My Palace, My symphony of life and the rhythm in My heart: Sabah- Gastronomic Tour

During this East Malaysia tour, I had the opportunity to sample many food delights with the help of local friends of Wan Tian. It's time to have a compilation of local delicacies I had tried throughout this gastronomic tour in Kota Kinabalu (KK).

1. Kentin Bakut - tomyam noodles

Address: Kampung Bakut, off Telipok – Tuaran Road

Kentin Bakut located at Tuaran; Sabah was the first stop of local delicacies on the way we headed to Kundasang. I didn't expect to have the first meal at a humble canteen-style area in KK, As the quote goes " don't judge the book by its cover", the crowds of food patrons here had been proven that there're delighted meal here. Among the 5 food stalls at Kentin Bakut, the famous tom yam stall had taken up to 2 lots.

The menu was clearly stated with 7 choices such as Ham Choi Kepala Ikan, Tom Yam Goreng Seafood, Tom Yam Seafood, Peria Sup and etc.

Tom Yam Seafood Soup with my choice of vermicelli.

The tom yam soup was flavorful with hints of lemongrass and the freshness of the seafood.
A mouthful of tom yam soup with fish slices was very satisfying!

2. Yee Fung Coffee shop

Address: 127, Jalan Haji Saman, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia / Gaya Street

Along the way to Yee Fung Coffee ship which located around Gaya Street, Kota Kinabalu City Hall and memorial monument was spotted.

Yee Fung Coffee shop was next to Tung Nan Book Store.

The menu display had shown that Yee Fung coffee shop's main foods including laksa, ngau chap (beef noodles) and claypot chicken rice.

The main highlighted dish in Yee Fung Coffee shop was the laksa.

Yee Fung Coffee shop's laksa was different compared to those I had in other states as it has omelette as one of the condiments.

The condiments to the laksa was shredded chickens, omelette and shrimps, with lime to be squeezed, adding a tinge of sourness into the laksa.
Compared to Sarawak laksa I had in Kuching, I prefer Yee Fung laksa although it was less spicy with more coconut milk.

Claypot chicken rice

Beef Noodles

I did not taste this but my friend commented the beef was flavorful and tasty.

The signature foods at Yee Fung Coffee Shop

Iced teh tarik which happened to be nice after stirring the milk with tea.

3. Restaurant Sung Fun Tong ; Ranau - Chinese cuisines

We had settled our lunch at Restaurant Sung Fun Tong during our Kundasang-Kinabalu Park-Ranau tour on the 2nd day in Sabah. Restaurant Sung Fun Tong; an ordinary restaurant which run by a family which served variety of Chinese cuisines as shown in below photo.

Sabah Fern vegetables

Fried squids topped with mayonnaise

Claypot bean curds

Omelette

BBQ sauce pork ribs

I couldn't remember how the food tasted like as most of us were very exhausted and hungry by the time we had lunch. It was around 2-3pm if not mistaken.

4. Salut Seafood Restaurant; Kota Kinabalu - seafood

Address: Mile 13, Jalan Tuaran Telipok, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

Salut Seafood Restaurant; one of the famous seafood restaurant in Kota Kinabalu had become our choice for seafood excursion. It was a pleasant dining experience with fresh seafood.

A plate of the papaya slices and pickled raddish were provided as appetizers before we kick-started the seafood dining experience.

Fresh prawns were boiled and served as the first dish.

It was the first time I tried fresh prawns as my mom used to cook with chili sauce/ tomato sauce or black pepper style. Boiled prawns provided the natural and freshest state. However, I still prefer the prawns go with butter/ salty egg/ nestum oats.

Sabah's fern vegetables were stir-fried with eggs.

Steamed clams which wasn't my favorite dish. According to the rest, the flesh was juicy and soft.

I tasted few but I seriously dislike the rubber-liked texture.

Lala with fried eggs

Salty egg crabs

5. Gerai Kelapa Bakar Sudi Mampik- Coconut Pudding, Grilled Coconut and Grilled Clams

While West Malaysia has famous Klebang coconut shake in Malacca, East Malaysia (Tuaran; Sabah) has a prestigious coconut pudding and grilled coconut. The local had brought us to the stall named Gerai Kelapa Bakar Sudi Mampik which was the 1st stall which had established the pudding kelapa, grilled coconut and grilled clams business.

Grilled coconut

Grilled coconut (kelapa bakar) was grilled using hot wood fire till the coconut skins being dark color. We had ordered one to try. It's served hot, simply tasteless due to no sugar is added. I do find the taste is acceptable and nutritious. Original taste of the coconut juice is lingered in our mouths.

The coconut pudding was refreshing!

5. Tanjung Aru Beach Food Court

Tanjung Aru beach was the final travel destination before we departed from airport to Johor Bahru. The visit to the private beach of the Nexus Resort and Spa Karambunai was not expected in our tour to Kota Kinabalu. The local friend of WT had informed that we would be surprised of the pristine beach with crystal clear water of Nexus Resort and Spa Karambunai compared to Tanjung Aru beach.

Tanjung Aru beach may not be as clean as the private beach of the Nexus Resort and Spa Karambunai, yet it's considered better to the West Peninsular beach which was much more affected by the pollution and rubbish. From most of the articles I read from website, Tanjung Aru beach was a great stop for enjoying sunset view.

Tanjung Aru beach

Tanjung Aru Beach Food Court

The familiar local foods we had as our lunch before we left Kota Kinabalu; Sabah. The fruit shakes we had were considerable cheap compared to those we had in West Malaysia. Pure fruit

Nasi Goreng Pattaya

Grilled chicken meat

Seafood koay teow noodles which come with prawns, squids and fish balls.

Nasi Goreng Campur

Fried koay teow

If rice and noodles are not your food of choice, you may consider burger as well.

The fruit stalls were the main highlights of Tanjung Aru Beach Food Court.

Obviously both stalls were very competitive against each other by looking at exotic, large variety of fruits piling high,being displayed to attract customer and the way they promoted their fruit drinks aggressively.