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Early Mornings at the Laksa Cafe
A mouthwatering and uplifting debut about legacy, tradition, and striking out on your own, set in family-run restaurants between Malaysia and Hong Kong
‘Deeply comforting and nourishing' Samuel Burr, author of The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers
Every morning before sunrise, Lim Ah Hock opens the shutters of his small kitchen on Carpenter Street, lights an incense stick and prepares the best laksa soup in all of Kuching. According to Lim family legend, the laksa’s secret ingredient – their ancestral broth – was gifted to them by a deity, who promised the family prosperity as long as the broth is passed down through the generations.
But Ah Hock is aging, and the broth’s quality is fading. His only son, Wei Ming, has no interest in the family business, having spent eight years in Hong Kong trying to prove himself as a chef. Now, he's struggling with gambling debts, embroiled in a love triangle, and the restaurant he's been left to run has lost its Global Restaurants Guild star.
Invited home to Malaysia for his father's 60th birthday, Wei Ming sees a chance to escape his troubles. But when old conflicts resurface and a local businessman threatens to destroy the family legacy, father and son are forced to ask themselves what truly matters.
‘Deeply comforting and nourishing' Samuel Burr, author of The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers
Every morning before sunrise, Lim Ah Hock opens the shutters of his small kitchen on Carpenter Street, lights an incense stick and prepares the best laksa soup in all of Kuching. According to Lim family legend, the laksa’s secret ingredient – their ancestral broth – was gifted to them by a deity, who promised the family prosperity as long as the broth is passed down through the generations.
But Ah Hock is aging, and the broth’s quality is fading. His only son, Wei Ming, has no interest in the family business, having spent eight years in Hong Kong trying to prove himself as a chef. Now, he's struggling with gambling debts, embroiled in a love triangle, and the restaurant he's been left to run has lost its Global Restaurants Guild star.
Invited home to Malaysia for his father's 60th birthday, Wei Ming sees a chance to escape his troubles. But when old conflicts resurface and a local businessman threatens to destroy the family legacy, father and son are forced to ask themselves what truly matters.
Hardcover
First published January 22, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
September 18, 2025
I normally race through every book that I read, but this one really made me slow down and devour every word. Living in Malaysia, I do enjoy reading books by Malaysian authors and this debut novel is really something special. The characters were complex and authentic- the relationship between the traditional, stubborn father Ah Hock and his slightly self-centred, impulsive, prodigal son Wei Ming was at the centre of the book, supported by a cast of other believable characters. I liked the resolutely calm Sensei and deceptively friendly ‘baddie’ Towkay Lau.
The settings were beautifully described and I could really picture them in my mind’s eye. However, the star of the show was the food! I wouldn’t consider myself someone particularly interested in cooking, but the description of not only the ingredients, but also the cooking process made my mouth water (well, apart from the bits about pig’s trotters and intestines!)
This was a book about the pressure of finding the balance between living up to family expectations whilst achieving your own dreams. I often get frustrated by book endings, but this one left me feeling very satisfied. A brilliant read that I’d highly recommend.
I was pleased to read an advance copy of this novel and this is my honest review.
The settings were beautifully described and I could really picture them in my mind’s eye. However, the star of the show was the food! I wouldn’t consider myself someone particularly interested in cooking, but the description of not only the ingredients, but also the cooking process made my mouth water (well, apart from the bits about pig’s trotters and intestines!)
This was a book about the pressure of finding the balance between living up to family expectations whilst achieving your own dreams. I often get frustrated by book endings, but this one left me feeling very satisfied. A brilliant read that I’d highly recommend.
I was pleased to read an advance copy of this novel and this is my honest review.
September 7, 2025
Such a true delight to read! I poured over the words which lead me down a scenic path through Malaysia and a bit of Hong Kong, telling a story of family, tradition, friendships, yearning, dreams, perseverance, hard decisions, loyalty and of course luscious-sounding cuisine, its aroma rising and steaming, swirling around my head. This is a comforting read but also with elements of suspense and leaving me wondering how it would all end! But also not wanting it to end as I was enjoying being a part of Ah Hock and Wei Ming’s world. I also loved the brother/sister characters of Dennis and Alice! And oh my gosh I wish I could meet Sensai!
Although I’ve lived in Malaysia for 6 years, I feel this book taught me a lot about the country’s traditions and culture. I’m also now sort of grieving the fact that I have mostly continued eating western cuisine since I’ve been here, and now can’t wait to find out what I’ve been missing! I now will be hunting for that perfectly balanced laksa!
I’m so grateful to have received an advanced copy of this debut novel and am excited to see what Tay has in store next!!
Although I’ve lived in Malaysia for 6 years, I feel this book taught me a lot about the country’s traditions and culture. I’m also now sort of grieving the fact that I have mostly continued eating western cuisine since I’ve been here, and now can’t wait to find out what I’ve been missing! I now will be hunting for that perfectly balanced laksa!
I’m so grateful to have received an advanced copy of this debut novel and am excited to see what Tay has in store next!!
October 8, 2025
I’ve always wished for a Malaysian novel just like this, and here it is!
I enjoyed this read so much. It is so beautifully crafted and I thought the intersection between themes of family, food and place is just as balanced as that perfect bowl of laksa that I now can’t get off my mind. The characters really endeared, and at the end I really wanted to meet every one of them!
I’ve had the privilege of walking down Carpenter Street some years back and I think Janet has really captured the charm of this street and infused it with life and imagination. What would it look like if it retained the stories of the past and of tradition, while welcoming innovation and reimagining?
During that same trip to Kuching I had enjoyed not just my favourite version of laksa, but thought the general quality of hawker food was stellar. We owe so much of our culinary heritage to the humble hawker, who operated out of tiny workspaces, serving up the same dish over and over, day after day, through sheer hard work. I just really appreciated how their story is told through Ah Hock’s story, and I hope these dishes live on like in Wei Ming’s story.
While this was a cozy read, it had me turning pages in anticipation, and I could come right back into the story even after a million interruptions by my toddler. It had me hungry, moved me to tears and *maybe* even inspired me to consider starting a perpetual broth.
Grateful to have read an advanced copy of this novel, and I can’t wait to press this novel into the hands of all my food lover reading friends!!
January 25, 2026
Early Mornings at the Laksa Cafe was an absolute DELIGHT. A gorgeous novel about traditional values, familial relationships and making your own path, set between Malaysia and Hong Kong.
The star of the show? The food. Don’t recommend reading this on an empty stomach, ya girl is now hungry. The descriptions of the food were impressive.
I always enjoy learning new things about different cultures that I don’t necessarily know much about, and this was no exception! I also find it interesting reading about conflict within different cultures (this is definitely the psych student in me), and that made this all the more interesting to me.
The relationships were so well written. The very complex family dynamics were brilliantly done, and felt genuine. How the relationships all flowed to reach the ending felt very natural and the ending was just so lovely - not completely unrealistic either which was nice!
This was such a cosy, heartwarming story. I’ve never tried Laksa, but I really want to curl up with a bowl of it to try, and a re read of this book.
The star of the show? The food. Don’t recommend reading this on an empty stomach, ya girl is now hungry. The descriptions of the food were impressive.
I always enjoy learning new things about different cultures that I don’t necessarily know much about, and this was no exception! I also find it interesting reading about conflict within different cultures (this is definitely the psych student in me), and that made this all the more interesting to me.
The relationships were so well written. The very complex family dynamics were brilliantly done, and felt genuine. How the relationships all flowed to reach the ending felt very natural and the ending was just so lovely - not completely unrealistic either which was nice!
This was such a cosy, heartwarming story. I’ve never tried Laksa, but I really want to curl up with a bowl of it to try, and a re read of this book.
February 3, 2026
Early Mornings at the Laksa Cafe is not, as I had thought for some unknown reason, a sweet romance, but, you guessed it, a multi-generational family story about food. Set in Kuching in the 1990s, it follows the owner of a local kopitiam owner famous for his laksa, and his son who wants to spread his wings and become a famous sushi chef in Hong Kong.
I liked the cultural specificity and the strong sense of place in this novel. I also enjoyed everything to do with food - the father's and the son's discussions of the recipes they use, their different approaches to cooking and their thoughts on the philosophy of food.
The plot is very simple and cookie-cutter. I also found both the main characters quite annoying - the son, in particular, was really getting on my nerves. We are introduced to him as a gambler who owns money to his landlord and local crime gangs in Hong Kong and who steals money from his by all means caring and supportive employer who had given him a chance to become the chef he wanted to be. He also is shown to be a pretty mediocre cook (especially compared to his hardworking sort of girlfriend). He does not have any sort of a redemption arc and there is no reckoning in his story - he just feels bad about these things, and a positive outcome is handed to him on a plate without any atonement.
The book reminded me of Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson, but Early Mornings comes across as even more generic when it comes to the plot and the character development.
I liked the cultural specificity and the strong sense of place in this novel. I also enjoyed everything to do with food - the father's and the son's discussions of the recipes they use, their different approaches to cooking and their thoughts on the philosophy of food.
The plot is very simple and cookie-cutter. I also found both the main characters quite annoying - the son, in particular, was really getting on my nerves. We are introduced to him as a gambler who owns money to his landlord and local crime gangs in Hong Kong and who steals money from his by all means caring and supportive employer who had given him a chance to become the chef he wanted to be. He also is shown to be a pretty mediocre cook (especially compared to his hardworking sort of girlfriend). He does not have any sort of a redemption arc and there is no reckoning in his story - he just feels bad about these things, and a positive outcome is handed to him on a plate without any atonement.
The book reminded me of Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson, but Early Mornings comes across as even more generic when it comes to the plot and the character development.
November 19, 2025
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.
“If cooking was his religion, then eating was his meditation.”
The book in a nutshell: Ah Hock is the epitical traditional Asian father, unyielding in his beliefs and deeply rooted in heritage. He runs a humble noodle shop, treasured for its legendary broth that has been passed down through generations and believed to be blessed by a deity. His son, Wei Ming, however, dreams of forging his own path and has no desire to inherit the family legacy. Will Ah Hock learn to loosen his grip on tradition and see things from his son’s perspective? And what fate awaits the magical broth that has defined their family for decades? That forms the rest of the plot.
I truly enjoyed reading this. It captures the atmosphere, flavours, and cultural subtlety of Asian family life so vividly that everything felt familiar. It even made me crave a comforting bowl of laksa while flipping through the pages.
I think the author did a great job in adding depth and emotional element to each of the characters. I initially abhorred Ah Hock and his stubborn and ways of dealing with things. Later on, we get to catch a glimpse why he ended up this way. Of all the characters, I think I empathise most with Kim Choo, his wife. The amount of sacrifices she made so that Ah Hock could have his life is just baffling.
It’s a fast paced book with some notable twists here and there. The descriptions are flavourful and mouth watering.
Overall, this is a delightful read for anyone who loves food-centred narratives, stories about family dynamics, or tales that gently explore generational conflict through a distinctly Asian lens. I would absolutely recommend it.
ARC copy gifted by Definitely Books #pansing.
“If cooking was his religion, then eating was his meditation.”
The book in a nutshell: Ah Hock is the epitical traditional Asian father, unyielding in his beliefs and deeply rooted in heritage. He runs a humble noodle shop, treasured for its legendary broth that has been passed down through generations and believed to be blessed by a deity. His son, Wei Ming, however, dreams of forging his own path and has no desire to inherit the family legacy. Will Ah Hock learn to loosen his grip on tradition and see things from his son’s perspective? And what fate awaits the magical broth that has defined their family for decades? That forms the rest of the plot.
I truly enjoyed reading this. It captures the atmosphere, flavours, and cultural subtlety of Asian family life so vividly that everything felt familiar. It even made me crave a comforting bowl of laksa while flipping through the pages.
I think the author did a great job in adding depth and emotional element to each of the characters. I initially abhorred Ah Hock and his stubborn and ways of dealing with things. Later on, we get to catch a glimpse why he ended up this way. Of all the characters, I think I empathise most with Kim Choo, his wife. The amount of sacrifices she made so that Ah Hock could have his life is just baffling.
It’s a fast paced book with some notable twists here and there. The descriptions are flavourful and mouth watering.
Overall, this is a delightful read for anyone who loves food-centred narratives, stories about family dynamics, or tales that gently explore generational conflict through a distinctly Asian lens. I would absolutely recommend it.
ARC copy gifted by Definitely Books #pansing.
February 22, 2026
I devoured this book. It looks understated from the cover but it's a bold book dealing with generational tension, the search for home, finding one's own path and lots of brilliant writing describing delicious food. It's cleverly written and there are real moments of suspense. It's very realistic and there is a fair balance between protagonists and antagonists. I will definitely be looking for more of this author's work when it's available.
July 5, 2026
2.5★
Fantastic for the food (primarily Malaysian but also Japanese), but the story was just too slight for my liking.
Fantastic for the food (primarily Malaysian but also Japanese), but the story was just too slight for my liking.
June 7, 2026
4.5 stars. It sounds like your typical father-son “I wanna go my own way”, but Tay does a brilliant job fleshing out both perspectives to support their clashing interests. Ah Hock is more than a grumpy old man who can’t deign to beg his son to come home. And while Wei Ming may be a menace to the people around him as he struggles to find his footing as a chef with his own creations (and perhaps undeserving of their repeated forgiveness), I am grateful to them for showing him how to be kind.
There is a lot of food in this, not just laksa, and I’m amazed by the insight Tay provided into the cooking process and intricate flavours as a foodie. I think this detail was imperative to emphasise what defines a “chef”—Wei Ming didn’t consider his father a chef and the feeling was mutual, but seeing how they both wholly devoted themselves in the kitchen let them understand they’re more similar than they think. It’s less about your job or your cuisine and more about your creativity and passion as a cook, your love for good food and creating it. Even if they’re not formally trained, hawkers are chefs in their own right. So what if they’re also dishwashers? That comes with running your own shop.
I also appreciated the focus on Teochew/ diaspora culture, and that phrases were kept in their original languages (Mandarin, Teochew, Japanese) and accompanied with seamless English explanations. The reading experience was at once familiar and enriching for me as someone who is passable in dialect but wants to learn more.
The dual POV offers a sweet growth arc for messy adults (because they deserve coming-of-age too!) and a glimpse into first generation immigrant struggles. I highly recommend this!
⚠️ Spoilers ahead ⚠️
At the end of the day they both had to let go of something. Ah Hock to let go of the broth (though that’s #trauma) and acknowledge his own skills and Wei Ming to come to peace with his life as well. wishing Jiayi well was a good step, and I’m so happy it didn’t end with him and Alice getting together. I appreciated the wake up call Alice gave Wei Ming, that she wasn’t here to make promises. I honestly thought she was moving back to kuching for good and they would finally “settle down”. But there’s still a long way to go for their relationship. as adults with baggage, this isn’t a lighthearted fling. But I’m glad they’re both at peace with it and I can see them getting together in the future. Just not now :-)
It’s a good ending. A great one even. I can’t believe i never thought that they could co share the space! I understood they closed whenever the laksa sold out; that’s why Ah Hock was free at night for opera shows. but this ending, so beautiful, and so happy.
I’m glad Wei Ming made the decision not to sabotage his own father instead of regretting it later on. The reveals were unexpected to me, that Teck Boon wasn’t all that honourable and that there was also a revenge plot with Towkay Lau. but I guess it takes shattering your worldview to change your mind. I’m glad the broth wasn’t actually magical though its presence was almost physical in the way it haunted this family.
I liked the reminders of fun cooking thanks to Dennis. and shoutout to him for finally putting Wei Ming in his place. And at the end of the day I can also see Sensei forgiving Wei Ming because his personality really is that zen. Rather than being reproachful of wei ming for being an undeserving asshole, I am grateful to the people around that show him how to be kind.
There is a lot of food in this, not just laksa, and I’m amazed by the insight Tay provided into the cooking process and intricate flavours as a foodie. I think this detail was imperative to emphasise what defines a “chef”—Wei Ming didn’t consider his father a chef and the feeling was mutual, but seeing how they both wholly devoted themselves in the kitchen let them understand they’re more similar than they think. It’s less about your job or your cuisine and more about your creativity and passion as a cook, your love for good food and creating it. Even if they’re not formally trained, hawkers are chefs in their own right. So what if they’re also dishwashers? That comes with running your own shop.
I also appreciated the focus on Teochew/ diaspora culture, and that phrases were kept in their original languages (Mandarin, Teochew, Japanese) and accompanied with seamless English explanations. The reading experience was at once familiar and enriching for me as someone who is passable in dialect but wants to learn more.
The dual POV offers a sweet growth arc for messy adults (because they deserve coming-of-age too!) and a glimpse into first generation immigrant struggles. I highly recommend this!
⚠️ Spoilers ahead ⚠️
At the end of the day they both had to let go of something. Ah Hock to let go of the broth (though that’s #trauma) and acknowledge his own skills and Wei Ming to come to peace with his life as well. wishing Jiayi well was a good step, and I’m so happy it didn’t end with him and Alice getting together. I appreciated the wake up call Alice gave Wei Ming, that she wasn’t here to make promises. I honestly thought she was moving back to kuching for good and they would finally “settle down”. But there’s still a long way to go for their relationship. as adults with baggage, this isn’t a lighthearted fling. But I’m glad they’re both at peace with it and I can see them getting together in the future. Just not now :-)
It’s a good ending. A great one even. I can’t believe i never thought that they could co share the space! I understood they closed whenever the laksa sold out; that’s why Ah Hock was free at night for opera shows. but this ending, so beautiful, and so happy.
I’m glad Wei Ming made the decision not to sabotage his own father instead of regretting it later on. The reveals were unexpected to me, that Teck Boon wasn’t all that honourable and that there was also a revenge plot with Towkay Lau. but I guess it takes shattering your worldview to change your mind. I’m glad the broth wasn’t actually magical though its presence was almost physical in the way it haunted this family.
I liked the reminders of fun cooking thanks to Dennis. and shoutout to him for finally putting Wei Ming in his place. And at the end of the day I can also see Sensei forgiving Wei Ming because his personality really is that zen. Rather than being reproachful of wei ming for being an undeserving asshole, I am grateful to the people around that show him how to be kind.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 20, 2026
Thank you to Definitely Books for the review copy!
📌 𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝑽𝒆𝒓𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒕: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Read this if you enjoy:
🍜 Contemporary fiction
🍜 Food heritage, Malaysia’s hawkey culture
🍜 Malaysian (specifically Sarawakian) representation
🍜 Father–son relationships & generational conflict
🍜 Quiet, reflective storytelling
🍜 Themes of home, belonging & returning
🍜 Immersive food descriptions that make you hungry
🍜 Nostalgic, comfort reads with emotional depth
📚 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔:
I think I chose the perfect time in my life to read Early Mornings at the Laksa Cafe, because I definitely ended up enjoying & loving it way more than I expected to! There’s a specific comfort with the focus on food heritage & familial connections that this story provided me this month and im genuinely so glad that the book lived up (and even surpassed) my expectations 🥺
Early Mornings at the Laksa Cafe follows Lim Ah Hock, an aging laksa chef whose family recipe, said to be blessed by a deity, is losing its magic. His estranged son, Wei Ming, a struggling chef in Hong Kong burdened by debt and personal issues, returns home for his father’s birthday hoping for a fresh start. As tensions resurface and an outsider threatens their restaurant’s future, both men must confront their differences and decide whether to continue preserving their family legacy or forge their own paths from now on.
I loved Janet Tay’s writing style, it was easy to follow through and there’s a tinge of nostalgia in every page that I could really feel as I read along. Personally I don't think i’ve had the chance to try Sarawak laksa yet but after reading this I literally cannot stop craving for it 🥲
The descriptions, especially when it came to the Ah Hock’s preparations techniques along with the love & passion for laksa was so strong in the novel, and it makes me so happy to see how Southeast asian cuisine can be portrayed so beautifully in a fiction novel.
I also thought the characterisation was intriguing too, especially for Ah Hock and Wei Ming. Wei Ming definitely got on my nerves several times for all his terrible life decisions and inability to see eye to eye with his family but overall, his imperfections and eventual change of heart was so heartening. As for Ah Hock, I was so worried that something bad was going to happen to him especially during the second half of the book but im beyond thankful that it was nothing major, especially since i grew to appreciate and respect him so much throughout the novel.
Overall, I loved how the book focused so much on Malaysia’s food heritage (primarily laksa though other dishes were featured as well) and the importance of preserving & safeguarding one’s traditional legacies in today’s evolving times. Personally I wouldn’t even classify this as cosy fiction (not the biggest fan of the genre tbh) because to me, the focus on familial connections, heritage and culture made it so much more touching & meaningful to me. If you ever get a chance to read this or you find yourself in the perfect mood for it, I highly recommend it! 🍜
📌 𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝑽𝒆𝒓𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒕: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Read this if you enjoy:
🍜 Contemporary fiction
🍜 Food heritage, Malaysia’s hawkey culture
🍜 Malaysian (specifically Sarawakian) representation
🍜 Father–son relationships & generational conflict
🍜 Quiet, reflective storytelling
🍜 Themes of home, belonging & returning
🍜 Immersive food descriptions that make you hungry
🍜 Nostalgic, comfort reads with emotional depth
📚 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔:
I think I chose the perfect time in my life to read Early Mornings at the Laksa Cafe, because I definitely ended up enjoying & loving it way more than I expected to! There’s a specific comfort with the focus on food heritage & familial connections that this story provided me this month and im genuinely so glad that the book lived up (and even surpassed) my expectations 🥺
Early Mornings at the Laksa Cafe follows Lim Ah Hock, an aging laksa chef whose family recipe, said to be blessed by a deity, is losing its magic. His estranged son, Wei Ming, a struggling chef in Hong Kong burdened by debt and personal issues, returns home for his father’s birthday hoping for a fresh start. As tensions resurface and an outsider threatens their restaurant’s future, both men must confront their differences and decide whether to continue preserving their family legacy or forge their own paths from now on.
I loved Janet Tay’s writing style, it was easy to follow through and there’s a tinge of nostalgia in every page that I could really feel as I read along. Personally I don't think i’ve had the chance to try Sarawak laksa yet but after reading this I literally cannot stop craving for it 🥲
The descriptions, especially when it came to the Ah Hock’s preparations techniques along with the love & passion for laksa was so strong in the novel, and it makes me so happy to see how Southeast asian cuisine can be portrayed so beautifully in a fiction novel.
I also thought the characterisation was intriguing too, especially for Ah Hock and Wei Ming. Wei Ming definitely got on my nerves several times for all his terrible life decisions and inability to see eye to eye with his family but overall, his imperfections and eventual change of heart was so heartening. As for Ah Hock, I was so worried that something bad was going to happen to him especially during the second half of the book but im beyond thankful that it was nothing major, especially since i grew to appreciate and respect him so much throughout the novel.
Overall, I loved how the book focused so much on Malaysia’s food heritage (primarily laksa though other dishes were featured as well) and the importance of preserving & safeguarding one’s traditional legacies in today’s evolving times. Personally I wouldn’t even classify this as cosy fiction (not the biggest fan of the genre tbh) because to me, the focus on familial connections, heritage and culture made it so much more touching & meaningful to me. If you ever get a chance to read this or you find yourself in the perfect mood for it, I highly recommend it! 🍜
May 30, 2026
This book quietly found its way into my heart.
At its core, Early Mornings at the Laksa Cafe is about people who spend their lives feeling like they're never enough. Wei Ming feels he can never live up to his father's expectations, while Ah Hock carries the same wound from his own father. What gets passed down through generations isn't just a laksa recipe, but the burden of expectations and the fear of falling short.
I also loved how the novel explores dreams and purpose. Wei Ming leaves, fails, returns, and starts over. His journey isn't about achieving some perfect version of success. It's about realizing that life doesn't always provide clear answers, and that's okay.
The ending felt especially meaningful to me because it doesn't offer a dramatic victory. Instead, it gives us something more realistic: compromise, understanding, and the possibility of moving forward together. Wei Ming may not have all the answers, but he finally has the freedom to become his own person.
Warm, reflective, and deeply human, this is a healing novel about family, expectations, forgiveness, and finding peace with an imperfect life. Sometimes, not having all the answers is an answer in itself.
At its core, Early Mornings at the Laksa Cafe is about people who spend their lives feeling like they're never enough. Wei Ming feels he can never live up to his father's expectations, while Ah Hock carries the same wound from his own father. What gets passed down through generations isn't just a laksa recipe, but the burden of expectations and the fear of falling short.
I also loved how the novel explores dreams and purpose. Wei Ming leaves, fails, returns, and starts over. His journey isn't about achieving some perfect version of success. It's about realizing that life doesn't always provide clear answers, and that's okay.
The ending felt especially meaningful to me because it doesn't offer a dramatic victory. Instead, it gives us something more realistic: compromise, understanding, and the possibility of moving forward together. Wei Ming may not have all the answers, but he finally has the freedom to become his own person.
Warm, reflective, and deeply human, this is a healing novel about family, expectations, forgiveness, and finding peace with an imperfect life. Sometimes, not having all the answers is an answer in itself.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 18, 2026
The cover immediately caught my attention—and it didn’t disappoint. It’s a story full of Eastern atmosphere, complex relationships, and culinary delights.
The plot is told from the perspectives of a father and son. The father is strict, emotionally closed off, and devoted to tradition. The son—a dreamer and free spirit—returns from Hong Kong after years away to prove himself as a chef.
The characters are well-developed, and the multi-threaded plot is engaging, exploring universal family conflicts. Another strength is the vivid portrayal of Malaysian society, with its rich mix of cultures and flavors.
A fresh and distinctive novel compared to other Asian stories
The plot is told from the perspectives of a father and son. The father is strict, emotionally closed off, and devoted to tradition. The son—a dreamer and free spirit—returns from Hong Kong after years away to prove himself as a chef.
The characters are well-developed, and the multi-threaded plot is engaging, exploring universal family conflicts. Another strength is the vivid portrayal of Malaysian society, with its rich mix of cultures and flavors.
A fresh and distinctive novel compared to other Asian stories
January 23, 2026
Early Mornings at the Laksa Café was such a bittersweet and heartwarming read. It was like a hot comforting bowl of laksa wrapped around you 🥰 There is a feeling of nostalgia throughout the book that makes you slow down and savour every moment (I wish that was literally 🥲 the food sounds so good 🤤).
I particularly loved the development of Ah Hock and Wei Ming’s relationship throughout- it was so sweet and emotional. Their bond is a reminder that love can live through patience, listening and learning to see the world through someone else’s eyes.
On a side note, all the talk about the special laksa made me want to try it! It sounds delicious 🤭 Ah Hock and Wei Ming NEED to drop the recipe…
I particularly loved the development of Ah Hock and Wei Ming’s relationship throughout- it was so sweet and emotional. Their bond is a reminder that love can live through patience, listening and learning to see the world through someone else’s eyes.
On a side note, all the talk about the special laksa made me want to try it! It sounds delicious 🤭 Ah Hock and Wei Ming NEED to drop the recipe…
March 15, 2026
I love reading an author's love letter to her beloved homeland, together with the people, food, memories and scents that come with it.
I hope this kind of literary inspiration is never lost, and that I will always find books with the same spirit whenever I miss home.
I hope this kind of literary inspiration is never lost, and that I will always find books with the same spirit whenever I miss home.
Want to Read
June 3, 2025I AM SO SAT FOR THIS. KUCHING REP LETS GOOOOOOO. THIS IS WHY I WORK IN PUBLISHING.
March 20, 2026
Early Mornings at the Laksa Café
Author : Janet Tay
Lim Ah Hock together w/ his wife Lee Kim Choo, opened the rustling folding doors of their humble shophouse at six-thirty in the morning when Carpenter Street was still empty, preparing the tastiest laksa as Kuching's famous laksa master. The broth used as a base had been simmering on a clay charcoal stove for almost 60 years, its fire never extinguished in the decades it had existed. It had been bestowed upon an ancestor by a deity, so the legend was passed down for generations in the Lim family.
With Ah Hock soon turning 60 & the soup's quality continuing to falter, he tried to persuade his only son 35-year-old Lim Wei Ming, who had unfortunately no interest in the family business, since he left them 8 years ago to go to Hongkong & pursue his dreams of being a "real chef", as he called it. Due to his terrible gambling habits (even messing up the restaurant's accounts where he worked), he is piled up w/ debts, involved in a complicated romantic entanglement, & even Haruto the sushi restaurant where he worked at, has lost its prestigious award. (Global Restaurants Guild star)
Now faced w/ this dilemma, would Wei Ming be able to keep this divine promise?
This book is so close to my heart --- family relationships w/ their respective beliefs, cultures & traditions practiced for generations from the ancestors; w/ hard work & perseverance being carried out in order to honor the family legacy.
Unfortunately, there will always be conflicts & clashes here & there, w/c is the slice-of-life & realism that this novel points out. If it is not only within the Asian culture, I think every family knows & understands this & accepts this as a "normal" part of being a family.
This was a hard-to-put-it-down 36-chapter novel. I was absolutely engrossed, especially w/ the details of the food, making me even more curious as to how the actual Laksa tastes like!
This read was a definite rollercoaster ride full of emotions. This will definitely be a book I will reread again if I want a heartwarming, uplifting & memorable experience. It's making me homesick, letting me miss my hometown too much. 🥹
5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
P.S.
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Author : Janet Tay
Lim Ah Hock together w/ his wife Lee Kim Choo, opened the rustling folding doors of their humble shophouse at six-thirty in the morning when Carpenter Street was still empty, preparing the tastiest laksa as Kuching's famous laksa master. The broth used as a base had been simmering on a clay charcoal stove for almost 60 years, its fire never extinguished in the decades it had existed. It had been bestowed upon an ancestor by a deity, so the legend was passed down for generations in the Lim family.
With Ah Hock soon turning 60 & the soup's quality continuing to falter, he tried to persuade his only son 35-year-old Lim Wei Ming, who had unfortunately no interest in the family business, since he left them 8 years ago to go to Hongkong & pursue his dreams of being a "real chef", as he called it. Due to his terrible gambling habits (even messing up the restaurant's accounts where he worked), he is piled up w/ debts, involved in a complicated romantic entanglement, & even Haruto the sushi restaurant where he worked at, has lost its prestigious award. (Global Restaurants Guild star)
Now faced w/ this dilemma, would Wei Ming be able to keep this divine promise?
This book is so close to my heart --- family relationships w/ their respective beliefs, cultures & traditions practiced for generations from the ancestors; w/ hard work & perseverance being carried out in order to honor the family legacy.
Unfortunately, there will always be conflicts & clashes here & there, w/c is the slice-of-life & realism that this novel points out. If it is not only within the Asian culture, I think every family knows & understands this & accepts this as a "normal" part of being a family.
This was a hard-to-put-it-down 36-chapter novel. I was absolutely engrossed, especially w/ the details of the food, making me even more curious as to how the actual Laksa tastes like!
This read was a definite rollercoaster ride full of emotions. This will definitely be a book I will reread again if I want a heartwarming, uplifting & memorable experience. It's making me homesick, letting me miss my hometown too much. 🥹
5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
P.S.
Follow me for more book reviews on:
❥ Instagram @bookwormdenz
❥ Threads @denz.kaye
❥ Meta @bookworm.denz
❥ Goodreads @bookwormdenz
November 25, 2025
Reading this book made me so hungry. 😂 I literally wanted to eat everything it mentioned. Set between Kuching, Malaysia and Hong Kong, #EarlyMorningsAtTheLaksaCafe takes us through the story of Ah Hock and his son Wei Ming, who never seem to see eye to eye. Ah Hock, now almost 60, continues his late father Teck Boon’s legacy by running their laksa stall in a kopitiam, while Wei Ming wants to break away and work as an assistant chef at an omakase restaurant called Haruto in Hong Kong. But Wei Ming’s gambling habit and debts force him to return to Malaysia and leave his life in HK behind though fate clearly has other plans.
The 3️⃣ Things:
🍜𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒉𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑨𝒔𝒊𝒂𝒏 𝒄𝒖𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒆.🫕
With food as the main theme, Janet Tay really brings Asian dishes to life, especially Sarawak laksa. From the cooking terms to the differences in preparation styles, this book truly stands out, especially since food-themed novel by Malaysian authors isn’t something we see often.
🫵🏻 𝑭𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒇𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒃𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒓𝒊𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒓𝒚.💰
Ah Hock and Wei Ming never get along. To Ah Hock, Wei Ming is too naive to understand life. To Wei Ming, his father is too stubborn and stuck in the past to improve things. Towkey Law takes advantage of their strained relationship by challenging Ah Hock with an outrageous bet that risks his laksa shop since Ah Hock doesn’t want to work with him. The drama really adds flavour to the whole story.
🏮𝑨 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒇𝒖𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝒄𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏.🪭
I love how the book brings Carpenter Street community, feels like I’m living there too. Learning about Teochew opera, also the differences between Hokkien and Cantonese. Inamura-sensei’s kindness towards Wei Ming and how Kim Choo, as a mother and wife, quietly holds the family together, it’s just beautiful.
✍🏻: @janettaywriter
🖨️: @harvillbooks
📄: 348
⭐️: 4/5
It’s so rare to see local novel centred around food and cooking, and honestly, this book deserves a spot on your shelf. Congratulations Janet Tay for this debut. Thank you @izahisreading and @definitelybooks for the arc and for having me in the pre launch event.🫰🏻#parareads #pansing
The 3️⃣ Things:
🍜𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒉𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑨𝒔𝒊𝒂𝒏 𝒄𝒖𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒆.🫕
With food as the main theme, Janet Tay really brings Asian dishes to life, especially Sarawak laksa. From the cooking terms to the differences in preparation styles, this book truly stands out, especially since food-themed novel by Malaysian authors isn’t something we see often.
🫵🏻 𝑭𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒇𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒃𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒓𝒊𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒓𝒚.💰
Ah Hock and Wei Ming never get along. To Ah Hock, Wei Ming is too naive to understand life. To Wei Ming, his father is too stubborn and stuck in the past to improve things. Towkey Law takes advantage of their strained relationship by challenging Ah Hock with an outrageous bet that risks his laksa shop since Ah Hock doesn’t want to work with him. The drama really adds flavour to the whole story.
🏮𝑨 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒇𝒖𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝒄𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏.🪭
I love how the book brings Carpenter Street community, feels like I’m living there too. Learning about Teochew opera, also the differences between Hokkien and Cantonese. Inamura-sensei’s kindness towards Wei Ming and how Kim Choo, as a mother and wife, quietly holds the family together, it’s just beautiful.
✍🏻: @janettaywriter
🖨️: @harvillbooks
📄: 348
⭐️: 4/5
It’s so rare to see local novel centred around food and cooking, and honestly, this book deserves a spot on your shelf. Congratulations Janet Tay for this debut. Thank you @izahisreading and @definitelybooks for the arc and for having me in the pre launch event.🫰🏻#parareads #pansing
December 5, 2025
Lim Ah Hock is the owner of a small laksa shop where he serves the best laksa soup in Kuching, cooked to perfection with a secret ingredient — the broth, passed down from generation to generation and believed to be gifted by a deity. It’s Ah Hock’s legacy. He believes that keeping the ancestral broth simmer alive will keep the family safe and prosperous.
But now, both Ah Hock’s health and his broth are deteriorating. He’s frustrated with his only son, Wei Ming who chose to become a sushi chef in Hong Kong instead of continuing the family business. Little does he know, Wei Ming is drowning in his own problems abroad. When Wei Ming returns after eight years, tension and conflict rise as the father and son live under one roof again. Will they reconcile or will the distance between them only widen?
Reading this book is addictive. The author is masterful at describing mouth-watering cuisine, proving her meticulous research and making you hungry! She also weaves the plot skilfully, spreading little sparks of turmoil here and there, which eventually explode into a fire of unspoken anger and disappointment.
I often felt frustrated with both Ah Hock and Wei Ming. Ugh. One is too fixated on the past, while the other is too hungry for a future built on a blurry role model. In doing so, both jeopardise what they have — their talents, their abilities. And causing suffering to the mother caught in between.
My favourite character is Sensei, Wei Ming’s mentor in China. He acts as the moral compass in Wei Ming’s life, especially when Wei Ming is blinded by his desire for fame, sacrificing trust and whatever dignity he has left.
Thank you @definitelybooks and @izahisreading for this delicious read I truly treasure. 4/5 ⭐️ definitely recommended!
P.S. Reading this made me crave Laksa Sarawak, so today I cooked it for the first time! 🥰
March 24, 2026
Ah Hock is a laksa master in Kuching, Malaysia. With age catching on, he hopes to pass down his secret recipe and family business to his son, Wei Ming. But their strained relationship makes things tricky and Wei Ming would rather chase his own dream of becoming a chef in his own right. When Wei Ming eventually returns to Kuching from Hong Kong, father and son are forced to confront their differences and even as a businessman threatens to take over Ah Hock’s laksa business.
Warning: You might get really hungry reading this as Early Mornings at the Laksa Cafe story is such a feast for the senses 😌 I was transported to Kuching's famous Carpenter Street with its old shophouses, traditional eateries and nostalgic charm, where the aroma and taste of hawker food like laksa and kolo mee practically rose off the pages.
The cultural backdrop felt both fresh and familiar. Singapore and Malaysia share many similarities, so while the book whisked me to Kuching, it also carried a comforting sense of home. The characters themselves are relatable: Ah Hock, the grumpy hawker who’d rather turn you away than entertain too many customisations, yet underneath that sharp tongue lies a soft heart; and Wei Ming, torn between ambition and duty, wants to prove himself in the food world but wrestles with the weight and duty of being the only son.
Beyond the mouthwatering food and rich cultural setting, I also enjoyed the novel's deeper and relatable themes: the push-and-pull between ambition and family, the question of whether we’ll ever be “good enough”, and the ties that bind us even when we try to break free.
Warning: You might get really hungry reading this as Early Mornings at the Laksa Cafe story is such a feast for the senses 😌 I was transported to Kuching's famous Carpenter Street with its old shophouses, traditional eateries and nostalgic charm, where the aroma and taste of hawker food like laksa and kolo mee practically rose off the pages.
The cultural backdrop felt both fresh and familiar. Singapore and Malaysia share many similarities, so while the book whisked me to Kuching, it also carried a comforting sense of home. The characters themselves are relatable: Ah Hock, the grumpy hawker who’d rather turn you away than entertain too many customisations, yet underneath that sharp tongue lies a soft heart; and Wei Ming, torn between ambition and duty, wants to prove himself in the food world but wrestles with the weight and duty of being the only son.
Beyond the mouthwatering food and rich cultural setting, I also enjoyed the novel's deeper and relatable themes: the push-and-pull between ambition and family, the question of whether we’ll ever be “good enough”, and the ties that bind us even when we try to break free.
March 2, 2026
I love this book so much 🥹 congrats miss @janettaywriter for the debut! Im craving your next book, the same vibes of the food… please 😭
First time im trying Laksa Sarawak 5 years ago, when im working with my Sarawakian collague. She introduce me the laksa sarawak that i thought it is a mihun kari at first 😅
So, after im being a full housewife… honestly i havent craving laksa sarawak until i read this book. Luckily, there is a restaurant ata Negeri Sembilan (waze Kopi Tapok) that serve laksa sarawak and mee kolok too 😂
Okay, back to the story… i love family drama and the differences between two generation. Everyone has their struggle in life to gain trust in bussiness, same like Ah Hock and his son. His son has an own dream at Hong Kong and Ah Hock dream wanted his son to be his heir to continue his laksa sarawak’s bussiness.
Would they work together as a team at the end of the story? As we know, both of them had their own dream to chase. Will Ah Hock’s son will comeback to Penang from Hong Kong to continue his father’s bussiness?
Guys, please read this book. Seriously, i give it 5⭐️ as an honest review because im truly love the story! So i hope, you will enjoyed it too as much as i am. This book will make you craving of Laksa Sarawak either you had tried it or not before this.
First time im trying Laksa Sarawak 5 years ago, when im working with my Sarawakian collague. She introduce me the laksa sarawak that i thought it is a mihun kari at first 😅
So, after im being a full housewife… honestly i havent craving laksa sarawak until i read this book. Luckily, there is a restaurant ata Negeri Sembilan (waze Kopi Tapok) that serve laksa sarawak and mee kolok too 😂
Okay, back to the story… i love family drama and the differences between two generation. Everyone has their struggle in life to gain trust in bussiness, same like Ah Hock and his son. His son has an own dream at Hong Kong and Ah Hock dream wanted his son to be his heir to continue his laksa sarawak’s bussiness.
Would they work together as a team at the end of the story? As we know, both of them had their own dream to chase. Will Ah Hock’s son will comeback to Penang from Hong Kong to continue his father’s bussiness?
Guys, please read this book. Seriously, i give it 5⭐️ as an honest review because im truly love the story! So i hope, you will enjoyed it too as much as i am. This book will make you craving of Laksa Sarawak either you had tried it or not before this.
June 3, 2026
A beautiful homage to Malaysia and its delicious food.
Early Mornings at the Laksa Cafe follows a family in Kuching and their laksa kopitiam (food stall) in Kuching. The son, Wei Ming, much to the his father’s dismay has left the family business and moved to Hong Kong for 8 years. However, after landing himself in some trouble he decided to leave HK and go back to Kuching as a chance to escape his troubles.
A strong theme throughout this book was the concept of 孝(Xiao) or filial piety. Wei Ming’s father, Ah Hock expects him to take over the family business and continue its legacy, however Wei Ming feels like he is more than the little stand. The conflicts between the characters felt really raw and authentic, at times really relatable as well.
As described in the book, in Malaysia many young people are stepping away from kopitiams to pursue other goals, understandably as running these stalls are hard work and return is not always high. Unfortunately this means that meaning many of the stalls are dying out, with the country losing of its most culturally significant and iconic attractions.
While I myself have never been to Kuching, or tried Kuching laksa, I really loved the descriptions of all the food and made me really miss my motherland. I loved the incorporation of Teochew language and food. The art cover was also very pretty and eye catching.
Early Mornings at the Laksa Cafe follows a family in Kuching and their laksa kopitiam (food stall) in Kuching. The son, Wei Ming, much to the his father’s dismay has left the family business and moved to Hong Kong for 8 years. However, after landing himself in some trouble he decided to leave HK and go back to Kuching as a chance to escape his troubles.
A strong theme throughout this book was the concept of 孝(Xiao) or filial piety. Wei Ming’s father, Ah Hock expects him to take over the family business and continue its legacy, however Wei Ming feels like he is more than the little stand. The conflicts between the characters felt really raw and authentic, at times really relatable as well.
As described in the book, in Malaysia many young people are stepping away from kopitiams to pursue other goals, understandably as running these stalls are hard work and return is not always high. Unfortunately this means that meaning many of the stalls are dying out, with the country losing of its most culturally significant and iconic attractions.
While I myself have never been to Kuching, or tried Kuching laksa, I really loved the descriptions of all the food and made me really miss my motherland. I loved the incorporation of Teochew language and food. The art cover was also very pretty and eye catching.
August 31, 2025
Have you ever struggled between choosing your own path or giving into the one your parents wanted you to follow? Well this book shows us that there’s a way to honour our past without letting it take over our lives.
Wei Ming is a young man who moved from Malaysia to Hong Kong to become a chef but his life is slowly unravelling so he takes the chance to go back to visit his parents whom he hasn’t spoken to in eight years.
Throughout the story we also get Ah Hock’s pov, Wei Ming’s father. He’s a stubborn man and he knows something isn’t right in his life but he’s too set in his ways to see a different path.
I’d recommend Early Morning at the Laksa Café to those who:
– crave more depth in their cosy reads
– love to discover different cultures through food
– enjoy stories about imperfect families and flawed characters but still want a realistic happy ending
Thank you to the Penguin Export team for the proof copy, I can’t believe I got to discover this wonderful story early, I can’t wait for it to come out and discuss it with everybody.
Wei Ming is a young man who moved from Malaysia to Hong Kong to become a chef but his life is slowly unravelling so he takes the chance to go back to visit his parents whom he hasn’t spoken to in eight years.
Throughout the story we also get Ah Hock’s pov, Wei Ming’s father. He’s a stubborn man and he knows something isn’t right in his life but he’s too set in his ways to see a different path.
I’d recommend Early Morning at the Laksa Café to those who:
– crave more depth in their cosy reads
– love to discover different cultures through food
– enjoy stories about imperfect families and flawed characters but still want a realistic happy ending
Thank you to the Penguin Export team for the proof copy, I can’t believe I got to discover this wonderful story early, I can’t wait for it to come out and discuss it with everybody.
January 26, 2026
I enjoyed the audiobook of this heartwarming novel set in Malaysia and Hong Kong that evolves around a family-owned restauranf famous for laksa and their special recipe. I love books about food but the description of dishes in this book is amazing and one of the best I’ve ever read. I could picture the visual and even the scent! Crazy. It is not just about laksa but a lot of reference to Japanese food as well.
This is 99% heartwarming. I say 99% because there was one part that was really difficult for me to read and I was caught off guard (killing of an animal was involved with a really horrid situation for the animal… so if you’re an animal lover, be warned. ) I personally wish it wasn’t in the book. Because of the scene, I am not comfortable enough to recommend this as a gentle, heartwarming, healing novel. Skip end of Ch 14 if you want to avoid it, then you’ll be fine for the rest of the book!
But I still enjoyed it and want to recommend it as a good family drama focusing on food!
3,5-4 🌟
This is 99% heartwarming. I say 99% because there was one part that was really difficult for me to read and I was caught off guard (killing of an animal was involved with a really horrid situation for the animal… so if you’re an animal lover, be warned. ) I personally wish it wasn’t in the book. Because of the scene, I am not comfortable enough to recommend this as a gentle, heartwarming, healing novel. Skip end of Ch 14 if you want to avoid it, then you’ll be fine for the rest of the book!
But I still enjoyed it and want to recommend it as a good family drama focusing on food!
3,5-4 🌟
May 17, 2026
Reading Early Mornings at the Laksa Cafe made me weirdly homesick for Singapore, even though the story is set in neighbouring Malaysia. There is such a familiar warmth in the culture, food, language and family dynamics that felt incredibly relatable. I especially loved the use of Manglish/Singlish throughout the book because it made the dialogue feel natural and authentic!
The relationships between the different generations in the family were probably my favourite part. They felt complicated, loving, frustrating and very real in a way I could easily relate to. And the food descriptions? Absolutely dangerous to read while hungry! Every mention of laksa and café meals had my mouth watering.
This was such a comforting read - and I adored the Malaysian representation throughout. I’d give it 3.5 stars ⭐️
The relationships between the different generations in the family were probably my favourite part. They felt complicated, loving, frustrating and very real in a way I could easily relate to. And the food descriptions? Absolutely dangerous to read while hungry! Every mention of laksa and café meals had my mouth watering.
This was such a comforting read - and I adored the Malaysian representation throughout. I’d give it 3.5 stars ⭐️
June 11, 2026
This book takes you on quite possibly one of the most beautiful journeys about family, following your dreams and tradition.
It’s one of those books that inadvertently tells you from the get go to take your time absorbing all that it has to offer as once you’ve read it, you can’t read it for the first time again. The description of family bonds and the traditional foods mentioned throughout are done in a way that have you feeling like you are truly within the book experiencing things alongside the characters.
This book presents a battle between following what you feel your calling in life is whilst also trying to please your family who feel you should be doing other things.
What an amazing book this debut novel is!!!🙌🏼
Thank you Vintage Books for my copy and all of the extra goodies!
4.5⭐️
It’s one of those books that inadvertently tells you from the get go to take your time absorbing all that it has to offer as once you’ve read it, you can’t read it for the first time again. The description of family bonds and the traditional foods mentioned throughout are done in a way that have you feeling like you are truly within the book experiencing things alongside the characters.
This book presents a battle between following what you feel your calling in life is whilst also trying to please your family who feel you should be doing other things.
What an amazing book this debut novel is!!!🙌🏼
Thank you Vintage Books for my copy and all of the extra goodies!
4.5⭐️
January 26, 2026
There was a time, when it was an unsaid rule that sons would take over their father’s profession and continue their legacy. Deviating from your parents’ desires and expectations was unheard of and deeply frowned upon. But things have changed quite a bit since then. People want to carve out their own paths and follow their own dreams. At the precipice of this changing society, is this story, set in Malaysia of 1994.
🍜🍜🍜
I love a good family saga and this one shows two generations of Chinese immigrants settled in Malaysia, trying to save their Laksa shop. Their ideologies and thinking are polar opposites, and I loved seeing that neither viewpoint is given extra weight. Readers are free to root for either father or son based on where their own beliefs lie.
And at the centre of it all is their ancestral broth which was apparently bestowed upon the family by a deity and brings them good luck. But is it more important than family and the dreams and aspirations of the next generations? That’s the question this book tries to ask and answer.
🍜🍜🍜
This book is a delicious hotpot of food and cultures. There are characters from Malaysia, China, and Japan and they all talk about their food, culture, & customs. I would have definitely tried some recipes from here if I were not a vegetarian.
The characters in this book are real and flawed. While Ah Hock is grumpy and a stickler for what he believes is right, Wei Ming has gambling issues and wants an easy way to success. My favourite character however is Wei Ming’s sensei Imamura. His calmness, trust, and patience are something I strive to achieve but fail every day.
🍜🍜🍜
I feel I can go on, but this book is an experience I would recommend you try and experience yourself. A bit nostalgic of the times gone by, it’s a great family drama with gangsters and whatnot. It’s the whole package really. But don’t go in expecting something cosy, as it covers darker themes too and is quite intense at times.
🍜🍜🍜
I love a good family saga and this one shows two generations of Chinese immigrants settled in Malaysia, trying to save their Laksa shop. Their ideologies and thinking are polar opposites, and I loved seeing that neither viewpoint is given extra weight. Readers are free to root for either father or son based on where their own beliefs lie.
And at the centre of it all is their ancestral broth which was apparently bestowed upon the family by a deity and brings them good luck. But is it more important than family and the dreams and aspirations of the next generations? That’s the question this book tries to ask and answer.
🍜🍜🍜
This book is a delicious hotpot of food and cultures. There are characters from Malaysia, China, and Japan and they all talk about their food, culture, & customs. I would have definitely tried some recipes from here if I were not a vegetarian.
The characters in this book are real and flawed. While Ah Hock is grumpy and a stickler for what he believes is right, Wei Ming has gambling issues and wants an easy way to success. My favourite character however is Wei Ming’s sensei Imamura. His calmness, trust, and patience are something I strive to achieve but fail every day.
🍜🍜🍜
I feel I can go on, but this book is an experience I would recommend you try and experience yourself. A bit nostalgic of the times gone by, it’s a great family drama with gangsters and whatnot. It’s the whole package really. But don’t go in expecting something cosy, as it covers darker themes too and is quite intense at times.
May 15, 2026
Really enjoyed this - a cosy easy to read story about an ancestral broth, Asian father son relationships and the trauma passed down through generations, family expectations, the cold bloodedness of asian businessmen and above all the love of good food. Food underpins this book and it’s a good thing the writer writes beautifully about it. From the japanese food cooked by wei ming in hong kong to the teochew food eaten in kuching and especially of the sarawak laksa made by his father. There is enough mystery to take this beyond just a simplistic tale - what was his grandfather runnjng away from in swatow and why was his grandmother left behind? What happens when the ancestral broth is lost or not kept going by the descendents? A lovely little book.
July 11, 2026
Early Mornings at the Laksa Cafe by Janet Tay is a story about home, comforting food and the resilience to fight for what matters most. This book will make you hungry and definitely crave for a bowl of hot and flavourful laksa.
This book took me awhile to get through as I really wanted to savour it as best as I possibly could. The messages I can takeaway from it is that life may take you on a path you least expect but will turn out to be for the best and I find that really profound.
I like the family dynamic, how chaotic it may seem at times and don't even get me started with the food. The author made me salivate a lot. And as I made it to the end, I like how it all wrapped up well.
All in all, I recommend you to read this book.
This book took me awhile to get through as I really wanted to savour it as best as I possibly could. The messages I can takeaway from it is that life may take you on a path you least expect but will turn out to be for the best and I find that really profound.
I like the family dynamic, how chaotic it may seem at times and don't even get me started with the food. The author made me salivate a lot. And as I made it to the end, I like how it all wrapped up well.
All in all, I recommend you to read this book.
January 28, 2026
The story follows Ah Hock and his son Wei Ming. One he is a traditional laksa shop owner and the other one a chef based in Hong Kong the last 8 years. The narrative is a traditional ancestral broth passed from a son to a son for generations.
It’s a cosy and atmospheric book. Between the pages, we see tension, stubbornness and lots of attempts for one to change his inheritance.
Funny enough there is a twist towards the last chapters of the book that sets everything into a positive motion. Ah Hock is very stubborn and the laksa traditions led his son away. The mom in an attempt to bring father and son together tries to work her magic.
It’s a cosy and atmospheric book. Between the pages, we see tension, stubbornness and lots of attempts for one to change his inheritance.
Funny enough there is a twist towards the last chapters of the book that sets everything into a positive motion. Ah Hock is very stubborn and the laksa traditions led his son away. The mom in an attempt to bring father and son together tries to work her magic.
April 6, 2026
i initially picked up this book because of how much i love the laksa dish. little did i thought this book would make me feel engrossed in the narrative and empathy for the characters. this book feels hearty, warm, and authentic, just like the dish itself. a beautiful and real story about family, food, and remembering what's important in life while also acknowledging the hardships that one must go through to find meaning in their lives. thank you janet tay for creating a memorable and refreshing piece of southeast asian literature.
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