12 Best Street Food In Kota Kinabalu

1. Laksa at Kedai Kopi Yee Fung

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Arguably one of the best and most popular laksas in Sabah. Head on to Kedai Kopi Yee Fung on Gaya Street for an aromatic bowl of the widely sought after, and authentic Sarawak laksa! This should be enjoyed with a frothy cup teh tarik (pulled tea).

Kedai Kopi Yee Fung

Address: 127, Jalan Gaya, Pusat Bandar Kota Kinabalu, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

Opening Hours: Weekdays 6.30 am – 6.30 pm | Weekends 6.30 am – 4.00 pm

Contact: +60 88-312 042

2. Seafood at Welcome Seafood Restaurant

Apart from laksa, Sabah is also mostly known for its fresh, cheap, and delicious seafood. If you survey the locals, you’ll find that Welcome Seafood Restaurant is one of the best places to eat in Kota Kinabalu, and is the most famous place to have some delicious and reasonably priced seafood for lunch or dinner. However, the place does get packed at about 5 pm, so it’s recommended you come earlier.

Welcome Seafood Restaurant

Address: GF, G-15 - G-18 , Asia City , Jalan Coastal , Kota Kinabalu , 88000 Kota Kinabalu , Sabah, 88000, Malaysia

Opening Hours: 12 pm – 12 am

Contact: +60 88-447 866

3. Pan mee at Xing Wan Pan Mien

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Popularly frequented, you can have your Pan Mee in three different ways — thick, thin, or hand torn — depending on your textural preference for the dish! Each dish comes with a topping of minced pork, wantons, and pork balls, and is served in a hot bowl of anchovy broth with local vegetables.

Xing Wan Pan Mian

Address: Ground Floor, Lot 18, Block F, Damai Plaza Phase IV Luyang, 88839 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

Opening Hours: 7.00 am – 4.00 pm (Sunday)

Contact: +60 88-233 933

4. Chicken wings at Fatt Kee

Located below Ang’s Hotel, Fatt Kee is famous for serving some of the best food in Kota Kinabalu with a Chinese flair. But it’s even more famous for the sticky sweet honey chicken wings, which is the perfect partner for a steaming bowl of white rice.

Kedai Kopi Fatt Kee

Address: Jalan Haji Saman, Pusat Bandar Kota Kinabalu, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

Opening Hours: 8.00 am – 2.00 pm

5. Indian food at Sri Lantha Curry House

If you’re looking for some Indian Food in Sabah, you would find that most locals would recommend the banana leaf rice at Sri Latha Curry House down in Bandaraya Berjaya. Vegetarian-friendly, the basic serving comes with 3 to 4 vegetable side dishes, and crispy, addictive poppadom crackers. You can choose to add on chicken or lamb to complement your meal and also a glass of their famous mango lassi, which will quench your thirst!

Sri Lantha Curry House

Address: No. 28, Jalan Berjaya, Bandat Berjaya, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

Opening Hours: 6.45 am – 5.00 pm

Contact: +60 88-253 669

6. Beef noodle at Kah Hiong Ngau Chap

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Another popular dish in Sabah, ngiu chap (mixed beef soup), can be enjoyed in many ways at Kah Hiong. You could order yours served with vermicelli rice noodles, yellow noodles, or even just with plain white rice. If you’re squeamish about eating other organs/parts offered here, your safest choice is to order the beef balls and the stewed meat!

Kah Hiong Ngau Chap

Address: Block B, Lot 14, Kedai Plaza Grand Millenium, Jalan Pintas, Donggongon, Penampang, 88200 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

Opening Hours: 7.00 am – 3.00 pm

Contact: +60 88-731 646

7. Bak kut teh at Yu Kee Restaurant

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Bak kut teh is a well loved Malaysian dish of succulent pork ribs stewed for hours with garlic, onion, herbs, and spices to yield the most flavourful and aromatic broth. You can find the most popular version of this Kota Kinabalu food at Yu Kee Restaurant, so be sure to include visiting this place in your list of things to do in Kota Kinabalu.

Yu Kee Restaurant

Address: 74, Jalan GayaKota Kinabalu, 88000, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, 88000, Malaysia

Opening Hours: 2.00 am – 10.00 pm

Contact: +60 88-221 192

8. Pineapple bun at Keng Wah Hing

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Keng Wah Hing is a restaurant that sells a variety of noodles and desserts along Jalan Gaya. You’ll see that most people are only queuing up for one thing here, which is the pineapple bun (aka. polo bun), which is baked golden fresh every day!

Keng Wah Hing

Address: 70, Jalan Gaya, Pusat Bandar Kota Kinabalu, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

9. ABC (shaved ice) at Tun Fuad Stephen’s Park

If you have a sweet tooth, ABC is a must-east in Kota Kinabalu. A bowl of ABC — meaning ais batu campur (mixed crushed ice) — is sought after by all Malaysians to beat the tropical heat. In Sabah, Ah Yap’s ABC at Tun Fuad Stephen’s Park is one of the more popular joints to get this cooling dessert (often enjoyed after a tiring jogging session)!

Tun Fuad Stephen’s Park

Address: Bukit Padang car park

Opening Hours: 4.30 pm – 6.30 pm

10. Hinava at Latest Recipe Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Hinava is a traditional Sabahan dish made from marinated raw fish, typically using the day’s freshest catch. The fish is delicately seasoned with lime juice, salt, shallots, chili, and other aromatic ingredients. The dish is beautifully presented, allowing you to admire the vibrant colors and artistic arrangement. The combination of textures and flavors creates a harmonious balance that showcases the essence of Sabah’s culinary heritage. The dish is often enjoyed as an appetizer or part of a traditional Sabahan meal, providing an authentic taste of the local cuisine.

Latest Recipe at Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu offers a warm and inviting ambiance, where you can relish in the culinary delights while surrounded by contemporary comforts. The attentive staff ensures a memorable dining experience, guiding you through the flavors and helping you appreciate the nuances of Sabah’s cuisine.

Latest Recipe Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu

Address: Jln Tun Fuad Stephens, Sinsuran Kompleks, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

Website: Latest Recipe Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu

Opening hours: 6:30am - 11pm (daily)

11. Sang Nyuk Mee at Kedai Kopi Melanian

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Sang Nyuk Mee is a popular dish in Sabah, featuring thin egg noodles served with succulent slices of lightly blanched pork. The tender pork slices are typically bathed in a flavorful broth, adding depth to the dish. The noodles are perfectly cooked, retaining a delightful springiness that complements the savory flavors. The dish is often accompanied by condiments like chili paste or soy sauce, allowing you to customize the flavors.

Kedai Kopi Melanian, a renowned local coffee shop, serves Sang Nyuk Mee with nostalgia and local charm. The bustling ambiance adds to the authentic dining experience, immersing you in the vibrant food culture of Kota Kinabalu.

Kedai Kopi Melanian

Address: Lot 40, Ground Floor, Blk. E Business Centre, Inanam, 88450 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

Opening hours: 7am - 2:30pm (daily)

12. Tom yam seafood at Kedai Kopi Wan Wan (from USD 60.0)

Popular for their sea bass tom yam, you’d find the restaurant to have full patronage even at the crack of dawn. Come early, as some dishes can be out of stock as early as 9 AM! Even with a full restaurant, ordering and service are fast, and the flavor is known to be fresh and consistent.

Kedai Kopi Wan Wan

Address: Hsk Industrial Centre, 89500 Penampang, Sabah, Malaysia

Opening Hours: 7.00 am – 2.15 pm

Contact: +60 88-716 698

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Tip of the trail

Choose from the top Airbnb vacation rentals now, and go on a Kota Kinabalu food crawl. This list only has only a few of the hundreds of eateries where you can get some of the famous foods in Kota Kinabalu. Assuming you’re a first-time visitor, these places should definitely put your palette on the right track.

Try to visit some bars and night markets as well to make the most of your time here.