Joniston with Dr Sabin (fourth left), Julinus (third left), Haryanty (second left), Chong (fourth right) and his team. – Photo courtesy of STB)
KOTA KINABALU: A new culinary journey awaits with the launch of the Kota Kinabalu Food Trail, featuring 29 must-try restaurants specially selected to showcase the city’s rich flavours, quality dining and vibrant food culture.
The trail, introduced by the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) in collaboration with the Sabah Chefs Association, serves as a guide for visitors and locals to discover eateries that best capture the essence of Sabah’s diverse culinary scene.
STB Chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai presented a distinctive plaque to representatives of each selected restaurant during the launch event held at Hyatt Regency Kinabalu today for display at their premises.
Kota Kinabalu Mayor Datuk Seri Dr Sabin Samirah, STB Chief Executive Officer Julinus Jeffery Jimit, Tourism Malaysia Sabah Director Haryanty Abu Bakar and Sabah Chefs Association President Adrian Chong were present.
The plaque serves as an official mark of recognition, showing that the establishment is part of the Kota Kinabalu Food Trail and is recommended as a don’t-miss dining stop for visitors.
Julinus said the Kota Kinabalu Food Trail is part of STB’s effort to promote gastronomy tourism and diversify Sabah’s tourism offerings.
“We’ve long been known for promoting culture, adventure, and nature, and now we’re moving forward to highlight food as part of that experience.
“Gastronomy tourism allows us to share Sabah’s story through its flavours, people, and local ingredients, giving visitors more ways to connect with the destination through food.
“By creating a curated list of recommended restaurants, we hope to help visitors navigate and discover places that may otherwise go unnoticed,” he said.
The selection of the 29 restaurants followed months of visits, tastings and evaluations by the Sabah Chefs Association team.
The restaurants cover a broad range of categories, from halal-certified and no-pork outlets to non-halal establishments.
Chong said the chosen establishments were selected not only for their food quality and cleanliness but also because they represent emerging eateries that deserve greater recognition.
“It is our hope that by being part of the Kota Kinabalu Food Trail, these restaurants will gain the visibility they need and attract more locals and visitors to experience their offerings,” he said.
The 29 selected restaurants make up the first phase of the Kota Kinabalu Food Trail.
Plans are in the works for STB and Sabah Chefs Association to expand the trail in future phases, adding more eateries and eventually extending it to Sandakan and Tawau to guide visitors in discovering Sabah’s diverse culinary offerings across the state.
