Places to eat in State of Sarawak

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Café Mulu is the only place to eat at Mulu Park headquarters. Although there are a few options just across the suspension bridge in the village on the other side of the river, most of the people I met that were staying in the village came to the Cafe Mulu to eat. It is open daily from 07:30 to 21:00. Cafe Mulu is an open air restaurant which serves both local foods western dishes. The dining area is the veranda in front. There is also a patio on the side where you may relax, read, meet other travellers, or play some of the games provided. Alcohol cannot be sold in the Park but you may bring your own to drink with your meal at the cafe. Soft drinks (RM4), tea and coffee are available. Meals are ordered inside at the counter and brought to your table.

The same building has the dorm rooms and the free Mulu Discovery Center, which provides biological and geological information about the Park with information boards, video presentations and a library of resource books. There is also a gift shop with souvenirs and a few groceries.

Favorite Dish: The Mulu laksa (RM10, ~$2.70) was excellent. The nasi goreng (RM10) and the chicken satay (RM12) were good. The curry chicken (RM12) and grilled fish with eggplant (RM13) were just okay. Breakfast was included in my room rate. The fried bee hoon noodles were good but the nasi lemak was mediocre.

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I was only at the Tenyok Rimba jungle resort for three days; however, two very different groups had retreats there during the same time. My first night was the last night for an all-adult Petronas group from Kuala Lumpur. They had local staff doing the cooking. My second night was the first night for a large Christian bible school group of young people and adults. They did their own cooking. Nuh and I were the only other people there and we were always invited to share. As has been my experience before, people in the rural areas of the world are always friendly and hospitable.

Favorite Dish: The food was all local, which I thoroughly enjoy, and even included wild boar. Typically meals had soup, meat, eggs, cooked greens, and rice wrapped in a leaf.

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Rustic setting and located at Kampong Bentul (on the road from Kuching to Santubong), which is at a river mouth.

Favorite Dish: The usual seafood fare is available, including chilli crab, black pepper crabs, bamboo clams, fish, crayfish, jelly fish, and prawns.

'Bileen', a kankong-like vegetable found in the wild, is seasonally available served with belachna or with garlic.

Fresh coconut juice is recommended.

This is a typical local coffee shop that provides local coffee, with a food stall that sells soup and dry noodles, bee hoon and 'kway teow.'

Favorite Dish: Among the many dishes, don't miss the dry kolo mee. It has the special freshly lard aroma, served with prawns, vegetables, pig liver (sometimes and/or kidney), and minced meat. During the Chinese New Year period, where fresh supplies are unavailable, roast pork (as seen in the pnoto) is used instead.

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They built a simple wooden structre and lit a fire. Then, they placed the bamboo stems over the fire and turned them periodically until the food was perfectly cooked.

They retrieved the food packages from the stems, poured them into dishes and ready to eat.

I must say that the food was a bit insipid for my taste, but we had a great afternoon and it was a very interesting way of cooking.

When we left, everything was in the very same state as we had found it.

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After our stay in the longhouse, the Ibans whith whom we had stayed invited us to a picnic befroe we headed back to Kuching.

The entire community came along with us in their perahus and selected an adequated place by the river. They then proceed to cut some bamboo stems that they would then use for cooking.

The women mixed all the ingredients (different kinds of vegetables and chicken), wrapped them into the bamboo leaves and put them into the hollow stems of the bamboo.

This restaurant is built on a jetty on a mangrove near the beach. It could have been a romantic kind of alfresco dining if not for the mosquitoes and the different bugs flying around you and trying to get to your food! ha ha ha.

The restaurant try to keep the bugs away by burning cartons, so while you eat, try to shoo the bugs away, you get to inhale smoke as well. hi hi hi
The other diners seems to be doing quite fine and enjoying the ambience, maybe its just me being fussy!

The food is quite good. Service is good as well. Transport is free if you are staying at Holiday Inn but only for dinner.

If you are staying at Holiday Inn you can come to this restaurant with the free shuttle, just tell them at the entrance that you are only there to eat at the restaurant. Prices are cheap from 5rm, food not bad. Tried the Sarawak Laksa here.

Closes at 4pm.