Located on Borneo’s north-western flank, Sabah is Malaysia’s east coast capital. The state has 30 ethnicities and among these groups more than 80 dialects are spoken. The people of the Kadazan/Dusun tribes constitute the largest indigenous racial groups in the state; recently, along the east coast, there’s been a huge influx of Filipino and Indonesian immigrants.

Finding somewhere to eat in Sabah is usually not a headache – there are plenty of Malay, Chinese and Indian restaurants catering to all tastes. Sabah’s capital – set between the lush tropical hills and the South China Sea – is Kota Kinabalu. The best eateries are, of course, located in KK. Dining in the city can be expensive since the standard of living here is high but it also has a decent selection of hawker stalls. Unfortunately a lot of these restaurants close early so you’re probably going to have early dinners during your time here. Nonetheless it must be said that the variety of fare is extensive – fresh seafood is an especially popular menu selection. The numerous restaurants, stalls, and tamus (markets) offer specialties including indigenous dishes – each area offers a different type of cuisine as it depends on the dominant indigenous group.