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Where to eat

Where to eat in Sabah

Sabah is the size of a small country, and each town has its own signature plate. Choose a place to see what to order, where locals eat and what's nearby.

South China SeaSulu SeaCelebes SeaKota KinabaluSandakanTawauSempornaTuaranPenampangKundasangRanauBeaufortLahad DatuKudatKeningau

Schematic map, not to scale. Select a town to see where to eat.

West Coast Division

  • Kota Kinabalu City Mosque under an evening sky

    West Coast

    Kota Kinabalu

    Sabah's capital and its busiest place to eat, from coffee-shop ngiu chap to seafood by the kilo.

  • Fresh vegetables laid out on a stall at the Tuaran tamu market

    West Coast

    Tuaran

    The home of Tuaran mee, the springy egg noodle that Sabahans drive out of the city for.

  • The entrance gate to Hongkod Koisaan, the KDCA cultural grounds in Penampang

    West Coast

    Penampang

    The Kadazan heartland next to KK, and the easiest place to try hinava, pinasakan and tuhau.

  • Mount Kinabalu above the roadside in Mesilou, Kundasang

    West Coast

    Kundasang

    Cool-climate highland town under Mount Kinabalu, known for vegetables, dairy and warming food.

  • The green Ranau plain with farm plots and a granite peak on the horizon

    West Coast

    Ranau

    A farming town below Kinabalu with a weekly tamu, tea gardens and Dusun home cooking.

Interior Division

  • A steel bridge over a broad brown river beside a small town, evoking Beaufort on the Padas

    Interior

    Beaufort

    A river town on the Padas, home of Beaufort mee and a stop for rafting trips.

  • A town in a green valley ringed by forested mountains, evoking Keningau

    Interior

    Keningau

    The interior's main town, with Murut and Dusun food traditions and a busy weekly market.

Kudat Division

  • A rocky headland meeting a turquoise sea, evoking the Tip of Borneo near Kudat

    Kudat

    Kudat

    Sabah's northern tip: Rungus longhouses, coconuts, honey and seafood by the South China Sea.

Sandakan Division

  • Old shophouse rooftops on a hillside above a wide bay, evoking Sandakan

    Sandakan

    Sandakan

    An east-coast port city known for seafood, dim sum breakfasts and old-school Cantonese cooking.

Tawau Division

  • A small town below forested hills with cocoa trees in front, evoking Tawau

    Tawau

    Tawau

    A cocoa-and-seafood town on the Indonesian border, with Bugis rice dishes and busy morning markets.

  • Stilt houses and painted Bajau boats on turquoise water, evoking Semporna

    Tawau

    Semporna

    A diving town where dinner is grilled fish, sea grapes and Bajau cooking by the water.

  • Lahad Datu town and Darvel Bay seen from above

    Tawau

    Lahad Datu

    An east-coast port and the gateway to Danum Valley, with seafood and simple Malay cooking.