If you’re in Sabah – you should probably try some local Sabahan food! No doubt you’ve had enough nasi lemak to keep you going for a while, so take a trip to Little Sulap in Kota Kinabalu for a truly local taste of Sabah.
Before you go, make sure you learn some Malay foodie phrases to order like a pro!
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How to get there
Little Sulap has a central location in Kota Kinabalu and is easy to get to if you’re staying in the more touristic area of the city. The café is a short 3-minute walk from Gaya Street, and just a 20-minute walk from Kota Kinabalu waterfront.
Inside the café
The definition of chic – this café is probably the most instagramable eatery you’ll visit in the city. The experience here begins as you approach the bright pink door which leads inside – it is then you begin to forget about the hustle and bustle of Kota Kinabalu.
A welcoming and cosy interior awaits, with seating downstairs and upstairs. For all you tall “orang putih” – that’s white people in Malay, you’ll want to grab a seat downstairs. The ceiling height upstairs was not designed with us in mind!
The menu
The menu contains everything from meatballs in gravy with chips to the headliner here – “The Original Sabahan”. They even have mash potatoes – Astaga!!
Plenty of fried food here – this is Malaysia after all. A menu with a variety that caters for all – chicken chop and chips comes in at 14.90 MYR, and fried fish with rice at 8.90 MYR. Dishes are available a la carte, or in a set – a set comes with a drink.
Drinks
Drinks are reasonably priced here for the area. An iced tea is 4.90 MYR, and the refreshing pink lemonade is 5.90 MYR. Little Sulaps personality shines through with the Kupi bantaton, which translates to “cheeky coffee”. Word of warning – use the word “bantaton” with caution when not ordering a coffee!
“The Original Sabahan”
A real local dish with fried fish, rice, plenty of Dusun veggies and an unbelievable soup – a must try! The ginuring basung – fried fish, and the rice, are the main elements of this dish. However, it is the sides which really make this a taste sensation.
Bambangan is a wild mango fruit indigenous to Borneo – and tastes great with the fish. This dish is served with a selection of other veggies, and sambal. Sambal is a chili sauce – it’s not overly spicy here either. The turmeric sour soup which accompanies the meal is a real treat for the taste buds and rounds off this local experience.
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