Kedai Kopi Aik Seng📍Jalan Wharf, Sarikei, Sarawak 益星茶室 ☎ +6016 221 3635

Kedai_Kopi_Aik_Seng_Sarikei_Sarawak_益星茶室

For your obligatory morning coffee or coffee break in Sarikei, can go to century old Kedai Kopi Aik Seng.

There must be other interesting, old coffee shops in Sarikei but I need to go back and explore the town a little deeper to find them.

Non descript open facade with a sun bleached signboard.

It's an iykyk (if you know, you know) place which one can walk past a hundred times without noticing.

For locals, Aik Seng founded in the 1930s is part of the Sarikei landscape and identity. Riverfront Jalan Wharf where Aik Seng is located is the oldest street in Sarikei and the town's first concrete buildings were built here in the 1930s (replacing wooden buildings).

Regular patrons of Aik Seng included the late Tun Pehin Sri Datuk Patinggi Abang Haji Muhammad Salahuddin bin Abang Barieng (born Louis Barieng), the 3rd and 6th Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Sarawak.

Stepping inside from the blistering heat outside, Aik Seng has a look and vibe that takes us back to the 1960s or 70s. Mosaic flooring, booth seats on one side, whirling fans overhead, clean and well kept. Looks weathered today but must be a swanky place during its heyday.

The drinks, rice and noodle menu.

The roti menu. Aik Seng's dishes are Muslim friendly and the coffee shop is well frequented by Muslims.

The buns were toasted and the coffee simmered over charcoal.

Love the aroma of toast and percolating Robusta.

The original copper pot still in use since Aik Seng was founded nearly a century ago.

They say copper makes the water taste better and is good for our health.

This is the roti sardine with margarine. The fresh sardines were stewed in house (not from cans).

Savoury soft fish paired with margarine in a sweet toasted bun.

I didn't (forgot) to take a photo of my kopi o kosong. It was typically robust of Nanyang kopi in Sarawak (moderately bitter but without ashy taste).

Roti kahwin bakar. House made pandan kaya with margarine.

The bun that got all the attention was the roti telur sambal or bun with fried egg and chilli paste.

The old school taste and aroma of umami savoury anchovies and sweet onion held together with spicy hot chili was attention grabbing 😁

The sambal is so popular, they actually sell them in cups. Too bad we still had several more days to go on our 8-day Pan Borneo Highway self drive holiday, so couldn't buy any to bring home to Singapore.

Due to our tight schedule, we only made two short stops at Sarikei - at Glory Cafe for their famous tom yam coconut prawn mee, and at Aik Seng coffee shop.