LA BOCA RIA
A new kid on the block, La Boca Ria is tapping into the trend for Mediterranean food around Kuching, arguably kickstarted by Zinc. Open for lunch instead, you can now eat the Med all day round. La Boca Ria does it beautifully. It looks beautiful: the best mix of local design with Spanish flavour as antique Asian carved wood panels and salvaged wrought iron combine with colourful posters of Iberian destinations. It tastes beautiful: a full range of imported meats with a classic potato tortilla for breakfast, a plump pork burger for lunch, moist cakes and pastries with coffee and a silky, cinnamon-scented Crema Catalan for any time of the day. It is a cosy little café for the hipster coffeeshop crowd that punches well above its weight as a full-fledged restaurant. The owner has a Spanish husband, so authenticity is high. But test the Maitre-D’, who has an uncanny ability to remember an order, no matter the months that have passed by. In the end, Spanish culture and Malaysian are pretty similar, despite the distance. Fiestas, family and laid-back fun. La Boca Ria will certainly bring a smile to your lips and your stomach.
43B TABUAN ROAD
OPEN 9AM TO 5PM
EXCEPT TUESDAYS
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- We Say
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LA BOCA RIA
A new kid on the block, La Boca Ria is tapping into the trend for Mediterranean food around Kuching, arguably kickstarted by Zinc. Open for lunch instead, you can now eat the Med all day round. La Boca Ria does it beautifully. It looks beautiful: the best mix of local design with Spanish flavour as antique Asian carved wood panels and salvaged wrought iron combine with colourful posters of Iberian destinations. It tastes beautiful: a full range of imported meats with a classic potato tortilla for breakfast, a plump pork burger for lunch, moist cakes and pastries with coffee and a silky, cinnamon-scented Crema Catalan for any time of the day. It is a cosy little café for the hipster coffeeshop crowd that punches well above its weight as a full-fledged restaurant. The owner has a Spanish husband, so authenticity is high. But test the Maitre-D’, who has an uncanny ability to remember an order, no matter the months that have passed by. In the end, Spanish culture and Malaysian are pretty similar, despite the distance. Fiestas, family and laid-back fun. La Boca Ria will certainly bring a smile to your lips and your stomach.
43B TABUAN ROAD
OPEN 9AM TO 5PM
EXCEPT TUESDAYS
- They Say
-
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- You Say
PIZZA BALKANICO
Pizza Balkanico has moved again but, with such a loyal clientele, the focus of town has moved with it. A once deserted back alley behind Bishopsgate is now thrumming with life out the back of the new Fairland Hidden bar, mostly down to the presence of this pizza. The lightest, crispiest crust laden with copious goodies and oozing with unctuous oils of fragrant green herbs: order one more than you think you will want. Once the takeaway trade gets going, you won’t get another one fast. Alex, the Balkanico owner of the name, is the Hulk, brooding and bearded. But don’t let appearances fool you. He has the lightest touch and the softest heart. He can create a pizza in mere minutes, the process down pat. Lucky for him as he can serve hundreds in an evening. The orders just keep on coming to his container, making it one of the most affordable pizzas in Kuching. Currently nothing beats this back alley for a beer and a slice or else, in times of covid, enjoy it in the comfort of your own home. There is no better than this Balkanico.
WAYANG STREET
BEHIND FAIRLAND HIDDEN BAR
OPEN 4PM TO 10PM
EXCEPT TUESDAYS
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- We Say
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PIZZA BALKANICO
Pizza Balkanico has moved again but, with such a loyal clientele, the focus of town has moved with it. A once deserted back alley behind Bishopsgate is now thrumming with life out the back of the new Fairland Hidden bar, mostly down to the presence of this pizza. The lightest, crispiest crust laden with copious goodies and oozing with unctuous oils of fragrant green herbs: order one more than you think you will want. Once the takeaway trade gets going, you won’t get another one fast. Alex, the Balkanico owner of the name, is the Hulk, brooding and bearded. But don’t let appearances fool you. He has the lightest touch and the softest heart. He can create a pizza in mere minutes, the process down pat. Lucky for him as he can serve hundreds in an evening. The orders just keep on coming to his container, making it one of the most affordable pizzas in Kuching. Currently nothing beats this back alley for a beer and a slice or else, in times of covid, enjoy it in the comfort of your own home. There is no better than this Balkanico.
WAYANG STREET
BEHIND FAIRLAND HIDDEN BAR
OPEN 4PM TO 10PM
EXCEPT TUESDAYS
- They Say
-
No one has left a comment yet. Go to ‘you say’ and be the first!
- You Say
THE ROYAL CHAMBER
The Royal Chamber doesn’t feel like Kuching. True, it is housed across two adjoining shopfronts on Kuching’s most heritage street, where it elegantly retreats into its façade, understated except for the jutting circular sign. But the interior is all New Orleans; open mezzanines, exposed brick work and delicate wrought-iron railings. It is dominated by a double-height bar, stocked with every brand of whiskey, from the everyday to the eye-watering in price range, and when you arrive at the door, the first question is whether you have a reservation. In Kuching? Now, this is definitely a departure. If you are used to the laid-back Kuching life of rubber flip-flops and endless summer lounging, then you might wonder if you’ve come to the right place. Apparently the upstairs floors of plush sofas and even a pleasant roof garden are its premium lounge, apparently for premium people. But wait! They will still welcome you in. This is still Kuching, simply elevated. You can still sit on Jalan Ewe Hai and sip a beer with flip-flops on your feet. Elitist? A little. But still a Royal hit with the Kuching person on the street.
98 & 100 EWE HAI STREET
93000 KUCHING
OPEN 2PM TO MIDNIGHT DAILY
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- We Say
-
THE ROYAL CHAMBER
The Royal Chamber doesn’t feel like Kuching. True, it is housed across two adjoining shopfronts on Kuching’s most heritage street, where it elegantly retreats into its façade, understated except for the jutting circular sign. But the interior is all New Orleans; open mezzanines, exposed brick work and delicate wrought-iron railings. It is dominated by a double-height bar, stocked with every brand of whiskey, from the everyday to the eye-watering in price range, and when you arrive at the door, the first question is whether you have a reservation. In Kuching? Now, this is definitely a departure. If you are used to the laid-back Kuching life of rubber flip-flops and endless summer lounging, then you might wonder if you’ve come to the right place. Apparently the upstairs floors of plush sofas and even a pleasant roof garden are its premium lounge, apparently for premium people. But wait! They will still welcome you in. This is still Kuching, simply elevated. You can still sit on Jalan Ewe Hai and sip a beer with flip-flops on your feet. Elitist? A little. But still a Royal hit with the Kuching person on the street.
98 & 100 EWE HAI STREET
93000 KUCHING
OPEN 2PM TO MIDNIGHT DAILY
- They Say
-
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- You Say
SWEE KANG ICE KACANG
Swee Kang’s is an institution which needs no introduction in Kuching. This family business has spread out from a single stall in Tower Market, the heart of Kuching’s best hawker food, into multiple locations around town. If you are wondering where Sarawakians get that extra meal of the daily roster, then this is it. Ice Kacang, Rojak, Belacan Bee Hoon, Char Kueh – they are all on offer for a savoury snack or a shot of sugar at any time of the day. Best of the bunch, they still do an old-style fresh lime – squeezed fresh from the actual limau kasturi itself, served over shaved ice, spiced up with just a pinch of salt. To every place in town which has switched to cordial, watch and learn the love of a real fresh lime. In Asia, nothing trumps the delights of a shaved ice dessert, and Swee Kang does them all with a lot more on the side. The family has been making them all their lives. No wonder Kuching loves them.
JALAN KULAS – HAJI TAHA INTERCHANGE
KAMPUNG BANDARSHAH
93400 KUCHING
OPEN MIDDAY TO 6.30PM
EXCEPT THURSDAY
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- We Say
-
SWEE KANG ICE KACANG
Swee Kang’s is an institution which needs no introduction in Kuching. This family business has spread out from a single stall in Tower Market, the heart of Kuching’s best hawker food, into multiple locations around town. If you are wondering where Sarawakians get that extra meal of the daily roster, then this is it. Ice Kacang, Rojak, Belacan Bee Hoon, Char Kueh – they are all on offer for a savoury snack or a shot of sugar at any time of the day. Best of the bunch, they still do an old-style fresh lime – squeezed fresh from the actual limau kasturi itself, served over shaved ice, spiced up with just a pinch of salt. To every place in town which has switched to cordial, watch and learn the love of a real fresh lime. In Asia, nothing trumps the delights of a shaved ice dessert, and Swee Kang does them all with a lot more on the side. The family has been making them all their lives. No wonder Kuching loves them.
JALAN KULAS – HAJI TAHA INTERCHANGE
KAMPUNG BANDARSHAH
93400 KUCHING
OPEN MIDDAY TO 6.30PM
EXCEPT THURSDAY
- They Say
-
No one has left a comment yet. Go to ‘you say’ and be the first!
- You Say
EMBER
Ember has possibly the best meat in town. A bold suggestion, perhaps, but I’m feeling brave. Sourced from an organic farm, it is succulent and tender – a good thing too as Ember is all about the meat. A charcoal grill, its quality is equally in the cooking – sticky char siu with just that hint of bitter burn, crispy pork belly and the softest steamed chicken. Simply amazing and entirely affordable. The place is usually bursting at the seams with a lunchtime crowd, the narrow access road one in, one out. But it is entirely worth it, not just for the food but also for the ambience. Attached to an old house, it feels like you have dropped by for a quick bite in an old friend’s backyard of belian posts and marble-topped coffeeshop tables. Open on all sides, it is a breath of fresh barbecue scented air. Bask in its glow!
71 JALAN TABUAN
OPEN 11AM TO 3PM
TUESDAY TO FRIDAY
No one has left a comment yet. Go to ‘you say’ and be the first!
- We Say
-
EMBER
Ember has possibly the best meat in town. A bold suggestion, perhaps, but I’m feeling brave. Sourced from an organic farm, it is succulent and tender – a good thing too as Ember is all about the meat. A charcoal grill, its quality is equally in the cooking – sticky char siu with just that hint of bitter burn, crispy pork belly and the softest steamed chicken. Simply amazing and entirely affordable. The place is usually bursting at the seams with a lunchtime crowd, the narrow access road one in, one out. But it is entirely worth it, not just for the food but also for the ambience. Attached to an old house, it feels like you have dropped by for a quick bite in an old friend’s backyard of belian posts and marble-topped coffeeshop tables. Open on all sides, it is a breath of fresh barbecue scented air. Bask in its glow!
71 JALAN TABUAN
OPEN 11AM TO 3PM
TUESDAY TO FRIDAY
- They Say
-
No one has left a comment yet. Go to ‘you say’ and be the first!
- You Say
ZINC
Zinc is the mother of all Mediterranean flavours in Sarawak and, just celebrating six years, it is still going strong. An open terrace with a double fronted bar, it is the ideal spot for a soothing glass of wine at sunset. An elegant yet quirky interior of open brickwork and enormous belian beams, it is the ideal spot for a refined dinner a deux. A private room upstairs dominated by the city’s longest dining table, it is the ideal spot for family groups and select parties for friends. Ambience aside, Zinc is a foodies’ paradise. These are people who prioritise quality and you get what you pay for. The bread is baked in house, the perfect accompaniment to lashings of olive oil and an array of sumptuous toppings: plump prawns swimming in garlic, tangy olives, fine cheeses and paper thin meat platters. Even a simple topping of tomato puree does the trick. Rabbit, snails, meaty mains, paella and plenty of pizzas round out the menu. You can even get a decent Negroni to round off your meal. All this ensures a dedicated crowd, looking for a little drop of luxury in laid-back Kuching style. So, sink straight into the Med at Zinc.
38 TABUAN ROAD
OPEN 6PM TO 12AM
EXCEPT MONDAYS
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ZINC
Zinc is the mother of all Mediterranean flavours in Sarawak and, just celebrating six years, it is still going strong. An open terrace with a double fronted bar, it is the ideal spot for a soothing glass of wine at sunset. An elegant yet quirky interior of open brickwork and enormous belian beams, it is the ideal spot for a refined dinner a deux. A private room upstairs dominated by the city’s longest dining table, it is the ideal spot for family groups and select parties for friends. Ambience aside, Zinc is a foodies’ paradise. These are people who prioritise quality and you get what you pay for. The bread is baked in house, the perfect accompaniment to lashings of olive oil and an array of sumptuous toppings: plump prawns swimming in garlic, tangy olives, fine cheeses and paper thin meat platters. Even a simple topping of tomato puree does the trick. Rabbit, snails, meaty mains, paella and plenty of pizzas round out the menu. You can even get a decent Negroni to round off your meal. All this ensures a dedicated crowd, looking for a little drop of luxury in laid-back Kuching style. So, sink straight into the Med at Zinc.
38 TABUAN ROAD
OPEN 6PM TO 12AM
EXCEPT MONDAYS
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