Kota Kinabalu or KK is a seaside town that is relaxed and filled with food joints to satisfy the tummy during the late mornings. We explore traditional and modern eateries in KK for those casual weekend brunch sessions that emulate this tranquil yet cultural town.
Yuit Cheong Coffee Shop | No 50, Jalan Pantai, 6am till 7pm
Known as the oldest coffee shop in KK, this charming kopitiam sees all races converge for the love of food. They served classic kopitiam drinks and of course, the toasted bread with a spread of kaya and butter or better known as roti kahwin. Another favourite of the locals is the satay where the meat is tender and fragrant that you can even eat it without the peanut sauce. We noticed that the locals dip their toasted bread into the peanut sauce, serving as an alternative to the nasi impit.
Bits & Bites | BG04, Wisma Merdeka, Jalan Tun Razak, 11.30am till 6pm
The neighbourhood joint serves an impressive selection of traditional Malay and Chinese kueh in all shapes and colours, making it hard to choose just one to eat. Their leaf wrapped kueh like lepat pisang and kochi are splendid to snack on and it was a surprise to see Malaysia Chinese kueh like tepung gomak being sold there as well. Their packet nasi lemak sell like hot cakes every day thanks to it fragrant rice and almost sweet tasting sambal.
Nook Cafe | No 8, Lorong Dewan, 9am till 11pm
A modern take on brunch with delectable dishes like pesto pasta and pancakes, Nook is a quaint little coffee shop in an alley next to a hill. Their coffee is top notch and the selection of brunch favourites are the type of comfort food you want to nosh on a sunny Sunday. If you have room in your tummy to spare, there is nothing wrong with ordering a slice of cake.
