There's more to feast in Sarawak

Did you know Kuching was awarded the UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in 2021? With generations of history and heritage influencing the culinary scene in Sarawak, it’s time to hit the Sarawak food trail and discover real Sarawakian cuisine. Here are some must-eats when you visit this food paradise!

Kolo Mee

No visit to Sarawak is complete without trying a plate of Kolo Mee - springy yellow egg noodles tossed in a light aromatic sauce, topped with minced meat and char siew, and garnished with fresh spring onions. This simple native Sarawakian dish is a popular breakfast of choice for locals. 

Sarawak Laksa

Dubbed as the “Breakfast of the Gods” by the late celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain, Sarawak Laksa is different from the usual Penang Asam Laksa or the curry Laksa. Made using laksa paste consisting of sambal belacan, tamarind, lemongrass, herbs, and spices, the Sarawak Laksa is thickened with only a little coconut milk giving it a more subtle texture as compared to the other laksas, but still remaining extremely aromatic.

Umai

This famous traditional dish of the Melanau people in Sarawak consists of slices of fresh raw fish in a mixture of vinegar, salt and lime juice, garnished with thinly sliced onions, chillies. Traditionally eaten by fishermen out at sea, Umai can now be found at local food stalls in Sarawak!

Manok Pansuh

Closer to the roots of indigenous culinary heritage is the Manok Pansuh. This iconic ethnic delicacy is one of the key-celebratory dishes served by the Iban and Bidayuh community during their end-of-harvest-season festival, Gawai Dayak. It consists of chicken marinated in lemongrass, ginger, and tapioca leaves, stuffed in a bamboo and roasted over an open fire, giving it a gorgeous aroma and flavour.

Midin Belacan

The dense jungle of Borneo is home to many unique local produces, one of which is the Midin. This wild jungle fern has a crunchy texture and can be eaten as part of a local salad (kerabu) or stir-fry with belacan (shrimp paste) and chilis. As Midin is so popular, you can easily find it at any local dining spots in Kuching.

 

Travelling to Sarawak is now easier! Malaysia Airlines flies direct to Kuching six times weekly (daily, Mondays to Saturdays) while Scoot and Air Asia operate daily direct flights.

For more information and/or to book your Sarawak holiday, contact our travel consultants at [email protected] or call us at +65 6317 2888.