Sabahan Chinese (Hakka) · noodles
Ngiu Chap
Also called: Ngau chap, 牛什, Mixed beef noodles
Ngiu chap ('mixed beef' in Hakka) is a Kota Kinabalu beef noodle soup with brisket, tendon, tripe and beef balls in a spiced broth, served with noodles either in the soup or dry on the side.
- Rich
- Beefy
- Warming
- Spiced
Updated
| Origin | Kota Kinabalu and Penampang |
|---|---|
| Community | Sabahan Chinese (Hakka) |
| Type | noodles |
| Flavour | Rich, Beefy, Warming, Spiced |
| Typical price | RM10–20 per bowl |
| Where | Kota Kinabalu, Penampang |
Origin and culture
Ngiu chap is a Hakka-Chinese dish that became a Kota Kinabalu breakfast and lunch staple. Several long-running shops in the city are known for nothing else.
Diners choose which cuts they want, from lean slices to tendon and offal, and whether the noodles come in the soup or dry with sauce and a bowl of broth on the side.
Ingredients
Beef brisket and sliced beef
Tendon, tripe and other offal
Optional, by request
Beef balls
Beef bone broth with spices
Star anise and other warm spices
Noodles
Rice vermicelli, flat rice noodles or egg noodles
Chilli sauce and lime on the side
What does Ngiu Chap taste like?
Deep beef broth with warm spices, soft brisket, chewy tendon and a sharp chilli dip to cut through it.
How Ngiu Chap is made
- 1
Bones and cuts are simmered for hours to make a rich stock.
- 2
Each bowl is assembled to order with the diner's choice of cuts and noodles, then finished with hot broth, spring onion and fried garlic.
Where to eat Ngiu Chap
Specialist ngiu chap shops in central Kota Kinabalu and suburbs such as Luyang and Penampang.
Restaurants serving Ngiu Chap
- Kopitiam
Kota Kinabalu · Lorong Perindustrian
Yii Siang Hainan Ngiu Chap
Sources mention: Ngiu chap with mixed cuts, Ngiu chap laksa
ChineseSabah LocalStatus unconfirmedResearched from 2 sources · not yet visitedBudget (under RM20 per person)
Is Ngiu Chap halal? Dietary notes
Ngiu chap contains no pork, but most shops are Chinese-run and not halal certified. Pork-free does not mean halal. Look for a certificate if halal matters to you.
| Pork | No pork |
|---|---|
| Seafood | No seafood |
| Beef | Contains beef |
| Vegetarian | No |
Ngiu Chap FAQ
What does ngiu chap mean?
Ngiu chap means 'mixed beef' in Hakka, referring to the mix of beef cuts and offal in each bowl.
Is ngiu chap halal?
It is usually pork-free because it is a beef dish, but most ngiu chap shops are not halal certified. Muslim diners should check for certification.
Should I order ngiu chap dry or soup?
Both are common. Soup puts the noodles in the broth. Dry tosses them in sauce and serves the broth separately, which keeps the noodles firmer.
Sources and further reading
- Ngiu chap, Wikipedia. Accessed 6 October 2026
Related dishes
Sabahan Chinese (Hakka)
Tuaran Mee
Tuaran mee is a Sabah noodle dish of hand-made egg noodles fried hard in a wok until springy and slightly crisp, served with char siu, choy sum and egg roll. It comes from the town of Tuaran, north of Kota Kinabalu.
Sabahan Chinese
Beaufort Mee
Beaufort mee is a 'wet' fried noodle from the town of Beaufort in south-west Sabah: springy egg noodles tossed in a hot wok, then finished in a garlicky gravy with char siu or chicken and crunchy greens.
Guides and trips with Ngiu Chap
Food guide
Best Food in Kota Kinabalu: What to Eat and Where
The dishes worth planning a KK trip around, from ngiu chap breakfasts to Kadazan-Dusun lunches and seafood by the kilo, and how to fit them into a day.
Updated
Food guide
Best Breakfast in Kota Kinabalu
Where and what KK eats before 10am: beef noodles, fried egg noodles, kaya toast, kuih and kopi.
Updated
Food guide
Sabah Traditional Food: 10 Dishes to Know
A field guide to Sabah's traditional dishes, from hinava and pinasakan to tuhau, linopot and latok: what they are, how they taste and where to eat them.
Updated
- 3-day plan
Food & travel
Kota Kinabalu Food Itinerary: 3 Days of Eating
Three days in and around KK: city noodles, a Kadazan-Dusun day in Penampang, and a Tuaran noodle run.