Plan a food trip through Sabah
Sabah mixes seafood, highland air and island hops. In Kota Kinabalu, chase Sabah laksa, ngau chap and Beaufort mee, then grilled seafood at the night market and Chinese seafood by the waterfront. Gaya Street Sunday Market fills a morning before sunset at Pantai Tanjung Aru or a boat out to Pulau Manukan. Inland, Taman Kinabalu (Kinabalu Park) and Poring Hot Spring cool you down after the climb. Sandakan opens Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, with more seafood toward Semporna and Pulau Mabul.
Places below come from our own research using public map data. Opening hours and details change, so please check before you go.
Kota Kinabalu
Fook Yuen
Gaya Street · Kopitiam and bakery · $
Fook Yuen, a busy coffee shop on Gaya Street for kopi, toast and buns. An easy start to a city-centre morning.
Checked by Foodpace on 2026-10-18. Details can still change.
Photo: Bahnfrend, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)Gaya Street Sunday Market
Gaya Street · Sunday market snacks · $
Gaya Street Sunday Market, the weekly street market running Sunday mornings per OSM. Snacks, fruit, crafts and plants along the old town street.
Checked by Foodpace on 2026-10-18. Details can still change.
Howdy Grillhouse
Jesselton Quay (Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens) · American grill · $$
American grillhouse at Jesselton Quay, a few minutes on foot from the Jesselton Point ferry terminal. Beef, burgers and chicken per OSM, open from 11:00 daily, so it suits lunch straight off the island boat. OSM tags it as not halal.
From public sources and not yet checked by us, so details may have changed.
Kah Hiong Ngau Chap
Jalan Lintas (Luyang) · Ngau chap (beef noodles) · $
Kah Hiong Ngau Chap in Luyang, for Sabah-style ngau chap: mixed beef noodle soup. Open mornings to mid-afternoon per OSM.
From public sources and not yet checked by us, so details may have changed.
Living Seed
Waterfront (Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens) · Vegetarian · $
Vegetarian restaurant (翠园素食馆) on the city side of the waterfront, a short walk from Jesselton Point. Fully vegetarian per OSM and open 10:00 to 22:00 daily, a good meat-free lunch after the islands.
From public sources and not yet checked by us, so details may have changed.
Restaurant Beaufort
Lorong Bunga Inai · Beaufort mee · $
Restaurant Beaufort, named for Beaufort mee, the thick fried noodles in gravy from the Sabah town of the same name. Mornings only, closed Mondays per OSM.
Checked by Foodpace on 2026-10-18. Details can still change.
Satay Jawi
City centre (Jalan K.K. Bypass) · Indonesian / satay · $
Indonesian restaurant in the city centre, named for satay, under a kilometre from Jesselton Point. Open 11:30 to 22:30 daily per OSM, so lunch and dinner both work.
From public sources and not yet checked by us, so details may have changed.
Tapak Pasar Malam (Night Market)
Waterfront (Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens) · Night market grilled seafood · $
The waterfront night market area beside the fruit market, where grills fire up seafood and satay after dark. A lively first-night stop.
Checked by Foodpace on 2026-10-18. Details can still change.
Yee Fung Laksa
Gaya Street · Sabah laksa · $
Kedai Kopi Yee Fung on Gaya Street, one of the best-known names for laksa in Kota Kinabalu. Rich, creamy laksa for breakfast or lunch; closes mid-afternoon.
Checked by Foodpace on 2026-10-18. Details can still change.
Yu Kee Bak Kut Teh
Gaya Street · Bak kut teh · $$
Yu Kee Bak Kut Teh on Gaya Street, an evening stop for herbal pork rib soup with rice. Open late afternoon into the night per OSM.
Checked by Foodpace on 2026-10-18. Details can still change.
Welcome Seafood Restaurant
Kampung Air · Chinese seafood · $$
Welcome Seafood Restaurant in Kampung Air, a big live-seafood hall. Choose from the tanks and share; open noon to midnight per OSM.
Checked by Foodpace on 2026-10-18. Details can still change.
Photo: Ahmad Ali Karim, CC0Kota Kinabalu City Mosque
Likas · Culture & heritage · $
Kota Kinabalu City Mosque, the 'floating mosque' on its own lagoon at Likas Bay. Best at sunset; check visiting and dress rules.
From public sources and not yet checked by us, so details may have changed.
Pantai Tanjung Aru
Tanjung Aru · Sights & nature · $
Tanjung Aru beach, Kota Kinabalu's sunset beach with food stalls under the casuarinas. Come at golden hour.
From public sources and not yet checked by us, so details may have changed.
Pulau Manukan
Tunku Abdul Rahman Park · Sights & nature · $$
Pulau Manukan in Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, a short boat ride from the city jetty. Clear water, snorkelling and beach time; park fees apply.
From public sources and not yet checked by us, so details may have changed.
Sabah State Museum & Heritage Village
Bukit Istana Lama · Culture & heritage · $
Sabah State Museum & Heritage Village, covering Sabah's peoples, history and nature, with traditional houses in the grounds. Open daily per OSM.
From public sources and not yet checked by us, so details may have changed.
Signal Hill Observatory Tower
Signal Hill · Sights & nature · $
Signal Hill Observatory Tower above the city centre, for views over the town and islands. Good at dusk.
From public sources and not yet checked by us, so details may have changed.
.jpg){kind=link}
Sandakan
Kedai Kopi Yick Fung 益豊城
Batu 6 (Jalan Dataran BU 3) · Kopitiam · $
Kedai Kopi Yick Fung, a Sandakan coffee shop open from 6am to 6pm per OSM. Kopi and noodles before heading to Sepilok.
Checked by Foodpace on 2026-10-18. Details can still change.
Soto and Laksa House
Lorong Prima · Soto and laksa · $
Soto and Laksa House at Bandar Prima in Sandakan, open early to early afternoon and closed Tuesdays per OSM. Warming noodle soups.
Checked by Foodpace on 2026-10-18. Details can still change.
Sim Sim Seafood
Sim Sim · Seafood · $$
Sim Sim Seafood by the Sim Sim water village in Sandakan. Fresh seafood over the water.
From public sources and not yet checked by us, so details may have changed.
Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre
Sepilok · Sights & nature · $$
Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, right next to the orangutan centre in Sepilok. Viewing platforms over the bears' forest; open daily per OSM.
From public sources and not yet checked by us, so details may have changed.
Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, CC BY-SA 3.0 (resized)Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre
Sepilok · Sights & nature · $$
Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, where rescued orangutans come to the feeding platform in the forest. Open morning and afternoon sessions per OSM.
From public sources and not yet checked by us, so details may have changed.
Rumah Agnes Keith
Bandar Sandakan (Jalan Istana) · Culture & heritage · $
Agnes Keith House, the restored colonial home of the writer Agnes Keith, overlooking Sandakan bay. Open daily per OSM.
From public sources and not yet checked by us, so details may have changed.
Kinabalu & Kundasang
Ranau Hakka Food Court
Pekan Ranau (Jalan Tambunan-Ranau) · Hakka food court · $
Ranau Hakka Food Court in Ranau town, below the Kundasang highlands. A simple meal stop on the Kinabalu road.
Checked by Foodpace on 2026-10-18. Details can still change.
Photo: Mike Prince, CC BY 2.0 (resized)Taman Kinabalu
Kinabalu Park · Sights & nature · $$
Kinabalu Park, the UNESCO World Heritage park around Mount Kinabalu. Garden trails and cool mountain air at the headquarters area; the summit climb needs permits booked ahead.
From public sources and not yet checked by us, so details may have changed.
Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, CC BY-SA 3.0 (resized)Kundasang War Memorial
Kampung Lembah Permai (Jalan Kundasang) · Culture & heritage · $
Kundasang War Memorial, gardens honouring the prisoners of the Sandakan death marches, with Kinabalu views. Open daily per OSM.
From public sources and not yet checked by us, so details may have changed.
Poring Hot Spring
Poring · Relax · $
Poring Hot Springs on the Kinabalu Park side near Ranau, for a warm soak in open-air tubs after a hike.
From public sources and not yet checked by us, so details may have changed.
.jpg){kind=link}
Semporna
Sukhothai Seafood Restaurant
Semporna (Jalan Causeway) · Seafood · $$
Sukhothai Seafood Restaurant in Semporna town, a seafood stop before or after the island boats.
From public sources and not yet checked by us, so details may have changed.
Photo: johnjodeery, CC BY 2.0 (resized)Pulau Mabul
Pulau Mabul · Sights & nature · $$$
Pulau Mabul off Semporna, a diving and snorkelling island close to Sipadan. Trips run through licensed operators from Semporna.
From public sources and not yet checked by us, so details may have changed.
Where to base yourself
Areas, not hotels. Price bands are a rough guide only.
- Kota Kinabalu city centre (Gaya Street / waterfront) area · $$
Walk to Gaya Street, the night market and the island jetty. - Kundasang / Kinabalu Park area · $$
Cool highland base near Kinabalu Park, the war memorial and dairy farms. - Sandakan town area · $$
Town base for Sepilok wildlife centres, seafood and heritage sites. - Semporna town area · $$
Jumping-off town for Mabul and the Semporna islands.
We may earn a small commission if you book through these links, at no extra cost to you.
More food trips
Johor · Melaka · Negeri Sembilan · Kuala Lumpur · Selangor · Putrajaya · Pahang · Penang · Perak · Kedah · Perlis · Kelantan · Terengganu · Sarawak · Labuan · Singapore