Best Restaurants in Sabah 2026

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.

Sabah's cuisine is a remarkable blend of Malay, Chinese, and indigenous Kadazan-Dusun, Bajau, and Murut flavours, shaped by over 40 ethnic groups and exceptional access to fresh seafood. The state's proximity to the sea makes fresh fish, crab, and prawns central to the dining culture, while the interior communities contribute distinctive jungle vegetables, wild ferns, and indigenous fermented flavours. Signature Sabahan dishes — Tuaran mee, hinava ceviche, ngiu chap beef noodle soup, and bosou fermented bambangan — are unique to this state and cannot be found elsewhere in Malaysia.