Location: Tawau
Top Restaurants in Tawau
Tawau Food Guide: 10 Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in Tawau
Tawau (Malaysian pronunciation: [ˈta wau], Jawi: تاواو, Chinese: 斗湖; pinyin: Dǒu Hú) formerly known as Tawao, is the capital of the Tawau District in Sabah, Malaysia. It is the third-largest town in Sabah, after Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan. It is located on the south east coast of the state in the administrative centre of Tawau Division which bordered by the Sulu Sea to the east, the Celebes Sea to the south at Cowie Bay and shares a border with North Kalimantan. The town had an estimated population as of 2010 of 113,809, while the whole municipality area had a population of 397,673.
Things to do in Tawau
1. Kam Ling Fresh Live Seafood
Overall Ratings
4 based on 42 reviews
This restaurant is written in the Virtual Tourist site
Reviewed By mayooo87 - Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
Came twice in a row for their simple but awesome seafood. Tiger grouper were fresh and steamed just right with light soy sauce. Salted egg calamari and salad prawns were absolutely delicious too. Affordable and conveniently located, this fuss free seafood place is a local gem. Open early as well prior to usual dinner hours. Pork free.
2. Yassin Curry House
Overall Ratings
4 based on 33 reviews
Reviewed By amoichoty
If you're there for their food, then i recommend you to take their non-airconditioned area (there's 3 different sitting areas) since the pricing of the food depends on where you're sitting. But if you want extra comfort while you're eating then they do provide the VIP area for you (but the quality of food that you're getting will be the same as the ones from the other areas, as well as being more expensive)
3. Maxim's Seafood Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4 based on 13 reviews
Reviewed By KymBergmann - Canberra, Australia
I came across Maxim's purely by accident as I was strolling around town looking for somewhere to eat dinner. The restaurant is quite large by Tawau standards and looks as if it could seat several hundred people. The appearance is classically Chinese - starched tablecloths and uniformed waiters and waitresses everywhere. The service is efficient and friendly. Being a Chinese restaurant there is pork on the menu and alcohol is served - unlike another place I went to in Tawau where if you wanted a beer you had to sit outside by yourself. It seems to be a popular place - always a good sign - and the evening I was there was more than half full. The restaurant is on the ground floor and is tucked into a nondescript building that is not particularly visible from a distance, but it is worth trying to find. Tawau is a smallish town and this place was only 5 minutes walk from several major hotels.
4. Dreamland Coffee House
Overall Ratings
4 based on 16 reviews
Reviewed By Diving-Addiction00 - Malaysia
Has to rank as the best steak house in Tawau by any standard.
Menu was good, service was excellent and prices very reasonable.
Food was very very good and comparable to good western restaurants in bigger cities.
You need to either come early or book a table as this restaurant is full on most nights because of it's popularity.
Two thumbs up.!
5. Bintang Cafe and Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4 based on 5 reviews
Reviewed By James N - Kuching, Malaysia
This dimly-lit establishment is solely for beer-drinking session preferably during the evening after a hard day's work. Located on the first floor of a corner shop opposite Kingston Hotel, it is suitable for those who search for a quiet and relaxing atmosphere. Only plain fried mee, fried chicken wings, gizzard and bishop nose are available to accompany the beer. One would easily miss this place if one does not look up because it is on the first floor and normally look dark inside.
6. Kedai Kopi Hing Lee
Overall Ratings
4 based on 8 reviews
Reviewed By HPLIM - JOHOR BAHRU
Before coming to Tawau, we already did some survey as where to eat and so on. I was told by a friend from Tawau that we should try the marinated pork noodles at Hing Lee coffee shop.
However, when we reached Tawau , our tour guide Mr Yap recommended another coffee shop Wan Wen, also near at Fajar district, which is near to our hotel. According to him, Wan Wen also sells other food like curry laksa and so on. So we decided to try Wan Wen for breakfast and Hing Lee for lunch!
So on the second morning, we didn’t take the hotel breakfast as we wanted to try out the famous local marinated pork noodles (生肉面). We walked to Wan Wen coffee shop which is just eight minute walk from the hotel. Too bad, it was closed on that morning. So we went to HIng Lee. It was packed with people. I would say not bad. The meat is soft and succulent, taste great when you dip in their home-made chili sauce. Besides meat, you can add kidney, liver and so on. But we didn’t. The noodles are smooth and not heavily dyed. One bowl of noodle without addition costs RM 5.50. Must try if you are in Tawau. In fact, according to my friend, you can find this pork noodle in many shops in Tawau. However, this is the most famous one.
One good thing is that you don’t feel thirsty after taking it which means not much MSG is added to it. Nevertheless, I am still wondering what food additives they use to marinate the meat until it is so soft and tender. You could see also that the meat is almost bleached!
The drinks served here are below expectation! Do not expect good coffee over here.
FYI, the shop closes for business at around 2.00 pm.
7. Tawau Citi Cafe
Overall Ratings
4 based on 7 reviews
Reviewed By James N - Kuching, Malaysia
I happened to stay in a hotel nearby and found out that this cafe is more than just a cafe but it has a lounge for club members. The cafe has two sections: the cooler section inside the building itself while the open section is under an extended shed next to the car park. It is no ordinary cafe or coffee shop as it has uniformed crews and the services are professional and systematic. The atmosphere is relaxing and comfortable. Alcohol is sold here and it is a great place to unwind and chat with friends. I ordered the Sup Tulang(bone soup) which comes with rice and a mug of beer. The soup was great although not spicy enough. There are other popular local dishes on the menu. Ample parking spaces are available to visitors.
8. 101 Breakfast
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 24 reviews
Reviewed By ct62193 - New York City, New York
The food quality is merely meet the standards but it is the hygiene of the food that is concerned me, flies everywhere especially in the open kitchen, staff picked up the toast from the ground after it fall on it, it was really disgusting. Never ever visit again.
9. Gerai Bibiq Corner
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4 reviews
Reviewed By ALR0609 - Kuantan, Malaysia
I do not know whether deer is common in tawau, but it is certainly not commonly served in peninsular Malaysia.
Bibiq's corner serves deer as its main menu. Everything on the menu is 'payau' or deer. Sup payau (Deer soup) and Nasi Goreng Payau (Fried rice with deer) are the best sellers.
I must say that deer isnt the tastiest of meats (i still prefer beef) but the payau soup is tasty and well worth a try. And after all, when you travel, you should try something different.
This restaurant is very close to the airport. Most travellers stop here on the way out of the airport.
10. Olive Bistro
Overall Ratings
4 based on 15 reviews
Reviewed By Steven_Teo - Tawau, Malaysia
This place is usually full and it was on that night. We gave our phone number and made a reservation for two. Half an hour later, we got a call that our table was ready. So far so good. We ordered the German Sausages and Mixed Grill with mushroom soup and the soup of the day which was carrot soup. The kitchen came back and told us they ran out of mushroom soup and recommended the seafood soup without informing us of the price difference, which we also overlooked when I said Yes! Later, the kitchen came back again and told us they ran our of beef for our Mixed Grill and recommended fish as a replacement. By this time I was a bit concern what have we got ourselves into. Two common items and they already ran out and it was only 8:30pm. Anyway, our food came and the portion is of a fair good size. No complaints of the taste, presentation or amount. My complain would be that the German sausages was not worth the price for 5 similar sausages (thinker and same length than a hotdog) with some side mashed potatoes with some cream. The taste was alright. The Mixed Grill was a mixture of grilled lamb, chicken and fish (replacement of the beef). when the bill came, the recommended seafood soup was about 3 times that of the mushroom soup that I ordered.
