When it comes to local delicacies, pau (steamed buns) are rarely mentioned in tourist pamphlets, but that hasn’t stopped the tasty dough from making waves in the food and beverage scene.
The fillings of the tasty pau are usually lotus paste, minced pork, prawn or chicken meat, red bean, and vegetables, and they are sold at various coffee shops and eateries throughout Malaysia.
These pau are always served hot because they are kept warm in specially designed steam ovens in the eateries.
The Hong Kong Pau Cafe, located in Padungan here in Kuching, is a popular eatery known for its delicious pau.
According to one of the staff members, the owner is a Chinese businessman from Miri, and his sister, Tan Sweet Ee, assists in the operation of the shop.
“Hong Kong Pau Cafe has been in operation for over 20 years. We made the pau ourselves,” she said.
The cafe is always busy, not only in the mornings for breakfast, but also in the afternoons for lunch (there are also laksa and kolok mee stalls), and in the mid-afternoons for coffee break.
My personal favourite is the lotus pau, which is filled with a green, sweet, tasty, and delicate very fine lotus seed.
Priced at only RM1.70 each, the reasonably sized pau is very filling.
For my coffee break, I ordered the sio bee or mini meat loaf with a glass of Teh C Peng special or the three-layered tea and hot milo.
Most of the pau are less than RM2 and are well worth it.
With all of the hustle and bustle in the middle of the city, stop by for a coffee break and enjoy the delicacies.
You will never regret it because the pau and drinks, as well as the comfortable atmosphere and friendly staff, made it all worthwhile.
The cafe is open daily from 5:45am to 5pm, except on public holidays and during Chinese festivals.
