Sibu is famous for its yummy and affordable local cuisine, of which Chinese influence, in particular the Foochows’ could not have been more evident. A few examples include kampua noodle (???), dian-bian-hu (???) – soft rice cakes in savoury soup and kompia (??), a pastry very much resembling bagel.
Foochow Food
kampua noodle (???)
dian-bian-hu (???)
kompia (??)
Local Food
Umai (Raw Fish salad)
The umai is traditionally a standard lunch meal for Melanau fishermen. Thin silvers of raw fresh fish, usually iced but not frozen, combined with thinly slice onions, chili, salt and juice from some fruits like lime and assam go into preparing the dish.
Sago Grubs
Sago grubs are the larvae of Capricorn beetle. Featured on special occasions tradition required a huge bark container to be prepared in the centre of the house while each guest I required to deposit his share of the grub.
Manok Pansoh
Manok Pansoh, which means “chicken in bamboo” in Iban
The Iban dish of mamok Pansoh or chicken in bamboo is must try. Cut chicken pieces, mushrooms. Lemongrass and tapioca leav are stuffed into bamboos and cover over an open fire.
Then, the bamboo tubes are cooked over an open fire, allowing the bamboo to preserve the taste and fragrance of the ingredients inside.