Laksa Tapas Ranks Among Top Five at World Championship: Sarawak Chef Wins with Creativity

(Kuching, 14th) Sarawak-born chef Liew Kit Kiet shone at the 2025 World Tapas Championship and Exhibition held in Valladolid, Spain, earning a spot among the top five in the international category with his creative dish “La Perla de Borneo”—inspired by Sarawak Laksa.
According to a TVS news report, his creation also won the “Mahou San Miguel Special Award” (Accésit Mahou San Miguel Award), showcasing his skill in refining this Sarawak classic and reinterpreting it in the form of Spanish tapas. The unique and rich flavors deeply impressed the judges.

Representing Malaysia on the international stage, Liew Kit Kiet said he was overjoyed by this recognition and described the experience as “indescribable.”
He said: “Originally, I hoped to make it to the top three, but being among the top five is already an amazing achievement. I’m very happy and grateful to the Sarawak government, my mentors, and everyone who has supported me along the way.”
He also expressed his heartfelt thanks to the Malaysian delegation and supporters who accompanied him to the competition: “Everyone gave me so much support—without them, I could not have made it this far.”
Looking ahead, Liew Kit Kiet said he will return to his restaurant to further hone his craft and prepare for the next edition of the competition. “I will keep working hard and continue to improve. I am already looking forward to next year’s tapas contest and championship.”

The 2025 World Tapas Championship gathered outstanding chefs from around the globe to compete in creativity and culinary skills. The champion title went to Australia’s Andrea Vignali for his entry “Humo bajo la tapa” (“Smoke under the lid”); Taiwan’s participant Chen Cheng Dian won second place with “Esmeralda” (“Emerald”); Norway’s Øyvind Bøe Dalelv came in third with “La reina del mar” (“Queen of the Sea”).
In addition, the Querétaro Special Award was given to Iñigo Tizón for “Los lunes al sol” (“Mondays in the Sun”); the “Valladolid Gastronomy Special Award” was won by Carlos Maestre Sánchez for “La nación más pequeña del mundo” (“The Smallest Nation in the World”).