Craving Peranakan dishes? Head on to Nyonya Kitchen by Sonia
KUCHING: Peranakan food may be hard to come by in Kuching but foodies can now savour the bold flavours and comforting dishes of this Straits-born cuisine at Nyonya Kitchen by Sonia.
Located at The 3rd Exchange Commercial Centre here, Nyonya Kitchen by Sonia offers a wide variety of Peranakan dishes each with its unique blend of sweet, sour and spicy flavours that make Peranakan food a true culinary delight.
Founder Shannen Lee said the dishes available at the restaurants are all based on cherished recipes shared by her grandmother Sonia Yong.
“My grandmother is the main person behind all the recipes here at Nyonya Kitchen by Sonia. She got married to a Peranakan family and that’s where she learnt all the recipes.
“She turns 82 this year and so we wanted to pass down her legacy and this is one of the reasons why we decided to open this restaurant, which we named after her as well,” she told The Borneo Post when met at the grand opening of Nyonya Kitchen by Sonia which was officiated by Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.
Also present were Kuching South mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng, Musyati Development advisor John Lee, and Yong.
Lee said prior to the opening of the restaurant, Yong had personally taught all the chefs how to cook the dishes.
“She took about three to four months to teach them and on top of that, our Nyonya kuihs here are all home-made fresh daily,” she added.
Lee said among the signature dishes at Nyonya Kitchen by Sonia include the quintessential Peranakan dish Buah Keluak Chicken, which is a classic Nyonya spicy chicken stew paired with ‘buah keluak’ (also known as pangiumedule) infused with fresh root spices from Sonia’s homemade rempah; as well as Sonia Assam Fish Soup, where zesty and tangy gravy made with ‘terungassam’ slices, ladyfingers, and tomatoes are served over a customer’s choice of fish.
“Something very special and unique at our restaurant is our Lemak Manicai where the leafy ‘cangkuk manis’ together with pumpkin and dried prawns are infused with turmeric creamy coconut milk.
“Since we opened, our customers have raved over our Homemade Chicken Satay as well and the reason behind this is because we don’t use breast meat but instead grill the chicken thighs and skin, so they are very tender,” she said.
Also available at the restaurant are desserts that include the popular ‘Bubur Chacha’, a traditional Nyonya dessert delicacy cooked with pearl sago, sweet potatoes, yams, pandan and coconut santan.
Nyonya Kitchen by Sonia is located at Sublot 15-17 Jalan Datuk Tawi Sli, The 3rd Exchange Commercial Centre. It is open every Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 2pm and from 6pm to 10pm.