Sarawak, the largest state in Malaysia, also having one of the popular places for ecotourism. Being the home to different ethnics such as Iban, Melanau and Bidayuh, the local cuisine also varies across different cities and villages in Sarawak. Here are some of the recommendations if you happen to come to Sarawak for a visit and wondering what kind of challenges to accept for your taste buds.
1. Sarawak Layer Cake (Kek Lapis Sarawak)
A little slice of heaven would be a perfect sentence to describe one of Sarawak famous cuisine which is layer cake. It has variety of amazing taste and colour for each one of the kek lapis. Kek Lapis is often baked for religious or cultural celebrations such as Eid ul-Fitr and Christmas, you now can get the original Kek lapis at reasonable price from Kek Lapis Sarawak Dayang Salhah located at Kuching. On top of that, you can share this great dessert with family who could not join you at Sarawak as they will pack your kek lapis in a box to ease your flight check in process. Stop by the stall to enjoy the famous and delicious kek lapis in town! Note down the time: 08.30 am to 10.30 pm and you are ready to go!
2. Roasted Barbeque Chicken
Have you ever tried barbeque chicken especially in Sarawak Borneo? In Roy Corner located in Sibu, Sarawak, you can have a special experience of having a special barbeque chicken freshly roasted in front of your eyes. The mixture of the smoke alongside with the aroma of the chicken will make your mouth watery. The chicken is marinated with its unique seasonings and sauce before it is served to the customers. The barbeque chicken is served with chili sauce and also can be paired with Nasi Lemak to make it extra delicious. The good news is you don’t have to worry about dinner in Sibu. Just drop by the stall between 6.00pm to 2.00am and there you go with the roasted barbeque chicken.
3. Sarawak Laksa
Laksa lover? This bowl of Sarawak Laksa from this local café in Kuching definitely won’t disappoint your taste buds. Thick soup base with prawns and shredded chicken served with laksa noodle, imagine that. There are two type of laksa. Normal laksa costs you RM6 while special laksa costs you RM8. Not only laksa, you can also enjoy a wide variety of Sarawak Local Food here from Sarawak Kolo Mee to Foochow Ding Bian Hu. It’s the most suitable place for Sarawakians who have just returned to their hometown and crave for Sarawak food. You can absolutely fulfil your cravings here all at once! Make sure you come between 7.00am to 5.00pm any day except Monday to taste the cuisine yourself.
4. Seafood
This place is one of the most popular spots to eat seafood in the city of Kuching. There are many different stalls serving seafood here. Varieties of fresh seafood are available from each stall. This Sarawak style fried oyster pancake (o-chien, in picture) is from Lok Garden Seafood situated at the right-hand corner of the hawker centre. Besides that, their famous mango style fish and salted prawn are highly recommended for seafood craving visitors. If you haven’t tried the seafood in Kuching, do give it a try at this open-air seafood centre! Should you have any inquiries, please do not hesitate to call 019-886 3683 or visit the stall yourself in between 5.00pm to 10.00pm.
5. Sing Garden
Another Sarawak local food hotspot for all Sarawak food lovers, foodies and food bloggers. This place consists of various stalls which allows you to have various choices of food to choose from. These include Sarawak Laksa, clay pot noodles, lei cha and fried tomato noodles. Not sure where to go for breakfast? Different opinions or craving with your friends what to have for meals? This place is definitely your solution! Some special pricing for laksa: RM7 for normal bowl of laksa and RM8 for big bowl of laksa. Hurry up, Sing Garden is only open for 2 time slots: 6.30am to 1pm and 6.30pm to 10.30pm.
6. Joo Seng Cafe
Craving for an iced cold or a steaming cup of frothy coffee or teh tarik? Why not stop by Joo Seng Cafe? It has one of the best kopi Tarik(picture) in the city and is one of the favourite spots among locals for breakfast. The kopi tarik with overflowing foam and the golden-brown crispy toast which are the favourite choices of the café If I were to choose, Joo Seng Café is definitely the perfect place to start your day off. The café also serves other local delicacies such as Sarawak Kolo Mee, Mee Jawa and fried chicken rice with reasonable prices. It is opened as early as 5.30am to 5.30pm.
7. Song Kheng Hai Hawker Centre
Have you heard of the sugarcane coconut drink? I bet you haven’t. Come over to Song Kheng Hai Hawker Centre located at the heart of Kuching. It is a two-storey open air centre with the top floor selling an extensive selection of Sarawak local cuisines which locals can’t get enough of. It’s very famous for its rojak as well as the kompia which have many choices of fillings such as cheese and garlic besides the usual meat filling. And most importantly, the sugarcane coconut drink is the most popular drink here. Wait, you think sugarcane and coconut is a weird combination? Try it out yourself before judging the book by its cover. Not only this superb combination of drink, other dishes are waiting for you as well. Drop by Song Kheng Hai Hawker Centre between 11.30am to 5.00pm to grab yourself a taste of its delicacy.
8. Coconut Tom Yam Prawn Noodles
Attention to seafood and tom yam lovers!!! Have you ever tasted fresh big head prawn cooked in tom yam soup? Yes or no, you won’t regret coming here for this delicious coconut tom yam prawn noodles. Served in a coconut, the prawn noodles with a tinge of spiciness will absolutely savour your taste buds. It is definitely a ‘must try’ for tourists with the price of RM33. Besides the special dish, Glory Cafe also serves tasty coconut pudding for those who would like to have desserts after enjoying their meals. Are you drooling over this coconut tom yam prawn noodles in front of your screen now? Come to Sarikei and enjoy this local dish in between 7.00am to 3.30pm. Take note that the stall is closed on Thursdays, so mark that in your travel log.
9. Jason Bakery
Look at these! Does it look familiar to you?
It’s the local cuisine of the Foochow people called Kompia and considered as one of Sibu’s signature food.
Never try it yet? Drop by this bakery now to grab some. You will love every bite of it. The crusty baked buns which are either plain or topped with sesame seeds will definitely pamper your taste buds. This traditional pastry of the Foochows can also be eaten with meat fillings sandwiched in between. Currently, the bakery in Sibu has also come out with more choices such as the cheese kompia.
Location: 69, Rejang Park Shopping Centre, 96000 Sibu, Sarawak
Operating Hours: 6.30am onwards until sold out (noon/evening)
While Sarawak has so many unique and authentic food, that is not the only reason to visit Sarawak. Over here, you can also find plenty of picturesque landmarks which are sure to win over your heart. Here's our favourite picks of the best places to visit in Sarawak.
1. Sarawak Cultural Village
Did you know that Sarawak is a home to 27 ethnic groups in Malaysia? Feels interested to learn more about the culture in Sarawak? If so, you must have Sarawak Cultural Village as your destination list.
An award-winning Living Museum, Sarawak Cultural Village spans across 17-acres of land just across from Damai Beach Resort and Hotels. Be able to tour at all Ethnic Houses and enjoy an amazing Sarawak Culture Show at reasonable price, this experience would never disappoint you. On top of that, another additional value is that it is only takes 40 -minute drive from Kuching International Airport.
You can also get the opportunity to watch cultural show from experienced and recognised dancers and musicians in a comfortable air-conditioned theatre. The performance will be at 11.30 am and 4.00pm everyday so plan your journey so that you will not miss the fascinating performance.
What are you waiting for? Let’s experience Sarawak Culture in half-a-day and learn about the local culture and lifestyles of the various ethnic groups in Sarawak!
Location: Damai Beach Resort, 93762, Kampung Budaya, Sarawak, 93010, Kuching, Sarawak
Entrance Fee: RM 54 (Adult)
Rm 27 (2-12 years)
Discount for students also applicable
Operating Hours: 0900am-0500pm
2. Darul Hana Bridge
The beauty of Kuching is seen prominently through the magnificent structure of the pedestrian bridge known as “Jambatan Darul Hana”. Officially opened in November 2017, the iconic bridge has elements that intrinsically link to the identity of the city and its people. The bridge is constructed to represents the letter ‘S’ which stands for Sarawak and it also resembles the structure of bamboo bridges of the Bidayuh community in Sarawak.
There are two outward-facing steel pillars which are designed to look like hornbills as Sarawak is known as "Land of The Hornbills". The two viewing decks offer spectacular views of the Sarawak River. At night, you will get a chance to watch the “Darul Hana Musical Fountain” which will definitely leave you gasping in awe.
Location: Jalan Gambier, 93000 Kuching, Sarawak.
3. Carpenter Street
In the heart of Kuching, one of the most notable streets located in the Chinatown of this beautiful city is the Carpenter Street. Walking down the street, you will be able to experience a sense of nostalgia as if you have travelled back into the charm of old Kuching. The street is home to old shophouses which are mainly influenced by Chinese architecture.
Near the entrance, there is a temple known as the Hiang Thian Siang Ti Temple which was built in 1863. Along the street, you will be able to explore local eateries serving local delicacies with great taste. One of the recommended food courts in the street is Lao Ya Keng. The recommended local foods there are Sarawak Laksa and Kueh Chap. Enjoy food hunting? Your journey starts here!
Location: Carpenter Street, 93000 Kuching, Sarawak
4. Siar Beach, Lundu
Loving the sunset? This place is absolutely worth your visit!
This is the spot if you love sandy beaches. The Siar Beach located at the Union Yes Retreat and Training Centre, Lundu is a recreational destination suitable for an escape from the hectic city life. You will be stunned by the remarkable view of the beach especially during the sunset.
Enjoy the relaxing vibes as you walk in the shallow waters of the sandy beach while watching the glowing golden disc in the sky slowly goes down, leaving shades of orange and saffron-yellow behind before disappearing into the horizon, spreading its last rays.
Location: Jalan Siar/Pandan, 94500 Lundu, Sarawak.
Operating Hours: 24 hours daily
Contact Number: 019-829 3027
Official Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Hotel-Resort/Union-Yes-Retreat-Training-Centre-Siar-Beach-433329000540722/ (FB)
5. Pantai Telok Melano
Located at the start of the Pan Borneo Highway (kilometre 0.0), Pantai Telok Melano used to be accessible only by boat from Sematan but the completion of the first 33.7km stretch of the Pan Borneo Highway from Sematan to Telok Melano on January 2019 has turned the fishing village to a tourist attraction.
The long stretch of white sandy beach with crystal clear waters of the South China Sea near the Sarawak-Kalimantan border is one of the features that attracts tourists and locals to visit the place especially during holidays. The rocky features as well as the rainforest backdrop make up the breath-taking view of this beach which would probably be a great spot to capture scenery. You may also enjoy an ATV ride there! You can also visit Tanjung Datu National Park and Samunsan Wildlife Sanctuary because they are just few kilometres away.
Location: Kampung Telok Melano, 94500 Sematan, Sarawak.
6. Mount Kinabalu
Pretty sure that you have heard about Mount Kinabalu before right? It is the most prominent mountain in the World. Standing majestically at 4,095m (13,435 feet above sea level), Mount Kinabalu is the highest mountain in Malaysia and one of the highest mountains in Southeast Asia. It is protected within a renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Kinabalu Park.
With the fact that the mountain and its surroundings consist of many variations of flora and fauna at different altitudes which include approximately 5000 species of plants, more than 300 species of birds and more than 100 species of mammals, Mount Kinabalu has attracted many nature lovers.
The Low’s Peak can be accessed by anyone in good physical condition with no particular age limits using the non-ferrata route. However, the via ferrata route is a challenge for many mountain climbers as it is listed by the Guinness World Records as the world's highest via ferrata. Still in doubt of taking up the challenge to reach the summit of Mount Kinabalu? No worries, there are experienced mountain guides to ensure your safety. So just let go of your worries, and conquer Mount Kinabalu!
Location: Kadamaian, Kota Belud District, West Coast Division, Sabah, Malaysia.
Contact Number: 017-450-2009 or 017-262-2009
Official Website: https://www.mountkinabalu.com/
It only cost around RM200 for a flight to Sarawak, and you will have the chance to enjoy the delicacies which are yet to explored. What are you hesitating? Book yourself a flight to Kuching and start your food journey all the way up to the most northern part in Sarawak. You will not regret for your experience in the east side of Malaysia.
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