BBQ Pork Rice (RM5.

00)
Available during: Lunch only Description: Also known as Char Siu, which means fork burn/roast (Char being fork and siu being burn/roast) after the traditional cooking method for the dish: long strips of seasoned boneless pork are skewered with long forks and placed in a covered oven or over a fire. The pork is BBQed with mixture of honey, five-spice powder, fermented tofu (red), dark soy sauce, hoisin sauce until slightly charred, Served with a bowl of fragrant rice with extra sauce added on char siu to make it even tastier.You can also try the roast pork .There are many similar restaurants that serve BBQ pork and roast pork this is definitely one of the top choices. Address: Kedai Kopi Gunung Emas Foh Sang, behind Milimewa Supermarket.

Golden Aroma Chili Crab (RM28 per kilo)

Available during: Dinner only Description: Also known as Kam Hiong Hai. Fresh crabs prepared with curry spices in a hot wok. The spices are heated in order to release all the potential flavour, curry leaves are added, and stir fried with crabs to perfection. The crab voluntarily died for this dish because it is happy to be covered by the awesome spices. When mentioned best place to have crab, local people usually only mention one restaurant New Luyang restaurant. My most favourite way to prepare a fresh crab dish is definitely kam hiong. Address: (Next to BP petrol station. Same row with Luyang Police station.) New Luyang Restaurant Shop No.1, Luyang Phase 1, Jalan Kolam. 88300 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. Contact: 088-252431

Roti Kahwin (RM1.20)

Description: Incredibly soft and fresh white bread that is served with slices of cold butter and kaya (coconut and egg). The bread, cold butter and kaya melts with every bite. You cant get enough of these. One of the legends in Kota Kinabalu the restaurant revolutionised the whole street into a food street. Stalls and restaurants were setup in order to cater to the demands of the attracted crowds.

Must try: Teh C Ping. The awesomest milk tea in Kota Kinabalu. Address: Kedai Kopi Fu Yuan (Beside Sabah88 Lottery) Block A, Lorong Ruang Pokok Kayu Manis 1, Damai Plaza, 88300, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

Beef Brisket Noodles (RM6.00)

Available during: Breakfast and lunch Description: Also known as Ngiu Chap by the locals. The beef noodles consists of noodles, beef and broth, also cilantros for extra tang. The quality of beef noodles is mainly determined by tenderness of the beef and also the richness of the beef broth. If both are in high quality, youll get a perfect bowl of beefy noodles soup that makes you crave for more. Address: Kah Hiong Ngiu Chap 2-0-10, Block A, Ground Floor, Kolam Centre Phase 2, Jalan Lintas, Hilltop, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah Contact: 019-8700080

Laksa Noodles (RM5.00)

Available during: Breakfast and lunch Description: Different mix of spices are grounded to paste, then saut the spices until fragrant. Add in coconut milk and rest of the ingredients. Serve with vermicelli or yellow noodles. There are many versions of laksa in Malaysia assam laksa, curry laksa, or simply laksa. This is curry laksa. Address: Yee Fung Restaurant Jalan Gaya, 88000, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah (opposite Bata shoe shop)

Ais Kacang (RM3.50)

Available during: 11am to 6pm daily except Sunday. Description: Also known as air batu campur or just ABC. Sweet corn, red beans and cincau (grass jelly) topped with shaved ice, flavoured syrups and condensed milk. I strongly recommend that you try buah atap, which is the milky white fruit you see on the photo. Tastes amazing!Also try Yau Zha Kwai, a Cantonese doughnut, usually served during breakfast. Here, they add in butter and kaya, also known as kahwin in certain places. MUST TRY. Banana fritters, cempedak fritters.. all must try Address:Car park of Tun Fuad Stephen Park. Bukit Padang.

Tom Yam Noodles (RM6.00)

Available during: 6:30am to 3pm Description: Thick tom yam broth with coconut milk, with noodles of your choice. Topped in heaps of prawns and seafood. Mild spicy-ness that wont burn your tongue, acceptable by crowds. This tom yam is spicy (mild), creamy and slightly sour. Unlike Tom yam from Thailand, which is usually spicy and sour. The tom yam broth is addictive. Address Kedai Kopi Janggut Lot 5, Ground Floor, Hilltop Kolam Plaza, 88300 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. (Behind Prudential Insurance Building) Contact: 088-264203 / 012-8297770 / 016-8305966

Beaufort Noodles (RM6.00)

Available during: Lunch and dinner Description: Dishes here originate from Beaufort. The noodles is prepared with sliced pork, fresh vegetables and yellow noodles. The gravy holy no need further explanation. You go try. From what I know, the dishes are prepared with pork lard instead of vegetable oil, that makes the taste freaking amazing one bowl of noodles is never enough. Also try their stir-fried vegetable and cha-sao omelette . Address: Yu Hing Restaurant City Mall (left corner of mall, outdoor) S-0-20, Block D, City Mall. 88300 Kota Kinabalu. Sabah Contact: 088-484747

Sheng Rou Mian (RM5.00)

Available during: Breakfast and lunch Address: Lintas Sheng Rou Mian 21-1, Ground Floor, Lorong Lintas Plaza, 88300, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

Custard Bun (RM1.50)

Available during: Breakfast and lunch Description: Homemade buns that have different kind of fillings custard, red bean paste (tausa), peanut and etc. My personal favourite is definitely custard bun. All I know is that its made of milk, sugar, and.. ? I dont know and I dont care. Its delicious. This is one of the buns I grew up eating. This coffee shop has been serving the old school style buns before Michael Jackson was born. Ok maybe not, maybe when he was still a teenager You can also try their bottled coffee and different types of buns and pastries. Address: Kedai Kopi Jeong Hin Lot 8, Ground Floor, Block E, Lorong Inanam, Inanam New Township Ph.2, Kota Kinabalu. Contact: +6088 423 337

Fish Head Noodles(RM5.00)

Available during: Breakfast and lunch Description: Fish head noodles prepared with different kind of soups, main 3 types: 1) tofu, tomato and salted vegetables soup. 2)tom yam soup and 3) bitter gourd soup. You can choose to replace fish head with fish meat fresh or deep fried. I prefer deep fried fish because it is more flavourful. Compare to KK standard, their serving size is huge. Satisfaction 100% Address: Kedai Kopi Dat Seng Next to Kin Hwa Restaurant Block C, Ground Floor, Inanam Business Centre, 88450, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

Fish Head Noodles (RM5.00)

Available during: Breakfast and lunch Description: Similar to the noodles mentioned above, this restaurant serves fish head noodles too. The broth is slightly thicker and full of flavour. What stands out is the dry noodles () that comes with the fish head noodles soup, the taste of soy sauce and fried shallots is incredible. Another thing that makes this restaurant stand out, is the chilli paste the pickled garlic marinated with chilli oil. Add lime juice and soy sauce.. youre probably tasting the best chilli sauce ever. Address: Houng Kee Restaurant No.15 Ground Floor, Block B, Damai Plaza Phase 4, Lorong Pokok Kayu Manis 2, Luyang. 88300 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. Contact: 088-267159

Claypot Noodles and Pan Mee (RM5.00)

Available during: Breakfast and lunch Description: First photo is deep fried egg noodles cooked in flavourful pork broth. Minced meat, deep fried anchovies and fresh egg is added into the noodles soup to enhance the flavour. If you love pork broth, youll love this. Second photo is Pan Mee, the local version of Japanese Ramen. Hand-made flat noodles served with vegetables, minced meat, sliced mushrooms and an egg in an ikan bilis-based soup Address: Kedai Kopi Xing Wan (Damai opposite Houng Kee Restaurant) Lorong Ruang Pokok Kayu Manis 1, Damai Plaza, 88300, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

Chicken Chop Noodles (RM5.00)

Available during: Breakfast and lunch Description: Deep fried chicken chop with crispy batter, on top of egg noodles, covered with thick sweet soy sauce. The sweetness of fried chicken and saltiness of egg noodles is awesome. I was told this is Taiwanese style noodles, and I could not find any similar restaurants around Kota Kinabalu area.You can also try the Pork Rib Noodles , which is also a crowds favourite.Address: Near Penampang Survey Hypermarket (burnt building) Opposite corner of A1 stationary store.

Creamy Buttered Crab (RM30+ per kilo)

Available during: Dinner only Description: Fresh huge crabs cooked in butter and spices. Butter is dangerously fragrant when cooked, the smell ascends to another level when spices are added, it mixes perfectly with seafood, especially crabs. This is a must order whenever I come to this seafood restaurant. I can finish 1 kilogram of fresh crabs alone in one seating, usually takes 2-3 hours to finish. Awesome combination with beer. You can choose dry butter or creamy butter. My favourite is creamy butter. You can try butter prawns too. Address: Dai Kar Lok Seafood restaurant (Bundusan behind Supertanker) Jalan Bundusan, Phase 2, Grand Industrial, 88300, Penampang, Sabah

Deep Fried Pork Noodles (RM6.00)

Available during: Breakfast and lunch Description: Deep fried pork in bread crumbs, then added on top of tasty pork broth and noodles. Simple and nice. This is one of our familys favourite restaurant during weekend. I guess this is the only restaurant that serves this kind of noodles in Kota Kinabalu. Definitely worth a try.You can try stewed chicken feet (, also known as ) too.Address: Kedai Kopi Hui Chow Taman Fortuna Phase 2 Shop lots

Coconut Pudding (RM10.00)

Available during: Dinner Description: Fresh coconut juice is extracted from the shell, cooked with condensed milk and agar-agar, and put back into coconut. The pudding is formed when cooled. This dessert brings a whole new level of freshness in a form of pudding. People always asks for more because its that refreshing and tasty. Address: Restaurant Makanan Sedap (seafood restaurant) 1-0-1, Block B, Lot 20, Kolam Centre, Fasa 2, Jalan Lintas, Luyang, 88300 Kota Kinabalu. Contact: 088-247459

Pork Dumpling (RM0.60 ea.)

Available during: Dinner and supper Description: Also known asGuo tie, which directly translates to stick on pan, this is the best way to describe how this dish is prepared. Minced pork, vegetables and spices are wrapped in a thin slice of flour dough and pan fried to perfection. The meat juice remains in the wrapping throughout the cooking process.. and when you take your first bite the tasty meat juice flowsYou must try Guo Tie in KK because you will never find a similar dish around Malaysia.KK people has perfected this dish. Address: Kedai Kopi New Mui Vui Lots 2, Ground Floor, Hilltop Kolam Plaza, 88300 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. (Behind Prudential Insurance Building) Contact: 013-8705781

Sesame Snap (RM12.00)

Available during: Lunch and dinner Description: Sesame seeds are prepared with sugar and flour, served with whipped cream and fresh berries. The crunchiness of sesame snaps goes so well with whipped cream! Best served while the sesame roll is still hot, and the cream is always served cold. Must try for dessert lovers. When youre at this restaurant, you can also try the Chocolate Fondant with milk ice cream (second picture) Address: Party Play Lifestyle Cafe Lot 21-0 Lorong Lintas Plaza 3, Lintas Plaza, 88300, Kota Kinabalu. Sabah Contact: +6088 218210 (Dominic)

Tuaran NoodlesTuaran Noodles (RM5.00)

Available during: Breakfast and lunch You can only find this dish here in Kota Kinabalu, our local specialty! A must try for noodles lover.Address: Tuaran Mee Restaurant Shop lot next to Inanam Bus Terminal, easy to find. Block B, Ground Floor, Inanam Business Centre, 88450, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

Roasted Duck Noodles (RM6.00)

Available during: Breakfast and lunch Description: Whole duck is dipped into sauce and roasted over charcoal. Repeat this a few times until the skin is crispy outside and the meat is tender and juicy inside. The best part of eating roasted duck is definitely the crispy skin and the thin layer of fats underneath. Enjoy roast duck meat with pickled chilli. Awesome x 100.you can also try roast pork too. Address: Restaurant Kin Hwa DBKK No.7-0, Block C, Ground Floor, Inanam Business Centre, 88450, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah Contact: +6013 8562265 (Lo Chee Chung)

Seafood Noodles (RM9.00)

Available during: Breakfast and lunch Description: The seafood broth tastes amazing, includes fresh seafood such as fish slice, fishballs, fish cakes. There are many variations of seafood noodles in Kota Kinabalu, and this is one of my favourites. Mainly because the noodles they serve is special the noodles is prepared with awesomesauce They only serve 4 kinds of dishes in this restaurant.. which means they really specialize in what they sell. Address: Apiwon Restaurant Ground Floor Lot No.1 Wisma HCS, Jalam Kolam 88300 Luyang, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

Tenom Noodles (RM5.00)

Available during: Dinner and supper Description: Egg noodles is prepare with pork lard and seasonings, and fresh pork slices are added on top. The pork slices are amazingly tasty and soft in texture. This dish originates from Tenom, a further district of Sabah. Address: How Lee Restaurant S-26, Lorong Mawas 1, Jalan Kolam, Taman Foh Sang, Luyang, 88300, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah Contact: +6016-8391938 (Chong Kui Chin @ Hoon Fatt)

Tom Yam Fried Rice (RM7.00)

Available during: Lunch and dinner Description: Fried rice prepare in Tom Yam style. Includes ingredients such as squid, lemongrass, tomato and typical ingredients found in Tom Yam Soup. I like this dish because of the wok hei and fresh ingredients, also the heavier taste in the fried rice, also it strikes a perfect balance between spiciness and sourness. I believe its prepared to suit the local taste.You can also try other a la carte dishes in the restaurant, especially Tom Yam Soup (clear). Address: Hang Li Po Chinese Muslim and Thai Seafood Restaurant B-0-3 & B-0-3A Ground Floor, Karamunsing Capital

Golden Egg Yolk Coated Prawn (RM18 ea.)

Available during: DinnerDescription: Deep fried HUGE tiger prawns, stir-fried with salty egg yolk with butter and curry leaves. Kota Kinabalu is famous for its sea-produce. But its rare to find a restaurant that serves these kind of prawns because its too expensive. I told myself, someday when I earn lots of money, Im going to order 10 of these prawns and eat them while watching a movie You can refer to my blog post here. Address: Popular Cuisine () Lot 9, Ground Floor, Light Industry Shop Lot, Towering Industrial Centre, 88300 Penampang, Sabah. Contact: +6013 8783188 (Chef Kong)

Spicy Chicken Rice (RM7.00)

Available during: Lunch and dinner Description: Marinated chicken thigh deep fried into perfection. Its the local version of KFC, but its served with rice instead of mashed potato and gravy. This dish brings out the best of KFC and chicken rice and combines them together. You get the delicious fried chicken and also the fragrant chicken rice. Served with a special sauce that youll savour every single drop. Address: Peppermint Vietnamese Restaurant Ground Floor, Karamunsing Capital 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. (Beside Ipoh Town Caf)

BBQ Chicken Wing (RM1.80 ea.)

Available during: Dinner and supper Description: Chicken wings marinated in a secret recipe sauce, then BBQed over slow fire. Drizzled with freshly squeezed lime, one chicken wing is never enough.. trust me. Look for chicken wing stall that has yellow signboard, written MELVIC SAYAP PANGGANG (meaning: Chicken Wings). Address: EVERYWHERE (Lido Food court, Shuang Tian Food court, Taman Dah Yeh, Damai, Beverly Hills Apartment) Suang Tian Food Court Block A, 9-12, Jalan Laiman Diki, Sedco Complex, Kampung Air, 88300, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah Contact: 088-233080 (Suang Tian) Contact: 014-2000883 (Chicken Wing owner)

Grilled Sting Ray (RM15-RM20)

Available during: Dinner and supper Description: Sting ray grilled with sambal sauce. Served with fresh lime and chillies. Theres no other better way to prepare a sting ray other than grill it! The sambal mixture is excellent with this boneless fish. The mild chilli sambal suits whole family. To heighten the savoury taste, fresh lime is squeeze on top of the fish. PS: You can try grill squids too (left photo), usually prepared on banana leaves. Address: Kedai Kopi New Mui Vui Lots 2, Ground Floor, Hilltop Kolam Plaza, 88300 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. (same restaurant that serve Guo Tie) Contact: 013-8705781

Bak Kut Teh (RM5.00 per bowl)

Available during: Dinner only Description: Loosely translated as Meat Bone Tea, this pork stew consists of meaty pork ribs simmered in a complex broth of Chinese herbs and spices for hours. You can opt for internal organs too.In KK, bak kut teh is served with rice, tofu puffs, light and dark soy sauce, also served with minced garlics and chopped chilli if preferred.Chinese tea is served in belief that it dilutes the amount of fat consumed in this pork-laden dish. Address: Yu Kee Bak Kut Teh 74, Jalan Gaya, 88000, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah Contact: 088-221192

Fish Paste Noodles (RM7.50)

Available during: Breakfast and lunch Description: Homemade noodles that made its way into the local food show. The noodles is made with bread flour and eggs, which gives its the bouncy and chewy texture. Special noodles alone would not stand out among competitors, the choice of dish that comes with the noodles plays a major part too. You can choose between chicken, beef, fish slices or smooth fish paste.Crowds usually order fish slice and fish paste combinedAlso try the home-made chili. Address: Kuo Man Restaurant Lot 5, Jalan Tuaran, Batu 1 1/2, 88450, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah Contact: 088-221189

Chun Gain (RM8.00)

Available during: Dinner and supper Description: Pork sausage the Sabah style! Also known as Chun Gain in local. Minced pork made into a roll similar to the western meatloaf, with an layer of egg wrapped around it. This is not the typical Chinese sausage where lots of preservatives are added. This sausage has shelf life of normal meat. Normally eaten by itself or served as toppings on noodles.This is a Hakka dish. Majority of Chinese population in KK are Hakka descendants, just so you know Address: How Lee Restaurant S-26, Lorong Mawas 1, Jalan Kolam, Taman Foh Sang, Luyang, 88300, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah Contact: +6016-8391938 (Chong Kui Chin @ Hoon Fatt)

Fish Noodles (RM7.00)

Description: Fresh seafood prepared with tasty broth! My favourite is the kolo mee (dry noodles) where minced chicken is added as part of the toppings. My personal favourite is the clear broth.. and I order a tom yam broth at the side if Im really greedy. The restaurant has moved several times. each time moved to bigger restaurant to accommodate the huge numbers of customers. Address: Wan Wan restaurant Bundusan (next to Damai Point Club, nearby SuperTanker restaurant) Jalan Duta 88300 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

Polo Bun (RM1.20)

Available during: Lunch and late afternoon Description: Also known as Pineapple bun in certain places. The soft-cottony texture inside and sweet-crunchy exterior is what makes these polo buns so tasty and addictive to eat.Although the pastry is known as pineapple bun, the traditional version contains no pineapple. The name pineapple bun actually originated from the fact that its sugary top crust is cooked to a golden-brown color, and because its checkered top resembles the epicarp of a pineapple.Best served fresh from oven.You can also try Char Siew Bun. Address: Kedai Kopi 33 Shoplot 9, Ground floor, Lorong Bernam 3, Taman Soon Kiong Phase 2 88300 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

Kuay Chap (RM5.00)

Description: Teochew dish of flat, broad rice sheets in a soup made with dark soy sauce, served with pig offal, braised duck meat, various kinds of beancurd, preserved salted vegetables, and braised hard-boiled eggs. Address: Kolombong Industrial area, from Inanam Terminal bus stop to Hap Seng (Mercedes Benz service centre) direction, on left hand shop lots. (refer to map)

Baked Norwegian Salmon (RM26.00)

Available during: Dinner only Description: Salmon that is baked to perfection. Served with baked potato and vegetables. Ive chose this dish because I know how difficult it is to prepare a good salmon dish. It melts in your mouth.. unbelievable. Address: LAVA Resto Bar G-0-7 and G-0-8 Ground floor, Block G, Karamunsing Capital 88300 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. Contact: 088-487990

Chicken Rice (RM6.00)

Available during: Lunch only Description: Flavorful steamed chicken served with rice cooked in chicken stock. Normally eaten with chilli sauce, dark soy sauce, and ginger paste. A common variation is using roast chicken instead. Address: Wiya Coffee Restaurant Block F, Lot 4, Segama Complex, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. Contact: 088-214378

Pork Steamed Bun (RM1.50)

Available during: Morning and lunch Address: Kedai Kopi Hing Seng Block A, No. 16, Kolombong Industrial Centre, Jalan Kolombong. 88300 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. Contact: 088 423638

Prawn Noodles (RM7.00)

Available during: 5pm 4:30am Description: Yellow egg noodles in a rich broth made from prawns, topped with whole or sliced fresh boiled prawns, boiled eggs and fried shallots. This destination is frequented mostly by clubbers after a night of fun. Usually jam-packed on weekends.You can also try their char kuey tiaw and deep-fried food.. tastes good after youre intoxicated Address: Helang Emas Kedai Kopi Lot 11, Rumah Kedai Taman Foh Sang Jalan Mawas, Luyang 88300 Kota Kinabalu Contact: 012-8288581 (Tony)

Baked Cheese Crab (RM26.00)

Available during: Dinner only Description: Flaked crab meat mixed with seasoning, cheese and lots of other ingredients (which I do not care to identify, hahha!), stuff everything back into the crab shell and bake with a layer of mozzarella cheese topping. This restaurant also serves Wagyu steak many customers order this dish whenever I visit this restaurant. Maybe you can try too. Address: Brass Monkey Cafe & Bar Lot No. 1-0, Lorong Lintas Plaza 4, Lintas Plaza, Kota Kinabalu 88300 Malaysia Contact: 088-261543