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.
Must-try dishes
Iconic dishes that define Sabah.
Hinava
Raw fish cured in lime juice with ginger, shallots, bird's eye chilli, and bitter bambangan seed — Sabah's version of ceviche
Where to try: Kampung Air restaurants, Kadazan-Dusun festivals, Mari Mari Cultural Village
Price: $3-6
Tuaran Mee
Pan-fried hand-pulled egg noodles with char siu pork, eggs, and vegetables — unique to Tuaran town but served throughout Sabah
Where to try: Seng Hing Coffee Shop, Kedai Makan Kampung Nelayan (Tuaran)
Price: $2-4
Ngiu Chap
Sabahan-style beef noodle soup featuring slow-cooked beef brisket, tendons, and offal in a rich spiced broth — hearty and deeply satisfying
Where to try: Kedai Kopi stalls throughout KK and Sandakan
Price: $3-5
Kam Hiong Crab
Crab cooked in a rich, fragrant sauce of dried shrimp paste, lemongrass, chilli, and aromatic herbs — a Sabahan signature
Where to try: Welcome Seafood Restaurant, most Chinese seafood restaurants in KK
Price: $15-25
Bambangan Pickle
Wild jungle mango pickled with salt and fermented fish (bosou) — a tangy, pungent Kadazan-Dusun condiment served with rice
Where to try: Traditional Sabahan restaurants, Gaya Street Sunday Market
Price: $2-4
Top restaurants
Handpicked picks for the best dining experiences.
Welcome Seafood Restaurant
One of Kota Kinabalu's most beloved seafood institutions with over 8,000 Google reviews, famous for its signature Kam Hiong (fragrant garlic-chilli) crab and wet butter tiger prawns cooked in a rich, creamy sauce. Multiple branches across KK with lively open-air settings.
Known for: Signature Sabahan-style seafood with local spices
Kompleks Asia City, Jalan Asia City, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
OITOM
Sabah's most acclaimed fine dining restaurant and Tatler Dining Award winner, OITOM (pronounced 'EE-tom', meaning black in Kadazan-Dusun) serves a creative tasting menu inspired by Borneo's ingredients — wild ferns, smoked river fish, heirloom rice, and jungle herbs — prepared with Michelin-level technique.
Known for: One of Malaysia's top 100 restaurants — modern Bornean cuisine
Block F, 2nd Floor, Signature Office, KK Times Square Phase 2, Coastal Highway, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
Little Italy Restaurant
The oldest Italian restaurant in Sabah, a beloved institution at Hotel Capital with an extensive menu of 20 pasta sauces, authentic wood-fired pizzas, fresh pastas, and Italian antipasti. Consistently packed with expats and tourists seeking comfort food quality at reasonable prices.
Known for: Authentic Italian in the heart of Sabah since the 1980s
Hotel Capital, Jalan Haji Saman, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
Seng Hing Coffee Shop
A local institution serving traditional Sabahan breakfast and lunch dishes in a classic kopitiam (coffee shop) setting. Famous for its distinctive vermilion laksa and Tuaran mee — hand-pulled egg noodles with char siu pork, a uniquely Sabahan creation not found elsewhere in Malaysia.
Known for: Tuaran mee and Sabahan kopitiam breakfast
Taman Inanam Jaya, Inanam, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
Kedai Kopi Yee Fung
A 40-year-old Kota Kinabalu institution beloved for its rich curry laksa, a soul-warming coconut milk and spice broth loaded with tofu puffs, cockles, shrimp, and noodles. Lines form before opening — arrive early to secure a table at this celebrated local breakfast spot.
Known for: KK's best curry laksa — a 40-year institution
Jalan Pantai, Sinsuran, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
Fatt Kee Seafood Restaurant
A wallet-friendly local favourite known for its unusual fish noodle soup served in two distinct broths — tangy tomato base and fiery tom yam — with fresh seasonal fish, tofu, and vegetables. A great alternative to the touristy seafood restaurants without compromising on quality.
Known for: Fish noodle soup in dual broths — a local favourite
Jalan Raya, Taman Karamunsing, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
Sinsuran Night Market
Kota Kinabalu's most popular evening street food destination, where dozens of stalls line the Sinsuran area grilling fresh lobsters, tiger prawns, squid, stingray, and local fish to order. Extremely lively atmosphere with locals and tourists sharing outdoor tables under the stars.
Known for: Fresh grilled seafood at open-air stalls by the waterfront
Sinsuran Complex, Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
New Gaya Seafood Restaurant
Located 15 minutes from the city center in Inanam, New Gaya is where savvy locals go for fresh seafood at prices 30-40% below city center restaurants. The menu changes daily based on market availability, featuring Sabahan specialties like butter river prawns and claypot sea bass.
Known for: Fresh Sabahan seafood at local prices away from tourist areas
Inanam, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
Restaurants by cuisine
Browse picks grouped by cuisine type.
Chinese
Welcome Seafood Restaurant
Seng Hing Coffee Shop
Kedai Kopi Yee Fung
Fatt Kee Seafood Restaurant
New Gaya Seafood Restaurant
Luyang Restaurant
Upper Star Restaurant
Sim Sim Seafood Restaurant
Fat Cat Restaurant (Semporna)
Nam Kee Restaurant
Wonton Mee Stall (Gaya Street)
Sasa Seafood Restaurant
Seafood
Sinsuran Night Market
Restoran Kampung Nelayan Floating Seafood
Grab-A-Crab
Balin Restaurant (Sandakan)
Dragon Inn Floating Restaurant (Semporna)
Cantonese
Shang Palace
Kiat Lee Restaurant
Teck Kee Restaurant
Italian
Little Italy Restaurant
Laverandah Italian Restaurant
Gusto Food & Wine
American
The Chubs Grill
British Colonial
English Tea House & Restaurant
Cantonese Bakery & Dim Sum
Keng Wan Hing
Fusion
Enak KL (Kota Kinabalu Branch)
Hawker Centre Mixed
1 Borneo Hawker Centre
Indian
Sri Jaya Tandoori Restaurant
Malay
Sri Selera Restaurant
Malay Nasi Padang
Restoran Minang (Kudat)
Malay Street Food
Satay Ikan Api-Api Night Market
Malaysian Street Burgers
Burger Bakar Abang Burn (KK)
Mexican
El Centro
Modern Borneo
OITOM
Sabahan Kopitiam
Kedai Kopi Fajar
Sabahan Local
Kedai Makan Kampung Nelayan (Tuaran)
Traditional Sabahan
Restoran Sri Selera Kampung Air
Street food
Local flavours at affordable prices.
Satay
Grilled skewers of chicken or beef with peanut sauce and cucumber-onion relish, sold at night markets throughout KK
Find it at: Api-Api Night Market, Sinsuran area
Nasi Lemak
Coconut-steamed rice with sambal, fried anchovies, cucumber, and egg — the Malaysian national dish sold at KK morning stalls
Find it at: All kopitiam and morning markets
Char Kuey Teow
Wok-fried flat rice noodles with cockles, bean sprouts, chives, and soy sauce — often made with generous amounts of seafood in Sabah
Find it at: Night markets and hawker centres
Ambuyat
Sticky sago paste rolled around a bamboo fork and dipped into sour fish soup or sambal — the Murut staple unique to Borneo
Find it at: Mari Mari Cultural Village, traditional Murut restaurants
Pisang Goreng
Crispy battered deep-fried banana fritters served hot — the quintessential Malaysian afternoon snack
Find it at: Street stalls throughout Sabah
Cucur Udang
Crispy prawn fritters with chilli dipping sauce — a popular tea-time street snack in Sabah
Find it at: Night markets and roadside stalls
Food markets
Where locals shop and graze.
Gaya Street Sunday Market
KK's most famous weekly market with food stalls selling fresh produce, local snacks, and indigenous foodstuffs alongside crafts and clothing
Hours: 6:00 AM - 1:00 PM (Sundays only)
Sinsuran Night Market
Evening seafood market with grilled fresh catches; one of KK's must-visit dining experiences
Hours: 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Api-Api Night Market
Weekend Malay food market with satay, kuih, and Sabahan specialties
Hours: 6:00 PM - 11:00 PM (Fri-Sat)
Kota Belud Tamu
Sunday traditional market with indigenous produce, honey, jungle herbs, and local snacks from 42 ethnic groups
Hours: 6:00 AM - 1:00 PM (Sundays)
Sandakan Central Market
East coast's main fresh produce and fish market — best at dawn when fishing boats unload the day's catch
Hours: 5:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Dining etiquette & tips
Navigate the local food scene confidently.
Lunch is the main meal in Sabah — many restaurants offer better value sets at lunchtime
Fresh seafood prices are per 100g — always confirm the total before ordering live seafood
Kopitiam (coffee shops) open early from 6-7 AM and are best for budget breakfasts
Credit cards are accepted at restaurants in hotels and malls; many local eateries are cash-only
Tipping is not customary in Sabah but appreciated for exceptional service (5-10%)
- Vegetarian
- Limited vegetarian options outside Chinese vegetarian restaurants; always specify 'no meat' clearly as dishes may contain hidden seafood or meat stocks
- Halal
- Most Malay and Indian restaurants are halal; Chinese restaurants may serve pork; look for the JAKIM halal certification
- Gluten free
- Rice-based dishes are naturally gluten-free; soy sauce contains gluten — specify allergies when ordering noodle dishes
Food budget guide
What to expect at different price points.
| Level | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | $3-6 per meal | Kopitiam, hawker centres, and night market stalls serving local dishes |
| Mid-range | $12-25 per meal | Chinese seafood restaurants and casual international dining |
| Upscale | $50+ per meal | Fine dining at OITOM, Shang Palace, or hotel restaurants |