The best restaurants Kota Kinabalu

Located within The Magellan hotel complex, this airy, sea-view restaurant offers a relaxing break from the hustle and bustle of the city. The cuisine is primarily Mediterranean-inspired(mezze, pizza, etc.), but the menu also features more local or fusion dishes. The menu of wood-fired pizzas changes weekly, with recipes influenced by Malaysian cuisine that are sometimes surprising! Good value for money, in a relaxed setting that's very pleasant at sunset.

This unpretentious restaurant, at least as far as the setting is concerned, brings together a few hawkers, the street traders who have settled here. Many locals consider it the best place in town to try Bornean laksa. You'll find it at the Sarawak Kuching Laksa stall, which prepares its broth by adding coconut milk. Noodles, shrimp and chicken are then plunged into the broth. A delicious dish. But you can also try ngau chap, a beef-based soup, another popular Kota Kinabalu dish.

As the name suggests, this restaurant serves Hungarian specialties. The owner, who hails from Central Europe, was nostalgic for the country and decided to share her rich gastronomic repertoire with the locals. The small room with its colorful walls seats just 20 people and is often overflowing. Goulash, chicken roulade and schnitzel (breaded chicken cutlet) seem to appeal to Malaysians. We appreciate the freshness of the ingredients and the faultless service. Vegetarian and gluten-free options are also on the menu.

For lovers of fresh shellfish and fish, this great Chinese restaurant is for you. Every evening, the same scenario repeats itself: a horde of hungry customers flock here for the freshness of the produce, the reasonable prices and the good food. You choose your dinner directly from the aquariums or crates. The chef then prepares your selection according to your taste: steamed, grilled, fried, curried, in a sweet-and-sour or soy-ginger sauce, the choice is vast. It's best to get there around 6 p.m. to avoid stock-outs.

Housed in a former Australian soldiers' camp, this café-bar-restaurant serves a variety of fusion cuisine in a neat, nostalgic setting. The establishment was set up by a group of fellow travelers, whose combined experiences are reflected on the plate as well as on the walls. Pasta is served with shrimp and turmeric, while tacos are made with fish (their signature dish). Save room for a waffle, as good as any in Brussels. In the evening, the place transforms into a trendy bar and the terrace fills up. Salsa night on Fridays.

In the lively atmosphere of Jalan Gaya,this Kota Kinabalu institution is always packed, especially at weekends. Here you can enjoy a quick bite of their famous Bak Kut Teh, which literally means "meat and tea". It's a pork soup simmered in a broth of herbs and spices. The dish was imported by Chinese coolies in the ^19th century. The soup is made from pork organs such as intestines, stomach and ears. If giblets aren't your thing, ask for a meat-only soup.

A little piece of Italy in the middle of Borneo, that's what this tiny restaurant offers, with its open kitchen and a few tables on the waterfront. The tables face the harbor and its fishing boats. The Italian chef concocts generous dishes from his native Grande Botte: spaghetti with seafood, penne with pesto, pizza or the unmissable tiramisu. Everything is freshly prepared to order, so waiting times can be quite long. But the excellent service, the fine Italian wine and the sunset will make you forget this inconvenience.