Tuaran Mee: History, Ling San Temple & a Taste of Home
What is Tuaran Mee, who invented it and where to eat it in Tuaran, Sabah, from Lok Kyun to Ling San Temple. Plus a family stay near Dalit Beach.
Viannie Undikai
10/12/20265 min read
Restoran Lok Kyun, a long-standing family Tuaran Mee restaurant in Tuaran town
A plate of Tuaran Mee, golden fried egg noodles from Tuaran, Sabah
Photo: Jason Thien, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Quick answer: Tuaran Mee is a fried egg noodle dish from Tuaran, Sabah, made with fresh handmade egg noodles that are fried, softened and fried again in the wok with egg and vegetables, giving a crispy, springy, eggy and smoky plate. One widely told story traces it to Madam Si, who is said to have opened a small restaurant around 1952. You can eat it at long-standing Tuaran shops such as Lok Kyun Restaurant, or upstairs at Ling San Temple with a view of the river. To stay nearby, Tuaran Kampung Villa is a private family homestay near Dalit Beach for up to 8 guests.
If you come to Tuaran, there is one local food you should not leave without trying:
Tuaran Mee.
At first glance, it may look like an ordinary plate of fried noodles. But behind those golden, springy noodles is a story of family, community and generations of people who have kept this simple food alive.
And the interesting thing is, we don't really know exactly who invented it.
One of the most widely told stories traces Tuaran Mee back to a woman known as Madam Si, who is said to have started a small restaurant around 1952. Her egg-rich handmade noodles became popular, and the tradition gradually spread.
Another important name in Tuaran's noodle history is Lok Kyun Restaurant, one of the town's long-standing family establishments associated with Tuaran Mee.
Perhaps Tuaran Mee was never the creation of just one person.
Maybe it was shaped over generations by ordinary cooks, families and coffee shops.
And perhaps that is what makes it special.
Why Is Tuaran Mee Different?
The magic begins with the noodle.
Traditional Tuaran Mee is made with fresh egg noodles, giving it that beautiful golden colour, rich egg flavour and springy texture.
The noodles are fried, softened and fried again in the wok with egg, vegetables and other ingredients.
The result?
Crispy. Springy. Eggy. Smoky.
Every shop has its own way of doing it, but the character of the noodle remains unmistakably Tuaran.
It is not just Chinese food anymore.
It has become part of Sabah's food heritage.
Where I Like to Eat My Tuaran Mee: Ling San Temple, Tuaran
Now here is the funny part.
Despite all the history surrounding the famous Tuaran Mee shops, one of my favourite places to eat it is at Ling San Temple.
The temple itself is beautiful.
Its nine-storey pagoda rises above Tuaran, surrounded by colourful sculptures, intricate Chinese architectural details and beautifully maintained grounds. There are so many little details to notice that even after visiting many times, I still find myself looking at something new.
But somehow, a simple plate of Tuaran Mee and the view of that river can bring me back.
Food can be a time machine.
A Taste of Home at Tuaran Kampung Villa
This is why I love sharing Tuaran with my guests at Tuaran Kampung Villa.
I don't want visitors to simply come here, take photographs and leave.
I want them to taste the food.
Meet the people.
See the kampung.
Explore the river.
Slow down.
And make their own memories.
Because Tuaran Mee is more than a noodle.
It carries the stories of the people who made it, the families who kept it alive, and the town that gave it its name.
And for me, it carries something even more precious:
the taste of childhood.
The taste of Tuaran.
The taste of home.
Welcome to Tuaran Kampung Villa.
**Don't just visit Tuaran.
Live it. Taste it. Come Home.**
Tuaran Mee FAQ
What is Tuaran Mee?
Tuaran Mee is a fried noodle dish from Tuaran, Sabah, made with fresh egg noodles that are fried, softened and fried again in the wok with egg, vegetables and other ingredients. It is crispy, springy, eggy and smoky, and has become part of Sabah's food heritage.
Who invented Tuaran Mee?
No one knows exactly. One widely told story traces it to Madam Si, who is said to have started a small restaurant around 1952. It may have been shaped over generations by ordinary cooks, families and coffee shops.
Where can I eat Tuaran Mee in Tuaran?
Try a long-standing family shop such as Lok Kyun Restaurant, or eat it upstairs at Ling San Temple with a view towards the river.
Where can I stay in Tuaran?
Tuaran Kampung Villa is a private family homestay near Dalit Beach for up to 8 guests, with 3 bedrooms, a kitchen, BBQ and karaoke.
Book your stay at Tuaran Kampung Villa: StaysWellGlobal.com
Old shophouses on a street in Tuaran town, Sabah
View over the river and Tuaran countryside from Ling San Pagoda
Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
When the River Was Our Playground
When I was growing up in Tuaran, I used to mandi in Sungai Damit.
The river was our swimming pool and our playground.
We didn't have fancy equipment.
We had bamboo.
The children would put pieces of bamboo together to make a flat platform. We would all climb up and sit together on top.
Then we would jump.
Straight into the river.
We laughed, shouted, swam and climbed back up to do it all over again.
Looking back now, I think we were probably a little crazy!
But we were happy.
We didn't know we were making memories.
We were simply having fun.
Food Can Be a Time Machine
That is why eating Tuaran Mee at the temple feels different to me.
I look at the river and remember the bamboo.
I remember the children.
I remember the jumping.
I remember the laughter.
And for a moment, I am that little girl again.
The town has changed.
The river has changed.
And I have changed.
Ling San Temple and its nine-storey pagoda in Tuaran, Sabah
Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
But I don't go there only for the temple.
I like to sit upstairs, enjoy my Tuaran Mee and look out towards the river.
Because that river brings me back to my childhood.
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