Good to know
Good to Know
- Seafood is the signature cuisine—fresh daily catches at reasonable prices, though you pay by weight at some restaurants; ask prices upfront
- Seafront restaurants come alive at night with Chinese families and live bands; very popular with dive groups after island trips
- Budget meals (RM5-RM15) available at street stalls and markets; mid-range seafood dinners for 2-3 people average RM50-RM150
- Semporna town is compact and walkable; most restaurants are within walking distance of the jetty area
- Many restaurants accept e-wallet payments and credit cards; some still cash-only at smaller venues
- Weekend open market in town center offers local snacks like fried banana fritters and cheese potato wedges
- Peak dining hours can mean long waits at popular seafood restaurants—arrive early or book ahead when possible
- Grab a fish guide before ordering to make sustainable seafood choices; local restaurants respect responsible sourcing
Supermarkets
Giant Supermarket
- Neighborhood
- Pekan Semporna town center
- Note
- Full grocery selection, alcohol available, walking distance from jetty
Milimewa Supermarket
- Neighborhood
- Pekan Semporna town center
- Note
- Food and alcohol available, within walking distance
G Mart Market
- Neighborhood
- Pekan Semporna
- Note
- Convenience store with imports (wine, beer), petrol station nearby
Budget
Fat Mom's Restaurant
- Price Range
- MYR 30
- Neighborhood
- Pekan Semporna
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Bajau seafood, local comfort food
Then Wang Seafood Restaurant
- Price Range
- MYR 47
- Neighborhood
- Jalan Bubul, Pekan Semporna
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Fresh seafood, butter prawns, squid (pay by weight)
Restoran Bismillah
- Price Range
- MYR 20
- Neighborhood
- Pekan Semporna
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Indian roti, nasi lemak, fresh juice
High End
Pearl City Restaurant
- Price Range
- MYR 120
- Neighborhood
- Dragon Inn Floating Resort, Jalan Custom
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Fresh seafood, dim sum, fried squid, butter prawns
Seaview Cafe
- Price Range
- MYR 100
- Neighborhood
- Pekan Semporna
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Premium seafood, Hong Kong-style crab, butter prawns, fresh from aquarium
Mid Range
Borneo Rock Cafe
- Price Range
- MYR 45
- Neighborhood
- Pekan Semporna
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Local and Western dishes, bagels, waffles, coffee
Anjung D'Samudera Cafe
- Price Range
- MYR 60
- Neighborhood
- Pekan Semporna
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Fresh seafood, butter squid, crab, sea urchin
Summer Breeze Cafe
- Price Range
- MYR 55
- Neighborhood
- Pekan Semporna
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Western, local, Singaporean, Korean dishes, homemade popsicles
Dozo Nanyang Kopi House
- Price Range
- MYR 25
- Neighborhood
- Seafront New Township
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Traditional Malaysian cuisine, Dozo Mee Basah, coffee
Delivery Services
GrabFood
- Note
- Available in Semporna with multiple restaurant partners including Seri Semporna and others
International Cuisine
Italian/Western
- Availability
- Available at Buddy Bistro, Summer Breeze Cafe, Borneo Rock Cafe; pizzas, pasta, burgers
Chinese
- Availability
- Multiple restaurants including seafront establishments with Hong Kong-style preparations
Malaysian Fusion
- Availability
- Mixed menus at most mid-range restaurants combining local and international dishes
Local Must Try Dishes
Ikan Bakar (Grilled Fish)
- Description
- Whole fish grilled on banana leaf with spicy sambal, charred and smoky
Latok (Sea Grapes)
- Description
- Raw seaweed, salty taste with pepper, lime and Thai sauce; locally called green caviar
Butter Prawns
- Description
- Large prawns from Celebes Sea in golden butter sauce with curry leaves
Hinava
- Description
- Traditional Bajau raw fish dish
Mantis Shrimp
- Description
- Salt-and-pepper fried, premium delicacy, sweet and tender
Sagol
- Description
- Traditional Bajau food made with fish such as shark, pufferfish, and stingray
Vegan And Vegetarian Dining
- Availability
- Limited but options exist
- Note
- Options are limited; cafes and Chinese restaurants can prepare meat-free dishes upon request
Venues
Secawan Cafe
- Hours
- Mon-Sun 9:30am-7:00pm
- Neighborhood
- Pekan Semporna
- Description
- Vegan options including nachos with fresh salsa, wakame tempeh salad, teriyaki tempeh sandwiches, coffee with coconut milk
Summer Breeze Cafe
- Neighborhood
- Pekan Semporna
- Description
- Mixed menu with vegetarian options available; staff can accommodate dietary requests
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this food & dining research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Semporna
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.