Sandakan is a city that rewards the curious eater. Tucked away on the northeast coast of Sabah, it sits at the confluence of Malay, Chinese, and Sulawesi culinary traditions, producing a street food scene that is entirely its own. The flavours here are bolder, the textures more surprising, and the histories more layered than most visitors expect. A single morning at a Sandakan kopitiam can introduce you to dishes you will not find anywhere else in Malaysia.

Planning a trip to Sandakan starts with securing your seat on a flight. Book your flights to Sandakan Airport (SDK) through Traveloka for a seamless start to your journey. Once you land, getting from the airport into town is straightforward with an airport transfer, so you can head straight to your first meal without delay.

Ready to eat your way through one of Sabah's most underrated cities? Here are five dishes — and the storied spots that serve them — that belong on every Sandakan itinerary.

Sandakan's hotels put you within easy reach of the food trails and activities the city is known for. Browse a wide range of hotels in Sandakan across all budgets and styles below.

The UFO tart is Sandakan's most talked-about pastry, and San Da Gen Kopitiam is the place that made it famous. This layered confection begins with a butter sponge cake base, which is then topped with a smooth, eggy custard and finished with a crown of fluffy meringue. The result is a single bite that moves through three textures — soft, silky, and airy — before dissolving entirely. The name comes from its rounded shape, which does bear a passing resemblance to a certain kind of spacecraft.

San Da Gen opens daily at 8:00am and closes at 5:00pm, and the tarts tend to move quickly, particularly on weekends. Arriving in the morning puts you in the best position to claim a fresh batch alongside a cup of traditional kopi. The kopitiam itself is a classic of its kind: tiled floors, ceiling fans, and long communal tables that fill up fast with locals.

You will find San Da Gen Kopitiam along Lebuh Dua in Pusat Bandar Sandakan. The area is part of the older commercial district, making it an easy addition to a morning walk through the town centre. A single UFO tart is light enough to enjoy as a first stop before working through the rest of this list.

Sandakan has strong historical ties to the Sulawesi community, and nowhere is that connection more delicious than in a bowl of soto from Coto Makassar Haji Alimuddin bin Indala. This is not the lighter, herb-forward soto common in peninsular Malaysia. The version served here is built on a thick, deeply spiced broth that draws on Makassaran traditions and arrives loaded with tender meat and nasi impit, the compressed rice cakes that absorb the broth beautifully.

The stall operates out of Hap Shing Kedai Kopi on Jalan Pryer, one of Sandakan's most storied coffee shop addresses. It opens at 7:00am and runs until 7:00pm daily, which means it is available for breakfast, lunch, and an early dinner. The broth alone justifies a visit: it is rich without being heavy, and the balance of spice is calibrated in the way that only decades of practice can achieve.

For visitors who want to understand the depth of Sandakan's culinary diversity, this bowl of soto is an essential reference point. The Sulawesi influence in Sabah's food culture is often discussed but rarely experienced as directly as it is here. Come hungry and consider ordering a second serving — the broth is that good.

Kedai Yap Syn Kee has been operating for over 50 years, and in that time it has become synonymous with one thing: homemade grass jelly. The xiancao is made in-house, giving it a depth of flavour and a smooth, yielding texture that packaged versions simply cannot replicate. It is served with a choice of syrup or evaporated milk over shaved ice, creating a drink and dessert in one that is perfectly suited to Sandakan's coastal heat.

The shop opens at 8:00am and closes at 5:00pm, but the grass jelly is known to run out well before closing time. This is not a place you wander into at three in the afternoon and expect to find a full menu. Arriving before noon is strongly advisable, especially if you are visiting on a weekend or during the school holidays when regulars queue early.

The shop is located along Jalan Cecily in Sandakan town, a short distance from the waterfront. It is a no-frills, functional space where the focus is entirely on the product. The grass jelly milk tea is the headline, but the shop also produces other traditional cold drinks that make it worth lingering over for a few minutes on a warm afternoon. Consider pairing a visit here with a walk to the nearby esplanade.

Coconut pudding is a Sandakan classic, and Ngee Lee Coffee Shop serves one of the finest versions in the city. The pudding is made from coconut milk, giving it a smooth, rich consistency and a clean sweetness that is never cloying. What makes the presentation memorable is the vessel: the pudding arrives in an actual coconut shell, which adds a visual theatricality and subtly reinforces the coconut flavour as you eat.

Unlike most of the other stops on this list, Ngee Lee operates primarily as an evening venue. The coffee shop opens at 5:30pm and runs until midnight, making it an ideal final stop after a day of exploring Sandakan's wildlife sanctuaries or heritage sites. The later hours also mean the temperature has dropped, making a cold coconut pudding even more satisfying as a way to end the day.

Ngee Lee Coffee Shop is located at Block A, 5-G, Bandar Nam Tung along Jalan Leila. The Bandar Nam Tung area is a relaxed neighbourhood a short drive from the town centre, and the coffee shop has a comfortable, open-air quality that encourages you to sit, eat slowly, and enjoy the evening. A car rental makes navigating between Sandakan's dining spots considerably easier, particularly for evening trips to locations outside the immediate centre.

Sandakan's food trail pairs perfectly with the city's wildlife and nature experiences. From Sepilok to Kinabatangan, there is plenty to explore between meals.

The English Tea House is one of Sandakan's most distinctive dining experiences, occupying a restored colonial building on a hill with sweeping views over the South China Sea. The afternoon tea set features freshly baked scones served with clotted cream and jam, presented on tiered stands in the manner of a proper British service. The combination of the food, the garden setting, and the sea views makes for an afternoon that feels genuinely unlike anything else in Sabah.

The English Tea House opens at 10:00am and closes at 9:00pm daily, which means it covers everything from a late breakfast through to an early dinner. The garden terrace is the preferred seating area: wide green lawns framed by tropical planting, with the elevated position offering a panoramic outlook that makes the tea taste even better. The interiors are fitted out with period furniture and archival photographs that tell something of Sandakan's history as a British North Borneo trading post.

The English Tea House is located at 2002 Jalan Istana, perched above the town centre. The elevated position means it is best reached by vehicle rather than on foot, particularly in the midday heat. It is worth building this into your afternoon schedule as a deliberate destination rather than a spontaneous drop-in. The experience rewards a little planning.

Sandakan is a city that earns its reputation quietly, through the quality of its food, the depth of its wildlife encounters, and the warmth of its communities. Southeast Asia's leading travel platform, Traveloka makes planning a trip here straightforward from a single app. Trusted by over 100 million users across the region, Traveloka brings together flights, hotels, activities, car rental, eSIM, and travel insurance in one place, so you can manage every element of your itinerary without switching between services.

For a food-focused trip like Sandakan, the ability to book hotels close to the town centre is particularly useful. Staying within walking distance of Lebuh Dua, Jalan Cecily, and the waterfront puts all five of these dining stops within easy reach. Traveloka's hotel search lets you filter by location, price, and guest ratings, so finding a well-placed base takes minutes rather than hours. Check out Traveloka promotions for the latest deals on hotels and flights to Sandakan.

Download the Traveloka app and start planning your Sandakan food adventure today. With real-time availability, competitive pricing, and a full suite of travel products, it is the most efficient way to turn a list of must-try dishes into a fully booked itinerary.