Rumah Asap Tabuan

Review Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Recommended)

Address: Jalan Tabuan Dayak, Tabuan Dayak, 93250 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/tpai8Y3Gp7irWvaV9
(Please refer to the Timings provided in the Google Map Link for the Operating Hours.)

This was an Eatery that is focused on mostly Iban/Dayak Foods. It's quite a big place that houses several different stalls. 🤔 Although Google Map listed it open at 4.00pm, many stalls are actually closed and from what I understand, really open after 7.00pm or so. 🕖

Special Thanks to Mr Wilfred who is the Owner of "Babitinu" who was a very Friendly Gentleman with whom I had a very good discussion about the Lifes and Cultures of the Iban People. ♥️ He himself is Iban, spoke Perfect English and it was quite an experience picking his brain on the Unique foods of his People. Really Friendly Chap. 😄

Original Babitinu = RM9.00
Crispy Babitinu = RM9.00

"Tinu" roughly means "Barbeque" 🔥 and this is what "Babitinu" is essentially, Barbequed Pork. 🔥🐷 According to Wilfred, the Original version of Babitinu does not have Crackling Crispy Pork Skin. It leans more towards Phillippines Lechon rather than Chinese Styled Sio Bak. 🐷🤔

Crispy Sio Bak style is more of a Modern Creation made to suit Modern Palates. 🐷 When this was first served, there is a very Beautiful Spiced Aroma and it smelled Fantastic! 🐷😋 Crispy is Noticeably Saltier, while Original has a more Porky 原味. 🐷👍 Both has a very Deep Smoky Flavour. Think of the nicest Smoked BBQ Pork you've eaten and you're not far off from how this tastes like. 😋

Wilfred also revealed that the Pork was also Marinated with Sarawak Pepper which is supposed to impart it a Deeper Spicy Taste. 🐷🌶️ Personally, it didn't really taste much different from Usual Peppers.

The Chilli provided is Deeply Complex and dipping the Babitinus into it was Nice. 🌶️😋 Overall, this was a very Well Smoked, Well Barbequed Pork. If I had something to pick on, I felt that 100g of this felt a little expensive, 🤔 and being that this was my First Meal in Kuching, I'm also not sure if this is considered overpriced or not. 😅 But Quality is certainly worth it IMO, so I thought that was still ok.

Pansoh Ayam Tua = RM15.00

Wilfred helped me order this. He seems to know everyone in this Eatery. 😄 This is Bamboo Cooked Chicken, another Classic Iban Dish. 🎍🐔 Of course the Modern Version I have probably isn't cooked in Bamboo. The Traditional Way to do this is to apparently stuff the Chicken in a Hollowed Out Bamboo and fill it with Herbs 🌿 and Slow-Roast it over a Fire and let the Chicken cook with its Juices within. 🐔🔥



To me, the version I have is basically Chicken Soup and the Soup is Delcious. 🍲😋 Its so Full of Chicken Flavour and Goodness, so Rich and Complex and Full of 鸡油. 🐔😋 Felt like I was drinking a Whole Bottle of Essence of Chicken. This Soup would be Perfect to drink on a Rainy Day. Absolutely Amazing Soup! 😋

That said, while the Soup was certainly Amazing, I felt the Chicken Meat let down the Dish. 🐔🤔 Meat is very Tough and only later did I realize that "Tua" meant "Old". So this was probably 老母鸡 (Old Mother Hen). 🐔😅 Not only was the Meat Too Tough and Chewy, I didn't like that most of them were Bony Cuts. About 6 Pieces of Chicken in Total.

Crispy Mee Tomato = RM9.00

Crispy Mee Tomato is something unique to Kuching. 🤔 Similar to a Tze Char Styled Yee Mee that we have in Singapore, instead of a Savoury Oyster Sauce based Gravy, it uses a Tomato Ketchup Gravy instead. 🍅🍯 This Tomato Gravy doesn't taste too Sourish or too Sweet. It's Warm and Comforting and actually taste quite nice. 👍




I didn't really like the Chicken Slices 🐔 and Fishball Pieces 🍡 on it though, their inclusion made the Dish taste Cheap perhaps because they're obviously rethawed Processed Foods. 🤔 I thought it would work nicer if they incorporated some Egg Flower into it. 🥚 Portion is acceptable for the asking price, and it feels quite unusual to eat Yee Mee with a Tomato Sauce. Interesting, but not something I'd order again though. 😅

Midin Belacan = RM16.00

Midin is a type of Fern unique to Sarawak. It has a Long Green Stalk and ends with a Cute Curly Curl at the end. 😄 The Initial bitefeel is like Kang Kong but has a "Oily" after taste like 帝皇苗 🌿🤔 While frying it into Belacan smells very nice, I felt it should be alot spicier. 🌶️🤔

The one I had felt too mild in spiciness. Also the Dish felt entirely too Wet and Oily and I felt it should be much Drier. Some Haebee would have also helped alot. 🦐 I don't like this interpretation of Midin. This is a very unique vegetable and I'm sure this can be done alot better.

Blackcurrent Tuak "Sugar Daddy" = RM11.00

The Stall that sells this is called "OoooHah!" and its not actually located in Rumah Asap Tabuan. 🤔 Its still very near though just a few steps away in another nearby Kopitiam. According to Wilfred, "OoooHah!" is the Iban equivalent of Chinese "Yum Seng" when we toast Alcohol. 🥂😅

Also, I've finally learnt that Toddy and Tuak are 2 Completely Different Alcohols. 🍺🤔 The one I had in JB Air Nira Toddy Shop was Toddy, not Tuak. Toddy is fermented from Coconut, 🥥 while Tuak is fermented from Rice. 🍚 And Tuak is STRONG. 😳 Even when already diluted into a Cocktai, I still felt this has a very Strong Alcohol Taste. Not smooth like Toddy. 😅 Was recommended to try this Blackcurrent one as it is Popular here, but I'm afraid this is not my preference. TBH, I felt it tasted like Cough Syrup. 😅

Not bad for my very first taste of Iban / Dayak Foods, some hits and misses, but Shoutout to Mr Wilfred was one of the highlight of this. ♥️ He was a very Friendly Host and an Enjoyable Meal Companion and I learnt alot from him. Thank You Very Much! ♥️