Choon Hui Cafe

Choon Hui was another Kuching spot recommended to us by a local friend of a friend - and we’re very glad that he did.

The cafe gained considerable notoriety because Anthony Bourdain extolled the virtues of the Sarawak Laks, and as a result some reviewers have grumbled that it’s become a tourist trap.

While it is wildly popular, we saw no indication that it’s in any way a tourist trap. As we understand it, the characteristics of a tourist trap are: prices higher than the market norm; they serve mediocre food that is narrowly focused on what visitors think the local favourites should be before they arrive; and, service is generally superficially friendly, but never genuinely warm.

None of those things apply at Choon Hui Cafe. The food is great, the prices are right in line with other local spots in Kuching, and the service is lovely.

The Sarawak Laksa is very good, though we had equally good versions elsewhere in Kuching. The two dishes that stood out were the Kolo Mee and the Popiah (the ladies who prepare the popiah are delightful) Both were outstanding. And the pork rib soup is excellent, as is their coffee.

The most we spent at breakfast was RM30 (CDN $9.10), and that was for two mains, popiah and four coffees. Great value for money!

Highly recommended.

Laksa lives up to its reputation. Thick broth, wish they served more of it. Big bowl rm13.

Kolo mee OK but I've had better elsewhere.

Kopi Peng very dilute. Just skip it and save 3 bucks.

Go on weekdays, not so crowded.

Hesitated dropping by, as laksa breakfast <> me.
Tried and it's really nice.... arrived 750am, no seats by 8am..... the unique rempah broth and ingredients blend together to a star mix.

Established since 1956! Best Kolo Mee in Kuching! Porridge is good! Toasted bread is yummy! 3-layered tea 👍🏼 …. But I will not go for laksa, if I ever come back! …

I had the pleasure to eat at Choon Hui Cafe's laksa and kolo mee since my uni time 2010, and I have to say, I was thoroughly impressed! because the quality is still there. The laksa was rich and flavorful, with just the right amount of spiciness. The broth was creamy and had a great balance of sweet, sour, and savory flavors. The noodles were perfectly cooked and had a nice chew to them. The laksa also came with a generous serving of shrimp, chicken, and tofu, which added to the overall deliciousness of the dish.

The kolo mee was equally amazing. The noodles were springy and had a great texture, and the sauce was flavorful without being too heavy. The dish was topped with sliced pork and spring onions, which gave it a nice crunch and freshness.

Overall, I would highly recommend laksa and kolo mee for 1st timer. The food is authentic, delicious, and reasonably priced, and the service is friendly and efficient. PLUS before that someone famous also come here eat too.

Famous place to eat, no need for introduction !!!

My favourite and 'must eat' laksa whenever I back to Kuching 🤤😋♥ willing to wake up early and queue...
The broth is more curry flavour, bihun is cook perfectly with Q-wy texture. And the prawn 🦐 are fresh

Netizen mentioned about this cafe where I could find the best Sarawak laksa and it’s so true.

It’s the best Sarawak laksa I have so far. The soup is not too thick but rich. The whole combination of meehoon, chicken floss, egg and prawns were superb. I added the provided lime and sambal which elevated the entire experience.

Also I find the coffee taste good, I find it difficult to find good coffee in Kuching but this place serves good coffee. Must try.

My favourite place to eat, in Kuching. Highly recommended by my brother and cousin. Yet, I was still blown away by the taste of the laksa. I'd describe it as the way Anton Ego felt when he had the ratatouille made by Remy (in Disney's 'Ratatouille'). That is, not only did it taste delicious, but the taste sense triggered a memory of the nostalgic and the good ol' days.
The kolok mee at the kopitiam was good, too. I had only a sample as every time I go there, I'd only just have the laksa. It was quite fragrant, but the texture of the noodle was a little too tough for my liking. I know a lot of people like it that way (chewy, tough). It came with handmade fish balls. You know it's good when the pickiest eater among us asked the maker if she could buy the fish balls in bulk to take home. (The answer was 'no'.)
The service is rated high because despite kopitiam looking busy (to the point of almost being chaotic), the vendors were very personable and patient (unlike a lot of places in Miri). And when we asked for the laksa to not include chicken meat, they gave extra prawns. (This generosity would be miraculous in Miri.)
Also, apparently they have a popiah stall here, too. But it was their off day on our first visit. And on our second visit, the maker wasn't there yet, even though the ingredients were all ready at the stall. (We were there at 6:30am.)
This place should be classified a Heritage (site)!😁😄

Very good laksa. When we were there the shop is full but the waiting time is not too long , around 15-20mins.

One of the best Sarawak laksa in Kuching. The broth is full of spices. Prawns are cleaned. The kolo mee is great too. Charsiew with sweet taste.

Come early to avoid the crowd on a weekend. This bowl of laksa definitely lives up to it's reputation. One of the best if not the best laksa Sarawak. A must try for locals and tourists alike.

It was one of the best laksa I had in Kuching. The broth is thick and sweet with coconut milk, and the portion is just nice. The popiah is very good as well.
Service is good with a nice kopi

Sarawak Laksa very delicious, but portion is small (ordered medium and regretted not ordering big).

Three layer tea is a bit sweet for my liking but it's their popular drink here. Would come back 10/10.

I was pleasantly surprised to find the restaurant relatively uncrowded, with available tables. Maybe it was a rainy Wednesday. The service was prompt and efficient. The food surpassed my expectations, making it another must-visit dining spot. The Kolomee, Kuching laksa, and pork rib noodle soup were all exceptionally delicious. I was disappointed that Popiah wasn't available that day. Nevertheless, I am determined to return in the future to savour their offerings once more.

Very crowded, but fast service 👍

Kolo mee Rm5; Laksa small Rm8, big Rm10; Coffee big x 1 cup + 2 pieces roti kahwin Rm7.40

Kolo Mee = authentic taste
Laksa = gravy with coconut milk taste good👍

Only one thing, all in small bowl, both of us can't fullfill our stomach, so decided to go to other place for breakfast again😂

Popiah is tasty! It has surprise peanut kernels inside- makes it a unique taste.

kolo mee Char Siew is NOT good, but the taste of the noodles and the “kolo mee” sauce is very tasty!

Sarawak laksa is delicious. We thought it was good at first, but once u add the Sambal, it takes it to the NEXT LEVEL!!!! Multi dimensional taste- amazing!

Drinks at the shop is so so and a bit diluted.

Nice and humble place for breakfast. Easy to order and food was affordable and tasty. Must try the kolo mee and coffee with eggs and toast

Check google update before coming! 😅 i made a mistake of not checking.
(Update is on the right side from review tab)

Good luck!

This is the Sarawak Laksa that Anthony Bourdain ate.

Really fascinating. Its herbal tasting laksa.

Yes must eat! Glad to have eaten it once 😃

A must try place for good laksa. For me, the laksa broth here is a bit thick compared to other places. The portion is fine. For laksa enthusiasts, you might prefer a larger bowl. Coffee is good, just a bit sweet. Their roti kahwin is really good. Just need to wait a few minutes to get table. There will be a lot of customers (also tourists) waiting outside.

This stall is infamous for the laksa. The laksa broth was done perfectly, not too thick or watery. Service from the ladies manning the stalls was surprisingly good as they were courteous despite the longx3 list of orders that they have. Good food coupled with good service, a recipe for success!