Apr 5

5 must try bizarre foods of Sarawak

Surely you’ve already had everything thought out before you arrive in Sarawak for a holiday – food included. While Sarawak Laksa, Kolo Mee, Kampua, Bee Hoon Belacan and Kompia are the quintessential Sarawak delicacies not to be left out of your “to-eat” list, the adventurous might want to try something more unusual. Here are 5 bizarre foods to try in Sarawak.

Kelatang

Otherwise known as the Bario tree grub, the kelatang is commonly enjoyed by the people living in Bario Highland. It can be eaten as is although it is enjoyed most in rice porridge.

*Bario Food and Cultural Festival (Pesta Nukenen) in Bario is your best bet at trying this delicacy for yourself.

Kasom Ikien

Delicious on its own or with steamed white rice, kasom ikien is raw fish rubbed with salt and pounded rice and preserved in a jar for about a month at least. The end result is a pungent and sour tasting fish that’s so delicious eaten raw, steamed or fried, although its an acquired taste.

*Sometimes available at local markets. If not, Awah Café in Kuching serves it as well.

Awah Café

Lot 964, Block 10, Jalan Kumpang, Taman Ridgeway, 93200 Kuching, Sarawak.

Tel: +60 13 565 0091

Linut / Ambuyat

Okay, maybe this is not the most bizarre food ever, but Linut or Ambuyat does take a little getting used to. The dish is made from sago flour, which is mixed with room temp water before boiling hot water is added until a thick, gooey consistency is achieved. To be eaten with sambal belacan or tempoyak (fermented durian) soup.

*Easily available at local restaurants with some Melanau dishes included in their menu.

Kedey Kamek

Q309, Taman Fah Tah, 93050 Kuching, Sarawak.

Tel: +60 82 513 167

Barong Tinuk

Lot 12295, Jalan Semarak, Petra Jaya, 93050 Kuching, Sarawak.

Tel: +60 19 818 8145

Tebah Dewon Bandung

The Bidayuh folks love it. Others maybe not as much. But it’s definitely worth a try. Tebah Dewon Bandung basically translates as preserved tapioca leaves. Sourish and pungent, it’s definitely an acquired taste. Those who eat it would stir fry it with anchovies and chilli or with three-layered pork.

*Curious to try? Awah Café stir-fries it with onion, chilli and anchovies and serves it together with white rice.

Awah Café

Lot 964, Block 10, Jalan Kumpang, Taman Ridgeway, 93200 Kuching, Sarawak.

Tel: +60 13 565 0091

Sago grubs

Now this one is kind of a superstar of bizarre foods in Sarawak. The sago grub is a larvae of a large species of beetle called the sago palm weevil. It may look like something born out of a nightmare but it’s incredibly nutritious and is a delicacy here in Sarawak.

*Live ones are sold at local markets sometimes. Or would you prefer to sample a sago grub pizza from Lasan Denak Food Garden in Taman BDC, Kuching instead?

Lasan Denak Foof Garden

433, Lorong B4, Taman BDC, 93350 Kuching, Sarawak.

Tel: +60 13 818 2977