Best Places To Eat In Kota Kinabalu \(Borneo\), Malaysia

July 26, 2024

In Kota Kinabalu, Borneo, Malaysia, you’ll find a vibrant culinary scene that offers a delightful blend of Malay, Chinese, and native Filipino and Bajau flavors. Here are some must-try street food spots to satisfy your taste buds:

1. Gaya Street Sunday Market

Located along Gaya Street, this vibrant market is open only on Sundays. It’s a melting pot of local delicacies, including Kuih Ketayap (coconut-filled pancake rolls), Apom Balik (Malaysian pancakes filled with peas and corn), and various types of Nasi Lemak (fragrant coconut milk rice served with spicy sambal, fried anchovies, peanuts, boiled egg, and cucumber).

2. Jesselton Point Night Market

This bustling night market, situated near the Sinsuran Bus Station, is an excellent spot for evening food hunting. Try the Satay Kakap (scallop satay), Ikan Bakar (grilled fish with spicy sambal sauce), and Mee Goreng Mamak (Malaysian-style fried noodles). Don’t forget to wash it down with a glass of the local sugarcane juice!

3. Kota Kinabalu Wet Market

Visiting the wet market is not only about shopping for fresh produce but also tasting the ready-to-eat dishes at the food court located inside. Here, you can savor Nasi Kampung (Malaysian village rice), Laksa Kota Kinabalu (a spicy noodle soup with coconut milk and unique local flavors), and various types of Sotong Kek Chiok (fried squid with black pepper sauce).

4. Sabah Seafood Market

Located along Jalan Tun Fuad Stephen, this open-air seafood market offers freshly caught seafood that you can have cooked to your liking at the numerous stalls around. Enjoy grilled prawns, crabs, and fish accompanied by spicy sambal or creamy sauces.

5. Kubota Seafood Restaurant

Though not exactly street food, this popular seafood restaurant is worth a mention due to its location near the seafront. It offers a wide variety of freshly caught seafood dishes, including Gong Gong (spiny seashells cooked in a fragrant ginger and shallot sauce) and Udang Galah (freshwater prawns cooked with chili paste).