarawak delicacy made from wild jungle fern stir-fried with spicy shrimp paste chilli. To fully experience the flavours, I ordered two different versions of the dish to compare the taste and preparation styles. One was served as a kerabu-style salad, while the other was prepared in the more traditional stir-fried style, allowing me to enjoy the distinct flavours of both.
Many locals say that some of the best Midin is actually home-cooked by Sarawakian housewives, with family recipes and cooking techniques passed down for generations. While the dish can still be found at select restaurants around Kuching, it is not always easy to find at regular local coffee shops, though some traditional eateries may occasionally have it on their menus. For visitors wanting to experience authentic Sarawak food, Midin is definitely a must-try local delicacy when visiting Kuching.
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| Midin Sarawak with Prawn/ |
The final dish I tried was the Prawn Umai, a traditional Sarawakian delicacy in which fresh raw prawns are carefully prepared and beautifully presented with sliced vegetables and local seasonings. Umai is a popular local salad dish in Kuching and is especially well-loved among the coastal communities of Sarawak for its refreshing and natural flavours.
These days, visitors can find many different variations of Umai throughout Kuching and other parts of Sarawak, ranging from fresh fish and cuttlefish to prawns and even octopus. While the more traditional versions are still served at local eateries, many modern and creative Umai dishes are now commonly found in trendy cafes and contemporary restaurants across Sarawak, giving this classic local delicacy a contemporary twist while preserving its authentic flavours.
My Food Tours around Kuching was handled by Borneo Tropical Adventures as I had made arrangements with them to take me to several places around Kuching. One of the highlights was to see the famous Sarawak Sea Stack at the Bako National Park. Apart from that, I did my daily walks around the Kuching Waterfront in town while I also visited the famous Serikin Market at the border of Sarawak and Kalimantan.
Kuching is a large area but to move around there, you need to engage the services of a tour company as getting from one place to another takes about an hour or more. So you need to plan your itinerary or let the travel company know what you want to do and where you want to go in Kuching.
Conclusion
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