"Land of the Hornbills": Mee Kolok a.k.a Mee Sapi

kolo mee

There can be only one logical choice – kolo mee, the ubiquitous tossed noodle that has become so much part of the city folks’ life.

Laksa might stake a claim, but at best it can only claim to be Sarawak’s variety of this dish as several other states can also lay claim to this dish.

Kolo mee is a different kettle of fish altogether. It is ‘endemic’ to Kuching, and only in recent years has it spread to other towns in Sarawak. In fact, its popularity has spread to a few eateries in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur!

However, kolo mee is still hard to come by in these cities, and Kuching natives working there often crave for its simple but unique taste.

Somehow, kolo mee does not taste like the kolo mee they used to eat, unless it is eaten in Kuching.

The same applies for kolo mee – it has to be made, cooked and eaten in Kuching to be the real deal.

If Kuching natives cannot come back, then the next best thing is to get someone coming their way from the city to buy packets of the noodles for them.

It is inconvenient, no doubt, but it is worth all the trouble for these kolo mee addicts.Indeed, what it so special about this ‘poor man’s food’? ‘Not so young’ citizens still reminiscence the good old days when a bowl of kolo mee ‘kosong’ (served without any garnishing) cost 30 cents and a standard serving with slivers of meat cost an extra 20 cents.

Kolo mee ‘special’ with extra garnishing like boiled prawns costing at least a few ringgit more were unheard of in those days … life was simple then.

In recent years, kolo mee earned another reason to be the signature dish of Kuching when it transcended the racial barrier and made it into the menu of Malay coffee shops through its halal version.Although it has not make it to the ranks of `nasi lemak’ or `mee jawa’ in halal eateries, mee kolok has gained a large following among those who eat only halal food.

The famous place of mee kolok at Kuching is at Benteng Baru Kubah Ria. The Mee kolok is as know as "mee kolok Mangkok Merah" because it will serve by the red bowl.

mee kolok mangkuk merah website - http://dcyberinfo.blogspot.com/2012/04/mee-kolok-di-benteng-satok-kuching.html