Sabahan Chinese · noodles
Sang Nyuk Mee
Also called: Sang nyuk mian, 生肉面, Sabah pork noodles
Sang nyuk mee is a Sabah pork noodle dish: noodles with marinated sliced pork and a pork-bone broth, served either as a soup or dry with dark soy and the broth on the side. It was first made in Tawau.
- Savoury
- Porky
- Rich
Updated
| Origin | Tawau, East Coast |
|---|---|
| Community | Sabahan Chinese |
| Type | noodles |
| Flavour | Savoury, Porky, Rich |
| Typical price | Varies by shop; not yet verified |
| Where | Tawau, Kota Kinabalu |
Origin and culture
Sources date sang nyuk mee to Tawau in 1979. It has since spread across Sabah, where Chinese coffee shops from Kota Kinabalu to Tawau serve it, and Sabahans treat it as a dish of their own rather than West Malaysia's mixed pork noodle.
The name is Hakka and means 'raw meat' or 'raw pork noodles'. The pork is not served raw: it is cooked before it reaches the bowl.
Ingredients
Marinated sliced pork
Pork-bone broth
Simmered from pork bones
Pork lard
Rendered; some diners ask for extra
Noodles
Pork meatballs and offal, such as liver
Often in the broth; you can ask for meat only
Dark soy sauce
For the dry (kon lau) version
What does Sang Nyuk Mee taste like?
A savoury pork broth with tender sliced pork. The dry version swaps the soup for noodles tossed in dark soy sauce and pork oil, with the broth in a separate bowl.
How Sang Nyuk Mee is made
- 1
Cooks prepare three parts: rendered pork lard, a simmered pork-bone broth and marinated sliced pork.
- 2
It is served as a noodle soup, or kon lau (dry): noodles tossed in dark sauce, with the pork and broth in a separate bowl.
Where to eat Sang Nyuk Mee
Chinese coffee shops across Sabah, including Kota Kinabalu and Tawau. We name specific shops only after an editor has visited them.
Is Sang Nyuk Mee halal? Dietary notes
Not halal: sang nyuk mee is built on pork, pork-bone broth and lard.
| Pork | Contains pork |
|---|---|
| Seafood | No seafood |
| Vegetarian | No |
Sang Nyuk Mee FAQ
What does sang nyuk mean?
It is Hakka for 'raw meat', so the dish is literally 'raw pork noodles'. The pork is cooked before it is served.
Is sang nyuk mee halal?
No. It is made with pork, a pork-bone broth and lard.
Should I order it as soup or dry?
Either. The soup version comes in one bowl; the dry version, kon lau, is noodles in dark sauce with the pork broth served separately.
Sources and further reading
- Sabah Pork Noodle (Sang Nyuk Mee), MySabah.com. Accessed 10 October 2026
- Sang nyuk mee, Wikipedia. Accessed 10 October 2026
- Sang Nyuk Mee (Sabah Pork Noodles), Sabahnites. Accessed 10 October 2026
- 10 Best Noodle Dishes In Sabah, TheSmartLocal Malaysia. Accessed 10 October 2026
Related dishes
Sabahan Chinese (Hakka)
Ngiu Chap
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.
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 Sang Nyuk Mee
Food guide
Sabah Noodles: Tuaran Mee, Ngiu Chap and the Other Bowls to Know
Fried egg noodles from Tuaran and Tamparuli, Beaufort's noodles in gravy, and two meaty noodle soups: what each is and how to order it.
Updated