The Sandakan Food Festival is scheduled to take place in the coastal city of Sandakan in East Coast Sabah from 26 August to 2 September.

This year’s theme is Oceans, Land, and Forest. During this nine-day unique food event, you will be able to find some of the best local East Coast Sabah food.

This culinary event also promotes the local food scene in Sandakan, which is well known for its nature and adventure. People who seek flora and fauna will find Sandakan has some of the best that Sabah offers.

Sandakan is located on the east coast of Sabah, accessible via flights from Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur. Several flights fly directly here via AirAsia or Malaysia Airlines.

Those wanting a little extra adventure can rent a car from Kota Kinabalu and drive overland for about six hours to Sandakan.

Traditional Sabah Food in Sandakan – Kadazan Cuisine.

For the Sandakan Food Festival, food travellers or foodies will be in for a treat as there is much to explore, especially the seafood, which many claim is much fresher and cheaper than in other parts of Sabah.

Sandakan is also a barter trading and fishing sector. The city is a morning type, and it gets extremely lively from as early as six in the morning until after lunch.

As I have been here many times over the last ten years or so, I have tried quite a variety of the local Sandakan food, which ranges from Chinese to Malay and even some of the ethnic local favourites. For foodies, the best place to start exploring is, of course, around the main Sandakan city area.

Dim Sum in Sandakan.

To fully explore the Sandakan food culture, you need to also move around from the city outwards, and the way the areas are measured is using miles; therefore, Mile One all the way to Mile 32 and a popular area out of the city is no other than Mile Four where you can find lots of restaurants, coffee shops and cafes.

Sandakan Food Festival 2017
Date: 26 Aug to 2 Sept 2017
Venue: Sandakan City
SFF2017 Facebook Page – https://www.facebook.com/sandakanfoodfest/

The Sandakan Food Festival is brought to you by the Sandakan Food Project (SFP) and the Sandakan Tourism Association.

The SFP is a very small group of Sandakan citizens who are passionate about preserving and advancing the local food heritage in Sabah, Borneo, an east coast city.

Photos of Sandakan, Sabah

Steamboat in Sandakan at Restoran 1Malaysia on Trig Hill (No Pork).

Seafood Bak Kut Teh in Sandakan is one of the best in Malaysia.

For Bak Kut Teh lovers, the famous Seafood Bak Kut Teh in Sandakan is something you should try. It’s the best in Malaysia or even the world.

They have been doing this for years and have perfected the combination of seafood and the Bak Kut Teh herbs and soup.

Ikan Bakar Mama Resepi at Pasar Sim Sim, Sandakan.

For those who love grilled fish, Mama Resepi at Pasar Sim Sim is the place to try it. No one does it better than Mama herself.

All the seafood here is delivered fresh daily, and you can choose from fish, crabs, prawns, and squid to be grilled.

Sandakan City before sunset.

If you visit the Ba Lin Rooftop Bar of Nak Hotel in Sandakan, you will have an amazing view of Sandakan City. It is truly one of the best places to catch the beautiful Sandakan Sunset with a cocktail in hand.

Sandakan view from the Four Points Sheraton Hotel.

What are Must-East Foods in Sandakan?

Through my many visits to this fascinating east coast city in Sabah, I have eaten at many places around here over the years.

I finally compiled a list of must-eat food in Sandakan, which will provide more information for food travellers.

Just note that these places are best visited in the mornings or at lunch as the places will close by 2.00 PM. The trick is to sample the foods versus stuffing your face initially. This way, you can really eat more.

Where to Stay in Sandakan?

There are a few notable hotels in the Sandakan city area, and depending on your budget, you can choose from the Four Points Sheraton Sandakan, Sabah Hotel, Nak Hotel, Sandakan Styles Hotel, or one of the many other budget hotels here.

If you are exploring Borneo, you can also read about where to go in Sabah for 2017, as I have highlighted the best places to visit around here. This guide would also help you select interesting places, including Sandakan.

I believe the Sandakan Food Festival will be held in the main town area due to its accessibility, infrastructure, and the fact that all the main hotels are located nearby.

For anyone wanting to experience the east coast Sabah food culture, be sure to check out Sandakan City. It is one of the best places to try some of the unique foods from North Borneo.