Sarawak Laksa in Kuching: Chong Choon Cafe on Jalan Chan Chin Ann
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A laksa morning in Kuching works better when breakfast comes before the sightseeing. I would put Chong Choon Cafe first, then leave the rest of the morning open: the reason to come is Poh Lam Laksa, not a last-minute bowl squeezed in just before lunch.
The cafe is on Jalan Chan Chin Ann, a short walk from the older Jalan Abell address that still turns up in travel notes. Look for Chong Choon rather than Choon Hui: these are different kopitiams, and following the wrong name takes you to a different breakfast.
Poh Lam's bowl puts rice vermicelli, prawns, shredded chicken and bean sprouts around the broth, with lime and sambal served alongside. I would taste the soup before squeezing in the lime or adding the sambal. That leaves room to decide how much acidity and heat you actually want, rather than letting the condiments make every spoonful taste the same.
The stall's overnight broth preparation helps explain the early-morning rhythm: the day's batch is cooked ahead of breakfast and sold through the morning. A coffee shop still being open does not guarantee that its laksa has not sold out. I would make this a breakfast stop, not rely on it as an emergency lunch plan.
There is also a broader kopitiam breakfast here. Toast and buns make the table easier to share with someone who does not want a bowl of noodles; I would keep the laksa as the main order and choose an extra only after seeing what is available that morning. A steamed bun is a different sort of breakfast from a large second noodle order, so it suits a group with mixed appetites.
This is a working coffee shop, not a single-dish restaurant where every person needs the same order. That is the useful distinction: one person can plan around Poh Lam's laksa while the rest choose a simpler breakfast. Check the day's opening information before setting off, especially around public holidays, and ask the stall for the current price rather than budgeting from an old travel post.
Chong Choon Cafe / 泉春茶室
275, Jalan Chan Chin Ann, 93100 Kuching, Sarawak.
Open Chong Choon Cafe in Google MapsFor a first Kuching trip, I would choose one proper laksa breakfast and give it time. Here, arriving for breakfast matters more than ordering a table full of extras.
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