Nearby…

When I woke up that first morning in Kuching, at around 7.00 a.m., I walked to this shop…

…located nearby, right around the corner and I was shocked to see all the illegally parked cars along the road outside even though it was still so early in the morning.

The place was FULL and I had to sit at a table where there was a young guy enjoying his bowl of Sarawak/Kuching laksa but after asking him, of course, and he said that he did not mind, a very nice young man who even took his leave politely when he was done after which, I had the whole table to myself.

I cannot recall exactly when the last time I came here was but I do remember it was before I retired and I was staying at the hotel next door, either conducting a course for English teachers or attending a workshop or seminar and early one morning, my very dear friend, Jimmy, since deceased – he passed away in a tragic road accident, and I walked over for breakfast. I don’t think I ever went back to the shop…

…since, not even after all that publicity when the late Anthony Bourdain dropped by and fell in love with the Sarawak/Kuching laksa from this stall…

…there especially when there are locals who will tell you that this one is not the best in the city and there are other nicer ones around. I did not go for the laksa though – for one thing, it was way too early and for another, we do have one place here with pretty good laksa and I would not want to go for anything we can go for anytime in town.

I went for the kolo mee instead even though we may have some wannabes in Sibu that come pretty close but some do not even know for a fact that when it comes to kolo mee, one has to give this chili soaked in vinegar dip…

…not that bottled chili sauce that one would get with kampua mee.

I remember having the kolo mee here before and it was good and that morning, I asked for the special (RM6.00)…

…and even though I would not say it was the best in town, it was definitely kolo mee, not kampua mee in disguise.

I also remember enjoying the popiah here before and despite the fact that I had just made my own at home over the weekend before coming over to Kuching, I could not resist ordering two (RM3.30 each)…

…and it was served with this sweet sauce with bits of chili in it.

Yes, it was very nice…

…and I made up my mind there and then that I would walk over early Sunday morning before my flight back to Sibu to buy some to take home.

CHOON HUI CAFE 春园茶室 (1.552768, 110.354468) is located at No. 34, Jalan Ban Hock in Kuching to the left of the Hotel Grand Continental there.