Every true blue Malaysian just loves to eat and while food in the Klang Valley, Melaka and Penang are world-famous, how many of you know what’s good to eat in East Malaysia? Bet you don’t know many, do you? That’s why we decided to introduce to you some delicious food from our wonderful brothers and sisters over in Sabah! Try not to drool too much when reading!
1. Latok
A traditional dish from Sabah, when you first set eyes on Latok, you may be surprised to discover that it is actually a type of seaweed. That’s because it looks like a bunch of mini grapes! No kidding! The locals here eat it as a type of salad with condiments such as sambal belacan, lime, cili padi and green mangoes.
2. Butod (sago worm)
We’re heading into the bizarre territory with this but it is undeniably one of the more popular traditional food in Sabah. This is definitely not a dish for the squeamish but it is said to be very nutritious for your body. It can be eaten live (yes, while it is still squirming!) or cooked, depending on how brave you are. Do you dare to try this?
3. Hinava
Another traditional local dish that you should try when you’re in Sabah is the Hinava, which originated from the Kadazan Dusun tribes. This dish consists of raw fish marinated with lime juice, which is mixed together with a variety of seasonings such as salt, red chilli, slice shallot and ginger. Think of it like eating sushi!
4. Roti cobra
We all know the various types of roti canai available in our mamak stalls, so how come none of them serve this delicious invention known as roti cobra yet? It’s basically roti canai with a sunny side up on top, which is then drowned in meat-based curry of your choice. This actually sounds really yummy to them!
5. Amplang
Keropok Amplang is a mackerel-based crisp, moulded and fried in easy-to-eat ball shapes! These chips are specifically from Merotai, Tawau, though the keropok’s origin lies in the city of Samarinda, where it is a popular food gift. The exterior is powdery, but the crisp itself is light and airy, and the fishy taste only appears when the keropok is almost gone, so the flavour is not too strong and always leaves you wanting more.
