There are mornings when only a bowl of comforting noodles will do — and that is when the locals of Jalan Petanak head to Sung Huat Cafe. Also known to regulars as Soon Fatt Cafe, this unassuming kopitiam at Lot 150 has been quietly feeding Kuching for 26 years. The man behind the wok is Lew, a 58-year-old who never planned to become a cook. [image: 1788606385107-p1.jpg] DayakDaily Lew started his working life in the woodworking industry in Sandakan, Sabah. But when the 1997 economic crisis hit, jobs dried up and he needed a new direction. With his family, he moved to Kuching — travelling on stone roads from Sibu — and began learning to cook from scratch. "We learned by eating out and observing how others cooked. It was a lot of trial and error," he recalled. Together with his wife, he experimented in the kitchen until they perfected their dishes. [image: 1788606385390-p2-resized.jpg] DayakDaily Today, the cafe's menu is built around traditional Foochow flavours. The Big Prawn Mee is a favourite — generously topped with fresh prawns in a rich savoury broth. The Foochow Mee, with its dark soy caramelised profile, draws regulars who have been coming for years. Then there is the Red Wine Egg Soup, a traditional Foochow comfort dish made with red rice wine, ginger and eggs. It is the kind of bowl that warms you from the inside out — especially welcome on a rainy Kuching morning. [image: 1788606385824-p3-resized.jpg] DayakDaily Lew also serves Foochow Kampua and Zao Cai Hong Ngan, each dish carrying the same careful attention to balance that comes from decades of practice. What makes Sung Huat Cafe special is not just the food, but the sense of continuity. Many customers, both local and international, have been eating here for years. The kopitiam has become a neighbourhood anchor — a place where relationships are built over shared meals and the same orders are placed year after year. How to visit Sung Huat Cafe (顺发茶室) is at Lot 150, Jalan Petanak, Kuching. Open in Google Maps. Operating hours: Monday to Friday 6am–2pm and 6pm–11pm; Saturday to Sunday 6am–2pm. Look for the old-school kopitiam signage — it is easy to miss, but the crowd outside usually gives it away. If you are new to Foochow food, start with the Foochow Mee and a bowl of Red Wine Egg Soup. The prawn mee is worth arriving early for, and the portions are generous enough for a filling breakfast or lunch. Cash is preferred.

Kueh chap is one of Kuching’s more rewarding food detours: a dark, aromatic broth, flat rice sheets and a choice of pork cuts in one bowl. For a first taste, Lao San Kueh Chap on Jalan Petanak is a practical stop near the city centre. [image: 1787497333077-hero-resized.jpg] Source: Lao San Kueh Chap menu image [image: 1787497335632-kuehchap.jpg] Source: Lao San Kueh Chap menu image [image: 1787497337213-pork.jpg] Source: Lao San Kueh Chap menu image [image: 1787497339663-rice.jpg] Source: Lao San Kueh Chap menu image What to order Kueh chap is locally understood as a bowl built around braised pork, pork offal and rice sheets, rather than a noodle soup with one fixed topping. The useful move is to ask which cuts are available and choose a balanced bowl; first-timers who prefer a gentler introduction can start with meat and pork belly before adding more offal. The shop is also associated with pork-leg rice, so it works for a small group with different appetites. It is explicitly non-halal, and visitors should treat that as part of the ordering decision. My practical take: budget about RM10–20 per person for a simple meal, depending on the cuts and add-ons, and keep cash or a small buffer for changing menu prices. Portions are substantial enough for a focused breakfast or lunch, but I would not arrive at the last minute expecting every cut to remain available. When and how to go The Petanak outlet is at Ground Floor, 127, Jalan Petanak, and the listed hours are Monday 7:00am–2:00pm, Tuesday closed, Wednesday–Friday split service to 9:00pm, Saturday morning and evening service, and Sunday 7:00am–1:00pm. Hours and prices may change, so check the live listing before setting out. A morning visit is the simplest plan; parking is the usual shop-lot search, so allow extra time rather than assuming a space directly outside. Google Maps: Open in Google Maps If I were planning a visitor day, I would put this before a walk around the Padungan–Petanak area, then continue towards the waterfront. The dish is rich and herbal, so ordering one bowl first and adding a side only if needed is a sensible way to avoid over-ordering. Have you tried kueh chap in Kuching? Which cut would you recommend to a first-timer?

[image: 1784077612633-jalan-petanak-robbery-police.jpg] Police have arrested four locals over a gang robbery causing hurt at a carpark in Jalan Petanak, Kuching. Four suspects detained Kuching district police chief ACP Alexson Naga Chabu said the suspects are aged between 22 and 27. They include three men and one woman. Police also seized a motorcycle and three mobile phones believed to be linked to the case. Remanded for investigation According to police, all four suspects tested positive for drugs and had previous records under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, the Penal Code and the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953. One of them was also wanted by police. The suspects have been remanded for four days to assist investigations. The case is being investigated under Section 394 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt while committing or attempting robbery. Hot Score: 22/30 — Kuching city crime case, fresh July 14 update, public safety angle, clear police action. Source: The Borneo Post What do you think?