Dining With Jewelle

Despite the small number of eateries in Brunei, there are a lot of fabulous food bloggers that regularly shared their dining experiences on the well-known and not so known restaurants, kopi tiam and hawker stalls around Brunei.

Yet, it’s funny that despite the bigger number of makan places around Kota Kinabalu (Sabah), I know of only one food blogger and not surprisingly, it’s a my own sister Jacq who, together with her food-connoiseur of a BF, regularly tramped around town for the good, great and sometimes lousy type of eateries.

So if you’re not from KK and would like to know what the locals dine out on, check out her reviews at KK Food Blog.

In fact, I decided to highlight her site today because she found a place which I am now eager to go try on my next trip back, that is a herbal soup!

Good job sis! Now, go find more herbal soups outlet.

Whenever we have friends over, we like to bring them to Thiam Hock, one of our favorite Chinese restaurant for their reputedly best “Curry Fish Head” in the whole of Brunei.

Not only is their curry fish head tasty, it is their Chinese-influenced decor which makes this small restaurant stands out from the bigger Chinese restaurants in town. To me, even the myriad of myths and stories revolving around the gangster-like owner and the altar of Buddhist Gods from Thailand (as I was told) lend romance to this place.

Unreliable sources said that this place has been around for decades where it began business as a simple kopi tiam serving mostly contractors. The owner then reportedly made offerings to the a certain Buddhist God in Thailand, which I was told was famous for fulfilling wishes, and his business increased tenfold. Hence one of the few Chinese places around town that sported a different Buddhist God.

Now, this place is like an elegant antique store with all kinds of bric a brac lining up its walls. In fact, there are times when I am tempted to ask if their decorative items are for sale. Besides, nowhere else will you find a restaurant with a fish aquarium in the bathroom (Lilian Too is definitely not his Feng Shui Master).

Foodwise, they are excellent. Their curry fish head is a definite must, although there were times when the flesh was a tad too tough (old fish has to be used for this dish as my fish-lover of a hubby clarified) but it’s usually done to perfection and fast. They have other exceptional dishes too and their prices are reasonable.

On our last visit, we saw that they are opening another section on the top floor which is just as well as this is another popular place in Bandar.

• Stories narrated are not meant to offend anyone and corrections are most welcome
• Some Picture Credits : Sis Jacq