2026 Guide
Sarawak laksa, kolo mee and kek lapis. A food culture of its own.
Updated October 2026 · 85 spots · 4 cities
⚡ Quick answer
The must-eat spots in Sarawak are Choon Hui Cafe (Sarawak Laksa, Kuching), Chong Choon Cafe (Poh Lam Laksa) (Sarawak Laksa, Kuching) and Seoul Garden Buffet & Hot Pot Permaisuri Imperial City Mall (Korean BBQ, Miri).
Jalan Ban Hock, Kuching, Sarawak
Order: Sarawak laksa with prawns, chicken strips and omelette
Anthony Bourdain's 'breakfast of the gods' — this old kopitiam is the benchmark bowl every Kuching laksa gets measured against. Spicy, thick, homemade paste; arrive early or it's gone.
Jalan Chan Chin Ann, Kuching, Sarawak
Order: Poh Lam Sarawak laksa with fully peeled prawns
Home of Poh Lam Laksa, the other half of Kuching's great laksa debate. A murkier, prawn-forward broth with peeled prawns, served in a breezy kopitiam packed with families every morning.
Order: Halal Sarawak laksa with big prawns
Kuching's go-to halal Sarawak laksa — thicker, creamier and spicier than the old kopitiam bowls, with generous prawns. Weekend queues form early.
Carpenter Street, Kuching, Sarawak
Order: Lighter Sarawak laksa with add-on razor clams and scallops
Inside the temple-front food court on old Carpenter Street, a gentler laksa for those who find Choon Hui too fiery. Customise it with razor clams, scallops or fishballs.
⚠️ Last confirmed before 2025 — check it is open before you go.
Order: Sarawak laksa with jumbo prawns or lobster
Laksa as a splurge: rich stock, piquant paste and a choice of prawn sizes all the way up to lobster. A multi-outlet Kuching favourite when you want the laksa to be the main event.
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halal chainbuffetmall
Order: Korean BBQ and hot pot buffet
Miri's top-rated Korean BBQ buffet with over 6,000 reviews.
AEON Kuching Central, Kuching, Sarawak
halal chainbuffetmall
Order: Korean BBQ and steamboat buffet
Kuching's most-reviewed Korean grill, halal and family-friendly.
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Sin Sin Park, Jalan Green, Kuching, Sarawak
Order: Kolo mee (white or red) with char siu and minced pork, plus wonton soup
The name most Kuchingites give when asked for the definitive kolo mee, serving for more than half a century. Springy noodles, lard-shallot oil and char siu — locals swear by the red version with straight noodles.
Ewe Hai Street (Chinatown), Kuching, Sarawak
Order: Kolo mee with homemade noodles, extra vinegar and chilli
A three-generation Chinatown coffee shop making its own noodles, a short stroll from Carpenter Street. Go early for the morning buzz and ask for that dash of vinegar.
Jalan Datuk Wee Kheng Chiang, Kuching, Sarawak
Order: Big-bowl kolo mee with char siu and cha jiang noodles
A family name in kolo mee since the mid-1960s, when it started beside the Chinese theatre near Hong San Si Temple; the Tsai family now run several Kuching outlets. Lard, shallot-garlic oil and a splash of vinegar — the old formula, done right.
Order: Traditional kolo mee from a generations-old recipe
Going since 1957 on Padungan, with a family recipe passed down the line. Classic, unfussy bowls — and queues long enough that some regulars budget an hour.
Order: Halal mee kolok with beef
Kuching's most famous Malay-run mee kolok, swapping lard for beef and its own oils while keeping the noodles bouncy. So well known a Prime Minister name-checked and visited it — expect a wait for tables.
⚠️ Last confirmed before 2025 — check it is open before you go.
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rooftophawker seafoodtourist favourite
Order: Rooftop seafood stalls: midin, bamboo clams, butter prawns
Kuching's legendary rooftop seafood court, where stalls lay out fresh fish, prawns and bamboo clams for you to pick. Don't leave without a plate of stir-fried midin fern.
⚠️ Last confirmed before 2025 — check it is open before you go.
Kampung Bako, Kuching, Sarawak
village setting
Order: Fresh catch by the Bako jetty
A village seafood restaurant near the Bako National Park jetty with excellent ratings; good after a day in the park.
city
Order: Grilled and wok-fried seafood
A well-rated city seafood restaurant on Jalan Song, easier to reach than the coastal villages.
big groups
Order: Hainanese-style crabs
Tops Kuching's seafood lists, and its crab is what people make the trip for.
Jalan Ban Hock, Kuching, Sarawak
local produce
Order: Midin, bamboo clams and local seafood
A Kuching institution near the Waterfront for Sarawak seafood and jungle ferns.
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coffee academySarawak Libericabeans for sale
Order: Sarawak Liberica and specialty hand brews
Kuching's specialty coffee heavyweight, also a training academy and organiser of the Borneo Coffee Symposium. Its work refining Sarawak Liberica makes it a must for curious coffee drinkers.
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buffet
Order: A la carte sashimi buffet
A very popular order-as-you-like Japanese buffet with generous sashimi.
sushi
Order: Sushi and sashimi
Kuching's highest-rated Japanese restaurant by review volume, praised for fresh sushi.
Jalan Tun Jugah, Kuching, Sarawak
rooftopyakitoribar
Order: Yakitori and Iberico pork skewers
A rooftop yakitori bar with top ratings; Kuching's best spot for skewers and a drink.
izakaya
Order: Sushi and izakaya dishes
A well-reviewed izakaya-style restaurant at ICOM Square.
Jalan Rubber, Kuching, Sarawak
pork-freealcohol served
Order: Sashimi
A veteran Japanese restaurant still praised for some of the best sashimi in Kuching (pork-free kitchen, alcohol served).
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Yemeni chef
Order: Chicken mandy and lamb zurbian
Kuching's top Arab rice house, with a Yemeni chef and over a thousand strong reviews.
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Upper China Street, Kuching, Sarawak
heritage streetcooking class
Order: Sarawak-inspired brunch plates
A heritage-street café, art space and cooking school that puts Sarawakian flavours into brunch.
waffles
Order: Waffles and brunch plates
A popular Saradise café for waffles and a wide, fairly priced brunch menu.
Jalan Ban Hock, Kuching, Sarawak
diner
Order: Big breakfasts with homemade hash browns
An American-style diner that does Kuching's best big breakfast.
Jalan Rumbia, Kuching, Sarawak
breakfast
Order: Western-style breakfast sets
A busy breakfast kopitiam-café with Western breakfasts and local favourites.
mall
Order: Leisurely brunch plates
A mall café that is a reliable late-morning brunch stop, opening at 10am.
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Jalan Tun Jugah, Kuching, Sarawak
rooftop
Order: Yakitori under the open sky
The best-rated rooftop dining in Kuching, food-first rather than just a bar.
river viewsunset
Order: Drinks and bar bites over the Sarawak River
A 17th-floor sky bar with sweeping views of the Waterfront, Fort Margherita and the DUN building.
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Carpenter Street, Kuching, Sarawak
barhidden alley
Order: Beef burgers with sweet potato fries
A hidden alley bar behind Carpenter Street that is Kuching's best-rated burger joint.
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Jalan Tun Jugah, Kuching, Sarawak
heritagefamily gatherings
Order: MSG-free broth slow-simmered with dozens of ingredients
Kuching's grand old steamboat house, running for six decades and widely regarded as the city's original. The long-simmered, MSG-free soup is the draw.
HK-stylehandmade meatballs
Order: Hong Kong-style pork bone broth with house-made meatballs
A Kuching favourite for Hong Kong-style hotpot, with a long-boiled pork bone broth and meatballs made in-house.
Jalan Ban Hock, Kuching, Sarawak
halalbuffetfamily
Order: Halal BBQ steamboat buffet
Kuching's go-to halal steamboat-and-grill buffet, family-friendly and easy on the wallet.
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souvenirkek lapis
Order: Sarawak kek lapis (layer cake)
One of the famous kek lapis makers across the river, the classic Sarawak souvenir.
cakes
Order: Butter cheesecake and French-Japanese bakes
Kuching's most-reviewed bakery, baking fresh French-Japanese style goods every day.
Tabuan Tranquility, Kuching, Sarawak
cakes
Order: Cakes and pastries
A well-loved patisserie for celebration cakes and pastries.
old-school
Order: Traditional local buns
A small Padungan shop for old-style Kuching buns.
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cocktail bar
Order: Mediterranean menu with Borneo produce
Kuching's most-reviewed upscale restaurant, mixing Mediterranean technique with local ingredients.
Jalan Ban Hock, Kuching, Sarawak
indigenous cuisine
Order: Modern Orang Ulu and Dayak cuisine
The best place to taste Sarawak's indigenous cooking presented with care; hugely popular with visitors.
Old Court House, Kuching, Sarawak
heritage building
Order: Borneo-ingredient modern dishes
A refined dining room in the heritage Old Court House complex.
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Sarawak Plaza, Kuching, Sarawak
local flavours
Order: Gula apong soft serve
Soft serve made with Sarawak's nipah palm sugar, gula apong; a must-try local flavour.
Tabuan Tranquility, Kuching, Sarawak
rotating flavours
Order: Daily-changing ice cream flavours
Kuching's best-known ice cream café; flavours rotate daily and the Basque cheesecake is famous too.
Taman Desa Wira, Kuching, Sarawak
budgetold-school
Order: Ice cream sandwich
A long-running cheap and cheerful Kuching ice cream maker, famous for its bread-wrapped ice cream.
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Sungai Padungan, Kuching, Sarawak
Order: Hainanese steamed chicken rice
A small chicken rice stall that regulars call one of Kuching's best, with tender poached chicken and fragrant rice. It runs short hours and often sells out before lunch is over, so go early.
BDC (Bandar Baru Bukit Mata), Kuching, Sarawak
Order: Hainanese chicken rice with char siu and siew yuk
A BDC favourite for Hainanese chicken rice with a sharp, tangy chilli. Many order the char siu and crispy siew yuk alongside, which makes it a cheap three-meat feast.
⚠️ Last confirmed before 2025 — check it is open before you go.
Boulevard Commercial Centre, Miri, Sarawak
Order: Hainanese chicken rice
A well-known Hainanese chicken rice shop in Miri's Boulevard commercial area. It's popular enough that locals give directions by it. Smooth chicken, oily rice and a good ginger-chilli.
⚠️ Last confirmed before 2025 — check it is open before you go.
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Kota Sentosa (7th Mile), Kuching, Sarawak
Order: Roti canai with lamb curry; nasi briyani lamb shank
A mamak institution on Penrissen Road that has been running for close to four decades. Go for flaky roti canai dipped in lamb curry, or the briyani lamb shank, and it's open from dawn until midnight.
Order: Beef prata roll; roti canai
A Satok mamak spot famous for its beef prata roll, roti stuffed with spiced beef and rolled up. It stays open until midnight, so it's a supper favourite as well as a breakfast one.
Parkcity Commercial Square, Bintulu, Sarawak
Order: Roti tsunami, roti jantan, roti canai
Bintulu's go-to for loaded roti. The roti tsunami comes drowned in gravy and the roti jantan is a speciality, but there's plain roti canai too. Prices are fair and the menu is huge.
⚠️ Last confirmed before 2025 — check it is open before you go.
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Jalan Rock (2½ Mile), Kuching, Sarawak
Order: Herbal pork rib bak kut teh
The Sarawak bak kut teh brand people know best, and the Rock Road outlet is the Kuching regular's pick. The soup is herbal and peppery, there's a choice of pork cuts, and there is char kway to dunk.
Boulevard Commercial Centre, Miri, Sarawak
Order: Herbal pork rib bak kut teh
Go Fun Kee's Miri branch is a fixture in the Boulevard commercial area and the usual answer when Mirians want bak kut teh. It serves the same herbal, peppery broth as the Kuching original.
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Carpenter Street, Old Town, Kuching, Sarawak
Order: Charcoal-grilled pork satay
The charcoal pork satay stall inside the temple-front food court on Carpenter Street, a Kuching treat you won't find on the peninsula. It has been grilling for years, and the sweet, smoky sticks go well with a laksa from the next stall.
⚠️ Last confirmed before 2025 — check it is open before you go.
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Order: Big pork pau, char siu pau, butter pau, siu mai
A roadside kopitiam on Padungan that Kuching knows for its steamed buns, especially the big pork pau, plus a tray of dim sum. It's an all-day breakfast stop, and kolo mee and laksa are on offer as well.
Pelita Commercial Centre, Miri, Sarawak
Order: Morning dim sum spread
A Miri breakfast spot that dim sum lovers recommend, cosy and good value. Get there early for the widest choice of baskets.
⚠️ Last confirmed before 2025 — check it is open before you go.
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very large capacityriverside
Order: Large-scale banquet catering
The largest function venue in Sarawak, used for very big receptions; its Raintree Restaurant runs the in-house food.
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Jalan Tun Jugah, Kuching, Sarawak
Order: Nasi lemak with fried chicken; buttermilk chicken nasi lemak
Probably the nasi lemak name Kuching mentions most. Huge plates, a punchy sambal and creative toppings like buttermilk chicken. Weekends are crowded.
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Boulevard Commercial Centre, Miri, Sarawak
Order: Roast pork & BBQ pork curry noodle; roast pork rice
A Miri noodle-and-roast shop where crackly siew yuk and char siu end up on rice or in a curry noodle soup. Kolo mee and fish head noodles fill out the daytime menu, and it opens for dinner too.
⚠️ Last confirmed before 2025 — check it is open before you go.
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Sarawak laksa, kolo mee and kek lapis. A food culture of its own. Our guide lists 85 top spots in Sarawak across 22 dishes: Sarawak Laksa, Korean BBQ, Kolo Mee, Seafood Restaurant, Specialty Coffee, Japanese & Omakase, Nasi Arab & Mandy, Brunch Café, Rooftop & View Dining, Burger, Steamboat & Hotpot, Bakery & Pastry, Fine Dining, Ice Cream & Gelato, Chicken Rice, Roti Canai, Bak Kut Teh, Satay, Dim Sum, Wedding Banquet Venue, Nasi Lemak and Roast Pork & Char Siew.
Start with Choon Hui Cafe in Kuching for Sarawak Laksa — rated Legend.
Top halal picks in Sarawak: Seoul Garden Buffet & Hot Pot Permaisuri Imperial City Mall (Korean BBQ), Seoul Garden Hot Pot @ AEON Mall Kuching Central (Korean BBQ), Mom's Laksa Kopitiam (Sarawak Laksa) and Al-Yemen Restaurant (Nasi Arab & Mandy).