If you’re at Sabah traveling from Kota Kinabalu to the Kinabalu Park or Kundasang, the only sane ground road to get there involves driving a long stretch of winding hilly road that is a dream to any motorcyclist (especially those who’re stuck driving a beat up rental Perodua Viva).

Sinalau Bakas along AH 150 Highway in Sabah
Sinalau Bakas along AH 150 Highway in Sabah

On this road you’ll come across a few road side stalls that is really, really smokey, and that’s where you’ll find one of the must-try indigenous Dusun food for those who consume non-halal food – Sinalau Bakas.

In the local language, Sinalau Bakas translate to smoked wild boar, and the dish is simple as it sounds – slabs of marinated wild boar meat smoked on an open BBQ pit, with the operator usually flipping those glorious meat while squinting or seated on a small “bangku” fanning the wood fire below.

smoked wild boar sure is done with plenty of smoke
smoked wild boar sure is done with plenty of smoke

The meat is usually only transferred to direct heat for cooking once you make your order, which means you’ll get it freshly prepared, and that usually involves some wait time of 10-15 minutes or longer.

As some say – if you wait for the food, it’s gonna be great, if the food waits for you, well…

this was our ten Ringgit's worth of wild boar meat
this was our ten Ringgit’s worth of wild boar meat

The meat is very spicy in a traditional herbal way while not overly tough like you’d expect from wild boar. Get chunks with a fattier cut if you like it more tender. Sinalau Bakas is also served with traditional chili sauce that gives it a bit more kick. I actually found it overall to be rather tasty and we finished everything despite having a slightly leaner cut.

KY & Haze enjoying some wholesome wild boar meat
KY & Haze enjoying some wholesome wild boar meat

There’s no actual address for this place, but the GPS location below should help. You’re in better luck than me when I was asking Elfie the Sabahan girl where I could find these stalls!

P/S: and yes, I will be writing the long overdue Kinabalu Mountain Climbing post soon.

map to Sinalau Bakas stalls

Address:
Sinalau Bakas stalls
Along AH 150 Highway,
about half way from Tuaran to Kinabalu Park

GPS: 6.107336, 116.367638
Hours: late morning to after lunch, not regular

KY eats – Sinalau Bakas (Smoked Wild Boar) near Kinabalu Park, Sabah
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16 thoughts on “KY eats – Sinalau Bakas (Smoked Wild Boar) near Kinabalu Park, Sabah

    • August 29, 2016 at 7:20 am
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      from Tesco issit??? BwahaHAahahaHAhahahah BaBi HuTan <—

      Reply
    • August 30, 2016 at 3:20 pm
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      The Yum List: borneo? haha

      Reply
  • August 27, 2016 at 9:48 pm
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    Ky,I like boar when in Hawaii and my always said he want to hunting since Hawaii have over run of boars, goats, deers, wild hores, and cattle. Knowing him, he ended up at supermarket for meat instead. There lot of hunters sell their games to restaurants every days due to hunting is year round thing in boars. Being a vet I rather head to restaurants for it.

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    • August 30, 2016 at 3:21 pm
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      Vickie: hahaha, supermarket is a lot easier to deal with than wild animals in the jungle.

      Reply
  • August 29, 2016 at 7:32 am
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    lol “Elfie the Sabahan girl” sounds like uncle tried to ask a fairy in the mythical Borneo jungle kekekekekeke

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    • August 30, 2016 at 3:21 pm
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      immature: ah but that’s a real person, strangely enough!

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      • September 1, 2016 at 7:33 am
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        whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa?

        Reply
  • August 29, 2016 at 11:41 am
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    You should the stalls with soup bakas! My guide recommended Martin’s stall around the junction to kota belud. It taste like Bak Kut Teh but 10 times better!

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    • August 30, 2016 at 3:22 pm
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      yetmui: nothing can be 10 x better than bak kut teh, it only means you haven’t had the real bkt! haha.

      Reply
  • August 29, 2016 at 8:52 pm
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    i had to google bearded pig sabah when i saw your pic of the signage … and the pig REALLY does look like it has a beard! 😀

    Reply
    • August 30, 2016 at 3:22 pm
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      Sean: like.. kwan kong?

      Reply
  • August 30, 2016 at 10:57 am
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    I had this during my last Sabah trip & I manage to snap the photo of the piggy head >_<

    Reply
    • August 30, 2016 at 3:23 pm
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      Choi Yen: no boar head this time.

      Reply

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