Anyone visiting the country, or the state, would fall in love with the various types of food and delicacies available.
Laksa, chicken rice, kueh chap, pork satay, rendang, and ayam penyet are only a few examples of the local cuisine.
One of the country’s authentic and hearty cuisines that are loved by many is bak kut teh. This Malaysian herbal soup consists of pork ribs and Chinese herbs and it is usually eaten with rice. This dish is popular among the Hokkien and Teochew community.
If you want to try one of the best non-halal dishes in Kuching, go to Hiang Mon Low Cafe at BDC near the Everrise Supermarket and look for a stall, namely Bak Kut Teh Stall.
Ah Wee, a 25-year-old employee who cooks the delectable dish, said the ingredients included pork ribs, pork intestines, tauhu, three-layer pork meat, and, per request, either pork legs or tail as well as savoury seasonings.
It is usually served in a sizzling hot clay pot with a bowl of specially made rice with a side of ginger, scallops, and black sauce.
“This stall is owned by my towkay (boss), Ah Soon, who has been running it for years.
“I am unable to determine if it is a family business because he is in his 60s and not married. He teaches me how to make bak kut teh,” he said.
Customers such as myself visit the stall, which is open from 9.30am to 7.30pm and closed on Tuesdays, several times to enjoy the dish. It is RM13 per bowl.
Seated a few tables away from me was a couple, Mr and Mrs Vernon Vanderpol.
“We come here three times every week, and this place is among the best and most affordable ones in Kuching,” said Sim, who is in her 50s.
She said that she specifically took her 70-year-old American husband to the stall so that he may try the dish.
“I love it. It is without a doubt one of the best dish I’ve had in Kuching so far,” said Vernon.
In addition to Malaysia’s diverse population of ethnicities, faiths, cultures, and customs, tourists are drawn to the country for its delicious cuisine as it is also known as a foodie’s paradise.
