About - Sawak Cafe

Owner and chef Zye Chong came to Hobart 17 years ago from the Malaysian region of Sarawak, an area well-known for its fresh fish and seafood.

He opened Sawak Cafe in 2010 and it has proved a popular takeaway and dine-in lunch and dinner spot. For others, however, it's been one of these places they have had good intentions of visiting, but never quite made it. Which is a shame, for even among the abundance of Asian eateries Hobart enjoy. Sawak offers many Malaysians dishes that the city has not seen since the long gone days of the Malaysian Tea House.

The restaurant is simple and unpretentious, decorated with Sarawak all hangings and little else. You help yourself to your napkin, utensils and bottled water and, if not already on your table, there are sweet, hot and volcanic chili sauces ramp up the heat in Chong's otherwise mildly spiced dishes. You can watch him and his stuff in the open kitchen, where their work is punctuated by the regular whoosh and flare of the flaming woks.

Menu