Back to my Kuching posts, another of my maternal cousins invited us to dinner that 2nd night there and after our brunch earlier that morning, we did not want a heavy lunch as we were saving tummy space for the scrumptious feast that awaited us. That was why we just went to check out this place…
…on the lower ground floor of the mall adjoining the hotel where we were staying.
Initially, I was wondering why it was thus named – Stone Ice but later, it dawned on me that it was actually the direct translation of the Malay term for ice, air batu.
We tried the ABC or air batu campur special (RM6.00)…
…that I ordered to share. It had cendol, red beans, cincau (black jelly)…
…and whatever else inside but no, it did not get us jumping with delight. I think if that is what one wants, the best place to go to in Kuching would be here. Word has it though that their branch at Satok has been taken over by someone else and the quality has gone down.
My girl and the mum had their Sarawak laksa (RM8.00)…
…and according to them, at best, it was edible – not anything they would want to have again and if it is authentic and truly great Sarawak laksa, maybe you would want to go for the one here.
I do believe that generally, the rule of thumb is you will need to know where to go for the best of anything and all you can get at shopping malls and food courts…and for that matter, upscale cafes like the one here and at the hotels as well, will be some more expensive, half-baked versions of the real thing that may be nice but not quite there, not really like the real thing!
I also ordered this sotong kangkong RM10.00)…
…and yes, that was all right and I had the belacan bihun (RM8.00)…
…which I swore I would never want to eat again after the first time here.
Now, why on earth did I go and order that again, you may ask? That was simply because I seemed to notice that this is the favourite of many in Kuching and many would be dying to come home to appease their craving for it…and I wanted the two ladies to try.
Well, my fears were confirmed – they did not like it at all and since I had ordered it already, I might as well eat it myself. I squeezed the juice of the calamansi lime over it and mixed the prawn paste and chili with everything in the bowl and ate…and I actually thought it was quite nice after all! I sure wouldn’t mind going for it again sometimes.
This STONE ICE outlet is located on the lower ground floor of the award-winning Plaza Merdeka (1.558279, 110.344049) at No. 88, Jalan Pearl in Kuching.
...STILL CRAZY AFTER ALL THESE YEARS! 
I usually go to Jubilee ground or sometimes Song Kheng Hai Hawker stalls for my nice cendol, belacan bihun and sotong kangkong. The laksa doesn’t looks appetising as the colour of the broth looks like curry. I doubt it taste like curry or not.
That was where I had my first encounter with it – I went there for kantong. The stench of the cheap belacan was so bad that I quickly left, did not try. Perhaps I should have – some things smell bad but taste quite good. My sayur rebus also does not smell so good but not as bad – I use Bintulu belacan, tastes great!
Yes, the laksa did not look like it. We’d just stick to our favourite in Sibu, very much more to our liking!
Better go to Hock Hai for belacan mi hun. I dont fancy going to such place for our local food. Pricey and sometimes it wasnt that nice. Such place is more like hanging out place and enjoy the comfort and fancier setting.
I would agree with you on that – convenience too, when shopping there. Hock Hai? The horrible pao dim sum place? Didn’t know they have belacan bihu,n not that I go there often – the pao and everything are all no good these days. A disgrace to call it dim sum.
Sorry. I mean Song Kheng Hai. Dont know why I thought of Hock Hai, lol.
Oh! See my reply to Irene above.
RM 6 for ais kacang is quite expensive isn’t it? O.o
It is? I never go for that at the stalls, not sure what the going price is.