Sabah Penampang Cooking Class: Learn Kadazandusun Dishes

Cook four Sabahan dishes and eat what you make, guided by a local host

A 3-hour hands-on cooking class in Kampung Kibabaig, Penampang, where you learn to prepare traditional Kadazandusun dishes (linopot, hinava, pinasakan sada, and chicken tuhau) from a local host, then sit down to eat the meal together. All ingredients are provided, pickup is included, and the class suits beginners and groups alike.

The experience

Kampung Kibabaig in Penampang is where the class happens, and your host Didie will meet you there after pickup from Kota Kinabalu. You'll start with a warm welcome and an introduction to the traditional ingredients and cooking methods that define Sabahan food, then move straight into preparing the dishes. Linopot (rice wrapped in leaf, often mixed with yam or sweet potato) is a portable meal you'll learn to fold by hand. Hinava, a raw fish salad cured with lime, ginger, chili and shallots, teaches you the balance of acid and heat that runs through the cuisine. Pinasakan sada simmers fish with takob-akob fruit, turmeric and herbs for a sour-savory depth, and chicken tuhau brings wild ginger, chili and spice together in a stir-fry. You'll also prepare stir-fried wild garlic shoots with anchovies: simple, but full of the homestyle flavor that makes Sabahan cooking distinct.

The class runs 2.5 to 3 hours, and all the ingredients are already there waiting for you. You don't need cooking experience. The host walks you through each step and shares the cultural stories behind the dishes as you work. Whether you're traveling solo, as a couple, or in a group, the setup works the same way: hands-on, no standing and watching. After everything is cooked, you sit down together and eat what you've made, the Sabahan way.

What’s included

• All ingredients for the four dishes.
• lunch of the meal you've cooked.
• pickup from Kota Kinabalu.
• guidance from a local host in English.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:00 and 16:30

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Wheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by Flavors of Sabah: A Cooking Class

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want hands-on cooking in a shared class with transport included from Kota Kinabalu, rather than arranging your own way to Penampang.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

What dishes do I actually cook in this class?

You prepare linopot (rice wrapped in leaf with yam or sweet potato), hinava (fresh fish cured with lime, ginger, chili and shallots), pinasakan sada (fish simmered with takob-akob fruit and turmeric), and chicken tuhau (stir-fried chicken with wild ginger and chili). You'll also make stir-fried wild garlic shoots with anchovies.

Do I need cooking experience to join?

No. The class is suitable for beginners, and your host guides you through each step of the preparation. All ingredients are provided and ready.

Where in Penampang does the class take place?

The class is held in Kampung Kibabaig, Penampang, and pickup from Kota Kinabalu is included in the booking, so you don't need your own transport.

What happens after we finish cooking?

You sit down together and eat the meal you've prepared. Lunch is included, and you'll share the food the Sabahan way with your host and any other participants.

How long does the whole experience take?

The class runs 2.5 to 3 hours from start to finish, including the cooking and the meal afterward.