Who would have thought that the café and restaurant scene in Kundasang offers a good mix of local delights and Western food? The foodie scene here is relatively mature with decent offerings complemented by scenic backdrops of rolling mountains at all angles.
While you’re here in Kundasang, make it a point to explore the culinary delights this tranquil near Kota Kinabalu has to offer.
Our tried-and-tested guide to where to eat at Kundasang is foolproof. So read on as we share the best Chinese restaurants in Kundasang, where you will find halal food and the best cafes with panoramic views!
1. Kloud Restaurant Bar and Café at Mountain Valley Resort
Straight out from a picturesque movie scene with mist-capped mountain peaks. Kloud Restaurant at Mountain Valley Resort boasts an indoor and outdoor seating area with a spectacular view.
(from left to right: Delicious waffles with a dollop of butter mix, nasi lemak and complimentary coffee or tea served with each main meal at Kloud Cafe)
Featuring a predominantly Western menu comprising an American Breakfast set, waffles, pasta, and lamb stew, they have popular local delights like nasi lemak. And superb vegetarian options to boot!
Their breakfast set is a sterling choice comprising 2 sunny side eggs, chicken ham, artisanal hotdogs, pan-fried potatoes, and a zesty avocado compote that balances this protein-packed dish.
While prices are above average, the quality of ingredients used is astounding, and service is top-notch.
Address: Jalan Tenompok, Bundu Tuhan, 89300 Ranau, Sabah
Operating Hours: 8am – 10pm daily
Contact: 019-651 8394
2. Hooga Café At Kundasang Farm Ville
Hooga Café is a sprawling café with indoor and outdoor dining areas and a unique “Farm Ville” at the back.
Its vintage industrial interior intersperses woody furniture with sleek lines and a chic play of lighting, making it one of the most Instagrammable cafes in Kundasang.
Hooga Cafes offers a foolproof menu comprising Western, Asian, salads, soups, pasta, and local favorites.
The Hooga Nasi Lemak features a delicious curry-drenched chicken thigh, sunny side egg, sweetish sambal, peanuts, and sliced cucumber.
The curry is not too spicy so even kids can handle it.
The Hooga Chicken Burger includes a juicy meat patty with fries served on the sides.
The Roti Canai BOM is another delicious option that’s not too heavy.
Overall, the food is average and nothing outstanding, but the vibes are relaxing.
(from left to right: Fairy-like garden; Instagrammable set ups at the Farm Ville for wedding shoots and fun; Hydroponic vegetable garden where you can pluck strawberries, lettuces and tomatoes for a fee.
You can also explore the Farm Ville at the back of the restaurant with an entrance fee of RM10 during the day and RM13 at night.
There’s a hydroponic vegetable display where you can harvest strawberries, tomatoes, and lettuces for an additional RM10, a kid's playground, and several spots for selfies.
Address: 89308 Kundasang, Sabah
Operating Hours: 9.30am – 10pm daily
Contact: Not available
3. August Kitchen
Serving wholesome and homely food, you'll find a good mix of western and fusion meals at August Kitchen. We liked the garlic bread, chicken chop with rice and salad, and the Hawaian Chicken Pizza. (from left to right)
If a dreamy vista of white mountain peaks engulfed in heavy mist is what you’re yearning for, then August Kitchen delivers all that and more.
Located beside Strawberry Garden Hotel, August Kitchen serves typical café staples. From pizzas, pasta, and American breakfast sets to nasi lemak and signature Laksa, the food is above average. And service is courteous too.
On the other hand, the views from this glass house cottage paint a picture worth a thousand words. You’ll get an unobstructed view of the mountains ahead, overlooking cars and trucks navigating the road in front.
If felines are your friends, then give in to the persistent meows of resident cats begging for food and affection.
As the day inches to nightfall, a kaleidoscope of sunset colors fills the sky with a color palette that’s unique to Kundasang. This, after all, is August Kitchen’s true allure.
Address: Jalan Tamparuli Kundasang, 89300 Ranau, Sabah
Operating Hours: 8am – 3pm; 5pm – 5pm (Mon – Friday); 8am – 9pm (Saturday & Sunday)
Contact: 018-223 5622
Links: Facebook
4. Lily Cottage & Kitchen
If you’re looking for comfort food with authentic local flavors and minimal MSG, then Lily’s Cottage and Kitchen does not disappoint.
Manned by locals Lily’s Cottage exudes a distinct homely touch void of commercialism. Their price point is decent, and their food offerings are on point.
They don’t have the widest menu, but enough to delight everyone in the family.
The American breakfast set reminds you of waking up in mum’s kitchen, and the local platter comprising of fried fish, crunchy Kundasang-sourced vegetables (which I’ve not seen in the Klang Valley markets), brown rice, and fried chicken was a soothing balm to the tummy.
Besides, the humbly fried spinach had an indescribable wok hei that enhanced its overall flavor.
Some of the soft-boil eggs were a tad overly cooked but still packed the nutrients that we needed for the day. All in all, Lily’s cottage warmth and hospitality is something to return to, apart from their homey food and comfortable dining area.
Located just beside Ayana Hotel and 5 minutes away from the Foothills of Mount Kinabalu, Lily Cottage is a popular choice among the mountain climbers.
Address: Jalan Tamparuli Ranau, Tinompok Kinabalu Park Kundasang, 89300 Ranau, Sabah
Operating Hours: 6.30am – 10pm (Monday – Friday); 2am – 10pm (Saturday); 6.30am – 10pm (Sunday)
Contact: 088-886 027
Links: Facebook
5. SS Chinese Restaurant
If you’re yearning for classic Chinese food in Kundasang, then head over to SS Chinese Restaurant.
This Chinese Restaurant at Pekan Kundasang is thronged by tourists after they visit the Kundasang War Memorial and Kundasang Farmers Market.
Where previous diners complained about the place swarmed by flies, the owner took heed of the feedback and seemed to have addressed the problem. With only a few flies hovering, we savored a decent dish of hot plate egg tofu served with minced chicken.
(from left to right: Minced chicken with egg taufu, mixed vegetable dish and seaweed vegetable soup from SS Chinese Restaurant)
The mixed vegetable dish comprising a medley of asparagus, carrots, and oyster mushrooms could be better. The asparagus was old and fibrous. As for the seaweed vegetable soup, we’ve tasted better versions by home cooks so it did not meet our expectations.
We’re here to debunk its sky-high ratings. And we suspect it’s because Chinese food is hard to come by in Kundasang.
So come here only if you’re curious or if craving familiarity that reminds you of home. Because there are better food options in Kundasang.
Address: Jalan Kundasang Kauluan, Pekan Kundasang, 89308 Kundasang, Sabah
Operating Hours: 7.30am – 3pm; 4pm – 8pm (daily)
Contact: 013-812 8826
6. 89 Station Bak Kut Teh
Don’t let its name trick you into thinking that Bak Kut Teh is the only food on the menu. In fact, you’ll find a variety of soups, clay pots and stews, noodles, rice dishes, and egg omelets too.
Adjacent to the Kinabalu Park entrance, their signature dish is none other than the Pork knuckle, stew wild boar, and black pepper deer meat. The pork knuckle is amazingly crispy, tender, and bursting with flavors! The bitter-melon soup is surprisingly anything but bitter and leaves a soothing aftertaste.
The food here is delicious, and portions are huge but our meals were interrupted by the hovering flies.
Nevertheless, the robust wok hei (breath of wok) and cheap price of food draw customers back for more, making it one of the best Chinese Restaurants in Kundasang!
Address: Batu 36, Jalan Tamparuli - Ranau, Kg Kalanggaan, 89300 Ranau, Sabah
Operating Hours: 10.30am – 6pm (Mon, Weds - Sat); 10am – 4pm (Sun & Tues)
Contact: 016-582 3688
Links: Facebook
7. BW Bus Restaurant
BW Bus Restaurant is a quaint dining concept within antique busses offering Western food.
The original bus seats are stripped off and replaced with tables and benches, lending it a vintage '80s retro vibe. These air-conditioned buses are comfy but not spacious given the limited space of a bus.
The driver's seat is maintained, providing guests with an opportunity to take photographs and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.
You can also dine outside of the bus as tables and chairs are set up for you to enjoy the Kundasang breeze.
The restaurant makes a decent pit stop for a meal and rest since its located on the way to Kota Kinabalu, Ranau, Sandakan, and beyond.
Staying true to its concept and to deter freeloaders here for photo shoots only, diners are charged an entrance fee of RM 5 per person, which will be offset against your food bill when you dine in.
The food presentation is good and the mushroom soup is highly recommended. However, the food is mediocre and the pricing is a tad higher than average.
Come here for its novelty as it is a recommended tourist attraction on its own.
Address: Mile 7, Pinausok, 89308 Kundasang, Sabah
Operating Hours: 10am – 8pm daily
Contact: 014-358 8106
8. Restoran Selera Kebun Kundasang (halal)
Located along Jalan Mesilau, Restoran Selera Kebun is a popular halal food restaurant in Kundasang that serves authentic local Malay food.
Sporting an ambiance akin to a Malay banquet hall decked with neon yellow chairs, Restaurant Selera Kebun is well known for the tender meat and nourishing soups.
The humble Sayur Kampung (native vegetables) is enough to impress diners with its smoky flavors and freshness. It’s so good - it can be savored just with rice.
Traditional local dishes such as Ayam Salai Linopot (grilled wrapped chicken) and Ikan Masin Linopot (wrapped salted fish) are not to be missed for their unique flavors. Both are mouth-watering. But devour the chicken cautiously as it has many bone fragments.
As for the grilled chicken wings and butt (also known as Girik BBQ), the charred meats were juicy and tender on the inside, cooked to perfection with earthy flavors.
The restaurant could try harder to reduce the population of flies, although they did put up an apologetic signage placed near the tables.
Address: Kg. Cinta Mata, Jalan Kundasang Kauluan, 89308 Kundasang, Sabah
Operating Hours: 7am – 9pm (daily)
Contact: 011-2987 7375
9. Ngiu Chap Kinabalu (100% Muslim Restaurant)
Beef lovers, make a beeline to Ngiu Chap Kinabalu for their signature Beef Noodle Soup!
While the dish is 100% halal, it is cooked to the taste of Chinese beef noodles.
The beef slices are fresh and tender, while the beef broth is full-bodied and aromatic. The noodles are packed with condiments including meatballs, green vegetables, fried onions. You can also add on beef tripe, internal organs and a slice of limau kasturi.
As for the noodles, choose from an array of noodles including Mee Tuaran, kuey teow, bihun, or yellow noodles.
Considering its generous portions and amount of meat, the price of RM15 per bowl is very affordable. And is enough for 2 small eaters.
Flies call this restaurant their home too. But the unobstructed view of the mountain top as you dine at the back makes it a memorable dining experience in Kundasang.
Address: Jalan Kundasang Kauluan, Kampung Tompugiwis, 89308 Kundasang, Sabah
Operating Hours: 8.30am – 7pm (daily)
Contact: 014-903 6200
10. Mount Borneo Restaurant Kundasang (halal)
Another halal restaurant in Kundasang where you can feast on Chinese banquet food is the Mount Borneo Restaurant.
The Butter Mushrooms comprising of native Kundasang Mushrooms are highly recommended, along with the Kundasang pucuk paku (native) vegetables, assam mushrooms, and clay pot tofu too.
The panoramic view from the restaurant overlooking Sabah’s rolling hills is captivating. Amidst the gentle caress of the cool Kundasang breeze, find yourself lulled into a sense of complacency with a full tummy.
Be forewarned that its exteriors look more rugged and somewhat less polished than the other cafes in Kundasang.
However, its interior is hygienic and it was recommended by a local.
This amazingly underrated halal Chinese restaurant is worth a visit for its price, service, and generous portions.
Address: Kg.Kalanggan, Jalan, 89308 Kundasang, Sabah
Operating Hours: 8am – 9pm daily
Contact: 088-889 688
Links: Facebook
Conclusion
Looks can be deceiving when it comes to finding the best food in Kundasang.
The aesthetic cafes and restaurants deliver a commercial promise of offering great variety and food that suits local and foreign taste palettes. But I have to say that these cafes and restaurants generally lack the wow factor that will make locals come back for more.
Instead, it’s the less polished and more down-to-earth restaurants that leave an indelible mark food-wise.
Unearthing these foodie gems comes with the thrills of savoring local cuisine that boasts great wok hei without the heavy seasoning we city slickers are used to.
So go ahead and explore this list. And you’ll be surprised that homely restaurants in Kundasang somehow win your hearts.
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