If you want to try Dayak and Sarawak ethnic flavours in Kuching without planning a long trip out of town, KATU Dayak Food at Premier Food Republic RH Plaza is a practical place to start. The menu is built around familiar rice meals, pork dishes and a few distinctly local preparations. [image: 1787564198343-katu2.jpg] Source: KATU menu image [image: 1787564198572-katu3.jpg] Source: KATU menu image [image: 1787564198693-katu4.jpg] Source: KATU menu image [image: 1787564198807-katu5.jpg] Source: KATU menu image For a first order, I would start with Nasi Babi Apai Saloi at about RM14.80 or Nasi Babi Tunok at about RM11.80. The former comes with grilled pork, peanuts, fried anchovies, half-boiled egg, sambal and rice, while the latter is a simpler rice-and-pork option. Prices and portion details can change, so treat those figures as a guide rather than a fixed bill. The menu also lists BBQ Pork Babi Tunok, Pekasam Babi, Babi Kicap, Perut Babi, Nenas Perut, Daun Ubi, Rebung Sambal, Pansuh Babi and Pansuh Ayam. That makes KATU more useful for a small group than a one-dish stop: one person can choose a rice set while the table shares a vegetable or a more distinctive Dayak preparation. Because the current menu includes several pork dishes, I would treat this as a non-halal recommendation. Diners with strict dietary requirements should ask the stall about ingredients and preparation before ordering. The menu is also a better guide to what is available than a generic description of “Dayak food”, since the actual choices can vary between branches and dates. The venue is at KATU Dayak Food Stall, Premier Food Republic, ground floor, 123 Jalan Lapangan Terbang, Green Heights, Kuching. It is a food-court setting, so visitors should look for the KATU stall after entering the building rather than expecting a standalone restaurant frontage. Open in Google Maps Would you start with a rice set, pansuh or one of the more adventurous pork dishes?

Kuching's kolo mee is often called mee kolok, and Mee Kolok Mangkuk Merah makes a useful late-evening stop for visitors who want the local noodle without turning dinner into a big commitment. [image: 1787540765033-img0.jpg] Source: Mee Kolok Mangkuk Merah menu image [image: 1787540765141-img1.jpg] Source: Mee Kolok Mangkuk Merah menu image [image: 1787540765250-img2.jpg] Source: Mee Kolok Mangkuk Merah menu image [image: 1787540765357-img3.jpg] Source: Mee Kolok Mangkuk Merah menu image My practical read: start with the regular Mee Kolok at about RM8.60, then add meat or noodles only if you are genuinely hungry. The menu also lists Biasa at RM6.40, Daging Lebih at RM9 and a double-meat, double-noodle version at RM16.70; prices can change. For two people, the listed Buddy Meal starts from RM17.15. For a first order, ask for Mee Kolok and choose the regular portion. In Kuching, the name usually means springy noodles served relatively dry with savoury seasoning, rather than a soupy bowl. Sambal is listed separately, so I would add it gradually and ask about the current meat option before ordering. The online menu shows beef-related choices, but it does not prove halal certification; diners with strict dietary requirements should confirm directly at the stall. This Benteng/Satok-area stop is more useful for a night-food itinerary than an early breakfast: the listed schedule is 8:00 pm–2:00 am, Monday to Saturday. I would not plan it as the first meal after landing. Hours and prices may change, so check before travelling. The current address is No. 43, Block E, Medan Niaga Satok–Benteng, Jalan Matang, Kuching. Allow time to find the correct stall within the food-centre setting, and use the surrounding Satok/Benteng area as your navigation landmark. If you are walking from central Kuching, a short ride is more realistic than treating it as a casual stroll. Google Maps: Open in Google Maps If you have tried the Mangkuk Merah version, tell us whether you prefer the regular bowl, extra meat or extra sambal.

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?

If your Kuching food list has room for one laksa stop, 126 Laksa is a practical address to pin: a local-facing shop on Jalan Chan Chin Ann with a menu that lets you choose how adventurous the bowl becomes. [image: 1787496765121-img0-resized.jpg] Source: 126 Laksa menu image [image: 1787496766412-img1-resized.jpg] Source: 126 Laksa menu image [image: 1787496766905-img2.jpg] Source: 126 Laksa menu image [image: 1787496767165-img3.jpg] Source: 126 Laksa menu image What I would order For a first visit, I would start with the regular Sarawak Laksa, then add one topping rather than turning the first bowl into a full tasting menu. The shop is also known for choices such as chicken feet, Pattaya-style egg, large prawns, quail egg, oyster, cockles, squid and abalone. The useful local phrase is simply laksa Sarawak; sambal is part of the expected conversation, so ask how much heat you want. This is a non-halal recommendation because the menu includes pork-related options; visitors who require halal food should confirm directly before ordering. Timing, budget and route The Jalan Chan Chin Ann branch is listed for breakfast from 7:00am to 1:00pm. I would go in the morning and keep a little flexibility: laksa toppings and prices can change, and the shop may sell out or adjust hours. Budget around a casual kopitiam meal, with the final amount depending on the topping; check the live menu before leaving. The address is Ground Floor, Lot 180, Section 49, Jalan Chan Chin Ann, 93100 Kuching. It fits naturally after a walk around the old town and Padungan side of the city; allow extra time for roadside parking and a busy breakfast period. Google Maps: Open in Google Maps Would you choose the classic bowl, Pattaya, or a prawn topping?

If you are already around Padang Merdeka and want a predictable, air-conditioned meal, Burger King at Plaza Merdeka is the easy downtown fallback. It is a mall branch rather than a destination restaurant, but that is exactly the point: familiar flame-grilled burgers, a broad menu, and a convenient place to sit between errands. [image: 1787491718796-img0-resized.jpg] Source: Burger King Plaza Merdeka menu image [image: 1787491719251-img1.png] Source: Burger King Plaza Merdeka menu image [image: 1787491719498-img2.png] Source: Burger King Plaza Merdeka menu image [image: 1787491719758-img3.png] Source: Burger King Plaza Merdeka menu image My read: this suits families, mall shoppers, and anyone who wants a quick halal-friendly fast-food option with familiar portions. For a first order, I would compare a Whopper meal (from RM27.30) with the Cheeseburger Medium Meal (RM18.60); the latter is the more restrained budget pick, while the Whopper makes more sense when you want the signature burger. Chicken options and share bundles widen the choice, and the current menu also lists limited-time nacho-cheese items. Prices can differ between dine-in, takeaway and delivery, and may change. A realistic budget is about RM18–35 per person for a standard burger meal, or more for premium burgers and bundles. I would go outside the mall's busiest lunch and dinner window if you want a less rushed seat. The listed hours are 10:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m.; check again before travelling because mall and outlet hours can change. Parking is the Plaza Merdeka car park, followed by a short walk to the Ground Floor outlet at G-43–45. Google Maps: Open in Google Maps If you have a favourite order at this branch, share it—especially the most useful budget meal for a quick downtown stop.

If I want a familiar, filling meal around Satok without a long restaurant hunt, SugarBun's Wisma SugarBun branch is an easy shortlist: the menu leans into broasted chicken, savoury rice and local Borneo flavours. Broasted chicken meal [image: 1787491290523-img0.jpg] Source: SugarBun Wisma Satok menu image SugarBun chicken dish [image: 1787491290819-img1.jpg] Source: SugarBun Wisma Satok menu image Rice and chicken set [image: 1787491291190-img2.jpg] Source: SugarBun Wisma Satok menu image Borneo-style side dish [image: 1787491291529-img3.jpg] Source: SugarBun Wisma Satok menu image What I would order My practical starting point is the 1 Pc Broasted Chicken Meal, listed at RM13.65 on the current menu, then the 2 Pc set at RM21.05 if I am properly hungry. The menu also lists a Chicken Burger at RM7.30 and Borneo Tuhau Wild Ginger Chilli at RM13; prices and availability may change. This suits office lunches, families wanting a predictable halal-friendly fast-food option, and visitors who want a low-commitment taste of a Sarawak-born chain. I would go outside the busiest lunch window and check the live menu before leaving. Parking and counter queues around Wisma SugarBun and Jalan Satok vary, so pickup or delivery is worth considering when time matters. Google Maps: Open in Google Maps Would you choose the broasted chicken, savoury rice set, or tuhau side?

SugarBun at Sukma is a practical Kuching stop I would keep in mind when a group wants familiar halal fast food with a little more local identity than a standard burger chain. The current menu leans into broasted chicken, savoury rice, Lak Lak plates, claypots and burgers. [image: 1787489564967-img0.jpg] Source: SugarBun Sukma menu image [image: 1787489565151-img1.jpg] Source: SugarBun Sukma menu image [image: 1787489565411-img2.jpg] Source: SugarBun Sukma menu image [image: 1787489565603-img3.jpg] Source: SugarBun Sukma menu image My practical pick would be the 2-piece chicken with savoury rice and fresh pickles (RM21.05 on the checked menu), or the 1-piece version at RM13.65 for a lighter meal. The Lak Lak chicken-and-fish plate was listed at RM23.15, while burgers started around RM6.20–RM7.30. Prices and availability can change. This suits families, halal-food seekers, students and anyone who needs a straightforward meal around Petra Jaya. I would go before the dinner rush, especially on Sunday, and allow a little time for popular chicken sets. The outlet is at Lot 29, Sukma Commercial Centre, Petra Jaya; the outlet contact is 013-827 3073. Parking is generally easier around the commercial-centre lots than in a mall, but the busiest period may still mean a short walk. Google Maps: Open in Google Maps Have you ordered the Lak Lak plate or the classic chicken-and-rice set here?

Kuching South Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng has proposed regular meetings among UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy in Asia to strengthen cultural ties and culinary exchange. The proposal came as delegates from China's Quanzhou, Chaozhou, Chengdu, Macau, Eastern Guangdong, and Iloilo, Philippines, visited the UCCN Gastronomy Pavilion at MBKS Jubilee Ground during the Kuching Food Festival 2026. "Food reflects a community's history, culture and identity. Although we come from different countries and cultures, our shared passion for gastronomy has brought us together as one family," Wee said. The mayor said closer cooperation among Asian gastronomy cities would help showcase the richness of Asian culinary traditions while encouraging more visitors to experience each city's unique food culture. Location: Kuching South (MBKS) Details: Kuching is part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) as a City of Gastronomy. The 3rd Annual Meeting of UCCN Gastronomy Cities is currently underway with delegates from six cities. Source: DayakDaily What do you think?

A kopitiam that has survived nearly six decades — and still serves its char siew, steamed chicken and Hainanese coffee the old-school way. Just five days before Christmas in 1968, Ann Loke Hui Cafe was officially registered on Jalan Sekama. Almost 60 years later, it is still going strong under the Hua family. [image: 1780016782710-ann-loke-hui-01.jpg] John Hua (right) and his 83-year-old mother Chai Lan Jin at their coffee station. Today, 56-year-old John Hua runs the business, taking over from his father Hua Kia Jin in 2001. His father ran the cafe for 33 years before passing away at 64. His mother, now 83, still helps in the kitchen. What makes this place special? The cafe was at its busiest during the Lido Theatre era — cinema-goers would flood in before and after shows. Many regulars still come in today, reminiscing about those days. Signature dishes: steamed chicken, char siew, three-layer pork with savoury rice, meat curry rice, kueh teow in tomato sauce, and traditional Hainan coffee served in vintage kopitiam cups. [image: 1780016787269-ann-loke-hui-02.jpg] Meat curry rice and pork with savoury rice — Hainanese staples. Old habits die hard here. They still use old newspapers as takeaway wrappers — a tradition dating back decades. [image: 1780016787451-ann-loke-hui-03.jpg] Coffee served in vintage cups and newspaper wrappers — unchanged through the years. "It would otherwise go to waste," John explains about the newspaper practice. The Hua family hopes to pass the cafe to the next generation. John's children already help out, and the memorabilia on the walls tells the story of a kitchen that hasn't changed its ways for six decades. Location: Jalan Sekama, Kuching Hours: 10.30am - 2pm daily, closed Sundays Contact: 019-889 6101 Source: DayakDaily Ever been to Ann Loke Hui? What old-school kopitiam in Kuching do you still visit?