Kota Kinabalu Restaurants and Dining

(Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia)

Kota Kinabalu has one of the best varieties of foods in Malaysia and there are many types of restaurant to dine at. Dozens of cultures call Kota Kinabalu home, while the large number of hotels and the burgeoning expat populace ensures a good selection of Western eateries and dining establishments.

Seafood is popular in Kota Kinabalu, and all along the coast, and there are many top-end seafood restaurants and hawker stalls with tasty dishes. There are tourist hotspots with elegant dining too, but the majority of the eating in the city is at standard restaurants and hawker stalls.

What to Eat, and Where

There are some 30 different ethnic groups living in and around Kota Kinabalu, meaning a cacophony of flavours and dining available. Street stalls at the night market and along the seafront offer good tastes and great value for money.

Fresh seafood is the big eat in Kota Kinabalu. The city exports a variety of goodies to the likes of Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan, with everything from huge lobsters and tasty shellfish to king tiger prawns and many varieties of fish.

The best seafood restaurants in Kota Kinabalu are in the Kampong Nelayan and SEDCO Square areas. They offer reasonably priced dining, while the touristy promenade restaurants near the fish market and the Filipino Craft Market are a bit overpriced and not recommended.

You can also find snacks at most coffee shops on just about any street in the city. Fast-food restaurants offer familiar comfort eating, and the Centrepoint shopping centre provides air-conditioned comfort to boot.