Kuching · Malaysia
Self-guided food tour Old Kuching Carpenter St–Main Bazaar + Padungan, Kuching
A self-guided food walk through Old Kuching Carpenter St–Main Bazaar + Padungan, Kuching. You get a private guide 24 hours before your start, then walk it alone over up to 6 days, tasting up to 35 dishes and paying each vendor directly.
Vendor details verified on 28 Sep 2026 · Researched by BestByLocals Research Team
About the area
Kuching's old town runs from Carpenter Street and Main Bazaar along the Sarawak River to the shophouses of Padungan. It is the home of kolo mee and Sarawak laksa, eaten in busy kopitiams from early morning, and of Borneo flavours you won't find on the Peninsula: wild jungle ferns, bamboo-cooked chicken, Bario rice and layered kek lapis.
Some of the places on the walk
- Black Bean Coffee & Tea Co.
- Chong Choon Cafe (泉春茶室) — Poh Lam Laksa, Shiok Popiah, Thick Toast
- Choon Hui Cafe (春园茶室) — Aunty Mei's Sarawak Laksa
- Green Hill Corner (hawker kopitiam)
- IG Ais Kacang Gambier (halal Sarawak kopitiam)
- Kek Lapis Mama Su (Kedai Kek Lapis Mamasu)
- Kim Joo (锦裕) kolo mee kopitiam
- Lau Ya Keng — Fish Ball Soup & Satay stall (pork satay)
- Lau Ya Keng — 阳春台 小妹哥 Kolo Mee stall
- Lau Ya Kheng Kueh Chap (阳春台粿杂) stall
- Lepau Restaurant (Sarawak Dayak / Orang Ulu cuisine)
- Life Cafe @ Padungan (人間茶坊之老店, pork-free)
- Top Spot Food Court — Ling Loong Seafood (stalls No. 6 & 33)
Listed alphabetically — not in walking order. The full route, addresses and dish prices are in your guide.
Before you buy
- Kim Joo (锦裕) kolo mee kopitiam is closed on Mondays
- Lau Ya Keng — 阳春台 小妹哥 Kolo Mee stall is closed on Wednesdays
- Lau Ya Keng — Fish Ball Soup & Satay stall (pork satay) may be closed on Tuesdays and Fridays
- Lau Ya Kheng Kueh Chap (阳春台粿杂) stall is closed on Mondays
- Black Bean Coffee & Tea Co. may be closed on Sundays
- Choon Hui Cafe (春园茶室) — Aunty Mei's Sarawak Laksa is closed on Mondays
- Chong Choon Cafe (泉春茶室) — Poh Lam Laksa, Shiok Popiah, Thick Toast is closed on Tuesdays
- Lepau Restaurant (Sarawak Dayak / Orang Ulu cuisine) is closed on Sundays
- Fewer stops are open on Mondays and Sundays — plan those days around the closed days.
- Some restaurants add a cover or service charge to the bill.
Food and dietary notice
Cross-contamination is likely, so the walks are not recommended if you have food allergies. We can't cater for religious dietary requirements and we don't state whether anything is halal. Where we know a dish contains pork, beef or alcohol we say so, but that is not conclusive — check directly with each vendor. You take part at your own risk.
If you have a severe or life-threatening allergy, we recommend you don't take part.
What you get that a PDF doesn't
- Opening hours checked with the vendors and on Maps on 28 Sep 2026.
- Closed days and public holidays handled day by day, so you know what's open on each day of your walk.
- Spare stops, in case one is shut when you get there.
- A multi-day access window: 3 to 6 days, depending on your tier.
- Your choice of size: 4 tiers, from Express to Grand.
Our guide or a free list?
When a free DIY list is enough
If you only want one famous dish in Kuching, a free list or map is enough.
What the guide adds
The guide plans walking routes through Old Kuching Carpenter St–Main Bazaar + Padungan, checks closed days, and says what to order at each stop and what it costs, so you can eat well at your own pace.
Choose your tier
- Express$156–7 tastings3 days access$15Coming soon
- Classic$2513–15 tastings4 days access$25Coming soon
- Signature$3520–24 tastings5 days access$35Coming soon
- Grand$5030–35 tastings6 days access$50Coming soon
Your guide opens in your phone's web browser — no app needed. You'll need mobile data or Wi-Fi to open it and for map directions. Once opened, it also works through short gaps in signal. Access ends automatically at the end of your N-day window. N is the number of access days for your tier: Express 3 days, Classic 4 days, Signature 5 days, Grand 6 days.
This destination isn't on sale yet.
Prices in USD. Taxes are calculated at checkout by Lemon Squeezy. Prices are for the guide only. Food and drink aren't included — you pay each vendor directly, at their prices.
Quick answers
- What is the Old Kuching Carpenter St–Main Bazaar + Padungan food walk?
- A self-guided food walk through Old Kuching Carpenter St–Main Bazaar + Padungan, Kuching. You get a private guide 24 hours before your start, then walk it alone over up to 6 days, tasting up to 35 dishes and paying each vendor directly.
- How much does it cost?
- From $15 (Express: 6–7 tastings, 3 days) to $50 (Grand: 30–35 tastings, 6 days). The guide price doesn't include food — you pay vendors directly.
- Are any places closed on certain days?
- Yes — please check before you pick your start date: Kim Joo (锦裕) kolo mee kopitiam is closed on Mondays; Lau Ya Keng — 阳春台 小妹哥 Kolo Mee stall is closed on Wednesdays; Lau Ya Keng — Fish Ball Soup & Satay stall (pork satay) may be closed on Tuesdays and Fridays; Lau Ya Kheng Kueh Chap (阳春台粿杂) stall is closed on Mondays; Black Bean Coffee & Tea Co. may be closed on Sundays; Choon Hui Cafe (春园茶室) — Aunty Mei's Sarawak Laksa is closed on Mondays; Chong Choon Cafe (泉春茶室) — Poh Lam Laksa, Shiok Popiah, Thick Toast is closed on Tuesdays; Lepau Restaurant (Sarawak Dayak / Orang Ulu cuisine) is closed on Sundays; Fewer stops are open on Mondays and Sundays — plan those days around the closed days.; Some restaurants add a cover or service charge to the bill..
- Do I need mobile data?
- Your guide opens in your phone's web browser — no app needed. You'll need mobile data or Wi-Fi to open it and for map directions. Once opened, it also works through short gaps in signal. Access ends automatically at the end of your N-day window. N is the number of access days for your tier: Express 3 days, Classic 4 days, Signature 5 days, Grand 6 days.
- Is it suitable for allergies or dietary requirements?
- Cross-contamination is likely, so the walks are not recommended if you have food allergies. We can't cater for religious dietary requirements and we don't state whether anything is halal. Where we know a dish contains pork, beef or alcohol we say so, but that is not conclusive — check directly with each vendor. You take part at your own risk. If you have a severe or life-threatening allergy, we recommend you don't take part.
- Can I cancel?
- Yes, free of charge until your guide is sent (24 hours before your start). After that there are no refunds. If you buy less than 24 hours before your start, the guide is sent immediately and can't be refunded.
- Can I change my start date?
- You can change your start date once, free of charge, by emailing support@getbestbylocals.com any time before your guide is sent (24 hours before your start). Once the guide has been sent, the date is fixed.
People also ask
- Is it worth doing a food tour in Kuching?
- If you like trying many small dishes, yes: a self-guided walk through Old Kuching Carpenter St–Main Bazaar + Padungan lets you taste local favourites at your own pace, over several days.
- Is it expensive to eat in Kuching?
- You pay each vendor directly for what you eat; the guide shows the price of each tasting before you order, or says when to check at the counter.