The Exquisite Kota Kinabalu Night Market

Visiting markets, especially local food markets, is one of the most insightful activities one can do when traveling. You can do it while staying at one of the cheap Kota Kinabalu hotels. It reveals the local side of a culture, the way people eat, and the many flavors and cooking styles.

Markets are the lifeblood of a city. While clothing markets are interesting, too, the necessity of eating as an everyday event makes food markets busier and more important.

The city of Kota Kinabalu is located on the majestic island of Borneo in the state of Sabah, Malaysia. After traveling Southeast Asia for years, I still think Borneo is one of the world's most fertile and naturally blessed places. Everything looks fresher, bigger, and more luscious there.

Bananas are plump, vegetables are powerfully colorful, the fruit is intensely sweet, and the seafood is on the next level of beauty. Walking through the markets filled with fresh ingredients (nothing even cooked) made my mouth water.

The night market in Kota Kinabalu, which opens around 5 p.m. or so in the evening adjacent to the Filipino Market, is easily one of the best markets I've ever visited. It's similar to the Zanzibar night market but more extensive and offers even more food. It was such a fantastic place that I would wait around in my guest house all day, doing little but waiting for the late afternoon to arrive.

The atmosphere was incredible, and though the market was buzzing with activity, it was island-style action—not the aggressive kind of market action you experience in big cities.

Speed boats would zoom to the edge of the market, dropping off a boat full of people while energetic kids would strip down to their undies to take a dip. The sunsets over the calm ocean of Kota Kinabalu were breathtaking.

Though I had visited Kota Kinabalu as an access city to climb Mount Kinabalu, I had a memorable time there, mainly due to the exquisite night market.

Starting in the late afternoon, an abundance of snacks began to emerge. Fried bananas, sweet donuts, and pancakes filled with nutty peanut butter (bottom left) were among the tasty tidbits. Chicken wings (pictured top) were also a popular late-afternoon snack.

After arriving at the market each evening at about 5 p.m., I would purchase snacks, watch the sunset, and observe the market until dark.

When the sun had dispersed, I would browse and contemplate my dinner options. There's a wide range of Southeast Asian foods available at the Kota Kinabalu night market.

Malaysian food, Filipino and Indonesian-inspired dishes, local Bornean cuisine, and an irresistible selection of fresh grilled seafood filled the market. Rather than handle the near-impossible task of choosing just one thing, I ate several meals each night.

This fish was the definition of delicious, so good that I ate the same fish from the same smiling lady three nights in a row. Marinated in a tangy sauce and grilled to perfection, the white flesh was flaky, moist, and flavorful.

The accompanying sauce was a communal bucket on the table packed full of red onions, chopped chilies, and squeezed calamansi juice (a cross between a lime and an orange).

Dessert was also a must in such a food paradise. Though the photo doesn't do this bowl of sweet, soupy shaved ice justice, I can assure you that it was refreshing and soothing.

"Ais kacang" (ABC for short) is an oddly wonderful combination of shaved ice, coconut milk, and random toppings. This particular bowl included sweet corn and macaroni!

With friendly vendors, a perfect atmosphere, and a variety of great food, the Kota Kinabalu night market is one of Asia's most incredible eating destinations.