Kedai Kopi Mee Tauhu Tawau @ Jalan Apas, Tawau

HALAL | MEE TAUHU | 7AM - 2PM | TAWAU

When talking about Tawau's signature food, one shouldn't be excluded from the "yummy list" is the Mee Tauhu. To get you right, this Mee Tauhu is Halal, being started by Muslim hawker and continue to gain its status as the Sabah town's famous food. There are many shops in Tawau selling Mee Tauhu (and these shops don't sell other food except Mee Tauhu), some of them are relatives or previously work at the famous Mee Tauhu shop and left to start their own.

Mee Tauhu is like "Yong Tauhu" in West Malaysia, where the beancurd (tofu) and other ingredients such as bitter gourd, okra, tofu skin and egg plant, sliced, then stuffed with fish paste. As the name suggest, people eat the stuffed tofu with noodle, but you can have it with Nasi Kuning or plain rice.

Kedai Kopi Mee Tauhu Tawau

Kedai Kopi Mee Tauhu Tawau

Stuffed egg plant, cooked in Bean Paste gravy

Stuffed Tofu (but the meat fall off when served)
The tofu was a bit on the sour side and the fish paste tasted like chicken... Not sure which type of fish they are using

Nasi Kuning (tumeric rice) with Sambal Egg

Fried Noodle with Egg
This is the "default" version of Mee Tauhu Tawau

Mee Tauhu Tawau

Someone may asked: how is it compare to the Chinese Hakka's version of "Yong Tauhu"? My answer is: they are in a different league, non-Halal of course,

FOODIOT'S POINT: 65%

BUSINESS HOUR: 7AM - 2PM

LOCATION:
Leeka Light Industrial Estate,
Jalan Taman Perindustrian Leeka, Off Jalan Apas,
91000 Tawau, Sabah

Hard Rock Cafe Kota Kinabalu @ Oceanus Waterfront Mall

SERVE NO PORK | WESTERN FOOD, BAR & LIVE BAND | 11AM - 2AM

Since its establishment in 1972, Hard Rock Cafe has been the home for fans of music, great parties and good food. This American themed restaurant & bar from the UK (the story begun when two guys from the States trying to find hamburger in London!) can be found in over 175 venues and over 55 countries, and all these cafes / bar  / hotels / casino share one similarity: Hard Rock Cafe has the greatest music memorabilia collections such as clothes, guitars and signatures!

This month of April marked the opening of the latest Hard Rock outlet and the third franchise in Malaysia, after Kuala Lumpur and Penang. Hard Rock Cafe and Rock Shop Kota Kinabalu is located at Oceanus Waterfront Mall, offers the cafe's Signature Burger, steaks from the Smokehouse, lists of cocktails, T-shirts, souvenirs and many more! Live band performs at 10PM until midnight, great news for party-goer in KK!

Get your Classic T-shirt from the Rock Shop

The collections and the stage

Hard Rock Cafe Kota Kinabalu

Hard Rock Cafe KK

A Mango Mambo or somthing... 

Root Beer Float
Unfortunately not from the tap :P

Hickory Smoked BBQ Lamb and Chicken
The pulled lamb was wonderfully marinated and infused with the hickory smokey sauce! Perfect flavor and 

Black Pepper Steak
Grilled 7oz striploin topped with black pepper sauce, smashed potatoes, gravy and vegetables

I asked for medium well...

Nachos for the starter
Loved the sour cream

Hickory BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger
Thick beef patty with bacon, cheese and most importantly, the BBQ sauce!

Apple Cobler

FOODIOT'S POINT: 75%

BUSINESS HOUR:
Sunday - Thursday: 11.30AM - 2AM
Friday - Saturday: 11.30AM - 3AM

PHONE: 088-273952

ADDRESS:
Unit G26 & F28, Oceanus Waterfront Mall,
Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens,
88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

A Better Cup of Coffee @ INCH Coffee Movement, KK

SERVE NO PORK | SPECIALTY COFFEE | TUESDAY - SUNDAY | 11AM - 6PM

INCH Coffee Movement, or simply, INCH Cafe is one of the place in Kota Kinabalu serving you Specialty Coffee. [Click here to know more about Specialty Coffee] I have been INCH's regular since the cafe started last November. Despite their late entry to the cafe scene in Sabah and offering the niche, INCH Cafe was ranked No.3 in an online survey conducted by Sabaheats.com.

A few types of Single-origin Specialty Coffee and House Blends are available daily, choose to explore your World of Coffee and get to experience the fun of mapping the Geography / your own taste buds. Allow the barista to guide you through the discovery of acidity / fruitiness / aroma of your coffee. Trust me, you will discover another reason to drink coffee after going through these.

Too complicated? No problem! Your familiar-looking Cappuccino / Latte / Ice Latte are being served too! If you are strong coffee drinker, don't miss the Vavalatte or Cold Brew coffee at the INCH Cafe. For people who only want to drink a cup of good coffee per day, I recommend you either a Hand Drip Single Origin Specialty Coffee (currently INCH is offering Kenya Muranga Washed, Ethiopia Wanago Natural, Costa Rica Llano, Ethiopia Wote Konga, Ethiopia Dumerso Natural and Ethiopia Kochere -- while stock last!) or Vavalatte - a mutant type of latte with 1oz less milk, hence produce a stronger outcome.

INCH Coffee Movement

A Kalita Wave Dripper
How many types of coffee extraction / brewing methods have you seen so far? 

Pouring a Cappuccino
A good Cappuccino must be able to drink immediately when served - not too hot! And the milk must be silky smooth!

INCH Coffee Movement

Indoor Parking
INCH Cafe is located under the same roof / next to CAD KK and Damago Travel Agent

INCH Coffee Movement

Genetically good coffee trees, good quality coffee beans, hardworking farmers, suitable processing method, suitable transportation and storage, a good roaster who are able to unlock the best potential of coffee bean, a skillful barista who choose the best possible method to release the true quality of coffee... lots of knowledge, skills, science, patient, apparatus, talent, very detailing and hard work behind the bar, traceable to the farm/tree. This briefly introduce the idea of A Better Cup of Coffee #bettercoffeekk

FOODIOT'S POINT: 90%

BUSINESS HOUR: 11AM - 6PM (CLOSES ON MONDAY)

CONTACT: 016-6393807

FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/inchcoffee

INSTAGRAM: @INCHCOFFEE

ADDRESS:
No. 1 & 3, Block 6 MDR,
Jalan Pelabuhan, Tanjung Lipat,
88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
(Same building as Centre of Arts and Design Sabah)

MAP:

Tauhu Bakar & Sotong Sayur Kang Kung @ Restoran Fortuna

SERVE NO PORK | DINNER - LATE NIGHT | TAMAN FORTUNA, KK

Every evening, there is a food cart / van in front of Restoran Fortuna selling Tauhu Bakar (Grilled tofu - stuffed with shredded cucumber and topped with lots of peanuts), Sotong Kang Kung (squid and water spinach salad) and some snacks. Another stall selling nice and cheap BBQ Chicken Steak and Chicken Wings, also located at the al fresco dining area of the chinese restaurant (non-halal). Worth to try if you are craving of these snack food, they are serve no pork if you are concern about that.

The food cart

The tauhu used is different than the usual tauhu sumbat

Tauhu Bakar
The tauhu is stuffed with lots of shredded cucumber and topped with roasted peanut and rojak sauce

Yum!

Sotong Sayur Kang Kung
Not bad^^
The magic to this "snack food" was similar to the tauhu bakar -- the roasted peanut! 

I also tried this BBQ Chicken Thigh - marinated and grilled to perfection, still juicy inside, best to eat with the special chillies sauce

Restoran Fortuna

FOODIOT'S POINT: 78%

BUSINESS HOUR: 6PM onwards until midnight

LOCATION: Taman Fortuna, along Jalan Penampang (near HQE)

MAP:

Borenos Fried Chicken @ Star City, Kota Kinabalu

HALAL | FAST FOOD | STAR CITY | 088-486623

Is there any fried chicken out there that are able to outclass Colonel Sanders' ? May be there is! The tips are:

1. "Borrow" the recipe from Colonel Sanders (WARNING: STEALING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY IS CRIME)
2. Try the newly opened Borenos Fried Chicken at Star City (also known as Asia City)

Borenos Fried Chicken is a local name only started in March, this year! I cannot believe it until after I done some research of the brand story because what I saw was a proper setup and well-designed restaurant - just like any other International fast food chain! However unlike most fast food outlet, food at the Borenos are made to order.

To be frank I only tried Borenos once, but yeah! It was quite impressive from the first bite as the crispy coating crackled and shattered, exposing the steaming hot, but juicy and well-marinated meat inside. The end result -- 3 pieces of fried chicken (we ordered 5 pieces chicken combo with fries, buns, coleslaw and soft drinks at RM29.90, BigFish had 2 pieces) finished within 15 minutes! Will visit again definitely!

Borenos, bore-nos, or Borneo's?

Drinks
Upgrade to Rootbeer Float as in the pic with additional RM1.70

The Borenos Chicken

5 Pieces Chicken Combo good for 2 pax

Yummy!

Borenos Fried Chicken

FOODIOT'S POINT: TBA

BUSINESS HOUR: 10.30AM - 10PM

PHONE: 088486623

ADDRESS:
Borenos Fried Chicken
Lot G23, Star City North Complex,
Jalan Asia City,
88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
(Occupied the shoplot previously owned by Ikan-ikan Seafood)

Sakagura Japanese Restaurant @ Oceanus Waterfront Mall, Kota Kinabalu

SERVE NO PORK | JAPANESE FOOD | 11AM - 12MN | 088-273604

Foodies in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah are all excited with the new-opening Sakagura Japanese Restaurant. Originally from Hokkaido, Japan, Sakagura - literally translated as "Sake Brewery", is different compare to most other Japanese restaurants here in KK - food are cook and serve by true-Japanese at Sakagura.

After so many years of food-hunting in KK, this must be the first Japanese restaurant which is actually run by Japanese. I believe Japanese cuisines are not difficult to learn, in fact, there are so many ways to practice Japanese culture and culinary art simply because Malaysian are no stanger to Japanese food - there are so many of Japanese restaurants here! However, when it comes to detailing and discipline, no one can master like the Japanese do! Furthermore this is their own cuisine -- be it sushi, tempura, teppanyaki, noodle and sashimi, you can find it here at Sakagura.

Sakagura Japanese Restaurant

Sashimi Plate - 5 Types (RM103)
Consist of salmon, tuna, prawn and another 2 types of fish

Freshly grated wasabi
Never try never know wasabi can be so tasty!

Prawn Sashimi
The prawn has been throughoutly cleaned, shell was removed carefully - it show how tidy the knife work was! Good chef!

Okonomiyaki (Cabbage Pancake) in Hiroshima Style with Beef (RM35)
Okonomiyaki is a Japanese pancake which is very famous in Osaka (that's why the taste is almost similar to takoyaki, which is also very very famous in Osaka, yum!). I have several encounters with the Osaka's Okonomiyaki, however here at Sakagura, they are serving another version from Hiroshima area. 

Hiroshima Style Okonomiyaki use noodle, besides the typical batter, cabbage, seafood/meat.

Kobe Beef Teppanyaki (RM160)
The question mark (?) is not about the price tag, but how did they get the Kobe Beef from? As far as I know, real Kobe Beef is so high demand and only very limited number of produce was being exported - with very detailed traceability. 

You will never regret to order this / you will regret if you don't 

The prawn head from the sashimi was collected back to kitchen and boiled with Miso

Dashi Winding Egg (???) (RM19)
Was it Tamagoyaki? But the structure doesn't not looks like it... forgot to take note (too busy eating)

FOODIOT'S POINT: 85%

BUSINESS HOUR: 11AM - 12 MIDNIGHT

CONTACT: 088-273604

ADDRESS:
G-23 & G-25, Ground Floor,
Oceanus Waterfront Mall,
Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens,
88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

Hawker Food at New Chinatown Food Street, Singapore

Chinatown in Singapore is a much dense in Chinese culture compare to our Petaling Street - the "Chinatown" of Kuala Lumpur. Petaling Street has lost its Chinese identity over years, partly due to policies, another half due to the Chinese business owners who "rent" their retail stalls to Bangladeshi and mamak, which eventually becoming popular shopping district of many foreign workers. So, we see a Chinatown without Chinese.

Chinatown (牛车水) of Singapore, still function as the Island's most iconic tourism hub and the best part, this is the hub of Singaporean hawker food too! I visited the New Chinatown Food Street, which is surrounded by over 20 hawker stalls, hundreds of night market, shops and restaurants. The food street area is partly air conditioned and pretty well aired, so it is pretty confortable to dine here. This might not be the best food you can find in SG, but definitely a great place to sample out all under the same roof, street-style dining!

Chinatown Hawker Area (5min walk from Chinatown MRT Exit)

Ice Kacang

Six Taste Soup (Sweet)

Assam

Pan Grilled Sting Ray

Pan Grilled Sting Ray

Oa Jian (Oyster Omelet)

Oyster - still very juicy!

BUSINESS HOUR: 11AM - 11PM (Sometimes until late night)

LOCATION: Chinatown, Singapore

PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Chinatown MRT (DT19 / NE4)

ADDRESS: 335 Smith St Singapore 050335