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Early Mornings at the Laksa Cafe

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What to expect

Brought to you by Penguin.

A mouthwatering and uplifting debut about legacy, tradition, and striking out on your own, set in family-run restaurants between Malaysia and Hong Kong

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

© Janet Tay 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026

Critics Review

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
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

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