Yesteryears Cafe is one of Kota Kinabalu’s long standing oldies, serving cheap beer, good grub and surprisingly delicious pizzas.

*Since the writing of this post, Yesteryears Cafe has become Alawa Cafe. The name, new management and the fact that it’s now air-conditioned aside, everything else remains pretty much the same.

Located in Kota Kinabalu’s Printer District, Yesteryears Alawa Cafe is tucked away and nestled amongst backpacker hostels, budget hotels and printing businesses that have been around almost as long as KK itself.

A popular post-game venue for nearby futsal arenas, Yesteryears Alawa Cafe is known for good pub grub and cheap beers.

Considered as one of the most value for money watering holes in Kota Kinabalu, Yesteryears Alawa Cafe sets are RM25.50 for 3x 650ml bottles of Tiger or Carlsberg, making it one of the best priced sets (or jugs) in Kota Kinabalu (price vs. volume).

Serving mostly western food, the Yesteryears Alawa Cafe menu is a mixed basket.

Top item on the menu are the so-called stone baked pizzas, which is a light, but decent feed for one, or can easily serve as a snack for two.

A selection of 12 pizzas are at your disposal, including some extra toppings if you prefer, and are very reasonably priced between RM9 and RM15 and is a tasty treat.

Other menu items include pastas, lamb chops, fish and chips, a variety of nasi goreng (fried rice) and snacks.

Amongst the snacks, Hivana (Sabah sushi) is a must try, as is the Ikan Basung Goreng, which is little whole fried fish, about two bites big, eaten with a hot chilli sauce.

Yesteryears Alawa Cafe is a good venue for a pub grub dinner, a chat or a spirited get-together. Look for it in the printers district and lose yourself in a tad of nostalgia in Yesteryears Alawa Cafe.

Ang’s Hotel Restaurant (Fatt Kee Coffee Shop)

Located opposite Wisma Merdeka is the famous Ang’s Hotel, and under it’s wing is Fatt Kee Coffee Shop, but known all around as Ang’s Hotel Restaurant.

Likely open throughout the day, this restaurant is a bustling hub of activity and is not only popular, but famous for a selection of key menu items and is a good place from where to start acquiring your Chinese food experiences in Kota Kinabalu.

Amongst the Chinese dishes that Ang’s Hotel Restaurant is known and loved for is the Oyster-sauce Chicken Wings, Sizzling Japanese Tofu, Minute Pork Steaks and any of their green veggies, prepared the way on Ang’s Hotel Restaurant can.

As a traveler, you might be hindered by the fact that the menu written on the wall-boards are in Chinese only, but have no fear, the staff taking your orders can speak English and, upon request, will even produce a English /Chinese menu for your perusal.

But take our word for it, the Tiny but Fiesty Lady who’ll likely take your oder knows her stuff, so do ask her to recommend something from the menu for you.

Ang’s Hotel Restaurant, although still very economical otherwise, provides the best value for money for groups of four to six people.

And whatever you order, do not miss the Oyster-sauce Chicken Wings at Ang’s Hotel Restaurant.

Jeff D’Corner is known, by those who do know, to have the best steak in Kota Kinabalu. And those who know that, also know that on Saturdays & Sundays, Jeff D’Corner has the best BBQ Lamb in Kota Kinabalu.

Jeff D’Corner isn’t Kota Kinabalu’s best kept secret on purpose. It simply fills up every night with a crowd of regulars who already know where to find the best tenderloin steak and BBQ lamb in Kota Kinabalu, so much so that not much additional advertising goes into disclosing the location of Jeff D’Corner.

But when traveling from Damai in the direction Beverly Hills, when you’re at the crossing of the Lintas-Kolombong highway, you may notice an exit from the crossing at about one thirty (if you imagine the face of a clock). At this obscure exit is where you will locate Jeff D’Corner.

With quality beef and lamb regularly flown in from New Zealand, and the proprietor and expert griller, Jeffery Chung, wielding his magic behind the grill, it’s virtually guaranteed that you’ll end up with a succulent, juicy piece of meat on your plate.

Jeff D’Corner’s popularity can simply be summed up with good food and good prices. The most ‘expensive’ item on the menu (and the best steak in KK) is the flown-in, chilled (never frozen), Australian tenderloin beef at mere RM21 per plate of perfection. The Lamb BBQ is an absolute bargain at RM12 for the biggest plate of boneless lamb you’ll find anywhere in KK. The menu also feature starters, soups and a selection of seafood items.

Jeff D’Corner serves beer by the bottle or bucket, soft drinks and a selection of fresh fruit juices.

To satisfy your steak and lamb craving, do drop by and eat your fill at Jeff D’Corner for the best steak in Kota Kinabalu.

Ground Floor
Lot 1, Luyang Phase 6 Shophouse,
Luyang, Kota Kinabalu
Ph: 019 881 8427

Featuring imported Australian and New Zealand beef and lamb, Jeff D’Corner is located at a 2 o’clock exit at the Beverly Hills-Damai and Lintas-Kolombong intersection (with Beverly Hills at 12 o’clock).

Featuring heavenly Oxtail Soup on Mondays and Thursdays and BBQ Lamb on Saturdays and Sundays, and the best steak in Kota Kinabalu every other day.

Jeff D’Corner is open from 7am – 11pm daily.

Atmosphere Restaurant and Bar is situated on the roof of Kota Kinabalu & Sabah and is Borneo’s highest and only revolving restaurant.

A mere 15 minutes drive from Kota Kinabalu city centre, Atmosphere is housed on the18th floor of Menara Tun Mustapha (formerly known as the Sabah Foundation Building).

Atmosphere is billed as a modern dining restaurant. Ironically, the décor is funky retro, and from the moment you step into the express elevators that will whisk you away to Borneo’s only revolving restaurant, you know you’re in for something special.

As the elevator doors open, your senses are bombarded with yellow, orange, green and purple. Depending on the time of day that you arrive at Atmosphere, you will either look out on the ever changing panorama of Kota Kinabalu and Sabah, rotating before your very eyes during the day, or the faint city lights twinkling in the distance during late evening.

Of course, being up on the 18th floor and revolving through 360 degrees once every hour, Atmosphere is the ideal place to enjoy lunch, sundowners or an early dinner. Although Atmosphere might be a modern dining restaurant with retro décor, the menu is very much contemporary, with an eclectic selection to suit even the most discerning palate.

With the most expensive item from the current menu being the Oven-roasted Australian Beef Tenderloin at a surprisingly reasonable RM90 and desserts for around RM10 for a selection of sorbets and ice-creams, a fine-dining dinner at Atmosphere will not break the bank.

And there’s no reason to leave after dinner, because Atmosphere’s Happy Hour is Kota Kinabalu’s most convenient and best priced.

From 9pm to midnight every day, a generous Happy Hour menu offers a selection of the best cocktails at the best prices in Kota Kinabalu and Sabah. From around RM10 before taxes, a wicked Bloody Merry, a kau Long Island Ice Tea, or a sock-rocking Mai Tai is yours for the taking.

The Happy Hour menu also includes a generous selection of house-pouring spirits and wine, complemented by an accompanying choice of tidbits.

In addition to the culinary delights that you’ll find at Atmosphere Restaurant and Bar in Kota Kinabalu, little treats like valet parking and free Wi-Fi also await. Whether for lunch, tea, dinner, drinks or events, there’s always space for an occasion on the 18th floor at Atmosphere Restaurant and Bar.