It has been a very long time since I wrote about food but the Smokehouse or Rumah Asap in Miri is something I have to share with you as it totally blew my mind away.
You see, when my Sarawakian friend Kevin told me about this place a couple of years ago, I never did imagine how it would turn out and one fine day when I was in Miri, he took me to try this strange and unique gastronomic experience.
You see, when my Sarawakian friend Kevin told me about this place a couple of years ago, I never did imagine how it would turn out and one fine day when I was in Miri, he took me to try this strange and unique gastronomic experience.
Smoke House or Rumah Asap in Miri Sarawak
The Miri Smokehouse is only well known to the locals and is found in a few places around Miri, not in restaurants or cafes, but by the roadsides under makeshift tents or temporary food stretches.
The catch? Well, you have to brave the humidity and heat in the hot afternoons while eating here.
And why do they call it the smokehouse? Easy - With all the cooking going on, there is a lot of smoke hence the straightforward name.
The catch? Well, you have to brave the humidity and heat in the hot afternoons while eating here.
And why do they call it the smokehouse? Easy - With all the cooking going on, there is a lot of smoke hence the straightforward name.
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| Natad Tuaw (Ngukab Terewe), the smokehouse which I tried in Permy Jaya, Miri |
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| Lady boss grilling the parts |
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| All kinds of parts being barbecued |
So, what do they serve?
Pork and every possible part of the pig is served at the local smokehouses. Occasionally you may find some game meat, but this is quite rare and also under strict control.
Yes, I kid you not, so if you are a pork lover, this is definitely one of the places you have to try and strangely, you can only find this smokehouse in Miri. So take note that this is non-halal.
History of the Sarawak Smoke House
This goes back to the early nineties where some local people started this business around the Pujut bus terminal and from there, it gained popularity and spread all over Miri.
I also understand that there is a number of smokehouse in Kuching areas too, but the originality of this started here in Pujut, Miri.
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| Preparing the meats |
The style of cooking is only one style - barbecue, so rest assured, you will be getting freshly barbecued pork, and the parts that you like. Generally, you can come in and order whatever part you wish, if they have it in stock and the head included.
So, here's how it works - When you arrive at the smokehouse, you tell the cook which part you want and they will barbecue it for you. You can also request for medium or well cooked and even chopped in what size.
So, here's how it works - When you arrive at the smokehouse, you tell the cook which part you want and they will barbecue it for you. You can also request for medium or well cooked and even chopped in what size.
For example, Kevin ordered some lean meat and the pig's ears which he requested for the ears to be chopped into pieces.
Then it was barbecued to be burnt a little where it is then served with a piece of lime and a special sambal spicy sauce. Different smokehouses have their own style of the spicy sambal sauce too.
Then it was barbecued to be burnt a little where it is then served with a piece of lime and a special sambal spicy sauce. Different smokehouses have their own style of the spicy sambal sauce too.
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| Preparing the ordered cuts before barbecuing them |
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| BBQ action on the grill |
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| The finished dish, complemented with the special sambal sauce |
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| Close up of the barbecued pork with a lime |
And let me just say, that combination is one of the best to have in a hot and humid afternoon in Miri. Prices vary at different smokehouses here but nothing too steep.
Each local has its own favourite smokehouse therefore it is quite subjective to name the best Smokehouse in Miri as I always feel that there is no best, just acquired taste from each individual person.
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| Smokehouse at E Mart with the prices (2015) |
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| What it looks like at a common smokehouse in Miri |
Smoke House Locations in Miri, Sarawak
The locations of these places are not well documented but I will post those well-known ones here. which I have been too or recommended by locals. They are;
• Smokehouse at Pujut Corner (Bus Terminal, the original Miri Smoke House)
• Smokehouse at E-Mart, the last shopping place before entering Brunei
• Rumah Asap in the Tudan area
• Rumah Asap in Permy Area
• Anacamp Smokehouse, Merdeka Mall Miri (Modern style rumah asap)
• MJ BBQ Smokehouse, Miri (Modern style rumah asap)
*There may be new ones opened or even old ones closed, so the best is to always ask a local.
*There may be new ones opened or even old ones closed, so the best is to always ask a local.
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| E-Mart in Miri has probably the most smokehouses |
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| A look at the Rumah Asap E Mart |
Currently, the competition has grown with many more locals opening up these smokehouses around Miri and many are being creative by offering other meats like chicken, lamb or beef.
You can usually find them next to each other, sometimes five or six in a row like the ones in E Mart.
One of them which I recently visited in 2015 was MJ BBQ located in the main Miri area and they even had rice and other dishes being served to patrons.
Clearly, this goes to show the evolution of the traditional smokehouses here has now matured into semi-hawker restaurants.
You can usually find them next to each other, sometimes five or six in a row like the ones in E Mart.
One of them which I recently visited in 2015 was MJ BBQ located in the main Miri area and they even had rice and other dishes being served to patrons.
Clearly, this goes to show the evolution of the traditional smokehouses here has now matured into semi-hawker restaurants.
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| MJ BBQ, one of the popular hybrid smokehouses in Miri |
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| Cooks at MJ BBQ in Miri |
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| Ready to eat barbecued pork at MJ BBQ |
Whispers in the air also claimed that some of them even have 'special' meats at times but you needed to know the owner to be invited to try these delicacies. Of course, this is highly illegal in all ways.
Conclusion
So, the next time you visit Miri and want to try something different and unique, ask a local there to tell you where is the nearest Smoke House or Rumah Asap in Miri.
Most likely, they will point you in the right direction. But if you have a friend there, it would be much easier for him or her to bring you around.
One more thing is that if you are on tour around the city of Miri, try asking the local tour guide about the Miri Smoke House.
Most likely, they will point you in the right direction. But if you have a friend there, it would be much easier for him or her to bring you around.
One more thing is that if you are on tour around the city of Miri, try asking the local tour guide about the Miri Smoke House.