Tag Archives: noodle

Seafood Noodles of Sabah

1) Mixed Fish Noodle (鱼杂)

Mixed Fish Noodle is the favourite seafood noodle of Sabah people, to enjoy different parts and serving styles of fish. For first timers, fresh or fried fillets, fish cake, fish chunks and fish ball are good start. Some foodies would go for the fishy parts such as fish head, fish skin and fish maw. For noodles, you can choose between the mee hoon (rice vermicelli) and yellow noodle (and kuey teow flat noodle). You may have your noodle served in broth or a separate bowl. For broth, you can pick the savoury and sour tomato soup, or the spicy and milky tom-yam soup (or hamcoi, salty vegetable in soup).

Mixed fish noodles in Tom-yam soup and tomato soup at Kedai Kopi How Kee (好记茶室)

I prefer vermicelli in soup because the thin noodle absorbs the rich seafood flavours well. By Malaysian standard, our tom-yam soup is not really hot. I had an American friend who insisted on trying tom-yam and his whole face turned red and sweaty, but he still liked it.

Fatt Kee Seafood Restaurant Hilltop (发记鱼杂专卖店)

Location (View Map): Lot 8, Ground Floor (Hilltop), 1-0-1, Kolam Centre Phase 3, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
Facebook: fattkeeseafoodrestaurant
Instagram: fattkee_hilltop88
Phone: +60 16-8104884
E-mail: fattkeelintas@gmail.com

Kedai Kopi How Kee (好记茶室)

Location (View Map): Lot 16, Jalan Bundusan, Beverly Hills Plaza, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
Phone: +60 88-416858

Mixed fish noodle is one of the must-try food of Sabah. Don’t touch the noodle or she will bite you.

Notung Kusan Cafe

Location (View Map): Kepayan (second junction after RTM), Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
Phone: +60 13-8781918

Kuo Man Restaurant (国民茶室)

Location (View Map): 5, Jalan Tuaran, Sunny Garden, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
Facebook (unofficial): Kuo-Man-Restaurant
Phone: +60 17-8111428

Kedai Kopi Wan Wan (旺旺茶室)

Location (View Map): Apartment Penampang Phase 1, Lot 24, HSK Industrial Centre, Jalan Bundusan, Kota Kinabalu
Facebook: Kedai Kopi Wan Wan 旺旺茶室
Phone: +60 88-716698
E-mail: wanwankopi@gmail.com

Mr. Fish Restaurant (鱼先生)

Location (View Map): Ground Floor Lot 13-0, Block C, Jalan Papar Baru, Kem Lok Kawi, Kota Kinabalu
Facebook: Mr.FishSabah
Phone: +60 16-8794300
E-mail: mrfishsabah@gmail.com

Kedai Kopi Tien Hwa (天华茶室)

Location (View Map): Jalan Milimewa Lama, Keningau, Sabah

2) Giant Grouper Noodle

Giant grouper is the king of grouper (known as Ikan Keratang in Malay, 龙趸 in Chinese). It can grow to a massive size of nearly 200 Kg, which spooks the scuba divers sometimes. Huge giant grouper is a highly sought-after seafood here. The flesh of giant grouper is firm and its head is packed with collagen. For gourmet seafood lovers, it’s the ultimate delicacy.

Giant grouper in a fish farm. The wild one can reach nearly 200 Kg in weight.

Sabah Keratang Sadong Jaya (沙巴龙趸专卖店)

Location (View Map): Block J, Sadong Jaya, 74, Lorong Karamunsing, Karamunsing, Kota Kinabalu
Facebook: SabahKeratangSadongJaya
Instagram: sabah.keratang
Phone: +60 14-3349986
E-mail: sabahkeratang@gmail.com

The fish head of giant grouper is rich in collagen

Kedai Makan Gembira (大家乐茶餐室)

Location (View Map): Lorong 4, Bandar Sri Perdana, Lahad Datu
Facebook: kedaimakangembira
Phone: +60 16-8314671

3) Crispy Noodle (海鲜香底米粉)

You won’t forget the mouthfeel of eating the fried crispy noodle mixed with juicy seafood gravy. The aromatic noodle sucks the rich seafood flavours and you can’t stop once you start. The big prawns and squid look so good, but the most important thing is they are fresh.

Empire Seafood Restaurant (傅贵林门海鲜餐厅)

Location (View Map): Block CC,Lot 174,Lorong Avenue 5,Bandar Utama., Sandakan, Malaysia
Facebook: empireseafoodrestaurant
Phone: +60 89-278359

Left: crispy seafood noodle, Right: seafood noodle with lihing (local wine)

4) Other Seafood Noodles

The following are more seafood noodles of Sabah for your tastebuds to explore.

a) Fish Paste Noodle

The noodle itself is made of fish paste. 100% fish noodle baby.

Kedai Kopi Makan Kong Teck (康德小食馆)

Location (View Map): Jalan Airport, Sandakan, Malaysia
Facebook: 康德小食馆－Restaurant Kong Teck
Phone: +60 16-8197396

Tom-yam soup (left) and dry (right) styles of fish paste noodles

b) Tomyam Seafood Noodle

You love big prawns served in spicy and creamy broth? I thank God every time I have this.

Seng Hing Restaurant (成兴茶餐室)

Location (View Map): Block G, Lot 10, Lorong Sinsuran 2, Sinsuran Kompleks, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
Facebook: Seng-Hing-restaurant
Phone: +60 19-8105255, +60 88-211594

Spicy tom-yam seafood noodle soup. The Sabah-style tom-yam soup is milky while the real Thailand tom-yam is clear soup.

Gaya Fish Noodle (加雅鱼面馆)

Location (View Map): Lot 129, Ground Floor Gaya Street, Kota Kinabalu
Facebook: Gaya Fish Noodle 加雅鱼面馆

c) Spring Noodle (弹弓面)

Spring noodle is a Chinese-style yellow noodle that is named for its dense and chewy texture. This noodle from Sandakan goes well with seafood broth.

Spring noodle of Sandakan with seafood broth

Kampung Pukat Fishboat Street Sandakan (渔船街)

Location (View Map): Lorong 5, Kampung Pukat, Tanah Merah, Jalan Leila, Bandar Nam Tung, Sandakan
Phone: +60 89-616510

Note: Though most, if not all the Chinese shops listed here don’t serve pork, they are not certified as Halal. Some Muslims feel ok to dine there, while some don’t, so decide at your own discretion.

Sandakan is a famous place for seafood feast. Left: a shop that sells seafood noodle. Right: Fishboat Street Sandakan (渔船街) at Kampung Pukat of Sandakan

Some of the shops accept online orders by Foodpanda or Grab Food, so you can avoid the long queue and have these seafood noodles delivered to your doorstep. Just a heads up, the seafood noodles by reputable shops are very likely sold out in the morning.

Photos taken in Sabah, Malaysia Borneo

Beaufort Mee (Beaufort Fried Noodle)

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Industrialization enables mass-production but it sacrifices the food quality. Luckily, some still hold the belief that human food is better made by human rather than factory machinery. That’s why food lovers really appreciate the handmade noodles from a few Sabah towns, for example, Tuaran Mee, Tamparuli Mee and Beaufort Mee (Mee means Noodle).

Beaufort Mee (Beaufort Fried Noodle, “保佛面” in Chinese) tastes really good though it’s less famous, so it deserves to be featured here.

Restoran Beaufort (保佛饭店)

Beaufort Mee is originated from Beaufort, a town nearly 100 KM from Kota Kinabalu (KK). Fortunately, you can find one of the best Beaufort Mee in KK. Restoran Beaufort (保佛饭店) is only 6 KM from KK and very popular for its Beaufort Mee (see Location Map).

Normally Beaufort Mee is best served hot in “wet fried” style and covered in thick gravy, with green vegetable and pork (usually meat slices and roasted pork slices). The noodle is soft and “juicy”, but not oily. Yes, it does taste better than ordinary noodle. The pork is smooth, sweet and tender.

You may notice that they put a lot of vegetable, so green that it might look less appetizing to carnivorous food lovers like me. But I must tell you that this vegetable is the “secret weapon” of Restoran Beaufort. It’s Chinese Mustard or Choy-Sim (菜心 in Chinese, Sawi Manis in Malay), the most commonly used vegetable for any type of noodles in Sabah.

However, they are using organic vegetable and it makes a big difference. It is fresh, sweet and crunchy! The owner told me that they appoint farmer to plan organic vegetable for them and it costs almost twice as expensive than the organic veg from Ranau.

Other restaurants in Kota Kinabalu City that serve good Beaufort Mee are New Foh Chuan (保佛新伙船) and KK Beaufort Restaurant.

Kedai Makan dan Minum Foh Chuan (老伙船面粥小馆)

Ok, you don’t mind driving 1.5 hours to Beaufort to try Beaufort Mee. You can ask any local in Beaufort, all of them will recommend Foh Chuan Restaurant (see Location Map).

Foh Chuan is just next to a mosque in Beaufort. The owner is Ah Hiong (阿雄) and Foh Chuan is the name of his father. His mobile phone number is +60 12 8392600 if you want more info.

Beaufort Mee Goreng Basah (Wet Fried Beaufort Noodle)

Foh Chuan is open daily (Mon-Sat: 7am-2:30pm, Sun: 7am-1pm). The shop closes earlier so they can make Beaufort Mee in the afternoon. I strongly advise you to visit this restaurant in early morning because their handmade Beaufort Mee is sold out fast. They only have factory-made noodle for latecomers, sad if you drive 1.5 hours for real Beaufort Mee. Sunday is not a good day too as they prepare less items that day.

Konlon Beaufort Mee (Dry Beaufort Noodle)

Besides Beaufort Mee, Foh Chuan serves other delicious food too, like the Fried Rice Noodle (see photo below). They purposely burn the roasted pork slices (焦叉烧 in Chinese) a bit so it tastes sweeter with stronger BBQ flavor.

Left: Fried mihun with slightly burnt cha-sao (Char siu). Right: Beef soup is great to go with your noodle

Food menu of Kedai Makan dan Minum Foh Chuan (prices as of Jan 2024)

You may check out other two Sabah noodles below:
Tuaran Mee (Tuaran Noodle) the golden noodle of Sabah
Tamparuli Mee (Tamparuli Fried Noodle)

Photos taken in Sabah, Malaysia Borneo

Mee Sup Kota Belud, the Noodle Soup from the Cowboy Town of Sabah

Best Mee Sup Kota Belud

The following are the recommended shops for Mee Sup KB, based on public reviews and rating.

1. Kota Belud Town

You can have the authentic Mee Sup KB in a few places of Kota Belud, for examples, the food stalls at Bazar Rakyat Kota Belud (Location Map) and Sunday Tamu Market (Location Map).

Left: one of the food stalls at Bazar Rakyat Kota Belud. Right: menu and price list of noodles

2. Mee Sup KB Ah Thong

Facebook: Mee Sup KB Ah Thong
Phone: +60 12-8239063
Location: 5.909942850793467, 116.1018139753375 (Donggongon, Penampang)

3. MG Corner Restaurant

Facebook: MG-Corner-Restaurant
Phone: +60 16-8366020
Location: 6.137608979075816, 116.27024009807108 (Tamparuli)

4. Real Mee Sup KB

Facebook: @realmeesupkb
Phone: +60 17-816 7428
Location: 5.986795024067851, 116.13059859807107 (Inanam Capital, Inanam)

Some of them may serve pork, so Muslim please check if it’s halal before ordering.

Photos taken in Sabah, Malaysia Borneo

Tuaran Mee (Tuaran Noodle) the gold noodle of Sabah

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If you ask Sabah people which delicacies are “Made in Sabah”, no doubt Tuaran Noodle (locally known as Tuaran Mee, 斗亚兰面 in Chinese), a traditional handmade egg noodle born in Tuaran town is on top of the list. Like Laksa to Penang, Kolo Mee to Sarawak, Tuaran Mee is the noodle representing Sabah state.

Tuaran Fried Noodle with slices of spring roll and cha-shao

Above is the picture of Tuaran Fried Noodle (Tuaran Mee Goreng). Tuaran Mee tastes best when it is fried and served hot with egg roll slices (春卷 in Chinese), roasted pork slices (or Cha-Shao, 叉烧 in Chinese) and local green vegetable. This golden-color noodle is rich with egg aroma. If prepared nicely, the noodle is crispy outside but soft inside.

Tuaran Mee can be cooked in different styles. Left: “Wet-fried” Tuaran Mee with gravy (湿炒). Right: Kon-Lau (Dry) Tuaran Mee (干捞)

When the food market nowadays is flooded with cheap and mediocre packed noodles, I do appreciate every bite of Tuaran Mee, which is created by people who insist on quality over quantity. Tuaran Mee is pure noodle, unlike those factory noodles consist of preservatives.

Tuaran fried noodle (Tuaran Mee Goreng) is over-fried a bit to make the noodle more crispy and springy

The repeated pounding in handmade process forms denser texture in the noodle. You will be surprised that Tuaran Mee can be stomach-filling even taken in small quantity.

Tuaran Mee served in different styles. The girl in the picture is Yuri Ishizeki, a Japanese Food Fighter. You can watch the video to see how she finished all the Tuaran Mee on the desk.

Besides fried noodle, Dried or “Konlau” (干捞 in Chinese) Tuaran Noodle (see photo above) is another popular way to enjoy Tuaran Mee. The cook first rinses the noodle in boiled soup until it turns soft, dry it and serve it in dark sauce. Personally I prefer the fried version.

Where to find the BEST Tuaran Mee?

Tuaran Mee costs about RM8 to RM10 (≈USD1.90 to USD2.30) a plate, and seafood flavours (with shrimps) is more expensive (RM12 or more). Based on the feedback, the No.1 favorite of locals is Tuaran Mee Restoran coffee shop in Tuaran town (see Location Map).

1. Tuaran Mee Restoran

Tel: +60 16-5849651
Opening Hours: 7am-2:30pm (closed every Monday)

Tuaran Mee Restoran in Tuaran. They also have a branch in Inanam

Tuaran Mee Restoran is named after Tuaran Mee, so you can assume that they are specialised in this noodle. This is evidenced by number of customers they have in shop. They must be doing very well because they also open a branch in Inanam (see Location Map).

Tuaran Fried Noodle of Tuaran Mee Restoran

2. Lok Kyun Restaurant (乐群酒家)

Ranked No.2 by locals are Restoran Lok Kyun, also located in Tuaran. It’s famous in Peninsular Malaysia because it was featured many times in TV such as Taste with Jason (阿贤), a popular food programme in AEC TV Channel.

Lok Kyun Restaurant (乐群酒家) is located in the middle of Tuaran town

Address: Shop No. 4, Block 8, Jalan Keogh, Tuaran, Sabah, Malaysia (see Location Map)
Tel: +60 88-788441 / +60 19-8518632
Opening Hours: Tue-Sun: 7am – 2:30pm (closed every Monday)
Though they also open in most public holiday, they close on major holidays such as Chinese New Year and Hari Raya.

Tuaran Mee by Lok Kyun Restaurant (乐群酒家)

Personally I love the ambience of having traditional food in an old kopitiam (coffee shop) in post-war wooden shoplot of Tuaran. They are not only good in Tuaran Mee. Their “Braised pork belly with taro” (芋头扣肉) and “Stuffed Beancurd” (酿豆腐) are also very famous.

3. Seng Hing Coffee Shop (成兴茶餐室)

Some of you may not want to drive 30 minutes to Tuaran town for the noodle. Luckily, you also can have Tuaran Mee in Kota Kinabalu city. One of the most recommended coffee shops for Tuaran Mee is Seng Hing Coffee Shop, which has over 40 years of history.

Seng Hing Coffee Shop (成兴茶餐室) is located in Sinsuran of Kota Kinabalu City Centre

Address: Block E, Lot 10, Sinsuran Complex, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia (see Location Map)
Tel: +60 88-211594 / +60 19-8105255
Opening Hours: 7am – 4pm daily

Tuaran Mee by Seng Hing Coffee Shop (成兴茶餐室)

This kopitiam fries their Tuaran Mee with a bit of Lihing (rice wine), which gives the noodle a very pleasing aroma. I used to have lunch there every day and they never disappoint me. Seng Hing Coffee Shop is also popular for its Tom Yam Seafood Noodle.

The food stalls in pasar (market) of Tuaran town also cook really good Tuaran Mee, which is always sold out in the morning

Please feel free to post your favorite restaurant in comment section here, if you know any other nice places for Tuaran Mee.

Photos taken in Tuaran, Sabah, Malaysia Borneo

What to Eat in Tenom

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As Tenom is a famous agriculture district, you can expect a lot of cuisines made from the fresh produces there. Besides online reviews, another way to discover best food and places to eat is by asking the locals. I’ve done the homework for those of you who plan for a gastronomic adventure in Tenom.

1. Corn-fed Chicken (包蜀鸡)

I didn’t realise that chicken can taste so good until I tried corn-fed chicken from Tenom. The meat is firm and bouncy, and the skin is more yellowish due to the diet. Unlike the overly thick fat found in farm chicken that feeds on cheap grains, the fat layer of corn-fed chicken is leaner. Another plus is they use older chicken, which has denser meat texture.

Corn / Maize Fed Chicken of Tenom served with oyster sauce

When asking the Tenom folks what’s the best restaurant to try corn-fed chicken, all of them answer Chi Hin Restaurant (志兴茶餐室) without hesitation. You can order chicken rice there for a taste of Tenom corn-fed chicken.

Yummy corn fed chicken meat of Tenom cooked with dark soy sauce.

Other Tenom’s delicacies such as spring rolls, meatballs and steamed pork belly are also sold at Chi Hin Restaurant (GPS: 5.122420835756874, 115.94213137109527, see Location Map) in Tenom town centre. However, Chi Hin keeps on changing their opening hours lately. Noon would be the best time to visit.

Chi Hin Restaurant (志兴茶餐室) is popular for the signature Tenom dishes such as spring rolls, meat balls, corn-fed chicken and steamed pork belly with taro.

2. Spring Rolls and Meatballs (丹南春卷肉丸)

Hakka Chinese style spring roll is roll of minced pork wrapped in a thin layer of egg crepe to seal the flavours. To make spring roll and meatball, the minced meat is beaten by clubs until it becomes paste with all the tastes unlocked in every cells. Spring roll slices and meat balls are always served together because they go well.

You can enjoy spring rolls and meat balls with or without noodle

Actually spring rolls and meatballs are commonly used in Chinese food in other parts of Sabah, but everyone seems to agree that the ones from Tenom taste the best. For a hearty Tenom-style breakfast, spring rolls and meatballs must be on your menu. They can be served in soup or with noodle (vermicelli or yellow noodle), or both. By the way, don’t forget the Tenom coffee too.

Iconic breakfast of Tenom: spring rolls and meat balls, noodle, stuffed tofu and Tenom coffee

I also love the soft and refined Tenom tofu (bean curd) stuffed with minced pork. Another merlot-coloured tofu shown in the picture above is made of swine blood. Blood tofu is not for everyone but it gives an interesting silky feel to your sinking teeth. In old days when food was scarce, all parts of pig are used and not wasted. Blood tofu is just one of the poor-man dishes invented that time.

Central Wet Market (Pasar Tenom) of Tenom. Besides fruits & vegetables, meats, seafood, and food stalls, there is a food court in top floor.

You can eat these (about RM7 per dish. Tofu is RM1.50 each) in top floor (Non-Halal section) of central wet market (Pasar Tenom, GPS: 5.121232020874259, 115.94220525139482, see Location Map) in the centre of Tenom town. The market opens as early as 5am. You’re better be there before 8am, or they would be sold out.

Top: soup with spring rolls, eggs and Sabah veges. Bottom: packed Tenom spring rolls are also available in supermarket outside Tenom town

3. Tenom Fried Noodle

For Tenom people, Tenom Fried Noodle is the taste of hometown. Slices of spring roll and roasted pork, choy sum and handmade yellow noodle are fried and tossed in a hot wok to bring out all the fragrance, and then soaked in aromatic eggy gravy. To many, this juicy wet noodle is more palatable than the typical oily and dry noodle. Eat it while it’s hot, so your nose can enjoy the pleasing smells too.

Tenom Fried Noodles by Lai Brother Cafe (left) and Foh Lee Baru Restaurant (right) in Tenom

Restoran New Foh Baru (GPS: 5.122695342082009, 115.94343031327064, see Location Map) and Lai Brother Cafe (GPS: 5.119417924215551, 115.94439726900632, see Location Map) can make very good Tenom fried noodle. Both restaurants are within walking distance from Tenom town centre.

Left: Foh Lee Baru Restaurant (新和利餐厅). Right: Lai Brother Cafe (赖氏兄弟茶餐厅) in Tenom town

Or you can try the economic Tenom noodle of Ah Li (阿立) stall at the corner of Pasar Tenom market (only open in early morning). You can order add-on such as fried egg and sausage if it’s too plain.

Economic Tenom noodles of Ah Li in Tenom wet market

4. Steamed Pork Belly with Taro (扣肉)

My mom is an expert in cooking this popular Hakka Chinese dish. She says it’s a pain to make because of its tedious and long cooking process that involves many steps and skills, from deep fry, cold bath, marination to steaming. Without good experience, the dish would taste terrible. That’s why most people are willing to pay nearly RM100 for a bowl.

Hakka Steamed Pork Belly with Taro (客家芋頭扣肉) is a favourite dish of many Sabah Chinese. At the right is the close-up shot of taro and pork slides.

Though starchy taro and oily pork belly are so different, they mix so well together like a happy marriage and become a bowl of well marinated pork belly and sweet taro that are so tender and aromatic. The belly fat turned into collagen fully absorbed with aroma of taro and various spices, and the sweetness of taro slices is enriched by the oil. For best result, the better graded pinang taro is preferred for its cake-like and buttery texture.

5. Tenom Coffee

Tenom Coffee is a household brand in Sabah, and a must-buy for tourists. Coffee from Tenom is mainly robusta breed, which has stronger taste and packs more caffeine. The best selling brands are Yit Foh, Fatt Choi and Tong Foh, all are sold in nice packaging in many shops of Sabah. It might be a cliché to say that you’ve never been to Tenom if you haven’t tried their coffee, but you really need that sip to complete your travel experience in this coffee town.

Tenom Coffee is the most popular coffee brand of Sabah. At the right is brewed coffee of Tenom Coffee Valley

To enjoy Tenom coffee to the fullest, I strongly recommend Tenom Coffee Valley located near the train station. Their barista will brew the coffee to take your appreciation of Tenom coffee to next level.

Left: Coffee bean statue in roundabout of Tenom town centre. Right: Tenom Coffee Valley cafe near the Tenom train station

6. Fruits

Blessed by cooling temperature of highland, most fruits and vegetables grow well in Tenom. Pomelo, a native fruit of Southeast Asia, is the No.1 fruit of Tenom and available throughout the year. Many hawkers are selling this bowling-sized fruit, which is rich in Vitamin C, antioxidant and sweet juice. When I was a child, I used to wore Pomelo skin hat for fun lol.

To see more variety of fruits in Tenom, the best time to visit is around the fruiting season in mid-year such as month of August. Do keep an eye for the huge avocado. They are selling like hotcakes. The creamy pulp of avocado is best served with condensed milk.

7. Other Sabah Food and Snacks

Local market is a great spot to explore different types of local food and to expand your acquired tastes. Besides Pasar Tenom, check out the tamu (local open-air market) behind Tenom Central Market every Wednesday and Sunday morning (6am-2pm). You can sample wide range of snacks, biscuits, pickles, cakes, fruits and crackers of Sabah, to name a few, banana fritters, satay, kuih cincin, Bambangan.

Some local food found in Tamu (open market) of Tenom town. Left: banana fritters with cheese (pisang cheese goreng). Right: Bambangan (pickled wild mango)

Photos taken in Tenom, Sabah, Malaysia Borneo

Nom Nom Nom at Mr. Fish Restaurant (鱼记海鲜小吃店)

1） Sandakan Fish Cake

To me, ordinary fish cake is so bland that I even think it’s a waste of space to put one into my steamboat buffet. Other seafood restaurant may offer better fish cake made of “tofu” fish, but the best one is the triangle-shaped Sandakan Fish Cake of Mr. Fish Restaurant. According to Eric, this high quality fish cake was mostly exported to Hong Kong in the past, so very few locals tried it.

Sandakan Fish Cake is triangle shape and has strong seafood flavor

The flavour of Sandakan Fish Cake is strong, almost like our favourite salty fish. The price is RM2.50 for three. It’s so tasty that I finished two really fast, then I regretted and ate the third one slowly.

Menu Board of Mr. Fish Restaurant. Some translation for your info: Ayam = Chicken, RM = Ringgit Malaysia (price in Malaysian currency), Watan Ho = Flat Rice Noodles in Egg Gravy, Tuaran Mee = Noodle of Tuaran town, Mee Goreng = Fried Noodle, Nasi Goreng = Fried Rice, Asam Pedas Kepala = Sour and Spicy Fish Head, Sup = Soup, Mihun = Rice vermicelli / noodle, Nasi = Rice, Kon Lon = Yellow noodle served dry, Biasa = Normal, Udang = Prawn, Kerapu = Grouper, Merah = Red Snapper, Ikan = Fish

2) Tom Yam Seafood Noodle

Tom Yam Seafood Noodle is a heavenly combination of seafood and spicy food if you love both. The soup is rich in seafood flavour, a bit to sweet side and not too hot. You can choose to have prawns, fish slices, or Sandakan fish cake in the soup.

Tom Yam noodle soup with Sandakan fish cake and prawns

For those who can’t take spicy food, you may try Tuaran Mee (Tuaran Fried Noodle), Watan Ho (flat noodle with gravy), Kon Lau (Dry noodle) with seafood. The prices range from RM10 to 18.

3) Stewed Fish Head (焖鱼头)

The real seafood lovers always go for fish head. In fact, I notice most customers at Mr. Fish Restaurant have Stewed Fish Head on their desks. I ordered one and to my suprise, it’s springy and meaty, probably due to the dense collagen. Stewed Fish Head (of grouper or snapper) is sold for RM25 to 30.

Another popular choice is Asam Pedas Fish Head, if you prefer sour and spicy fish head with aromatic curry flavour.

Stewed fish head is rich with natural collagen

4) Bottled Ice Coffee

I don’t know what’s wrong with the weather lately, it is so warm every day. A chilling iced coffee is just perfect. Do you know that iced coffee taste better overnight? FYI, only RM2.50 per bottle, Cheers!

5) Fried Fish Eggs

Fish eggs are not always available and the quantity is small. Don’t miss it when you are lucky. Fried Fish Eggs are sold for RM5 (small), RM10 (medium) and RM15 (large) per plate. It goes well with beer.

Fried fish eggs is only available occasionally with small quantity

Location and Contact of Mr. Fish Restaurant

Mr. Fish Restaurant is located in Lok Kawi, about 17 KM away from KK. I know you KK folks. Distance is not an issue when comes to delicious food.

Mr. Fish Restaurant (鱼记海鲜小吃店) is located in Lok Kawi

GPS Location: 5.837593562860821, 116.04375318067473 (see Location Map)
Opening Hours: 8:00am – 8:45pm daily
Phone & Whatsapp: +60 16-8794300
Facebook: Mr.FishSabah
E-mail: mrfishsabah@gmail.com
Address: Ground Floor Lot 13-0, Block C, Jalan Papar Baru, Kem Lok Kawi, 89600 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

The setting of Mr. Fish Restaurant is a typical open-air kopitiam (coffee shop)

Though they don’t serve pork, the restaurant is not certified as halal, so use your discretion in food consumption.

Photos taken in Kota Kinabalu City, Sabah, Malaysia

Sabah Pork Noodle (Sang Nyuk Mee)

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Locally known as Sang Nyuk Mee (生肉面 in Chinese), Pork Noodle is an icon food of Sabah. Malaysians from other states think Sang Nyuk Mee is same as Mixed Pork Noodle, but Sang Nyuk Mee is totally Sabah style. The meat slices are fresh, smooth and tender. Sang Nyuk Mee literally means Raw Pork Noodle. Don’t worry, the pork is not eaten raw. It actually means the meat is made of fresh raw meat.

Pic: Sang Nyuk Mee is the favorite lunch of Sabah people.

Sabahans are so attached with Sang Nyuk Mee that this noodle is always highlighted in popular videos of Sabah.

Pic: Sang Nyuk Mee makes its appearance in Sabah Hakka Style video.

Pic: Sabah’s Ip Man video, a character being made to mock government, wants to eat Sang Nyuk Mee, LOL (which implies we want to run government the Sabahan way).

Sang Nyuk Mee is “invented” in Tawau in 1979, and now it becomes so popular that you can find it everywhere in Sabah. One of the best Sang Nyuk Mee is sold at Kedai Kopi Jia Siang (家香生肉面 in Chinese), a Chinese coffee shop in Lintas Plaza, Kota Kinabalu.

Pic: the location of Jia Siang Coffee Shop (See Location Map).

Pic: Kedai Kopi Jia Siang is full of people even during non-peak hours.

You can have Sang Nyuk Mee in two styles, (1) Noodle Soup or (2) Kon Lau Mee (干捞 in Chinese) style. In Kon Lau Mee style, noodles are served in separate bowl and mixed in aromatic dark soy sauce and pork oil, together with another bowl of tasty pork broth with pork slices, meatballs and internal organs (e.g. liver, intestines).

Kon Lau Mee is the standard style, so I order one (as shown in photo above). You may choose Mee Hong (rice noodle, which is white and thinner) if you think yellow noodle is too heavy.

Pic: Sang Nyuk Mee in Noodle Soup style (photo taken in other restaurant)

Pic: staff busy preparing Sang Nyuk Mee. My order arrived in minutes.

Pic: the noodle looks shiny with pork oil and dark soy sauce.

You need to stir the noodle so it mixes evenly with the dark sauce at bottom.

The Pork soup is the best part. The taste is deep and satisfying. Pork slices, meatballs and livers are given in soup by default. If you are not used to internal organ, you can ask for meat-only soup. They season the meat with tapioca powder & meat tenderizer, to give it extra smoothness and softness. Usually they use the slim meat at the rib section on the back of boar. The floating minced and crispy pork fat enhances the taste too.

Pic: Pork Noodle (Kon Lau style)

Sang Nyuk Mee is quite oily so it’s great as a delicious stomach filler for your breakfast or lunch. For chili lover, you can add the homemade blended chili of the coffee shop for spicy flavor.

Pic: Tofu with minced pork stuffing, RM1.20 (≈USD0.40) per piece, is a nice side order to complement Sang Nyuk Mee.

Menu and prices of Sang Nyuk Mee (Click to Zoom in). *Prices as of Feb 2016

The standard Sang Nyuk Mee is RM7.50 (≈USD2.15). You may click the food menu above to see other variety and side dishes.

Pic: happy staffs who serve good noodle that makes customers happy.

Below is the contact of the coffee shop if you want to try their pork noodle:
Coffee Shop: Kedai Kopi Jia Siang (家香生肉面)
Address: Lot 1-0, Ground Floor, Lorong 3, Lintas Plaza Ring Road, 88300 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. (See Location Map)
Facebook: @JiaSiangSangNyukMee
Mobile Phone: +60198435636
Opening Hours: 8:30am-2:00am daily (only close on Hari Raya holiday)

Pic: Pork Noodle of Sinsuran Sang Nyuk Mee
Sinsuran Sang Nyuk Mee (Chinese Name: 新苏兰生肉面), just two blocks away from Kedai Kopi Jia Siang, also serves excellent pork noodle. Below is their info & contact:
Address: Lot 19-0, Lintas Plaza 1, Lintas Plaza, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia (see Location Map)
Tel: +60 16 832-5656 (Mr. Ng)
Opening Hours: 6:30am – 4:30pm daily

Do you love Sang Nyuk Mee as much as I do? 🙂 Please tell me your favorite coffee shop for Sang Nyuk Mee in Comment section.

Photos taken in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia Borneo

Ngiu Chap (Mixed Beef) of Kedai Kopi Loi Hin (来兴茶室)

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Do remember the name Ngiu Chap, if you want to have “a taste of Sabah”. Literally Ngiu Chap means “Mixed Beef” (牛杂 in Chinese), which is a mix of beef slices, tendon, tripe, meat ball, liver and tongue cooked in yummy beef broth. Usually we eat it with Mee (yellow noodle) or Mee Hoon (rice noodle).

There are many Sabah restaurants serving Ngiu Chap. Personally I recommend Kedai Kopi Loi Hin (来兴茶室 in Chinese) in Donggongon town, about 10 KM away from Kota Kinabalu city (KK). Loi Hin has been making one of the best Ngiu Chap in Sabah for over 40 years.

Pic: Kedai Kopi Loi Hin (来兴茶室), “Kedai Kopi” means Coffee Shop.

Kedai Kopi Loi Hin is listed as one of the “100 Best Kopitiam of Malaysia” published by Tourism Malaysia. (Kopitiam means Coffee Shop)

Loi Hin is open from 7am to 3pm daily, and it’s always full during meal time.

Pic: worker preparing Ngiu Chap

Pic: Ngiu Chap served in different style. Most people order Ngiu Chap Mee (yellow noodle in beef soup, 牛杂汤面 in Chinese).

Pic: the food menu
Each bowl costs about RM10 (≈USD2.30), RM12 (≈USD2.70) if you request “ka-liau” (extra meat). *Prices as of Feb 2023.

Loi Hin is a typical Chinese coffee shop. Besides Ngiu Chap, you can order hot and soft drink such as coffee and tea here.

Pic: Ngiu Chap Mee (Mixed beef soup served with yellow noodle, 牛杂面 in Chinese)

Pic: close-up of Ngiu Chap Mee

As always, it’s delicious, with tangy aroma of beef, and the meat is fresh. The spleen tastes a bit raw and fishy though. The hot soup is the best part, it’s thick, as if they cook the whole cow in soup (just kidding). Usually I take one or two spoons of soup to excite my taste buds before eating.

You also can ask them to serve Mee Fong (white rice noodle, 米粉 in Chinese). The rice noodle is thinner and taste less oily.

By default, the noodle is served in soup. Order Kon Lau (dry noodle style, 干捞 in Chinese) if you prefer the Ngiu Chap soup served in separate bowl.

Below is the location map and contact of Kedai Kopi Loi Hin:

View My Sabah Map in a larger map

Address: Block H, Lot 8, Ground Floor, Donggongon New Tonwship, Penampang, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
Phone No.: +60 88-712136

Loi Hin has 3 branches in KK, opened by the sister and brother of the owner, Mr. Yong, at Donggogon, Foh Shang (behind Millimewa supermarket) and Inanam (also behind Millimewa supermarket).

Pic: the Donggogon branch is less than 50 Meters away from the main shop.

Photos taken in Penampang, Sabah, Malaysia Borneo