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Sabahan Chinese (Hakka) · noodles

Tuaran Mee

Also called: Mee Tuaran, Mi Tuaran, 斗亚兰面

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.

  • Smoky
  • Savoury
  • Springy
  • Rich

Updated

Tuaran mee: fried egg noodles with char siu, egg and greens in a takeaway box
Tuaran Mee quick facts
OriginTuaran, West Coast
CommunitySabahan Chinese (Hakka)
Typenoodles
FlavourSmoky, Savoury, Springy, Rich
Typical priceRM9–16 per plate
WhereTuaran, Kota Kinabalu

Origin and culture

Tuaran mee takes its name from Tuaran town, where noodle makers produce a distinctive egg noodle that is first blanched and then fried at high heat. Many Sabahans treat it as the state's signature noodle and drive out from Kota Kinabalu to eat it at the source.

It is commonly served with chun kien, a Hakka-style egg roll, along with char siu and greens.

Tamparuli, a town in the same Tuaran district on the road towards Mount Kinabalu, has its own version, Tamparuli mee. Malay Mail describes its noodles as perhaps rounder and slightly larger, and MySabah as springier with a stronger egg aroma, but both list the same char siu, chun kien and egg on top, and Malay Mail notes the two are hard to tell apart.

Ingredients

  • Fresh egg noodles

    Made with a high proportion of egg

  • Char siu

    Barbecued pork; chicken in some shops

  • Choy sum or other greens

  • Egg roll (chun kien)

  • Soy sauce, garlic, lard or oil

What does Tuaran Mee taste like?

Wok smoke and egg-rich noodles with some crisp edges, savoury but not saucy, finished with sweet char siu and a crunchy green.

How Tuaran Mee is made

  1. 1

    The noodles are loosened and fried over very high heat with little liquid, so they char lightly and stay springy instead of turning soft.

  2. 2

    Greens are tossed through at the end, and the plate is topped with sliced char siu and egg roll.

Where to eat Tuaran Mee

Noodle shops in Tuaran town and many coffee shops across Kota Kinabalu. Look for shops that make their own noodles.

Restaurants serving Tuaran Mee

  • Tuaran mee with char siu in a takeaway boxKopitiam

    Kota Kinabalu · Sinsuran, city centre

    Seng Hing Coffee Shop

    Sources mention: Tuaran mee fried with lihing, Seafood tom yam noodles

    ChineseSabah LocalNon-halal
    Researched from 3 sources · not yet visitedBudget (under RM20 per person)
  • Tuaran mee with char siu and greensKopitiam

    Tuaran · Jalan Keogh, Tuaran town

    Restoran Lok Kyun

    Sources mention: Tuaran mee with char siew, Egg rolls

    ChineseSabah LocalNon-halal
    Researched from 3 sources · not yet visited
  • Fried Tuaran egg noodles with char siuKopitiam

    Tuaran · Jalan Lama Tuaran, Tuaran town

    Tuaran Mee Restoran

    Sources mention: Fried Tuaran mee, Kon lau mee

    ChineseSabah LocalNon-halal
    Researched from 2 sources · not yet visitedBudget (under RM20 per person)
  • Mount Kinabalu above a roadside in Mesilou, KundasangRestaurant

    Kundasang · Kundasang town

    Restoran Syah Adilah

    Sources mention: Mee Tuaran goreng, Butter sotong

    MalayChineseStatus unconfirmed
    Researched from 2 sources · not yet visited
  • The green Ranau plain and hillsFood court

    Ranau · Jalan Ranau–Tambunan

    Ranau Hakka Food Court

    Sources mention: Tuaran mee with char siew, Hakka yong tau foo

    ChineseMalayNon-halal
    Researched from 2 sources · not yet visited

Is Tuaran Mee halal? Dietary notes

Classic Tuaran mee uses char siu (pork) and is usually not halal. Some halal and Muslim-friendly shops make a chicken version. Check the shop's status rather than the dish name.

Tuaran Mee dietary information
PorkDepends on the version
SeafoodDepends on the version
VegetarianNo

Tuaran Mee FAQ

Is Tuaran mee halal?

Usually not. The traditional version includes char siu (barbecued pork) and is cooked in non-halal kitchens. Some Muslim-friendly shops serve a chicken version.

What makes Tuaran mee different from other fried noodles?

The egg-rich noodles are made in Tuaran and fried hard over high heat with little sauce, which leaves them springy with slightly crisp edges.

What is the difference between Tuaran mee and Tamparuli mee?

Very little. Tamparuli mee comes from Tamparuli, a town in the Tuaran district, and has the same char siu, egg roll and egg toppings. Malay Mail describes its noodles as perhaps rounder and slightly larger; MySabah finds them springier and more eggy. Tuaran mee is the better-known name.

Sources and further reading

Related dishes

  • Beaufort mee: egg noodles in glossy gravy with char siu, chicken and greens

    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.

  • Ngiu chap: a bowl of beef noodle soup with sliced beef, tendon and beef balls

    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.

Guides and trips with Tuaran Mee