Malays are very fond of fish, with cuttlefish and shrimp being favourites.

If you are looking for some handy information on the types of cuisine in Malaysia and some great restaurant suggestions for your holiday in Sandakan, check out our Sandakan Restaurant Guide below.

We have provided some details on the ins and outs of Malay cuisine and listed a number of Sandakan restaurants we are sure you will love. There are a number of great dining options surrounding the Sandakan shopping districts, so be sure to savour the fine taste of Malaysian cuisine between shopping sprees.

Food & Cuisine in Sandakan

A few ingredients like kaffir lime leaves, pandan (screwpine) leaves, lemon grass, fresh herbs like daun kemangi (a type of basil), bunga kantan (wild ginger buds), kunyit (turmeric), nutmeg, and daun kesum (laksa leaf) give Malay food its typical flavour. Spices like coriander, cumin, star anise, pepper, fenugreek and cardamom are also used a lot, giving the Indian touch to Malay Cuisine.

A special Malay seasoning is prepared by pounding garlic, onion, fresh chilli paste and galangal along with other spices and cooking the paste in oil. This paste adds subtle flavours when added to any dish. Fresh coconut milk is also commonly used in Malay cooking.

Rice is a main part of all Malay meals. Eating with hands is common and very few utensils are used for eating. A refreshing drink is a part of any meal and all the dishes that form part of the meal are served at the same time. Malays are very fond of fish, with cuttlefish and shrimp being favourites. Mutton, chicken and beef are eaten with relish but pork is forbidden due to religious beliefs. Savouring seafood is one of the main highlights of a trip to Sandakan.

Several traditional coffee shops in Sandakan offer local favourites, with chicken rice and noodles being top of the list. When hunger beckons you can take your pick from Western, Indian, Chinese or Malay food, all of which are available at most restaurants in Sandakan.

Sandakan holds a place of pride for fresh seafood in all of Sabah. Compared to Kota Kinabalu, the capital city, prices in Sandakan are relatively cheaper.

Ocean King, a restaurant in Sandakan that takes its name from its location beside the ocean, is a popular seafood restaurant. From the town centre this restaurant can be reached in 10 minutes.

The Sandakan Garden Restaurant gives you a great view along with scrumptious food. The restaurant is located on a hilltop near Sandakan along the Signal Hill road. Visitors flock to this place for the speciality do-it-yourself, ‘steamboat' cooking. Arrangements are also made for barbeques. This is a fun place to hang out with family and friends.

Seafood lovers can have a sumptuous repast at the Ocean King and the Sandakan Garden Restaurant. Families throng to both restaurants for a relaxing dinner.

Do try tempoyak - stir fried red durian - when you are in Sandakan. A word of warning though - you need to acquire a taste for this dish to appreciate it. Red durian is difficult to get, so this dish is a very special one. The red durian or Alau as it is called in Kinabatangan is not planted but found growing wild in the river basin. It is tough to pluck from the tree. Separating the flesh from the outer skin and seeds is also a very tedious process.

The fruit, once extracted, is salted and preserved. Tempoyak is prepared by stir frying the fruit with onion and chilli in oil. The wild red durian does not taste sweet but has a creamy texture and rich flavour. So it is best consumed cooked, unlike the yellow durian which is eaten as a fruit.

There is a dark brown durian, too, which is even more aromatic than the red one.  

Hollywood market: Fishball noodles

A good place to have breakfast in Sandakan is at the Hollywood Market, which is located just above the Sandakan Big Market. This place is open from 6 am to 11 am and has a wonderful view of the Sandakan harbour.

The most popular dish here is the Pure Fishball noodles which are served with a tangy vinegar chilli sauce. Priced at RM2.50 a bowl, which translates to less than USD 1, this breakfast will be easy on your pocket too.

Trig Hill Restaurant: Best Seafood Steamboat You Ever Get!

The Trig Hill restaurant is situated on top of a hill, making it Sandakan's highest restaurant. Delicious seafood, your favourite drink and a wonderful view of the harbour - you get this winning combination at this eatery.

Wondering where you get into a steamboat on top of a hill? ‘Steamboat' is just the local name for a huge steamy pot like the Japanese Sukiyaki. You can take your pick of seafood from a buffet and take it to the ‘steamboat' for cooking as you like it. The average price per head for a meal comes to RM 18, which translates to a little less than £3 per head.

Remember to pick just what you can eat, as you will be paying for whatever you get cooked and not just what you eat. Any food left over in the ‘steamboat' is charged at the rate of RM3 for 100gms. Eating out in Sandakan is a rewarding and fun experience.