Sabah, a beautiful Malaysian state on the island of Borneo, is known for its remarkable natural scenery and rich culinary heritage. The traditional food in Sabah reflects the diversity of its indigenous groups, each with unique recipes, ingredients, and cooking techniques. This article dives into seven of the must-try traditional dishes from Sabah.
Hinava is a popular Sabahan dish made from fresh raw fish, usually mackerel mixed with freshly squeezed lime juice, ginger, sliced onions, and red chili.
Hinava is a dish often served at traditional Sabah weddings and celebrations, especially among the Kadazan Dusun community. Now, you can also find it in restaurants that serve local village cuisine.
Image Source: iStock
Pro tip: Pair hinava with some rice noodles or white rice to enjoy its intense flavor. Look out for it at My Native Plaza 333 or other local spots that serve traditional Sabahan dishes.
Bosou, also known as noonsom, is a traditional fermented food commonly found in the kitchens of the Kadazan Dusun people. This delicacy is made from a mix of rice flour, minced pork or fish, salt, and vegetables such as Losun (Chinese onion) and yam stem. Sometimes, bosou also serve during the traditional Sabahan wedding ceremonies.
The mix is left to ferment for several days, resulting in a dish with a strong aroma and distinct sour flavor. Although bosou may be an acquired taste, it’s worth trying to understand the traditional preservation techniques that the locals have passed down for generations.
Bosou is usually served with rice along with deep fried shallots that give a truly authentic taste of local food in Sabah.
Image Source: Cookpad.com by Lucy’s cooking
Bambangan is a native wild mango from Borneo and one of Sabah’s most unique traditional foods. Bambangan can be eaten raw or pickled.
Bambangan can be eaten raw or pickled. Bambangan has a thick brown skin and a savory taste that adds a unique depth to dishes.
Locals often use this fruit in sambals or side dishes. They mix it with other traditional ingredients like fresh turmeric and wild ginger. The result is a strong, savory sauce that goes well with fish or meat, giving it a sharp and flavorful kick.
Try bambangan with fried pork or grilled fish at Fatt Kee Seafood Restaurant, a popular seafood restaurant that’s famous for serving fresh seafood with an array of traditional Sabahan flavors.
Ambuyat is a sticky, glue-like substance made from sago starch and eaten with a bamboo stick called a “chandas.” It’s known for its bland taste but is often enjoyed with flavorful dipping sauces. This dish is iconic among the Bruneian Malays and Murut people in Sabah.
Image Source: Wikipedia
Ambuyat serves as a neutral base that allows accompanying flavors, like spicy noodle soup or asam soup mixed with fish.
At some traditional Sabahan restaurants, you’ll find it paired with a spicy curry coconut milk or sambal that enhances the taste and texture of this unique dish.
Ngiu Chap is a famous noodle dish in Sabah. Ngiu chap is a noodle-mixed beef soup served with a variety of beef parts, including thinly sliced beef meat, meatballs, and sometimes innards.
This beef noodle soup is typically served with a tasty broth that is enriched with aromatic dark soy sauce, fresh turmeric, and lemongrass.
Image Source: Wikipedia
You can enjoy ngiu chap in a restaurant serving ngau chap like Kah Hiong Ngiu Chap or at other local Chinese coffee shops. This popular soup dish is available in various styles, including with rice vermicelli, wheat noodles, or tasty egg noodles. For the best experience, try it with a side of freshly squeezed lime juice which adds a savory flavor that enhances the richness of the broth.
Linopot is a traditional dish from the Kadazan-Dusun people, often consisting of rice wrapped in leaves, typically served with wild boar or fish.
This local food was traditionally prepared as a portable meal for farmers working in the fields, as the leaf-wrapping technique helps preserve the rice and keeps it fresh. Linopot is usually paired with vegetables, and roasted pork (smoked wild boar), bosou, and bambangan.
Image Source: Wikipedia
Today, linopot is still enjoyed in some local households and is served at special occasions or cultural gatherings. Look for it in eateries that specialize in traditional and historical recipes such as My Native Plaza 333 and Little Sulap.
Tuaran Mee is another must-try dish, known for its unique kon lau mee style preparation. This dish uses fresh wheat noodles that are stir-fried to perfection with a mix of vegetables, eggs, and often slices of pork, egg rolls, or minced pork. This noodle originates from the Tuaran town and has become popular across Sabah.
Image Source: Wikipedia
You can find Tuaran Mee at many famous seafood restaurants or a dedicated restaurant that serves Tuaran Mee throughout Sabah.
A few places add a twist by including fresh seafood, like prawns or fish cake, giving the dish an extra layer of flavor. Fatt Kee Seafood Restaurant is well-known for serving this iconic dish.
In addition to these seven main dishes, Sabah has plenty of other foods worth exploring. Curry laksa with a spicy coconut milk base, the famous fish head curry with bitter gourd, and pork egg rolls filled with vermicelli rice noodles are just a few more examples. Here are a few more highlights:
Don’t forget to order fish noodles soup when you come to Sabah. Known for its fresh fish noodles soup or fish noodle soup, Sabah offers various versions of this dish, made with a tasty broth, lime juice, and fresh seafood. Don’t miss the chance to order fish noodle soup at local seafood restaurants for a genuine taste.
Smoked wild boar, or sinalau bakas, is a traditional Kadazan-Dusun delicacy. The wild boar is often marinated with aromatic spices and smoked, resulting in a dish that’s flavorful and slightly chewy.
Image Source: munchmalaysia.com
Sinalau bakas shops are often found along the road to Kundasang, especially in rural areas. They also served tasty pork broth, linopot, bosou, bambangan, and a variety type of sambal.
Stuffed tofu and bitter gourd are always found in local Chinese coffee shops. Stuffed tofu or bitter gourd is often paired with a savory sauce and served alongside other dishes like thinly sliced pork or succulent pork ribs stewed to perfection.
Don’t forget to explore the seafood restaurants in Sabah as Sabah knows the cheapest seafood in Malaysia. Many famous seafood restaurants offer excellent dishes such as grilled fish, butter prawns, kam heong crab, and more.
Some of the famous seafood restaurants in Sabah are Welcome Seafood Restaurant, Gayang Seafood Restaurant, and Kampung Nelayan.
For those seeking variety, Sabah also has several spots for the best authentic Indian food served in banana leaf meals, like the ones at Sri Latha Curry House. Try their banana leaf rice with side dishes like fish head curry or aromatic asam soup.
Sabah’s traditional food is as vibrant and diverse as the communities that call this region home. From the fresh, savory flavors of hinava to the hearty comfort of ngiu chap, and sang nyuk, each dish offers a peek into the local culture and culinary traditions that make Sabah such a unique destination.
Whether you’re a seasoned foodie or an adventurous traveler, these traditional dishes are a must-try to truly experience Sabah’s heritage through its food. So, the next time you’re in Sabah, explore the many famous seafood restaurants, local food stalls, and hidden gems offering these incredible dishes for an unforgettable culinary adventure.
We offer various Sabah tour packages, including Mount Kinabalu climbing packages, Danum Valley tours, Tabin Wildlife packages, diving packages, and more. Click here to check out our Sabah tour options.
Want to get in touch? We’d love to hear from you. Here’s how you can reach us…
Remarkable Borneo Travel & Tours is a Malaysian tour operator based in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. We offer a wide range of affordable and appealing Sabah tour packages, such as Mount Kinabalu climb, Borneo tours, Sabah diving and island packages and Sandakan tours. Our mission is to provide memorable travel experiences that allow our customers to discover the wonders of Borneo.
