Welcome to Head for Kuching! We are a family living in Kuching, the capital of Sarawak in East Malaysia. Today, we are excited to introduce Stutong Community Market, the largest morning market in Kuching. Morning markets are vibrant places where you can experience local life and find fresh ingredients. Let’s take a closer look at this bustling marketplace!
The Largest Public Market in Kuching
Kuching has six public markets, but Stutong Community Market is the largest, housing a total of 551 stalls. The market is easy to spot with its distinctive yellow building and attracts many local shoppers.
📍Address: Lot 14947, Blk 11 KTLD Jalan Setia Raja, Kuching, Sarawak
The market layout is straightforward: at the entrance, you’ll find the fresh produce section. To the right is the seafood section, while the left side is dedicated to meat vendors.
A Feast of Tropical Fruits at the Fresh Produce Section
As you enter the market, you’ll be greeted by a vibrant selection of fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables.
The fruit stalls are packed with tropical delights such as pineapples, papayas, coconuts, watermelons, rambutans, and star fruits—many of which are unique to Borneo.
Of course, durians are also available! While whole durians can be purchased, vendors conveniently extract the flesh and pack it for sale.
Due to its strong aroma, durian flesh is rarely sold in supermarkets, so if you’re curious to try it, this market is a great place to buy a small pack. (RM5)
While some vendors accept QR payments, most still operate on a cash-only basis, so it’s best to bring cash.
The Best Place to Buy Fresh Prawns: The Seafood Section
Sarawak is one of Malaysia’s top seafood-producing regions, making Kuching a prime location for fresh seafood.
Check out this massive lobster—something you don’t see every day! ↓↓↓
With Sarawak accounting for 40% of Malaysia’s prawn harvest, the market offers a wide selection of prawns and lobsters, typically priced between RM30–70 per kilogram.
Prawns are sold by weight, and vendors will adjust the amount to ensure you get exactly 1kg.
We bought 1kg of prawns for RM40, which turned out to be 31 large prawns—an excellent deal!
Stock Up on Fresh Meat at the Butcher Section
Chicken is the most consumed meat in Malaysia, with an average of 50kg per person annually. As a result, chicken is the most commonly sold meat in Malaysia and you can find fresh here at affordable prices.
In a separate section, non-halal meat, pork is also available. Unlike other parts of Malaysia, where pork consumption is lower, about 40% of Kuching’s population is non-Muslim, creating a steady demand for pork products.
We purchased 1.2kg of pork tenderloin for RM50.
More Than Just Food: Other Market Highlights
Beyond fresh produce, seafood, and meat, the market has a variety of other shops, including plant vendors, egg sellers, handicraft stalls, and specialty food vendors selling noodles, fish cakes, fried snacks, rice, and pickles. Simply exploring the market is an enjoyable experience.
Take a Break at the Second-Floor Food Court
After shopping, head to the spacious food court on the second floor, a popular gathering place for locals. Families come for breakfast, while others stop by for a morning coffee.
Even early in the morning, stalls selling steamed buns, dim sum, and noodles are already open.
One must-try dish here is the local porridge, a staple breakfast item in Malaysia. It’s so popular that it sometimes sells out by 9 AM!
Malaysian porridge generally falls into two categories: Cantonese-style (smooth and paste-like) and Teochew-style (soupy with visible rice grains). The porridge here is a perfect blend of both, offering a smooth texture while retaining some graininess.
You can choose between chicken or pork porridge, both priced at a budget-friendly RM4.5. The pork porridge is especially delicious, packed with flavorful meatballs and enhanced by the aroma of sesame oil.
Wrapping Up
For those living in Kuching, Stutong Community Market is a must-visit spot for grocery shopping and enjoying a delicious local breakfast. Even for travelers, it offers an authentic glimpse into the city’s lively market culture. As Kuching’s “local kitchen,” this market is an essential experience for anyone exploring the city!
