Sabah, known as 'The Land Below the Wind,' is Malaysia's easternmost state on the island of Borneo, celebrated for its extraordinary biodiversity, towering Mount Kinabalu, and world-class diving at Sipadan Island. The state is home to over 42 ethnic groups, pristine rainforests, and wildlife including orangutans, pygmy elephants, and proboscis monkeys.
Top food tours
Guided experiences that show you Sabah through its food.
KK Night Market Food Crawl
An evening walking tour through Kota Kinabalu's vibrant night markets and waterfront seafood stalls, tasting 8-10 dishes including fresh grilled seafood, Sabahan satay, Tuaran mee, and local desserts with a knowledgeable local guide
Includes: Sinsuran Night Market fresh grilled seafood · Api-Api street food stalls · Sabahan desserts and sweets · Local Tenom coffee tasting
Gaya Street Heritage Breakfast Walk
A Sunday morning heritage breakfast tour along Kota Kinabalu's colonial Gaya Street, visiting the famous Sunday Market for indigenous produce and sampling classic Sabahan breakfast dishes at historic kopitiam including curry laksa, Tuaran mee, and roti bakar with Tenom coffee
Includes: Curry laksa at Kedai Kopi Yee Fung · Gaya Street Sunday Market · Heritage kopitiam bao and dim sum · Tenom coffee experience
Sabah Local Life Food Tour
A comprehensive full-day food and culture experience covering KK's wet market, a visit to a local Kadazan-Dusun family home, hands-on cooking of traditional dishes, and lunch before an afternoon tasting at a Sabahan artisan food producer
Includes: Central wet market tour · Kadazan-Dusun home cooking experience · Hinava preparation · Artisan tapai rice wine tasting
Gaya Island Seafood Lunch by Speedboat
A speedboat trip to the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, combining snorkelling at Sapi Island with a fresh seafood lunch at a restaurant on Gaya Island before returning to KK in the afternoon
Includes: Island snorkelling · Ultra-fresh Gaya Island seafood · Marine park scenery · Return sunset boat ride
Tour formats
Different ways to experience Sabah's food scene.
Street food tours
Night market crawls at Sinsuran and Api-Api, and Gaya Street Sunday Market morning tours — ideal for budget-conscious foodies
Market tours
Wet market tours at KK Central Market and Kota Belud Tamu, focusing on indigenous produce, jungle herbs, and exotic ingredients
Restaurant tours
Guided tasting menus at OITOM (modern Bornean cuisine), Shang Palace (Cantonese), and Welcome Seafood Restaurant
Specialty tours
Tenom coffee tasting tours, Sabahan tapai rice wine experiences at cultural villages, durian season tours (June-August)
Cooking classes
Take a piece of Sabah home with you.
Sabahan Cooking Experience at Mari Mari Cultural Village
Learn traditional Kadazan-Dusun cooking techniques including bamboo cooking, preparing hinava (lime-cured raw fish), and cooking over open fire at the cultural village — part of the immersive village experience
KK Cooking Class with Local Chef
Market visit followed by hands-on cooking class preparing 4 Sabahan dishes — Tuaran mee, hinava, ayam pansoh (bamboo chicken), and bubur sumsum rice dessert — with a local chef in a home kitchen setting
Sabahan Seafood Masterclass
Visit the fish market, select fresh seafood, and learn to prepare Sabahan-style butter prawns, Kam Hiong crab, and sambal ikan bakar (grilled fish with sambal) under guidance of a local seafood chef
DIY self-guided food tour
Create your own KK food experience following this neighbourhood tour route over an entire day
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1
Stop 1 (6:30 AM): Kedai Kopi Yee Fung on Jalan Pantai for curry laksa and Tenom coffee breakfast
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2
Stop 2 (8:00 AM): Gaya Street Sunday Market for indigenous produce, local snacks, and exotic tropical fruits (Sundays only)
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3
Stop 3 (10:30 AM): Kota Kinabalu Handicraft Market for browsing and picking up local food souvenirs (Tenom coffee, bambangan pickle, jungle honey)
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4
Stop 4 (12:30 PM): Welcome Seafood Restaurant at Asia City for Kam Hiong crab and butter prawns lunch
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5
Stop 5 (3:00 PM): Black Bean Coffee Company for specialty Sabah coffee and local kuih (cake) afternoon break
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6
Stop 6 (5:30 PM): Tanjung Aru for sunset watching with grilled corn and satay from beach stalls
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7
Stop 7 (7:00 PM): Sinsuran Night Market for fresh grilled seafood dinner under the stars
Foodie tips
Get more out of every meal.
The best curry laksa in KK is at Kedai Kopi Yee Fung — arrive before 9 AM to avoid selling out
Tuaran Mee is most authentic at its source — drive 45 minutes to Tuaran town for the original version
Hinava (Sabahan ceviche) is freshest and best at Kadazan-Dusun cultural events and restaurants around Kampung Air
Tenom robusta coffee is Sabah's unique contribution to Malaysian coffee culture — try it at Black Bean Coffee Company
June to August is durian season — try the locally prized Sabah durian varieties at night markets (Musang King is widely available too)
The Kota Belud Tamu (Sunday market) has the best selection of jungle honey, wild herbs, and indigenous food products
Fresh seafood prices at Sinsuran Night Market are per 100g — agree the total before ordering
Street food stalls are busiest (and freshest) between 7-9 PM on weekday evenings