Miri : The Hainese and their Signature Dishes

The Hainanese is a Chinese ethnic group, originating from Hainan Island (the southernmost and smallest Chinese province). They are a subgroup of the Han majority of China's population.

Much of the population of the Hainanese people, along with the Hakka, Cantonese and Hoklo (Hokkien) peoples is now in diaspora. In many Southeast Asian countries, including Malaysia (where they were known as Hailam) they usually form a small minority as they never migrated in large groups in the past.



Most Hainanese were originally fisher people from the Fujian and Guangdong provinces who later settled in Hainan. Like other Chinese groups,at the later era of the Qing dynasty in the 20th century, many Hainanese migrated to the various Southeast Asian countries where they worked as cooks, restaurateurs, coffeeshop owners, sailors and hoteliers to seek their fortunes in Nanyang (South Sea).

Whenever people talk about the Hainanese people, they never go far from a favourite topic : Chicken Rice.

Or if they are good drinkers they would remind each other of the origin of Singapore Sling which was created by the renowned Singapore Raffles Hotel, Mr. Ngiam Tong Boon, a Hainanese.

Some of the best coffee shops in Malaysia were founded by the Hainanese who were in fact the earliest coffee shop owners in the country.

The Hainanese  of Singapore and Johore, and now Sarawak, are known for many of their signature dishes like Hainanese Pork Chops, Hainanese Mutton Soup, Hainanese Salted Fish Soup and Beef Noodle Soup.

In Miri, there was an entire village called Hainan Village with two roads, Jalan Hainan Lama, Jalan Hainan. But there is no Jalan Hainan in the town which has Kwang tung Road, Hokkien Road, Jalan Melayu, and Jalan Cina.

There are two particular good Hainan dishes in Miri, the Chicken Rice and Hailam Noodles.

The other races in Sarawak have caught on with chicken rice. They have come out with their own variety of Nasi Ayam or Chicken Rice. And they don't call their product Hainan Chicken Rice.

Many Halal shops offer Mi Hailam too.

Cultural diversity makes the social tapestry of a city like Miri very vibrant and interesting. Yes it is easy to recognise the Hainanese coffee shops in Miri.