Authentic Sabah Cuisine @ Mango Garden Restaurant, Rumah Terbalik, Sabah

This is a follow up blog on my previous blog, “Rumah Terbalik, Asia 1st Upside Down House”. The Mango Garden Restaurant is a lovely and cosy eatery located within the attraction compound. I have to blog on each separately as the subject matter warrants a separate blog as you will see as we go on…

The Mango Tree Restaurant…. authentic Sabah cuisines “all under one roof”.

As I am no connoisseur when it comes to Sabah food, a search on the topic reveals a cuisine that is really a melting pot of various ethnic groups.To any tourists who visits Kota Kinabalu, the typical “famous” fares they would have likely feast on would be seafood, Bah Kut Teh, Fish Noodle, Laksa, Asam Fish Head, Roti Canai or Tenom Mee,Tuaran Mee, Tamparuli Mee (noodle named after the district it is found in) etc, but these are definitely NOT the local ethnic food of Sabah.

So what are the Sabah ethnic groups ? A check with the official Sabah tourism website reveals “there are currently 32 officially recognized ethnic groups in Sabah with the largest non-indigenous ethnic group being the Chinese and the largest indigenous group being the Kadazan-Dusun people. Two other larger ethnic groups in Sabah are the Bajau and Murut,….” http://www.sabahtourism.com/sabah-malaysian-borneo/en/about-sabah/

Certainly mind-boggling if bona fide foodies were to hunt down the various ethnic food… do they have to traverse Sabah 73,631 km² landscape ? This is where Mango Garden Restaurant cuts through the haze…as the eatery’s slogan tell you “Truly Sabahan Delectable Food Galore and Authentic Traditional Cuisine from The Land Below The Wind “…

If you factor in the time and carbon footprint saving, by just visiting Mango Garden Restaurant, you would have savour the gamut of Sabahan cuisine… doesn’t this warrant a blog dedicated to this awesome eatery ?

Tinutuk Mangga – a Mango Garden signature appertizer with julienne selected young mango dressed with lime, fresh herbs, shrimp paste and chilli.  Awesome stuff !!!  

Otak Otak Kagong -Marinated minced crab meat with herbs and spices and served with pickled cucumbers. A traditional food of the Semporna Bajau tribe from east Sabah. Yummy :-9″”” 

Of course, you are thirsty right now… how about a Iced Peach Tea or Mangoes Smoothie ?

 

A local favourite – Nasi Goreng Kerabu..fried rice woth squid, chicken, egg, mixed vegetables…served with achar…  Comfort zone food !!!

 

Sayur Kailan Masa Dua Rasa (Deep fried kailan leaves !)– absolutely scrumptious and crispy kailan leaves (no bitter aftertaste !) with crispy anchovies… Can’t stop munching !!!

 

Hinava Sada – A Must-try mango Mango Garden dish ! Selected fresh fish fillets marinated with lime juice, shallots, chilli, ginger and grated Badu (wild mango seeds)… originated from Kadazan Dusun tribe. Even fish non-lover like me loved it !!!

 

Tuhau Miampai Daging Salai – chargrilled beef marinated with Tuhau (local ginger stem pickles), chilli, lime, herbs, lemongrass… perfect dish with beer or just rice… I want 2nd helpings !!!

 

Ikan Goreng Sambal Hijau – deep fried marinated fish topped with saute tangy green chilli sambal and shrimp paste. A Bugis traditional dish served during wedding and special occasion …. Yummy !

 

Sup Tombol Ekor – another Mango Garden signature dish… oxtail soup braised with local herbs, spices and vegetables till lip-smacking level….. MmmMMMmmMmmmmm… :-9”

 

Ayam Goreng Berempah – deep fried chicken marinated in local spices and herbs…cooked till crispy and golden brown … think I just ran out of drool…. :-9″

 

A sweet conclude to a lovely meal….Sweet Sago Mango, Premium ice-cream, cakes….
Talk about an adventure…..Burpppp…..

 

You will be pleased that many of Mango Garden Restaurant herbs and vegetables are organically grown at the venue compound …. excellent !

 

The cosy dining ambience….where you can have a great meal experience 🙂 

The Mango Garden Restaurant signboard…your prelude to delicious times ahead…
* I understand that the restaurant amended their opening hours from 7am to 7pm (>16 June 2013). Check out their Facebook page : https://www.facebook.com/MangoGardenRestaurant

So on your next Mt. Kinabalu adventure, don’t miss out on this great dining experience at the Mango Garden…and have fun at the Rumah Terbalik (Upside Down House) just steps away. Entrance to the eatery is complimentary (just inform the staff) while there is an entrance fee to the fun upside down house.