Early Mornings at the Laksa Cafe

A delicious read with lots of heart. I haven’t enjoyed a novel so much in a while… Definitely a highly recommended read – Shanna Tan
Janet Tay really brings Asian dishes to life, especially Sarawak laksa… this book truly stands out…The drama really adds flavour to the whole story – Reader Review
Captures the atmosphere, flavours, and cultural subtlety of Asian family life so vividly… A delightful read for anyone who wants a cozy read, loves food-centred narratives, stories about family dynamics – Reader Review
The author is masterful at describing mouth-watering cuisine… a delicious read I truly treasure’ – Reader Review
One of the best books and cosy reads I read this year… I could almost smell the laksa broth, feel the steam on my face, and hear the soft clinking of bowls before sunrise. There’s such a beautiful stillness in the way Janet Tay writes… What I loved most is how warm and emotionally honest the story is… It reminded me that healing doesn’t always need grand gestures. Sometimes it’s found in warm bowls of food, soft conversations, and the courage to begin again… This is a very comforting book – Reader Review
Janet Tay’s love for Sarawak food, its people and culture is evident in every page of this beautiful story… Grab your copy and a bowl of laksa because trust me, you will want both! – Reader Review
Beautifully captures the idea that love doesn’t always need to be spoken – sometimes, it’s served in a bowl of food… A tender, comforting read that reflects how food can carry memory, obligation, and care all at once… Small warning: if you’re reading this at night. The food cravings are real – Reader Review
The descriptions of food are vivid and mouth-watering, clearly grounded in careful research and cultural respect. Food becomes both a point of connection and a battleground, representing love, pride, and inheritance…This is an addictive, thoughtful, and beautifully written book about pride, sacrifice, and the difficult work of reconciliation. It lingers long after the final page, much like the memory of a meal shared at dawn – Reader Review
Fair warning: do not read Janet Tay’s Early Mornings At The Laksa Cafe late at night, or else you will be desperately craving a piping hot bowl of laksa when all the shops have already closed… Filled with deliciously detailed descriptions of culinary delights that will make your mouth water, Early Mornings At The Laksa Cafe questions whether it’s possible for a father and son with different dreams to set their differences aside and build a future with room for both * The Star, Malaysia *
A mouth-watering, uplifting and lovingly researched story about legacy, tradition and food * Borneo Post *
Janet Tay weaves food, memory and generational conflict into a heartfelt tribute to Kuching’s Carpenter Street and the ties that bind fathers and sons… A story simmered in heritage * Sarawak Tribune *
A gripping family drama * Books & Boba podcast *
Offers a poignant exploration of father-son conflict, set against the rich textures of Sarawakian-Chinese cuisine and migration history * Free Malaysia Today *

Janet Tay is the author of Early Mornings at the Laksa Cafe and the forthcoming Late Nights at the Donabe Diner. Janet is a Tin House Winter Workshop alum, and her short stories and journalistic pieces on literature, food, and parenting have appeared in various collections and magazines. The first act of her full-length play Reunion was longlisted for The Windsor Fringe Kenneth Branagh Award for New Drama Writing. She lives in Kuala Lumpur with her husband and son.

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