By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, Aug 5: The iconic flavours of the legendary Roxy Cinema street food have officially made a comeback, bringing a treasured piece of Kuching’s culinary heritage back to the city’s tea-time scene.
For many Kuching locals who grew up between the 1970s and 1990s, a visit to the famous Roxy Cinema at 3rd Mile was never complete without a pre- or post-movie meal of its signature street food.
Among the favourites were rojak — a colourful mix of fresh fruits and vegetables tossed in a sweet, spicy and tangy sauce; sotong kangkung, featuring blanched cuttlefish paired with the same savoury dressing; and belacan bihun, known for its distinctive, rich and pungent shrimp paste flavour.
Those beloved dishes disappeared from the scene when the cinema eventually closed, leaving behind only memories among generations of Kuchingites. Now, they have returned at Belly+Kopitiam in RH Plaza commercial centre.
The revival of these classic dishes is the work of food enthusiast and Belly+Kopitiam operator Linus Voon, who spent months convincing the original stall owner to share the family’s closely guarded recipes.
“It wasn’t easy. It took a lot of persuasion before my relative agreed to pass down the recipes,” Voon told DayakDaily.
For Voon, bringing back the three dishes is not simply about expanding the menu. It is about preserving a piece of Kuching’s food history — one that many believed had disappeared forever.
“I wanted local dishes that would make customers sit down, enjoy their food and remember the good old days of watching movies at Roxy Cinema,” he said.
During its heyday, the cinema area was always bustling, with families, students and moviegoers gathering for a bite before queuing up for the latest films.
The trio of rojak, sotong kangkung and belacan bihun became inseparable from that experience, earning a special place in the hearts of locals as the “king of afternoon tea snacks”.
However, after Roxy Cinema was demolished to make way for new developments, the familiar flavours gradually faded from Kuching’s food landscape.
Now, Voon hopes to revive those memories.
He follows the original recipes closely, ensuring that every plate served reflects the same quality and taste that made the dishes popular decades ago.
The three classics are now available under one roof at a stall named Roxy Rojak, a tribute to the iconic cinema that inspired their return.
“My relative has given their seal of approval on the taste, and our customers have been enjoying them too,” he said with a smile.
Since their introduction three months ago, the dishes have quickly become popular afternoon treats, especially when paired with ABC (local crushed ice dessert) and other refreshing drinks available at the kopitiam.
Beyond serving nostalgic flavours, Voon hopes the revival will allow older customers to reconnect with cherished memories while introducing younger generations to the tastes that once defined Kuching’s cinema-going era.
“I know there are great hawker stalls that serve these dishes, but at this kopitiam, I hope those who used to visit Roxy Cinema will come and try them again. They are here to stay,” he said.
For Voon, every plate served is more than just food. It is a small piece of Kuching’s past — carefully brought back to life so that the city’s rich street food heritage can continue to be enjoyed for years to come.
Roxy Rojak is located at Belly+Kopitiam, RH Plaza commercial centre. It operates daily from 6am to 11pm. For inquiries, call 012-847 4689. — DayakDaily
