Malaysia - The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia on a Budget - page 477

Green Hill Corner Jln Temple at Jln Green Hill. This
Chinese kopitiam is legendary among locals for its beef
noodle soup. The noodles are handmade, and chicken rice,
laksa and savoury rice porridge are also on offer. Mains
from RM3. Daily 7am-11pm.
Kampong Boyan hawker centre Take one of the
regular boats across the river in the evening (RM0.50)
and choose anything from curry to noodles to tom yam
from the hawker stalls. Behind the food court, there's a
restaurant that specializes in fantastic grilled chicken
served on a banana leaf.
Lyn's Tandoori Restaurant Lot 267, Jln Song Thian
Cheok. Not only does Lyn cook up the best tandoori roti
in town, but the tandoori dishes, curries and freshly baked
naan are excellent, too. Lots of veggie options. Mains from
RM15. Daily 11.30am-10.30pm.
Magna Carta The Courthouse, Jln Tun Abang Haji Openg.
Breezy veranda setting by one of Kuching's most venerable
colonial buildings; the menu is international fusion and
the seafood pasta deserves a prize. Lunch RM20; dinner
mains RM25. Daily noon-2.30pm & 6-11pm. Similar menu
at Magenta , also at the Courthouse. Daily 6-11pm.
Pinoy 143 Jln Padungan. If you like pork, you'll love
this popular Filipino restaurant with its emphasis on the
likes of barbecued three-layered pork, pork stew and
pork asado with black vinegar. Accompaniments include
veggies such as midin (jungle fern) and imaginative fruit
juices. Mains from RM16. Daily noon-10pm.
★

weight and includes delicious bamboo clams as well as
giant prawns, squid and soft-shell crab. Mains come in
small, medium and large; from RM12. Daily noon-11pm.
★

Tribal Stove Jln Borneo, opposite the Hilton .
Decorated with photos of the Kelabit people, this compact
restaurant serves dishes from the Kelabit highlands, such
as ab'eng (shredded river fish), tapioca fritters and bamboo
chicken, to the accompaniment of string melodies on the
stereo. The lunch buffet (RM18) is good value. Mon-Sat
11.30am-10.30pm.

6

DRINKING AND NIGHTLIFE
Jambu 32 Jln Crookshank. Head for the tapas bar at
this Mediterranean restaurant that's 1.5km south of the
waterfront; here you can shoot some pool, have a beer
while watching sports on TV or indulge in the likes of
Spanish meatballs and tortilla (potato omelette). Tues-
Sun 6-10.30pm.
The Junk 80 Jln Wayang. With an antique-shop-meets-
bar vibe, this local institution is as much fun to look
around as to drink in, with two bars and a signature
cocktail (the “555” )which packs a real punch. Also good
for Italian food. Mon & Wed-Sun 6-11pm; closed Tues.
Ruai 7 Jln Ban Hock. Sip your drinks on the ruai (covered
longhouse veranda) of this Iban-owned bar, decorated
with Orang Ulu art and popular with locals and expats.
Daily 5pm-1am.

DIRECTORY
Banks and exchange HSBC, Bangunan Binamus, off
Jln Padungan; Standard Chartered Bank, Jln Tunku Abdul
Rahman. Everise Moneychanger, 199 Jln Pandungan, offers
good rates.
Embassies and consulates Australian Honorary Consul,
E39, Level 2, Taman Sri Sarawak Mall, Jln Tunku Abdul
Rahman ( T 082 230777); British Honorary Consul ( T 082
250950); Brunei, No. 325 Lorong Seladah 10, Jln Seladah
( T 082 456515); Indonesia, No. 21, Lot 16557, Block 11,
Jln Stutong ( T 082 421734); New Zealand, Lot 8679,
Section 64, Pending Commercial Centre ( T 082 482177).
Hospitals Sarawak General Hospital, Jln Hospital ( T 082
276666), has an excellent A&E department and inexpensive
consultations, though it can be crowded. For private treat-
ment, go to Normah Medical Specialist Centre, Jln Tun Abdul
Rahman ( T 082 440055; emergency T 082 311999).
Immigration Bahagian Visa, 2nd floor, Bangunan Sultan
Iskandar, Kompleks Pejabat Persecutuan, Jln Tun Razak at
Jln Simpang Tiga (Mon-Thurs 8am-5pm, Fri 8-11.45am
& 2.15-5pm; T 082 245661) for visa extensions; take
STC bus #K8 or #K11 from outside Kuching Mosque.
Internet All accommodation options reviewed offer free
wi-fi; some offer free internet as well.
Laundry Easy Wash on Jln Ban Hock at Jln Song Thian
Cheok.

Top Spot Food Court Jln Bukit Mata. The best food
court in town for seafood, located on the roof of a multi-
storey car park. Fish and seafood is priced according to

TREAT YOURSELF
the.Dyak Jln Simpang Tiga T 082 234068.
Kuching's best restaurant gives you a
chance to sample authentic Iban cooking
in a refined setting, surrounded by
photographs of the Iban owner's
ancestors, mirrors and framed indigenous
artefacts. From the steamed fish with wild
ginger, the three-layered pork with
sambal and the traditional fermented
pork to the numerous vegetable dishes
(such as jungle ferns and sweet potato
leaves), everything is beautifully presented
and the flavours are superb. Finish off with
the only fusion item on the menu
- fermented rice topped with ice cream
and tuak (rice wine) - and don't shy away
from a glass of the stuff, brewed
according to an old family recipe. Mains
from RM20; reservations suggested on
Friday and Saturday nights. Daily
noon-11pm.

★