Salut Restaurant @ Tuaran

I'd say, Sabah is my "favoriteST" state of Malaysia. It's such a paradise for seafood lovers, everyone says so...No doubt it is, but it’s not always cheap! To enjoy cheap seafood, you should look up for a place which is slightly away from KK and I think Salut Restaurant is one that fits in this category. Situated at the remote Jalan Tuaran Talipok, you may just forget about public transport as it would never get you there! Pay RM60 like us, to hire a van, he will send you to door and pick you up anytime you require with just a call, worries free! All you need to do is, sit back, take your own sweet time and savour the FRESHest seafood! ;-)

Since Kiat has grown up from the beach, he knows well what to order for us. He walked straight to the tanks, checked the prices and fixed the menu for us See, these cockles are so much bigger than his finger. ;-oKiat said it’s best to boil and eat them with chili dip (RM12). Sea snails (RM12) are getting expensive in West Malaysia. Kiat said some restaurants charge as high as RM1 per piece.

Feeling helpess? Look, there is a tactic to eat it. First, dig the tail out from the shell using a tooth pick, then grab the tail and pull it with the tip of your thumb and forefinger , EASY! Basically it’s tasteless, but some may enjoy chewing its rubber-like texture. Sapak shell is BIGGGG too, see the size lying on the palm of Poh Leng. ;-)Cooked with superior stock(RM14) is not a bad idea!

Boiled fresh prawn (RM38) seems to be a “must order” dish here in KK. This prawn is small in size with firmer meat. The sweetness of the meat could beat any big prawn miles away. Especially the prawn’s head with hidden orangey roes, it's a crack! I was so addicted to it after sucking a few.*muack* ;-) Deep fried soft shell crab (RM30) was well done too, tasted fragrant and puffy, definitely a superior tidbit to go with beer. Here in Sabah, you get to relish steamed LIVE garoupa with reasonable price if you know where to find! No kidding, it was ALIVE before the guy net it from the tank! The restaurant was selling RM60 per 1KG. "Hello, it's live garoupa, why not!?" Kiat chose one with 900gram; he said this is the ideal size to be steamed. How true! This garoupa is lip smacking delish when steamed with premium soy sauce. I’d never realize the distinct difference between a live garoupa comparing to the one I carried back from wet market, MAMA MIA!! The one brought back from market, the flesh turns flaky after being steamed while live garoupa is NOT! The flesh is firm, springy and full of natural sweetness, no strange odor found. In fact, this is the most expensive dish on the table yet I still think RM54 is well worth it!

For veggie, I would recommend you to try the exclussive local grown Sabah veggie (RM10) which resembles paku, I simply enjoy the crunchiness of it.

Total bill is RM180 for 6 pax.

Address :

Salut Restaurant
Mile 13, Jalan Tuaran Telipok,
Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Phone : 088-228301

Restoran Oriental @ Tuaran, Sabah

Since Air Asia and Tune Hotel were having an attractive promotion, taking the chance of Deepavali”s long break, I decided to pay a visit to Kota Kinabalu (KK) @ Sabah. Sabah is also known as "Land below the Wind”because of its strategic location that is right below the typhoon belt.

Basically Oct is considered great month to visit KK, especially end of Oct where you get to witness the grand International Climbathon. Candidates come from all over the world, compete to climb Mt Kinabalu with the speed of Shinkansen. I could not imagine, while I took 2 days to reach the summit, the competitors take less than 3hours to complete the whole to and fro journey. Apart from this world class event, Oct is also the season of durian.

If you are a big fan for durian, you get to sample different species of local durian including the wild durian with long tiny thorns and red orangey meat called Durian Dalip. Also, you get to enjoy heaps of mangosteen and other local fruits on season.

We chartered a van sending us to Kinabalu Park, the Sabahan Dusun driver Jimmy dropped us at one of the Chinese restaurants along Tuaran for breakfast. The shop is called Restoran Oriental东方茶餐室.

We got no idea what to order and could barely relied on the Chinese boss‘s advice. He recommended us fried Mi Tuaran 炒斗亚兰面 (RM15) . Mi Tuaran is a type of noodle produced from the town called Tuaran, it looks wavy and yellowish, springy and less sticky. Usually they fried it with egg, cabbage and seafood.

Colleague’s hubby Kiat spotted the swamp eel in tank. He would like to try some but obviously this is a mental challenge for the girls. As such, boss suggested frying a small portion with hot & spicy Gong Bou style 宫保鳝鱼(RM18). According to Kiat, blood is the most precious part of eel therefore must not be drained, walala, sound like an expertise huh!? Different from Unagi, this eel was chopped into the length of 2-3cm without being deboned. I threw a small piece into my mouth and tried not to think about the fact that I was munching a snake-like creature, the texture of the skin was rubbery and not much of meat. Exotic it is, but definitely NOT my type of food, I quitted after 2nd piece, thanks, but NO, thanks!!!
Lastly, fried sweet bamboo shoot 清炒甜笋(RM10) which I think was good.I was the one who finished the quarter of it. This meal costs us RM48 inlcuding drinks.