Looking for foods at Kota Kinabalu City Centre? Why not try some of the local favourite foods and also some highly recommended foods by tourists. Kota Kinabalu City Centre offers a wide variety of foods from Western to local Chinese cuisine. The City centre is compact enough to explore on foot and taxis are available (fixed rate) for moving around. Here is a list of foods you can find at Kota Kinabalu City Centre recommended by foodies.
The list will be updated from time to time
Local foods
1. Bit & Bites
Served good and delicious Malay Kueh. This humble little shop which takes up only half lot on the ground floor of Wisma Merdeka has been in business for over 30 years!
Must Eat: all the delicious Malay Kueh!
Opening hours : 11am – 3pm. close on Sunday
Location: BG04, Ground Floor, Wisma Merdeka, Jalan Tun Razak, Kota Kinabalu
2. Borenos Fried Chicken
3. Fatt Kee Coffee Shop
Chicken wings slathered in the wondrous flavors of “Rooster Sauce”. Sweetness, intermingling with every bite. Locals usually call it Ang’s Hotel as the shop is located below the Hotel. Serve good Chinese foods and price is reasonably cheap.
Must Eat: “signature” Chicken Wing
Opening hours : 5pm to 11pm
Location : Ang’s Hotel, Beach Street,
GPS Location: 5.9848219, 116.0764843
4.Fong Ip Cafe
A variety of breads and toasts, homemade Hainan coffee and nasi lemak. Located at Gaya Street in the center of KK town. Good variety of food choices, available from breakfast to dinner. Another place to try local laksa in KK.
Opening hours: 7am to 1am
Location: 100 Jalan Gaya Street, Kota Kinabalu.
5. Fook Yuen Cafe and Bakery
Favorite place for “yamcha” tea drinking session, Fook Yuen serve the best tea and coffee in Kota Kinabalu. They also serve halal dim sum.
Must Eat: “Roti Kahwin” (white bread with cold butter and Kaya)
Opening hours : 6am to 12 am
Location : – Gaya Street branch : Lot 54, Ground Floor, Wisma Menara Jubili, Off Jalan K.K Bypass (Jalan Gaya),88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah – Asia City Complex branch
6. Kuo Man Restaurant
Famous for their fish paste, fish slicem beef slice, and dry noodle.
Must eat: “Yu Wat” Fish paste noodle
Opening hours: 10am to 9pm
Location: Lot BG 06, Ground Floor, Warisan Square Kota Kinabalu
7. Kedai Kopi Ang Kim Lam
Favourite among the locals serve fantastic Kon lou mee (dry stirred noodle with dark sauce). You will need to wait at least 30 minutes for the noodles but it worth the wait.
Must eat: Kon lau mian (Dry stirred noodle with dark sauce)
Opening hours : 6am to 10 am
Location: Jalan Laiman Diki, Kampung Air
8.Kedai Kopi Kak Tini
Serve cheap and delicious Malay food in the city center. they also so sell Fried banana fritters.
Must eat: Soto
Opening hours : 7am to 4pm
Location: 58, Ground Floor, Jalan Gaya, Kota Kinabalu, 88000
9. Kedai Kopi Kheng Wan Hing
Taste the difference in Keng Wan Hing 瓊萬興茶室 daily fresh-baked breads and buns ! And it’s so simple to enjoy every day. Sometimes there will be a long queue to get hot steamy buns, obviously their pastries is best for afternoon tea break with old school home cook tong sui and tea.
Must Eat: Polo Bun
Opening hours: 8am to 4pm
Location: 80 Jalan Gaya Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
GPS Location: 5.9847579N 116.0774741E
10. Kedai Kopi Kim Hing Lee
The First coffee shop in Kota Kinabalu to serve Sang Nyuk Mee (pork Noodle).Thinly sliced pork serve with tasty broth. A must try for pork lover
Must eat: Sang Nyuk Mian (pork noodle)
Opening hours : 7am to 3.30pm
Location: Block F, Lot 7, Sinsuran Complex, 88000 Kota Kinabalu
11. Kedai Kopi Seng Hing
Serve some of the best Tom Yam noodle. They also serve good Tuaran Mee
Must eat: Tom Yam prawn noodle and Tuaran Mee
Opening hours : 7am to 4pm
Location: Lot 10, Block E, Sinsuran Complex, Jalan Tun Fuad Stephen, Kota Kinabalu, 88000
12. Kedai Kopi Yee Fung
Famous for their Laksa and they also service a great beef noodle soup, claypot chicken rice and Teh Tarik.
Must Eat: Laksa
Location: No. 127, Jalan Gaya,.
Opening hours: 7am to 5pm
13. Kedai Kopi Yuit Cheong
Yuit Cheong is considered one of the oldest coffee shops in Kota Kinabalu as it is Yuit Cheong is established in 1896! Tender beef, juicy chicken and kambing (mutton satay), beef belly satay is a must try dish for all satay fans. Served with garnished with crushed peanuts, cucumber pickles. Eat like a local, by assorted dips a toasted flat bread ( Roti Bakar) or steam breads, and enjoy satay dipping sauce .
Must Eat: Satay and white bread with Satay sauce
14. Latest Recipe, Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu
Looking to taste Sabah local foods. Latest Recipe at Le Meridien is the only place which serve traditional Sabah food such as Hinava, Pinasakan, Tiger Prawn in Banana Leaf, Ayam Bambangan and Ambuyat. If you never heard of any name mentioned, then make sure you make a trip to Le Meriden to know more about Kadazan-dusun traditional food!
Must Eat: Hinava and Ambuyat
Location: Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens, 88000 Kota Kinabalu
Opening hour: 10am to 10pm
15. Ming Ge Cafe
Roasted duck, char sao, sao nyuk, choon gen(Pork rolls), roasted chicken and steamed chicken serve with dark sauce stir noodles (Kon lau Mian)
Must Eat: Kon lau Mian (stir noodle with dark sauce)
Opening hours : 7am-2pm
Location: Jalan Pantai
16. Sin Kee Bak Kut Teh
Rich in herbal flavours, thick in texture and cloudy in colour. The bak kut teh is always served piping hot in a clay pot with generous amounts of pork ribs, sliced pork and more! Add some fresh minced garlic into your soup to bring out all the best flavors from your bowl.
Location: 26, Jalan Pantai, Kota Kinabalu.
Opening hours: 5pm to 10pm
17. Sri Latha Curry house
Looking for Indian food? drop by Sri Latha Curry house at Bandaran Berjaya area and try their highly recommended banana leaf rice. you can choose chicken or lamb meat to go with the vegetarian leaf rice set. The area is a bit hidden so do take note on the exact location before getting there.
Must Eat: Banana leaf rice
Opening hours : 7am to 4pm
Location : 28 Jalan Berjaya 4
GPS Location: 5.9768618N 116.0764039E
18. Sri Melaka
Discover the taste of Nyonya at Sri Melaka Restaurant, Since 1980, Restoran Sri Melaka has provided a wide selection of authentic Malaysian cuisine cooked to aromatic perfection by indigenous cooks.
Must eat: Assam Fish.
Location: No 9, Jalan Laiman Diki, Kota Kinabalu.
Opening hours:11am to 10pm
19. Tanjung Ria Kitchen, Hyatt Regency Hotel
If you looking for a food feast, indulge yourself with buffet spread at Tanjung Ria Kitchen, Hyatt Regency Kinabalu. You can find wide selection of foods, from restaurant’s signature dish, Oxtail Assam Pedas to the best Naan in Kota Kinabalu. Buffet Breakfast, RM80.00nett per person Buffet Lunch, RM90.00nett per person Buffet Dinner, RM130.00nett person
Must Eat: Oxtail Assam Pedas
Location: Jalan Datuk Salleh Sulong, 88991, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia,
Contact no: Tel: +60 88 22 1234
20. Wiya Chicken Rice
Established in 1976, starring tender chicken served over fragrant rice cooked with chicken stock and pandan leaves, this delicious dish delights with its rich flavours!
Must Eat: Steamed chicken rice
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday ~ 7:00 am to 6:00 pm Sunday and Public Holidays ~ 7:00 am to 3:00 pm
Location: No. 4, Block F, Segama Complex, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. tel: +6088 214 378
21. Yu Kee Bak Kut Teh 佑记肉骨茶
Famous among tourists and locals, Yu Kee serve some of the best Bak Kut Teh in Kota Kinabalu. Must Eat : Bak Kut Teh
Opening Hours: 4.30-11pm
Location: 74, Jalan Gaya, 88000, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah,
Seafood
Sinsuran Night Market
Fresh and delicious seafood at the street.
Must eat: any seafood
Opening hours : 5pm to 11pm
Location: Beside Kota Kinabalu Central Market
Welcome Seafood ( 大茄来海鲜餐厅)
Cheap and a wide selection of seafood. The hottest and famous for seafood in Kota Kinabalu.
Must eat: spicy crab, steamed prawn
Opening hours : 2.30 pm to 12am
Location: GF, G-15 – G-18 , Asia City , Jalan Coastal , Kota Kinabalu , 88000 Kota Kinabalu
Western Food
1. Chilli Vanilla
This primo cafe serves western comfort food. Don’t skip the pastries and cakes that are made with a menu inspired by Hungarian owner Szilvie, who knows how to serve up a feast.
Must eat: Hungarian cake.
Location: 35, Jalan Haji Saman (Off Jalan Tun Razak), 88000 Kota Kinabalu.
Opening hours: 10 am to 10pm
2. El Centro
Specializes in a variety of Western foods and killer cocktails. El Centro is popular with tourists and offers great ambiance and delicious food.
Must eat: cocktails.
Location: Lot 32, Jalan Haji Saman, Kota Kinabalu
Opening hours: 11am to 1am
3. Hard Rock Cafe
With a splendid sea view, enjoy sipping and toasting right along the waterfront! Enjoy delicious food and drinks and rocking entertainment. Cuisine ranges from Seafood spaghetti and Grilled meats (Lamb / Beef) to desserts like cheesecakes and alcoholic drinks. There are also live band performances in the evening hours.
Location:Oceanus Mall
Opening hours: 11am to 1am
4. Kudos Bistro
Kudos has a cozy ambiance where you can enjoy a gastronomically satisfying meal fit for even the most discerning taste buds. This is an ideal location for lunch, dinner, private functions, or just a cup of freshly brewed coffee and mouth-watering pastries and desserts.
Location:69 Jalan Gaya (in Jesselton Hotel), 88000 Kota Kinabalu.
Opening hours: 12pm to 2pm, 6pm to 10pm
5. Little Italy
Serving great Italian food since 2000. The restaurant is owned and managed on a very personal basis by the Italian family, the Ceresa’s, who hailed from Torino, Northwest Italy. Favorite dining place for the local and tourists
Must eat: Ravioli Combo Fiesta
Opening hours : 10:00 am – 11:00 pm
Location: Ground Floor, Hotel Capital,
Jalan Haji Saman,
88000 Kota Kinabalu,
Sabah.
Tel: 088-232 231
6. Pasta Pasta
The concept is simple, You can choose your prefer noodle, sauce, and toppings and it only cost RM6.50 for a bowl of Pasta.
Must eat: any combination you can think of
Opening hours: 10am to 10pm
Location: 108, Gaya Street, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Telephone:088-280790
7. Upperstar Cafe and Bar
well-known in Kota Kinabalu as it provides a huge variety of fusion foods, varying from western foods to Nasi Lemak. Great place to hangout at affordable price
Must eat: cheap beers
Location:
Segama Branch : Block C, Lot 8, Ground Floor, Segama Complex,
City Centre, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
088-270 775
Suria Sabah Branch : Ground Flr, Lot G23, Suria Sabah Shopping Mall
Asian Food
1. Emperor’s Delight
The only place in Kota Kinabalu which serves Chinese Cuisine like authentic handmade noodles and Shanghai favorites, Xiao Long Bao & Dim Sum
Must eat: Xiao Long Pao.
Location: Lot 6, Jalan Pantai, 88000 Kota Kinabalu
Opening hours: 11am to 10pm
2. Sakagura Japanese Restaurant
Fresh seafood and authentic Japanese food prepared by a Japanese Chef from Hokkaido. With a quality menu, Sakaguru has always been the top choice for Japanese cuisine in town. This was the first Japanese restaurant outside of Japan opened by the Frontier group
Must eat: Yakitori and sushi.
Location: Oceanus Mall
Opening hours: 11am to 10pm
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