Jak Ma'An — Restaurant in Borneo

It was my first meal in Kuching and I was wandering in the streets on the first night and came across this place. Looks like they were serving local cuisine and saw the reviews on Google Maps it was pretty good and decided to give it a try. There was an empty table. I was standing at the entrance waiting to be served to a table but the staff didn't seem to bother and so I just walked in and sat down. Sat for a while and no one handed me the menu so I had to raise my hand and get their attention. Had a look at the menu didn't really know what to order so asked the staff for some recommendations and just followed suit. Food didn't take very long to be served. First had the fried rice which tasted a tad plain to me, it was supposed to be their signature but didn't surprise me. Then had the bamboo shoots cooked in shrimp paste. Also didn't have the flavours I expected and the taste was pretty mild. Then came the fried chicken which I got a shock initially because the portion looked quite big. Overall I think the flavours didn't excite me. Flavours were pretty mild on the lighter side as compared to the food in West Malaysia. I didn't expect it to be such a far cry. The fried chicken was a little salty, at least slightly more flavourful, but the drumlets were a little uncooked as the interior was still somehow red. Wouldn't give it lower than 3 stars because that's probably the flavours of the cuisine which is very subjective to individual's palette. I thought they could improve on ensuring the food is properly cooked and also the service...

Great local food! And I mean local! Not Chinese, not Malaysian, and certainly not Western! It contains a small but eclectic selection of Bidayuh favourites, and even their simple "nasi goreng kosong" is absolutely delicious. But be somewhat adventurous, and try their fish soup with fermented durian. Or their refreshing and savoury "umai," Borneo's very own ceviche. There's also beef and chicken, and a variety of delectable local vegetables, all prepared according to timeless Borneo recipes. I have had my best ever "midin" here! The portions, tastefully presented in locally, handcrafted bowls and platters can be enjoyed as a filling dinner or accompany a well merited ice cold beer after a stroll through historic Kuching. But there's more : they also have a wide selection of local brews, and a tasting board to make your choice easier. I think my favourite is roselle but trust me on this, their plain "tuak" (rice wine) is of the very finest selection and you'll have a hard time finding any better quality in Kuching, if at all! To top it all off, their staff is welcoming and friendly, their amenities clean and on most nights they have some local artists performing uniquely Borneo music. The small bar is very popular with locals, but don't be astonished when you also see lots of "white" tourists. It's fast becoming a not-so-secret any more...

Absolutely terrible experience. The food was honestly a disaster. I ordered something called “bamboo chicken” - what I got was bland, full of bones, and served in a way that made me seriously question whether it was supposed to be soup or a main dish. The “spoon” I was given felt like an afterthought - uncomfortable and completely impractical.

The fish soup? Supposedly “smoked fish” - I have no issue with that in theory - but it looked absolutely disgusting and tasted even worse. No effort in presentation, no flavor, just… no.

We ordered 4 dishes and a side - only 3 mains showed up. The only decent thing was the garlic fern side dish, which was actually delicious. Maybe this place is good for a snack and a drink, but definitely not for a proper meal.

After nearly an hour of waiting (yes, one hour), someone casually told us the missing dish wouldn’t be coming and asked if we wanted something else instead. No apology, no explanation - just a shrug and “sorry, we don’t have it.”

Oh, and the food that did arrive? Barely warm. Honestly, if you’re hungry and expecting a good meal - stay far, far away. Especially if you’re with kids.

This was not just disappointing - it was...