Kampua @ Sing Hin Corner

"Kampua" and "Sibu" are 2 terms that are so synonymous. You can get this local specialty at almost every kopitiam you sit in. From breakfast to supper, Sibu people just can't live without it.

There are plenty of low profile coffee shops a.k.a. kopitiam in Sibu who serve very nice Kampua, yet not many people actually talking about and only those patronage aware of them. Among one of this kind of kopitiam is this one named "Sing Hin Corner" located same row as Li Hua Hotel Sibu at Lorong 2, Jalan Lanang.

This Kampua stall is operated by the young man who had started the business for approaching/more than one and a half decade. His style wearing toque at all time when doing his job and preparing foods makes him look like a chef. Besides look pro, it is also for hygiene purpose.

A lot of customers visiting the stall are patrons who had fall in love with his Kampua thus visiting it repeatedly. The shop is always crowded during weekend, so if you wish to visit it on weekend for breakfast, you may need to wait for a longer time before the favorable Kampua will be served on your table. Anyway, the "chef" is very skillful, so the waiting time is relatively short even during peak hours.

I believe one of the reason why his Kampua get its own group of fans is because the noodles is just nicely cooked and not gluey. The ingredients used to produce a plate of Kampua, such as the lard, soya sauce and oil are in the perfect or if not perfect they're in just right ratio. When you slurp the Kampua into your mouth, you can taste the very nice "oink oink" aroma which may make you want to go back to the same place craving for it!

... and this is a more traditional look of a plate of Kampua if compare to the one I reviewed in my previous post served in Rasa Sayang Cafe which is more Kuching Kolok Mee alike. 

There are few version of Kampua you can order from. The most original "white" version, Kampua with black soya sauce (with or without chilli sauce) or you can request for flat version of the noodles. Any of the variation will cost RM2.30 per plate. 

Besides Kampua which is the main attraction dish for the kopitiam, you can also tried the mixed soup at the same stall as it is equally delicious! The soup consists of ingredient such as pork liver, beef tripe, meat balls, fish balls, some deep fried bean curd and green vege and it is very tasty with some Chinese traditional red wine added to it! It is RM2.50 for a regular bowl and RM 4.00 for a big bowl.

There are other choices of foods you may try here such as the Lo Mee, Foochow string noodles with chicken soup, Laksa and so on.

The kopitiam operates as early as 6am every morning, but will be closed in the afternoon hours around 2-6pm then will be opened again from 6pm until around 11pm. 

Looking for authentic Kampua in Sibu? Highly recommend this kopitiam!

Kampua @ Rasa Sayang Cafe

Kampua Mee or Foochow called it "Kam-muang" is one of the most famous local delicacy of Sibu until certain extend that Sibu people cannot live without it, seriously! Almost every kopitiam in Sibu will have a stall serving this noodles because that likely will attract more customers visiting the shop and thus boost the business.

If you ask me what is so special about this so called "Kampua"? I would say nothing special really. It is just boiled noodles mixed with sufficient amount of soya sauce, fried onion oil, Ajinomoto and the most important - the porky lard which provide the unique and irresistible aroma to the dish. The noodles then will be topped with pork and fried or/and green onion.

Different people will have their choice of "the best" Kampua served in Sibu. I don't really have a solid opinion on which is the best, but I'm more to recommendation. One of the kopitiam that serves a bowl of nice Kampua that I'll recommend is this shop with a very unique name "Rasa Sayang Cafe" located at Jalan Pahlawan, somewhere near the current Sibu bus terminal.

The place is always crowded with patrons especially during weekend morning craving for their Kampua. I guess one of the reason this kopitiam is so famous is because the kampua here has a very nice porky aroma which just meet the taste buds of Sibu people. Furthermore, the noodles are nicely cooked, not over boiled and remain certain degree of chewiness. All these are the keys to make a plate of good Kampua.

The price is very reasonable too. With the air-cond environment inside the shop, a bowl of Kampua costs RM2.50, just about 20 cents more expensive than the typical non air-cond kopitiam.

I had been there for couple of times, no doubt the Kampua is very tasty! You'll feel of returning after tasted once. However, I personally feel sometimes the Kampua is a bit too oily. This is the thing that may need some improvement.

The Kampua served here is topped with minced pork which look closer to Kolok Mee in Kuching. The typical Kampua normally will just have sliced pork and some fried/green onion topping the noodles. I'll to post  the more typical look of Kampua in my future post hopefully.

Besides Kampua, they also sell Sarawak Laksa and beef noodles. I haven't taste the laksa yet, but tried the beef noodles once. Not too bad, the broth is tasty but lil spicy. It was served with some green vege, red carrot, boiled egg and also quite a few chunk of braised beef. I like the braised beef as they're soft and easy to chew. RM4.00 a bowl. Worth the money!