Bar Abong - Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

Steph

Accidentally found this place. Initially not quite sure where was the entrance. It's almost like a speakeasy kind of bar, very discrete. Super cool and nice ambience but menu is quite limited. Hopefully they would expand it. But nice place to chill and sipping on this Longan Martini.

I was a bit full so I skipped the recommendation of trying the fish sandwich. Went for the Croquette Abong. It was nice but I couldn't taste much of the tengiri fish. Overall, still a nice place to hangout especially at the bar/open kitchen area.

Petra T.

Been here 3 times now; would recommend Fish Sandwich (can request to cut into halves/thirds/quarters), Local Sole (covered with butter oil), soba pesto & fish croquettes. The house lemonade is also refreshing to have (for non alcoholic option).

Would personally prefer to have table seats, they only have 1 table available for dining (up to 6 pax) and the rest are bar seating. Would come back again to try the other seafood dishes. Prior table reservation recommended as limited seats are available.

Kelly

Hidden door, leading to an orange stairs, into a nicely decor space, with bar and open kitchen. Went for a bite at about 8.30pm, without a reservation. LOVE the fish sandwich! Very well balanced flavours and textures. Also ordered their cheese puff (cheese and caramelised onions) may not have been throughly heated through, taste was ok, but nothing to shout about. For dessert, we had their pudding - their version of a panna cotta - smooth but lacking flavour. For drinks, I enjoyed their lemonade. The place had a chilled vibe, and i love the feel to the place, with friendly staff. Would definitely drop by again.

Giu M.

Venite qui! Ristorante aperto da un anno, molto diverso dagli altri di KK, ne vale la pena per qualcosa di diverso
Ottimi piatti, servizio gentile e buoni vini naturali!
Prezzo più alti della media, ma corretto.
Bella atmosfera, ci sono tanti posti a sedere al bancone

Dublin L.

Love the centre piece setting of their kitchen. We get to see how they prepare our food. I just wish that the height of our dining table can be higher. Or their kitchen bar table can be lower. so we can see them clearly. Love their fish sandwich. Fried beans have to consume it while it is still hot. Cheesy puff just ok. House lemonade can make you stay awake. Kudos to the 3 kitchen crew who need to prepare our meals, servicing & cleaning after. Good service provided by one of the male chefs. The bartender is not paying attention to us, though. Quite busy with his mobile.

Lydia C.

Saw this on social media, so decided to give it a try. Pretty hidden door which was cool. Atmosphere was chill but may be noisy if you have a large noisy/loud crowd. What we ordered:-

(i) Fish sandwich was da’bomb! Definitely recommended. We only found out/ overheard that it was their signature dish AFTER we finished our meal.
(ii) Charred Miso Cabbage: this was a little weird. Too thick wedge and too little miso paste. Felt like the chefs could do better with this dish.
(iii) Jicama Squid Ball: the fried crispy thingy outside was yummy, sauce was yummy, filling was good too. Definitely recommended.
(iv) Croquettes Abong: this was good at first but as you eat, the creamy texture got too heavy and made it feel “jelak”. The sauce that they used here is the same sauce in the fish sandwich, so if you’re ordering the sandwich, maybe order something else and not the croquette. Maybe the chefs could put a little tanginess or spiciness into the croquettes instead.

Overall, food and experience was great. I would definitely go back for the fish sandwich and try other items in their menu.

kazu-kun

On the second day in Kota Kinabalu, we accidentally discovered a lovely place that we hadn't researched at all before the trip. Bar Abong has a very hard-to-find entrance, but the moment you open the door, you are greeted with an excitingly designed space. As you climb the stairs, you’ll find a stylish and lively kitchen surrounded by counter seats. We enjoyed our dinner at the counter. The fish sandwich, which other customers also review and recommend, was as delicious as rumored. The tenggiri, a type of mackerel found in Malaysia, was very thick and flavorful. Abong's original coleslaw added an accent, and it paired perfectly with the tartar sauce. I paired it with a glass of white wine (Château de la Selve Petite Selve Blanc 2024).
Additionally, the Local Sole with buttery caper sauce, which was also recommended by other reviewers, was extremely delicious. There was no fishy smell, and although it was a whole fish, we finished it without leaving any. Thank you for a wonderful dinner time. I definitely want to visit again when I travel to Kota Kinabalu.

laydeylike

Had fish sandwich, RM 36 and prawn toast, RM 33

Had house lemonade, RM 12
Assam Apple, RM 18

Alot of wine choices. I recommend the fish sandwich, its so good. The prawn toast not to my liking, can't really taste the prawn.

Bar atmosphere. Nice if you like drinking and hangout with friends. Yes, will return again.