Kuching Hidden Gems 2013 - Muara Tebas

Muara Tebas is a small coastal fishing village towards the North-East of Kuching city. It is around 27 km from Kuching, accessible by a good road, and driving there takes around 40 min. This small fishing outpost is known mainly for 2 things - seafood and a 200-year-old Chinese Temple. The temple is up on a small hill overlooking the village. It is quite a popular temple regularly visited by devotees even from overseas. Apparently, the deity is quite powerful and able to grant many wishes and blessings.

For as long as I can remember, people have been going to Muara Tebas for seafood. There used to be more seafood restaurants there, but now it is down to 2 main ones. If you are looking for cheap lobsters this used to be the place to go. My last time there - which was probably around 5 or 6 years back - we were able to order lobsters at around RM 60 per kg. This time around the price has gone up to over RM 120 per kg. Quite pricey!

Kuching seafood is quite standard no matter where you go. The style of cooking is very similar - the only difference is the skill of the cooks and the balance of flavours. At Muara Tebas the food is not bad but don't expect outstanding. The lobsters were done quite nicely with onions and eggs.

This is a nice outing for local Kuchingites on a lazy weekend. Due to the encroachment of industrial developments nearby - the surrounding waters are no longer as pristine as before and the quality of the seafood has similarly dropped. I guess it is good to visit before this backwater is lost to development.