Discover Kota Kinabalu: Best Welcome Seafood Spots & Must-Visit Locations 📍
【Gaya Street Food + Durian, please refer to my other notes📒】
Tips: The “store names” marked with 🔥 have been verified on Google Maps and can be directly searched for location!
📍【Food near “Welcome Seafood”】
🔥Welcome Seafood (Didn’t eat there, so no comment. Heard from fellow Chinese that it’s pricey and not very cost-effective)
🔥Zhi Wei Seafood Restaurant
*Must-try!
: Boiled sea prawns, tiger grouper (the quality of the live seafood is exceptional!), shrimp paste water spinach (the shrimp paste is incredibly rich and delicious), and crab meat fried rice (so mouthwatering, I’m salivating just thinking about it! Even if you’re just passing by, don’t miss out on at least a plate of this heavenly fried rice!
) Total including service fee 245M!
🔥Chinese-owned durian shop, Xiaohongshu: Thomas Liao
*Location: Cititel Express Kota Kinabalu
*Owned by a Chinese entrepreneur, this place has received rave reviews on Xiaohongshu! Unfortunately, it wasn’t open when we passed by, but if you’re staying nearby, definitely stop by for a taste.
Zhi Wei Seafood was highly recommended by a friend who had an amazing experience there.
🔥Borenos Fried Chicken
*Must-try! : Absolutely order the original fried chicken! The crispy, golden crust is simply divine, even better than KFC’s finger-licking good chicken~! It’s perfectly crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, and it’s available for takeaway (we used Grab to deliver it to our hotel).
📍【Spa near “Welcome Seafood”】
🔥[Spa]: New Borneo Family Reflexology (11:00-23:00)
*Recommendation: Indulge in a foot massage with a stunning sea view!
*Services: We opted for the full-body essential oil spa combined with a foot massage. The two therapists were incredibly skilled and attentive, making the experience truly relaxing.
The on-site price was 95M per person (though we later found out it might be cheaper if booked in advance). While there aren’t many online recommendations, our actual experience was fantastic.
🔥[Spa]: Bella’s Sunset Spa (10:00-23:00)
*Recommendation: Enjoy a foot massage with a breathtaking sea view!
The higher floor offers an even more spectacular view.
*We checked out the view, but it was extremely popular, with most slots booked online. We ended up going to the first one, but I’m sure this one would also provide an excellent experience.
📍【Downtown Food】
🔥Hilltop Restaurant (Dianping: Perfect Dining)
*Our final meal in Kota Kinabalu, recommended by a local Chinese guy at a pharmacy! Follow the Dianping recommendations for fresh, well-seasoned dishes.
*Must-try! : 🦞Garlic Lobster, incredibly tender and sweet, a must-try. 💛Black Pepper Crab, bursting with flavor!
💛Buttery Prawns, slightly sweet and delightfully creamy. 💛Salted Egg Yolk Squid, the squid is fresh, and the seasoning is exquisite, making it wonderfully aromatic. 💛Tree Spinach, a local green, very crisp and refreshing. 💛Pulled Tea! A must-try, absolutely delightful! 💛Sambal Fried Rice! So flavorful and satisfying!
