From Kuala Lumpur, you can get to Kota Kinabalu by 2 methods. The first is you can simply fly from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI) in 2 hours and 35 minutes. AirAsia, Malaysia Airlines, and Firefly are available carriers for this trip. The second method is you take trains from Kuala Lumpur to KUL, then fly to Kota Kinabalu. Starting from Bandar Tasik Selatan Station, the KLIA Ekspres Train takes 28 minutes to KLIA T1. Then, continue walking for 16 minutes to KUL, take flights to BKI, then access Kota Kinabalu’s central city by taxis in 6 minutes only, but this is just an explanation of ways to get there; now, let’s shift to the city’s overview.

You may only know Kota Kinabalu as one of Malaysia’s cities famous for the charm of its rainforest, breathtaking sunsets, pristine beaches, and crystal-clear waters. Several world heritage sites, like Kinabalu GeoPark and Mount Kinabalu, are also factors of why many tourists from around the globe keep coming to this city. However, fewer of them also seek the local foods. Apart from its impressive cityscapes, Kota Kinabalu is noted for its dashing culinary scenes, so if you’re both a naturalist and foodie, Kota Kinabalu should be one of the destinations included in your bucket list. Since Chinese are the largest ethnic group inhabiting the city, Kota Kinabalu is packed with Chinese restaurants spread all over the city. In addition to taking delight in the cuisines, get yourself immersed in a part of the city’s cultural identity, too. Below are some of the top ones, along with the info on getting access to each of them.

The most popular Chinese restaurant in the city is Welcome Seafood Restaurant, where you can get fresh but inexpensive seafood. As with most Chinese seafood restaurants, you’ll get a view of living fishes in aquariums, that then are taken, cooked, and served for you; this is why the seafood dishes are always freshly served, making the restaurant the best one throughout the city. The top 3 signature dishes in Welcome Seafood Restaurant are sayur manis (sweet leaf), deep-fried squid/calamari rings, and dry butter prawn. The well stir-fried chillies and vegetables are a perfect complement to your salty and crunchy outer-layered squid and buttery-coated prawns. To get all those mouthwatering dishes, choose airport transfer services starting from RM 45,79; Welcome Seafood Restaurant is only 15 minutes away from the airport.

Location: Lot G18, Komplek Jalan Asia City Phase 2A, Asia City, 88300 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

Business hours: 12am-11pm daily

If you seek the best laksa in the city, this must be a place to visit. Malaysia is the country whose famous local dish, laksa, is cooked and served differently in each city. Hence, in Kedai Kopi Yee Fung, make sure to order Yee Fung Laksa to get the experience of tasting Sabah’s laksa. Besides, they offer other favorite menus, like curry laksa, claypot chicken rice, beef, fishball, and wonton noodles. For the beverage, try Yee Fung Teh Tarik to savor the combination of the creamy taste of the milk and the tea’s bitterness. When arriving at Kota Kinabalu airport, get a taxi transfer at about RM 45,79 to reach Kedai Kopi Yee Fung in 16 minutes.

Location: No. 127 Jalan Gaya, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

Business hours: 6.30am-5pm on Thursday to Monday, closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays

Another popular Chinese seafood restaurant in the city is Suang Tain, a huge open air food court housing a few seafood restaurants equipped with rows of aquariums displaying live seafood in each restaurant–making the freshness of the seafood dishes unquestionable. Also known as Twinsky, Suang Tain Seafood restaurant is situated at the furthest end of the food court. The massive quantity of seafood kept in the tanks with price properly labeled allows you to have a wide selection of what to serve on your plate; steamed grouper, butter squid, and prawn omelets are their recommended menus. However, you can also order several veggies, like stir-fried potato leaves with belacan, or sa bak (clam-like seafood) with spring onions and ginger, to complete your dining. Taxis or airport transfers are available transport options to get here in just 14 minutes; with the fares ranging from RM 45,79 to RM 1369, 78.

Location: No. 16, Blok D, Ground Floor, Sedco Complex, Kampung Air, Kota Kinabalu

Business hours: 3.30pm-10.30pm daily

Yu Kee Bak Kut Teh is a coffee shop selling bak kut teh (pork ribs soup), so it serves a wide selection of pork/pig innards for the bak kut teh. Here, your bak kut teh will be served in small bowls complemented with Chinese tea in teapots–a traditional way to consume pork rib soup. After the main dishes, you are advised to order a Sabah popular coconut pudding as the dessert. The cold and refreshing coconut-flavor pudding is the perfect choice after the hot herbal broth of tender pork ribs. If you eat alone, you can order a standard set meal, including a bowl of bak kut teh, white rice, soup, a teapot of Chinese tea, and a few pieces of beancurd puffs; while if some friends come with you, order a few bowls of different items, like meatballs, kidneys, and livers to share together. As with other taxis, a journey from the airport to this restaurant takes 16 minutes at a cost starting from RM 45,79.

Location: 74, Jalan Gaya, Kota Kinabalu

Business hours: 2.30pm-21.30pm on Wednesday to Sunday, 2.30pm-10pm on Tuesday, closed every Monday.

Unlike other Chinese seafood restaurants, Fatt Kee offers different ingredients you can’t find anywhere else. With the signature dish seafood noodle, Fatt Kee will serve your noodles with fish skin in addition to the fish balls, fish filets, fish head, and others. The smooth and soft texture of the garupa/shark skins is perfectly combined with the thick noodles in a bowl of tomato-based soup. Don’t forget to take their deep-fried fish meat/head and crispy-fried fish cake as your side dishes. For a fan of seafood noodles, Fatt Kee is the right place to head off. Fatt Kee is only 10 minutes away from the airport, thus you can take either airport taxi transfer or rent a car to get there.

Location: Lot 8, Ground Floor, Hilltop, Kolam Centre Phase 3, 88300 Kota Kinabalu

Business hours: 7am-11pm daily

Shang Palace is renowned for its dimsum available for lunch, and other delectable choices of Cantonese and Chinese specialties. Featuring 2 private dining rooms for 10-20 persons, Shang Palace offers myriad flavors of Chinese cuisines, such as Beijing ducks, BBQ specialties, abalone, fish maw, and sea cucumber, Cantonese claypots, and various selections of seafood, poultry, and vegetables. On weekdays, you can order express sets, including a variety of seafood and other meats, like chicken and lambs combined with celery and spinach. However, it’s recommended to complete your dining experience here by ordering several sets of the restaurant’s central dish: dimsum. You’ll have up to 24 choices of dimsum with many different cooking techniques.

Location: Shangri-La Tanjung Aru, 20, Jalan Aru, 88100 Kota Kinabalu

Business hours: Mondays to Fridays at 11.30am-2.30pm for lunch, 6pm-10pm for dinner

The second best bak kut teh in town besides Yu Kee Bak Kut Teh is Sin Kee Bak Kut Teh. It serves several types of bak kut teh from claypot, original soup version, to the dry style. However, the signature bak kut teh is the one served with both pork ribs and belly in a claypot of herbal soup–the use of claypot is to enhance the aroma of the soup. You can also order their stewed chicken feet and a plate of vegetables cooked in oyster sauce, and then close your dining with their best dessert: a coconut pudding. Since this eatery is popular among both locals and international tourists, a proper visit time can’t be decided, yet the chef can ensure you get your food at the fastest speed.

Location: 26, Jalan Pantai, Pusat Bandar Kota Kinabalu, 88000 Kota Kinabalu

Business hours: 12pm-9.30pm daily

Visiting Silk Garden Chinese Restaurant at the Pacific Sutera Hotel means you’ll enjoy various Chinese dishes with views. Sitting by the windows, you’ll see the fabulous panorama of yachts by the marina, the swimming pools, swaying trees, and the South China Sea against a scenic backdrop of Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park islands. Meanwhile, the restaurant’s interior is a mix of Malaysian style and modern Western simplicity. To complete this scenery experience, you can order their all-you-can-eat dimsums, or signature dishes, like smoked duck breast, steamed squid, braised beef/chicken, and many more.

Location: The Pacific Sutera Hotel, Boulevard, 1, Sutera Harbour, 88100 Kota Kinabalu

Business hours: 11.30am-2.30pm (lunch), and reopen at 6.30pm-10pm (dinner) every day.

Situated in the heart of Kota Kinabalu, 12 Dining is a restaurant owned by Chiu’s family now transformed into a two-storey stunning and quirky restaurant resonating with locals in the neighborhood. With nice interior design, 12 Dining becomes a major appeal for locals and visitors; in addition to a range of Cantonese cuisines it serves. Black truffle, steamed fish tails, roasted ducks with crispy skins, and Shanghai braised pork belly are some of their main delicacies. You can access this fine dine Chinese restaurant by cars/taxis; it’s only a couple of minutes away from BKI airport.

Location: No. 12, 1st floor, Jalan Murni Pekan Tanjung Aru, 88100 Kota Kinabalu

Business hours: 11.30am-2.30pm during lunch and reopen at 5.30pm-10 pm during diner

Leong Kee Recipes Restaurant is one of the popular Chinese eateries in the city, serving good watanho mee hoon, wok hei herbal chicken, laksa, and tomyam. Their BBQ pork and Mongolian soy chicken drumstick are also the most favorite among visitors. For vegetarians, the chefs are also ready with king oyster mushroom butter sauce, Chinese yam pumpkin sauce, and fried soya crepe with mango salad. All of these appetizing menus are completed with the restaurant’s good environments and reasonable prices of the food, making the great advantage of your Chinese gastronomic experience in Kota Kinabalu.

Location: Lot J 56-G, Signature Office KK Times Square, Off, Coastal Highway, 88100 Kota Kinabalu

Business hours: 7am-5pm from Monday to Saturday, closed on Sundays.
When you’ve finished reading the description above, you must have one culinary destination you want to go to in Kota Kinabalu. Now, don’t wait any longer–get your flight tickets, accommodations near your favorite restaurants, and explore other attractions in the city on Traveloka, a seamless travel agent with flexible booking options and convenient payments is at your fingertips!

Also read: 10 Fun Things to Do in Kota Kinabalu Malaysia