Located at the northeastern tip of the state, Sandakan is the second largest town in Sabah. Sandakan is also a port and its location next to the sea means the seafood in this town can’t get any fresher. The fishing boats dock right at the seafront of the town and unload the day’s catch. Fresh whole seafood and its many processed forms make up the town’s favourite and popular eats.

The main offerings in Restaurant Mei Mei are different varieties of fishpaste-based items and noodles with Ice Lime Juice.

Due to the fresh and abundant seafood, bak kut teh Sandakan-style showcases seafood items. The regular pork (various cuts and innards) are also available but the popular orders are for fresh prawns and fish (whole and fillet). Big succulent prawns, thick cuts of siakap fillets and whole “lai mung” fishes. Enjoy them in steaming thick dark bak kut teh soup brimming with Chinese herbs.

Kim Fung Market is located in the town centre of Mile 4 and this place is a food paradise at all times of the day. The dumplings stall is a hive of activity as the dumplings are made on-site. Freshly-made meat paus and buns, deep-fried yam puffs (divine), barbecued chicken wings and peanut apam are all popular eats at this food centre. Do not miss out their famous smooth slippery tau foo fah (soybean curd), a most welcome dessert on a humid evening. Kim Fung Market is the place to head to for quick delicious bites. Look out for their famous yau char kway (Chinese crullers) served with butter and kaya.

Unique to Sandakan, the Cantonese name for Sandakan’s famous UFO Tarts, On top of this is meringue enclosing a yellow centre of eggy custard. Quite a number of Chinese bakeries in Sandakan town offer these cute tarts and their presentation differ from bakery to bakery. Instead of meringue, some use whipped cream while others pipe a cross on top of the custard.

A must-order item is their popular “rubber” noodles, so called because the noodles are very al dente and springy.

Besides Sandakan Food, don’t forget to visit our proboscis monkey at Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary. The Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary offers another perfect Proboscis monkeys observation spot for any tourist who wants to have a closer look at these very special monkeys and do not have the time to travel too far away to watch them. It would definitely gives you one of the most exhilarating and memorable experience observing the Proboscis monkeys both young and adult leaping from tree to tree and eventually down to feed on young leaves and plants. The leaping act is superb, fast, steady, stylish and perfect.