@mosphere, Menara Tun Mustapha

By nicholas86 | September 16, 2007

This restaurant just opened after 15 years and is situated in the Menara Tun Mustapha on the 18th floor – with sweeping views of Kota Kinabalu and the South China Sea. Simply stunning, @mosphere is retro-modern in design with funky lounge chairs perfect for sunset cocktails and late night drinks. The dining areas are extremely comfortable and warm – perfect for romantic nights or just getting out with friends to taste something different. When you walk in the doors here – you will forget that you are in Borneo!!

This place was simply amazing from the minute you walk in the door! A riot of colours and design – with a huge orange bar and comfortable couches and funky shaped chairs… I couldn’t believe I was still in Borneo!! The staff was wonderful and the food was great – and reasonably priced. This was a real treat after eating in many local cafes and in the hotels (which are expensive and lifeless).

The whole menu is interesting with a lot of tempting dishes… Personal favourites are the lamb shank (it just falls off the bone) and the stuffed chicken (chicken can be so boring but this is just a big wow.) Desserts are also unbelievable – the chocolate fondant is to die for!!

All the food looked good. I had the Oyster Shooters – chili lime vodka flavoured – simply delicious and adictive. For my main, I had the grilled prawns, which was served on risotto.

We went for sunset – which was truly spectacular – what a view!! After the sunsets, the restaurant starts revolving, which was fun – but the view isn’t great after dark — but it is ok, since the interior is so great. I wish we could have gone for lunch too.. but no time! I really do recommend this place – it woud be a shame to miss it!

DIRECTIONS: Menara Tun Mustapha, Likas Bay. From KK, follow all signboards leading to “Teluk Likas”, which will leave you on a highway snaking along the bay. Menara Tun Mustapha should be visible WAY before you get there, given that it IS the tallest building in Sabah.

At the roundabout directly in front of Menara Tun Mustapha, take the 2nd left turn (the 1st left turn is for VIPs only), park that sassy car, and hop on the lift all the way to the top.

BUS ROUTES: (Privately I feel if you’re on a bus budget you shouldn’t even be considering this place…but if you so wish…) All Number 1 buses head along Likas Bay to UMS. Ask to be let off at Menara Tun Mustapha. Note that these buses can be sporadic – at times notoriously scarce, at others, a dime a dozen. Prepare to call a taxi if things go bad.

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Kampung Nelayan Seafood Restaurant

By nicholas86 | September 16, 2007

Kampung Nelayan Seafood Restaurant is one of many seafood restaurants in Kota Kinabalu. However this has got to be my favorite. It’s a cozy place to be, you’re not just there to eat, but to have fun, socialize, or watch an entertaining show.


The entrance, in neon, immediately stands out from the crowd

There is a cultural show every night. Sabah’s colorful traditional dances are on display, every night, complete with live traditional music, between 19:45 and 20:45. Guests also get to participate in the show – always makes for a good laugh, White Man attempting to do the bamboo-dance or try to shoot balloons with the local blowpipe.


Those massive prawns. filled to the brim with juice


An interesting vegetable – the local Sabahan fern. Ooh, crunchy.

If you prefer a quieter and private ambience, you can request for private rooms. They call it the VIP room. It is like a dining room and a living room in one; there are couches, television and Karaoke set, etc. You’ll also have your own private washroom.


The house specialty Muar tofu, drenched in soy sauce and minced pork

House specialties: Hinava (local food), pandan chicken, yam basket, chilli crabs, buttered lobster, Sabah vegetables, garlic scallop, black pepper ostrich meat.


A well-baked crab, awaiting diners’ dissection.

DIRECTIONS: Just drive down to Luyang; you’ll get there, it’s at the end of Jalan Kolam, in the Tun Fuad Park, nestled gently in a copse of trees, floating on a lake.

BUS ROUTES: Take any Luyang or Beverly Hills bus and get off at the terminus, outside the Bukit Padang Hospital

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Foo Phing Dim Sum

By nicholas86 | September 14, 2007

Foo Phing Dim Sum has behaved like a fugitive on the run for years; they’ve moved from shoplot to shoplot, ALWAYS in a location far from the madding crowd (previous locations in the past 10 years have all been in back rows of nondescript commercial centres), yet always find-able by the true dim sum conoisseurs.


Foo Phing in its current reincarnation in Taman Hilltop

Entry to the shop is via 1) a backdoor in a parking lot; 2) a covered terrace only accessible VIA another parking lot. God bless them. Still, once you get into the shop, you are immediately astounded by the sheer number of TABLES. They have a huge, shoplot-sized aircon section (where there is NO additional charge, contrary to popular opinion), and outdoor tables are just strewn all over the frontage of at least 5 other adjacent shops.

Sit down, and a motley of “carts” will head in your direction, all jostling for attention. There are 2 major “carts” – the “dim sum” (steamed) cart and the fried items cart. Fish through the Star Buys of the dim sum cart, as we did:


Clockwise from left – sio mai, mini-cha siew steamed bun (pau), pork spare ribs, lotus-leaf rice

These are their specialties, and a trip to Foo Phing would not be complete without any of the above four. Now that we’ve got your tastebuds worked up, we head on to the Fried Items cart for their two trademark purchases:


L-R: woo kok (yam cake), prawn balls.

The woo kok melts in the mouth; such is its succulence that the pork just melds with the yam in synergy. The prawn balls are fried to a tender crisp hue, yet the meat is still solid and tender.

Also raise your hand and ask for the secret kitchen-based items:

Most items are priced at RM 1.80, with the occasional RM 2.70 or RM 4 whopper; these items are pretty obviously categorized by size, so rip-offs are scarcely possible.

This place has been top of the dim sum rankings in KK ever since its inception, and it certainly doesn’t seem as if it will be dislodged from its lofty spot anytime soon.

DIRECTIONS: Head in the direction of Luyang and turn right at the main Jalan Lintas intersection (the one where a HUGE four lane road, Jalan Kolam itself, meets another. You can’t miss it.) Take the second left turn (it will be fronted by a row of shops, and a HUGE orange Unitar branch campus building.)

Drive up to the roundabout at the end, make a U-Turn, then, passing a huge seafood restaurant on your left, take the next left turn.

The back end of Foo Phing should be visible anytime soon on your left. Alternatively, you could park on the shoulder next to said seafood restaurant then enter the building via the covered walkway. Foo Phing will be soon visible.

BUS ROUTES: Any Taman Jindo green PUT bus will do. Alternatively, for faster access, just take any Luyang, Bukit Padang or Beverly Hills bus, then hop off at the Jalan Lintas junction, then refer to above directions to walk in from there. It should take 15 minutes to get there.

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Peppermint Cafe

By nicholas86 | September 6, 2007

The one and only Vietnamese “coffeeshop” I’ve ever seen in Malaysia – and my, there certainly seems to be a proliferation of these shops in KK. Notwithstanding a recent influx of refugees from the 1978 Sino-Vietnamese War, there seems to be utterly no reason for this inexplicable confluence of Vietnamese places save sheer serendipity.

Peppermint has been long known for its cheap Vietnamese food; anyone who’s lived in KK long enough will recall the days when they were still based in a grimy Asia City shoplot. Since then they’ve moved to the ground floor of Malar Kinabalu Hotel, but have maintained the same sensational prices and taste.

I have personally yet to come across a Vietnamese coffeeshop on my travels in Malaysia, so this place holds a special position as a unique form of KK food – the Vietnamese coffeeshop, in any case only available in Vietnam proper.


The tantalising combination cold vermicelli, spring rolls and beef set

The beef noodle soup takes your breath away – RM 4 with a stack of tauge (bean sprouts), good, succulent beef strips, and a broth that’s seen hours of painstaking work. The tripe is fine, not too rough on the tongue, yet not too small as to be dainty; but one must not forget Vietnamese chicken rice, which bears faint whiffs of French influence.


The infamous Vietnamese beef noodle soup. RM 4

Vietnamese popiahs (spring rolls) ARE a must try. They generally come with a sour-ish sauce, keeping the taste buds tickled.


Vietnamese style popiah (spring rolls) for you – RM 4 per set

The bill will never run beyond RM 5 each, making this a must-stop on any tourist’s list, who wants to experience Vietnam for, what one would say, Vietnamese prices.

DIRECTIONS: Malar Kinabalu Hotel is on Jalan Pantai, near the Milimewa in the centre of town. From Wisma Merdeka or Hyatt Hotel, Milimewa should be easily visible. From there, Peppermint is one hop away.

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Corner Lot, Foh Sang

By nicholas86 | August 29, 2007

On a whim, one morning, we strolled into this shop for breakfast, seeing as they only had ONE stall selling food, which, by general logic, is a good sign. We were not disappointed.

They only sell fish parts noodles; always a good bet for a KK clientele, and even better when they seem to be monopolising the Foh Sang market. The noodles are good, if not unspectacular; but the key lies in the fishballs.

The fishballs are round and soft, almost like pearls, but with the texture of extremely fresh fish; but once you sink your teeth in, things change. There’s a meaty stuffing in the middle, which contrasts perfectly with the soft lustre of the fishball itself.

The rest of the bowl was filled to the brim with random items from the typical fish spare part inventory - all very good, and all very promising for this place’s reputation as a legend.

DIRECTIONS: Foh Sang centre row of shops, the far right corner (if facing the main Jalan Kolam). Right next to the right end of the market perched precariously next to the drain

Topics: Within KK, Foh Sang, Fish Noodles | No Comments »

Wan Chai Hong Kong Restaurant

By nicholas86 | August 29, 2007

A new addition to the burgeoning list of Hong Kong restaurants, epitomised by that doyen of SS2 PJ, Hong Kong Cha Chan Teng, with a branch outlet in Warisan Square. This pretender to the throne looked desolate on a Wednesday afternoon; we decided to put it through its paces.

Indoor decor’s not bad, mind you - with plush white seats and a huge montage of a brightly lit Hong Kong skyline mounted on the wall, it was a promising start. Once the menu landed on our tables, however, we knew we were not getting the Real McCoy. Too many items were crossed out or not available for order anymore, and we all know it’s not because they’ve sold out. Judging by the clientele that afternoon, we gave it 2 months to shut down, nothing more.

Otherwise, food was not bad for a Hongkie place -  the Yin Yong (mixed Eastern/Western baked rice)  was rather authentic looking, but of course DID seem rather store-bought. The Nissin noodle was exactly what it claimed to be - Maggi with an egg and some pork. The Yin Yong Tea DID seem very Hong Kong-ish, though.

The bill ran up to double figures; not a bad price, considering how expensive food in Hong Kong REALLY is.

Worth a shot if you’ve never had Hong Kong food before and want to try it without busting the bank; otherwise, steer clear. With a wide margin.

DIRECTIONS: Head out to Lintas, turn right at the roundabout. It’s the last shop at the end of the dual carriageway leading in, at the corner - you won’t miss it.

Topics: Chinese, Within KK, Lintas | No Comments »

Kedai Kopi Fui Lau

By nicholas86 | August 29, 2007

A direct translation of the shop name is hardly flattering - Fat Man Coffee Shop. On the other hand, on first sight, all the staff were wearing Fat Man corporate uniforms. Hardly a sign of a coffeeshop with an uncertain future, eh?

The house specialty seems to be their fish noodles and something cryptically labelled “wah nyuk men” (smooth meat noodle). My curiosity piqued, I plumped for the latter, and was promptly rewarded by a RM 4 bowl of…what by far was the best sang nyuk (a Tawau specialty) I’d ever tasted.

The noodles themselves seem to be softer, a little stringier, than the average; the sauce seems to be your rather traditional soy-and-oyster mix - but the meat was superb. Soft and delectable, the best I’ve had in a LONG time. The soup itself is chock full of cabbage and fried onions, exuding a characteristic pungency.

In all, a very impressive effort at wah nyuk mien, and certainly worth a repeat visit.

Topics: Within KK, Donggonggon, Chinese General | No Comments »

Baba Nyonya Cuisine

By nicholas86 | August 29, 2007

Grand Millennium Plaza, off the Donggonggon-Sembulan bypass, is a fairly impressive effort at increasing the KK food repertoire; so far, there have been many food stalls of repute there, and by far, the Baba Nyonya stall, if perhaps not the most illustrious, probably qualifies as one of the more unique. This shop is next to the supermarket entrance, hidden under the guise of a Malay shop.

The food itself - they have Baba Nyonya curry and Baba Nyonya noodles, all fried; or you have a choice of mixed rice. The mixed rice itself is rather unexceptional - the only Nyonya cuisine would, perhaps, be the stuffed tofu, or the Nyonya curry. At RM 5, not very cheap, either.

Perfect if all you’ve wanted to do in life is to try Nyonya food, and have no ticket out of KK; not so perfect if you can haul yourself to, even, Miri, where I guarantee you, a good Nyonya shop awaits.

Topics: Within KK, Concept, Penampang | No Comments »

Emperor Delight Restaurant

By nicholas86 | August 28, 2007

The latest addition to the KK gourmet scene, Emperor Delight has already delighted countless with its zany antics.

This swanky, red-and-black checker-patterned place immediately draws unwanted attention. It has interior designing far more reminiscent of a nightclub than a restaurant; and most of all, the kitchen and the dining area are separated by a wide, half-wall height glass panel, where the chief chef conducts a performance on par with that of the teh tarik man.

It is a “ramen” shop with a twist; whereas most shops peddle Japanese instant noodles under the guise of “ramen”, this shop “pulls” its own flour noodles. The chef kneads the flour into a nice long roll, then, tethering his hands to both ends, he pulls away, stretching and shrinking the flour roll, till it becomes nice and bouncy. Then - the piece de resistance - he holds it up by one end, and, forms a complex geometric pattern, whipping the loose end round and round itself, interlocking to form a key-like structure.

Classic art. If ever food preparation was on the cusp of being elevated to an art, this would be my top pick. His technique is worthy of a YouTube video, mind you.

The food proper, of course, is excellent. They are famous for, of course, the abovementioned noodles; and after all that pulling, it takes on a rather stringy texture, far from the Maggi with which it shares a moniker. The noodles are given in sumptuously huge portions; you will not be crying out for more.

Especially worth a mention are their Shanghai Xiao Long Pau or miniature “pau”s are nice and juicy, with the right texture for paus. The Hand Torn Bread, coming in regular and onion-garlic variants, are another must-try - one is eerily reminded of Roti Canai, funnily enough. Also on the hit list is definitely the Beef Brisket Noodle. Coming with a huge slab of beef soaked in a generously endowned soup, each bite is heaven.

Those of you who fancy your meals fried can take a stab at the Paikut Noodle - the Paikut (pork ribs) are given the spice treatment and fried to a golden crisp. Each noodle dish comes with the same tofu slab and noodle helping, so no matter what you order, it’s just the soup that differs.

Topics: Chinese General, Beach Street | No Comments »

New Gaya Seafood Restaurant

By nicholas86 | August 28, 2007

This seafood restaurant is tucked into what is by far an inauspicious location, nestled a little off the Kionsom Road. If approaching from Inanam, turn into town at the roundabout, then turn right opposite Taman Langkah (the road is clearly labelled Jalan Bantayan Minintod, for those who are adept at reading road signs while driving in an unfamiliar neighbourhood)

The restaurant itself is a sight to behold - with its wooden roof and thatched walls, it is reminiscent of a jungle bar. It has an air-con section, for the same price, and with huge fish tanks dotting the right walls, you can hardly accuse it of lacking ambience. With a set of perfectly clean toilets - a rarity for an out-of-the-way seafood joint - it has its merits.

But it’s the food we’re here for, no?

They offer set meals at roughly RM 30 per person; for a 9-course affair, I am suitably impressed. We had the signature ostrich meat which, as usual, despite being touted as health food, certainly lives up to its bill. The elephant trunk, a breed of clam, just in case one is wondering, comes lightly fried in ginger, leaving a mellowy aftertaste. Also, we had butter prawns; not the best, but decent enough to warrant that price. The centrepiece crabs were good, nice and crunchy. Also available were fried rice, the New Gaya vegetarian special, and a tofu dish.

They also offer another service - bring your own vegetables, and they’ll cook it for you in a few basic styles, at no cost. The catch, naturally, is that you’d better not just go there for the vegetables. Order something else.

In all, a good place for a budget seafood meal; I have no qualms about the freshness of the seafood or the prices. Obviously, quality-wise Salut or Gayang are the better picks, but for KK-ians who relish a change in scenery, that would be it.

Topics: Inanam | No Comments »

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