The Bikalan

21/08/2026

Friday night & the heat is unrelenting, haze is very slightly less than yesterday but still no air. It's the worst we've experienced in my 8 years in Sarawak.
But let's not let that bother us, hot weather is always good for The Bikalan & although the street was quiet, the crowd didn't let us down.
Two great groups to mention, firstly the return of Charlotte & Hendry, former regulars who now reside in Bintulu up north, lovely to see them again with their friends.
Inside we have our dear friend Marge Havana, with German friends Micheal & his Sarawakian wife Lily, with a nice crowd.
Several big groups out front & at the back, busy throughout.
We never know what Friday has in store for us, but tonight it was all good things.
So grateful to all those who spent their time & money with us, hope all enjoyed. & as always, thanks to our lovely & Award Winning team. It doesn't work without you all 😍
In case you missed it, The Bikalan was honoured as one of the top 25 Restaurants in Sarawak this week. Yay us 🏆. Now for me & she, it's T minus 3 to 'Murica 😱🇺🇸
Travelling home across the river under a haze pink half moon, life is sweet.
Cheers & see you in , 😎🤘🤠🍻🐊🎶🍔🎸🍷👍🌶🎊✈😍🀄🐲
Andy Newland Grace Simuh Newland

20/08/2026

Our third trip downtown in 3 days, very unusual for us. Very nice reasons for this one, an appreciation lunch at our favourite Soru Izakaya - Saradise Kuching with our key staff.
After last night's success, it took on another element & turned out to be the perfect day to celebrate! First reason was birthdays; Grace & Aduk share 31st August for their special day & as we'll be in New York then, we wanted to celebrate together before we go.
Secondly it's a big thank you to Adeline Tejang Aduk who'll finish with us 31st August after 8 years as our rock & right hand woman. It's a sad but happy departure as she starts her new role as Mum to her first child. But as I've told our staff, The Bikalan is like the Mafia; once you're part of us, you never really leave. We know Duk will be back to help us when the time is right. We are blessed to have Imelda Eda to take over, she's worked side by side with Duk for 5 years & we couldn't have a better replacement.
Last but not least, to celebrate our win! These 4 have been with us, on & off, since the start & are the main reason we've successful.
Oliver Bierhoff Bolong was with us from opening day & has clocked up more Bikalan nights than anyone.
MillTon Johnny John Hamilton Gomok was our Head Chef from the start, he helped shape the menu & the cooking style that still exists today. He left for a couple of years to do his own business but we were happy to welcome him back. Once Bikalan, always Bikalan.
Eda started with us as a weekend part-timer very early on, changing up to full time some 5 years ago.
Aduk joined us around a month in & has been axel around which everything moves ever since. We'll miss her, but as I say, this isn't the end.
As a team they've had our backs through thick & thin, & it's only through them that we've been successful & been able to have as many holidays as we have! Thanks guys.
The only troubling thing today is the haze, the worst yet with an 'unhealthy' rating topping 220. The air is thick with the acrid smell of smoke & visibility is low. Add to this temperatures exceeding 40°C, it's pretty unpleasant out there. We need the rain that Sarawak is so famous for, flush it clean.
Cheers & see you in , 😎🤘🤠🍻🐊🎶🍔🎸🍷👍🌶🎊✈😍🀄🐲
Andy Newland Grace Simuh Newland

19/08/2026

CONGRATULATIONS TO US! but let's set the scene here; heading downtown for the second night running, this time on company business.
A couple of months ago we were approached by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) who offered us the opportunity to participate in their Top 25 Restaurants of Sarawak awards project. Why not? I have lots of material available & a couple of hours work on a submission isn't too much of a chore. Then we heard nothing. Silence for 2 months. 2 weeks ago we were asked to provide a booth & cooking demo at the PATA Conference, 9am-5pm at the Exhibition Centre. We politely declined. Then on Sunday we were asked to attend an awards dinner held tonight, just 4 days notice! Again we were going to blow it off until I noticed that the Guest of Honour is none other than The Right Honourable Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg (Abang Jo), the Premier of Sarawak! On this basis, we decided we'd probably better attend.
It was a fun evening catching up with lots of other people we know in Kuching F & B. & even a special guest visit from Princess Langkawi, our dear Sharmini.
The food was surprisingly good & some really beautiful cultural shows representing the tribes & ethnic groups of Sarawak. This included a Sapé performance from the lovely Alena Murang, probably Sarawak's most famous star, & an occasional visitor to The Bikalan. The show opened with a band who looked like ÁT ADAU, sounded like Åt Adau, but were not Át Adau. Very confusing.
So, long story not quite so long, THE BIKALAN WAS AWARDED A TROPHY ACKNOWLEDGING US AS ONE OF THE TOP 25 RESTAURANTS IN SARAWAK, with special mention for sustainable gastronomy. They took this from my submission based on the fact we use lots of local produce sourced from home growers in our Kampung. 65 restaurants submitted proposals.
We are immensely honoured to receive this award & I was so proud to watch Grace go & collect the award from Abang Jo, the second time she's done this. Well done & congratulations to our team who make all this happen, & a big thanks to all guests who spend their time with us.
Cheers & see you in , 😎🤘🤠🍻🐊🎶🍔🎸🍷👍🌶🎊✈😍🀄🐲
Andy Newland Grace Simuh Newland

16/08/2026

The weather finally broke! 2 weeks of heat & haze ended today with rain. A blessing after intense burn of recent days but mildly terrifying for us, with a live music night, we need it dry. But as I often say, the sun shines on the righteous; a little shower that finished by 6, just in time for the music. Our good luck!
We set this one up to enjoy with our guests Lisa & Rick, we like to show The Bikalan at its finest to our special guests. The street was quite slow, Hungry Ghost month holds back the Chinese contingent but we did what we do & it worked!
Far too many awesome guests to do the usual personal introductions so just go for a listing, apologies for those missed: Austrian Rick & gang, Suri & Cam, Carrie & Dom, Billybob & Aussie Phil, Lydia, Brent, & Alex, Brewmeister Hans & family (special mention as he brews the 1602! Respect), Dylan, Jilson & gang, & last but far from least, YBD Miro!
A huge thank you to the legend Billybob who bought us personally monogrammed ash trays! What a man!
Another epic night with fantastic entertainment from On-Strings Acoustica, with wonderful support from young Alex on Sapë. As always lots of guests singers & of course, a round or two of Poco Poco.
Add to this a sneaky early birthday celebration for my darling Towkay Nio Grace & our dearest Aduk, they share a birthday 31st August but as we'll be away, our lovely Lydia brought the birthday cake!
As ever a fabulous evening, full of love, laughter, singing, & dancing. These nights are always so special, like nowhere else!
Salute to all the guests who shared the moment with us & massive thanks to our ever awesome team.
Cheers & see you in , 😎🤘🤠🍻🐊🎶🍔🎸🍷👍🌶🎊✈😍🀄🐲
Andy Newland Grace Simuh Newland

12/08/2026

A nice write-up about The Bikalan. I should hope so because I wrote it!
A big thanks to Pacific Asia Travel Association for publication in their 'Top 25 Restaurants' section.
No idea why they picked that cover picture, I sent lots of nicer ones! Once you click the link, they are better.
Cheers & see you in , 😎🤘🤠🍻🐊🎶🍔🎸🍷👍🌶🎊✈😍🀄🐲
Andy Newland Grace Simuh Newland

Opened in October 2018, The Bikalan is a restored 1910 Belian shophouse using local materials and methods. Highlights include an 800‑year‑old Belian bar top,…

08/08/2026

It's a heatwave! When it gets hot here, it gets real hot. 30°c plus in our money all evening. Hot hot hot.
But it's a big plus for us, lots of tables outside & many happy guests.
We had the bonus of a pre-booked tables for 25 upstairs, a gang from Singapore. They were wild! All Senior Citizen Photographers who don't accept age as a barrier, I salute that 🫡
They were up & down the street before they came to us.
Great fun chatting with their guides, their charges are like children! Full of energy & hard to round up, always one away chasing a new photo. But a lovely crowd nonetheless. Two of the old fellas ended up sitting at the bar with me, too much noise at the dinner. Salute!
Rewind to the early evening & more Italians! They've owned the Bik this weekend. Roberta & Federico from Turin, very enjoyable chat with them & sent them off with a few recommendations for downtown.
Let's quickly add Solveig, popped in for a chat, friends with our buddy William Cook Billybob!
Finish where we started, a gang of mature locals who took up table outside around 5pm, we're now 10.30 & they still haven't left! I cannot disclose how many 1602 they consumed. Awesome gang & so happy to have them with us.
So a hot & sweaty night, especially for our staff. Worked their butts off tonight, even needed Dedek to come in at short notice to cover the surge!
Special shout-out to my Memsaab Grace. I'll clean tables, serve drinks, help where I can; she jumps into the kitchen when it gets busy, a deeply scary place when stressed, to help them out. Only if you've seen it will you know how mad that is.
Fabulous work from our team, love you all 😍
Cheers & see you in , 😎🤘🤠🍻🐊🎶🍔🎸🍷👍🌶🎊✈😍🀄🐲
Andy Newland Grace Simuh Newland

01/08/2026

Saturday night! Always hope for the best, but we have a Temple function down the road & a slow night yesterday so who knows? I'm on my own as my darling Grace is taking a medi/pedi in Jakarta with the gals ❤️
But as always, The Bikalan can surprise. Tonight was really fun!
A special mention to South Island NZ, they owned the early evening. Our good local Aussie friends Kim & Nick brought their Kiwi friends Joyce & David with friend Geraldine, all the way from distant Dunedin. The deep south. David bought a Bikalan shirt, one of us now! Lovely time with them & as they departed, our buddy Tour Guide Paul came in, chaperoning more Kiwis. Welcome Phillipa & Lawson from Christchurch! So weird that two groups from the same area of the world literally swapped seats!
I'm no longer surprised but always amused by such coincidences.
Outside we have Natalia & Nico from Germany, they were wandering the street & I coaxed them to sit down. Great chatting with them.
In-between we have Brent & young Alex, their wife/mum Lydia is busy on the aforementioned girls trip.
Then, out of the blue, we have a drum fest outside! Preamble to the festival up the road, they played outside the Bik. A huge gang from young to old drumming in the street, absolutely awesome.
To finish we have our dear Jav with friend Wayne, he gets our music!
So that's a wrap, after a dire night last night, we recovered well. Why I love our team is they adapt quickly, they moved from slow to fast without blinking. Worked their butts off tonight. Always proud of them. Thanks to all guests & team.
Cheers & see you in , 😎🤘🤠🍻🐊🎶🍔🎸🍷👍🌶🎊✈😍🀄🐲
Andy Newland Grace Simuh Newland

28/07/2026

Double the Music, Double the Fun at The Bikalan!
Save the date, boys and girls – the music is back!
We're thrilled to announce that our next Bikalan Music Night will take place on Saturday, 15th August, and this time we're bringing you a very special double bill of outstanding live entertainment.
Making a welcome return after a break due to scheduling, we're delighted to have the fantastic On-Strings Trio back on the Bikalan stage. Jess, Nikki and Boy are guaranteed to get the crowd singing, dancing and smiling with their infectious energy and feel-good mix of music.
Sharing the spotlight will be our very own child Sapé sensations, Letah Udip. It's been an incredible journey watching these talented youngsters grow. Less than six months ago they first performed at The Bikalan as a solo act, then a duo, and now they've evolved into a confident trio capable of commanding the stage like performers twice their age. Alex, Eason and Jarrod will captivate audiences with beautiful traditional Sapé melodies alongside popular favourites, all performed in their own unique style.
If you've never experienced a Bikalan Music Night before, this is the perfect one to start with. The evening begins as a relaxed live music session before building into the unforgettable party atmosphere our events have become famous for. Guest singers regularly jump on stage, the dance floor fills up, and before long everyone is joining in. And yes – there will almost certainly be a few rounds of Poco Poco!
Set in the heart of historic Siniawan, surrounded by glowing lanterns and beneath our famous Dragon, there's no better place to spend a Saturday evening.
Our team will be ready to welcome you with delicious food and an extensive selection of drinks, including draught, bottled and canned beers, wine, Soju, Tuak, Langkau and our legendary Croctails.
Come early! The music gets underway at around 6.00pm, and with two fantastic acts on the bill we're expecting another packed house.
Saturday, 15th August – The Bikalan Pub & Restaurant, Siniawan. Don't miss what promises to be one of our biggest and best music nights yet!
Cheers & see you in , 😎🤘🤠🍻🐊🎶🍔🎸🍷👍🌶🎊✈😍🀄🐲
Andy Newland Grace Simuh Newland

24/07/2026

This Friday was the first weekend of the famed Kuching Food Festival! A huge gathering downtown filled with stalls selling exotic & ordinary food. It's a massive draw for locals & tourists alike, & it always affects our business. Don't get me wrong, it's a fine event but we've been a few times but we're over it now. Too crowded for us & all the interesting food has queues. But go, enjoy, eat your fill!
But do we care at The Bikalan? Nah. Let them get on with it. The street was noticeabley slower but as I've said before, "If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster & treat those two impostors just the same" (Rudyard Kipling, a poem called IF. Taught to me by my father). Bottom line, we just get on with it.
& get on with it we did! A fun night after all.
Let's begin at the beginning. A lively crowd of Singaporeans at the front, loitering with intent. In-house we politely call it 'fishing', can we land the catch? I engaged & seduced them in! I knew they were challenging immediately. Hand over to Towkay Nio to take care of the ordering. So demanding; less salt, can substitute this for that, many requests. Grace handled it beautifully, basically lead them through the menu. The funny bit was that when they were all eating, I suggested she go & see how they are, she chickend out 🐔! So I went instead, gotta take care of your guests. They were so happy & loved all the food! & they said Grace was beautiful 😍
Next we have more of our newer Kuching residents, albeit she's a few years in; Robyn is from Australia with her local friend Emily & their guest from & Aus with the youngsters Rob & Matilda, a lively visit.
At table one we have a league of nations, another Rob who's English but grew up in KL with his Canadian wife & lovely daughters, along with their guide David. The girls are vegetarian but I assured them that we can prepare exactly what they want, our chefs didn't disappoint. We've dealt with dietary preferences for years, we always take great care. They were very happy.
Last gang to mention our Australians out front! Danny with lovely wife Judy, famous for their super cute dogs who travel in a 2 level pushchair! They brought friends Maurice, Andy, & Woody; I spent a very enjoyable hour chit-chatting with them. Perks of the job. Woody & I shared a Langkau moment, he's taking a bottle back to Perth.
Thank you team, we didn't know what we we're gonna get tonight, but you handled it perfectly as always.
Something of a disaster on the way home, we've dealt with floods before but not droughts! The water level dangerously low so we have to board & leave the boat with great care & helping each other. Sort it out Barrage team 😱
Cheers & see you in , 😎🤘🤠🍻🐊🎶🍔🎸🍷👍🌶🎊✈😍🀄🐲
Andy Newland Grace Simuh Newland

22/07/2026

Happy Sarawak Day to everyone who calls this incredible state home! Whether you were born here or chose Sarawak as your home, whether you're living here today or are a Sarawakian overseas, we all share a love for this beautiful, unique land.
Seventeen years ago, I'd barely heard of Sarawak. Yet through a remarkable series of twists of fate, it has given me so much—a home, a business, an extended family, lifelong friends, and ultimately, a whole new life.
I will always be grateful to Sarawak for the opportunities and happiness it has brought me, and I am proud to call it home.
The Bikalan is open as usual today, so why not celebrate with some delicious Bidayuh food and a glass of Tuak?
Happy Sarawak Day! ❤️💛🖤
Cheers & see you in , 😎🤘🤠🍻🐊🎶🍔🎸🍷👍🌶🎊✈😍🀄🐲
Andy Newland Grace Simuh Newland