Kuching Restaurants

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You must be nimble to eat in the garden room of Bla Bla Bla, i.e., you have to cross a carp pool on stepping stones. I recommend trying since the food and atmosphere are quite good. Of course, you could just go upstairs and dine in air conditioning, but that's no challenge. Bla Bla Bla gets good TripAdvisor reviews. More than one says that the serving sizes are huge but that was not the case for what I ordered, although there was plenty to eat. See also the videoclip of the garden room.

Favorite Dish: Although some of the daily specials looked good (Egg Floss Halibut, Mongolian Deer, Nestle Prawn, Crispy Lamb, etc.), I ordered ginger deer and garlic river fern with steamed rice from the regular menu. Coincidently that is the same entree mentioned in the last TripAdvisor review. It was tasty but not fantastic. The total bill including cold green tea and tip was RM40.

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Under construction - Henry Lim from Lodge 121 recommended Bistro 56. It was close to my hotel on Jalan Pearl. The entrance is in the back, kind of in a parking lot. You walk through the kitchen to get to the dining area. Their specialty is noodles and BBQ; however, Henry could not go until late (22:15) and they were out by then. The salted pork and eggplant were good though. I went back the next day and took pictures of the outside.

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A number of stalls selling seafood. Do not allow yourself to be harassed by the different stall holders and their helpers. Was warned to ask for menus otherwise i would be fleeced.not every stall had menus so finally settled on the one which could produce one. Known as Ling Loong Seafood Centre. 6 of us had
Midin Garlic (MR$12),
Ladies fingers (MR$10)
Tauhu (beancurd) (MR$10)
Grilled fish which was according to weight (MR$36)
Sotong (Squid) MR$15
Oyster omelette which was different from what they serve in Singapore and Penang MR$20
5 bowls of rice MR$5
Total came to MR$108. a very satisfying meal
Drinks were sold separately

Favorite Dish: Midin is something one must try. it is a forest fern and i have never eaten it before, not in all my travels in Malaysia. Ours was fried with garlic . i was told the one fried with belachan was better but a friend of ours was unwell so we kept to bland non-spicy dishes.The fish was exquisite and so was the beancurd.
Oyster omelette was crispy and not the usual kind found in Singapore

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Was recommended by tourist magazine Borneo Talk. found the food disappointing as it was not spicy enough and the portions were really small. there were 6 of us so we ordered six different sets and shared among ourselves so as to get a sampling of the fare. the beef rendang did not come up to expectations.
quite cosy with interesting knick knacks on the shelf.
prices were very reasonable.

Although Sarawak Laksa is available widely at many coffee shops in town and in the suburbs of Kuching, the Ah Yew Laksa Stall serves one of the better versions, and is very popular among locals.

Do note that there is laksa in many parts of Malaysia, and they are all unique and different.

Favorite Dish: Sarawak Laksa - Vermicelli rice noodles ("bee hoon") in a shrimp-based broth thickened with coconut milk, it is mildly spicy and savoury. (West Malaysians: it is totally different from the Penang Asam Laksa because it is not sour or tangy at all). The noodles are served with lashings of crisp bean-sprouts, and topped with boiled prawns and garnished with freshly shredded chicken & minute slivers of egg rolls! Served with thick sambal paste on the side for those who like their laksa spicier, squeeze on some lime juice ("limau kasturi") for that extra pizzaz.

RM3.00-5.00 per bowl, depending on whether you want added noodles and prawns for the topping.

Then cool yourself down with some ice-barley or fresh sugar cane!

Very yummy, you'll be back for more!

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hot Tip for those in KL: For rather authentic Sarawak Laksa without having to fly all the way to Kuching, you may check out the following joints:

- Restoran Gembira Coffee Shop, Taman Mayang Jaya (go before 1pm or the good stuff will be sold out): RM4-6 per bowl. Besides Sarawak laksa, the Uncle (it's a family business) here sells a good 'kolo mee' too.
- coffee shop in Bangsar Lucky Garden
- The Laksa shop (it is a chain with multiple outlets including at Midvalley Megamall, 1 Utama and Pavillion, Jalan Bukit Bintang) RM8-10 per bowl. Reasonable sized bowl-larger than what you would get at a Coffee shop.

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This food court is on top of a parking garage, hence its name. It's the single best place for seafood in Kuching. There is no fixed menu here. Simply get a plate and go through a buffet line of raw ingredients, select the ones you want and at the end give the plate to the waitress and they will cook it into either a soup or stir fry for you.

The food is a fusion of Chinese, Sarawakian & West. The ambience is superb and the food is great.

Favorite Dish: Try the local vegetable (not found elsewhere) called Midin, I think. The soft-shell crab is also great. Then you can also order an oh-chien which is very different from the West Malaysian type.

This restaurant is actually owned by Lok Thian Restaurant, a fairly famous and established Chinese restaurant in Kuching. The food here is great.

Favorite Dish: Roast duck of course. And while you are there, sample the dim sum like Shanghai dumplings, siew mai, char siew and the likes.