Read also: 10 Must-Try Street Food in Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

Read also: Malaysia's Most Unique Restaurants

Labu Sayong is recognized as the Best Malay Cuisine & Heritage-Theme Restaurant by the Malaysia Tourism Council

Labu Sayong: Affordable Malay Fine Dining in Ipoh, Perak

Our visit to Labu Sayong has a very specific purpose: to sample its 4-course lunch which included an appetiser, soup, main course, dessert and drink. Upon our arrival, we were warmly greeted and ushered to a Rumah Kutai - a traditional wooden house of Perak built on sturdy stilts. At the top of the stairs, we removed our shoes and entered the restaurant that was fortunately and considerately air-conditioned so we could dine in blissful comfort (it must have been about at least 35°C outside!).

Labu Sayong welcomes diner to an exceedingly authentic and immersive cultural dining experience set in a Rumah Kutai - the traditional house of Perak.

Labu Sayong Signature 4-Course Fine Dining (RM68/person)

A shot of rejuvenating lemongrass drink to start the meal off

Appetiser: Tenggiri Kepai Pandan Udang Kertas

Mackerel is one of the most important fish in Malay cooking. The oily, omega 3-rich fish can easily be found in wet markets and is a delight to consume as it is fleshy and less bony. Labu Sayong has recreated this very ordinary dish and turned it into a showpiece by grounding the flesh and molding it into a bite-sized morsel in a pandan envelope, served alongside a shelled prawn encased instead in a layer of shredded spring roll skin and fried until golden. These are to be coated in the luscious black seafood sauce laid out across the plate. Don't be fooled by what seems to be tobiko - the orange roe-like mass is really just faux couscous caviar.

The idea of using a butterpea flower to localise the dish is commendable, though I do feel that it may have stolen the limelight from the star ingredients instead of just fulfilling its role of enhancing the presentation.

Tenggiri Kepai Pandan Udang Kertas Traditional baked mackerel fish mousse with crispy prawn & seafood black sauce

Soup: Rusuk Kambing “Tongkat Ali” Kelapa Muda

This dish is a feast for the eyes. The lamb soup is cooked with onion, aromatic lemongrass and the highly appreciated tongkat ali (a booster of athletic performance, endurance and energy) in a hollowed out coconut and is saucily concealed under a layer of crisped spring roll. The heartily stewed ball of minced lamb has been removed from the soup and is skewered with a lemongrass stalk, placed artfully across the soup. To enjoy the dish, simply pierce through the spring roll casing with the skewer.

When the spring roll soaks in the soup, it becomes thickened and noodle-like (think pappardelle).

Rusuk Kambing “Tongkat Ali” Kelapa Muda Aromatic soup of lamb with onion, lemongrass & Tongkat Ali root in coconut

Main Course: Ikan Purba Kala Sayong & Nasi Lemuni

The name of this dish literally means "the ancient fish of Sayong". The thoughtfully deboned seabass is marinated with 27 types of local ingredients and is deep fried and served deluged in a bird eye chili and ginger sauce. Just like many other Malay dishes, it comes with one part rice and one part dish. The seabass (topped, again, with crispy shredded spring roll skin) is accompanied with an equal portion of Nasi Lemuni - a unique type of rice originating from the northern states of Malaysia. It is cooked to the perfect softness and fluff together with lemuni leaves, coconut milk, garlic, onions, ginger, fenugreek seeds, salt and fragrant pandan leaves. The brownness from the cooked rice is from the juice of the lemuni leaves, which contains various essential nutrients.

Ikan Purba Kala Sayong & Nasi Lemuni Deep-fried 700gm seabass stuffed with 27 local ingredients accompanied with bird eye chili ginger sauce, vegetables & Lemuni Rice

Dessert: Putri Gunung Ledang dan Pisang Goreng Rangkai

Another incredibly beautiful dish by Labu Sayong - this surpassingly stunning dessert is almost too beautiful to be eaten. It comes in two parts: rice flour dumpling stuffed with sweet dates and sesame in coconut gravy served in the most fascinating handcrafted bowl made using ice and flowers, and deep-fried banana topped with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream and of course, more shredded spring roll skin.

What I love: The creativity, colours & amazing composition. Also, both the dumplings and fritter are very traditional Malay desserts, so the selections are on point!

What I dislike: The fact that a piece of napkin is included in the plating shows that although the idea of an ice-bowl is praiseworthy, it is however, not fully thought through. An incredible concept that requires just a dribble of fine-tuning!

Putri Gunung Ledang dan Pisang Goreng Rangkai Rice flour dumplings stuffed with date sesame served with coconut gravy, deep-fried crispy banana

Beautiful creations by Labu Sayong, Ipoh

Labu Sayong Signature Review: Final Thoughts

There are many things that I love about this restaurant, but there are also a few things that I'd like to point out:

1. Fine dining at a knockdown price: Bandar Meru Raya is a newly established township in Ipoh (the capital of Perak state) which is approximately 2 hours away from Kuala Lumpur by car. Since the cost of living is relatively cheaper outside of the city, diners can enjoy a full 4-course meal at an absolute bargain at only RM68 per person, including an appetiser, soup, main course, dessert and drink.
2. Overused of the spring roll skin: Every dish comes with at least a version of garnish made from spring roll skin.
3. Amazing efforts, subpar ingredients: Caviar-lookalike, below par vanilla ice-cream. I can only imagine how amazing the dishes will turn out if every component is kept to a certain standard.

All in all, the fine-dining experience at Labu Sayong Signature was an eye-opener and it's a quick and excellent way to familiarise oneself with the Malaysian Malay cuisine. From dining in a traditional Rumah Kutai to tasting highly unique dishes that are only specific to a certain region in the country, the experience is not only immersive and enveloping, but is also incredibly easy on the pocketbook.

Labu Sayong Signature

Opening hours: 11.30am–10.00pm (Sunday to Thursday) & 11.30am–11.00pm (Friday, Saturday, eve of Public Holiday & Public Holiday)

For related food articles, click here.

This Chinese restaurant offers a comprehensive range of traditional Chinese dishes, as well as dim sum selection during lunch hours. The must-try pork-free dishes here include steamed siew mai, egg tarts, prawn dumplings, loh mai kai and fried carrot cake.

Location: Level 2, Maxims

Have you tried any of these halal & pork-free restaurants in Genting Highlands? Tell us which one is your favorite! For related food stories, please click here.

Pulau Mabul is an isolated and idyllic island surrounded by beautiful reefs and aqua waters. It is most popular as a world-class diving site as well as the home to the Bajau Laut tribe - an ethnic group originating from Borneo. Listed below are the top things to do in Pulau Mabul.

Read also: Best Resort in Pulau Mabul: Sipadan-Mabul Resort (SMART)

Top 10 Things to Do in Mabul Island, Sabah, Malaysia

Celebrate Regatta Lepa

Heading to Pulau Mabul in March or April? You are arriving just in time for the grand 3-day Regatta Lepa festival that is held annually. Participate in continuous celebrations spanning across 3 days and pay homage to the age-long traditions of the Bajau Laut tribe during this unique water festival. Among the activities organised are the dragon boat race, tug-of-war, as well as duck catching competition.

Celebrate Regatta Lepa at Pulau Mabul

Scuba Diving

As the main activity in Pulau Mabul, every resort on the island offers house reef diving and for those who are more adventurous - daily boat trips further out into the ocean for serious scuba divings. The incredible marine life corals here makes it the top diving sites in the world, particularly at the Coral Garden, Barracuda Point as well as the Drop Off Point. While diving is available all year long, the prime time to visit is during the dry season throughout March to October.

Recommended: Stay at Seaventures Dive Rig - the world's only one-of-a-kind scuba diving rig that transformed an actual decommissioned oil rig into a resort cum diving center!

Scuba diving at Pulau Mabul

Visit the Bajau Laut Water Village

No trip to Pulau Mabul is complete without a boat trip to the Bajau Laut village - home to the eminent and legendary Sea Gypsies of Borneo. The tribe lives in wooden boats and houses made by them from scratch, and they spend their entire lives at sea. Today, the Bajau Laut or Pelauk people still remain “stateless” with an undocumented status as they are not given citizenship to any country. However, thanks to the NGOs in Sabah, they are able to secure a piece of land for them to sustain a living.

Visit the Bajau Laut Stilt Village in Pulau Mabul

Snorkeling at Pulau Mabul

Love the sea but don’t own a diving license or don’t intend to get one? Speak to your guesthouse to arrange a trip to main dive sites where you get to join in the fun and witness the beauty of the thriving undersea life and if you’re extra lucky, you can even spot giant turtles! Just remember to keep your camera charged at all times!

Snorkeling at Pulau Mabul

Ocean Kayaking

Want to experience kayaking out the open ocean? At Pulau Mabul, kayak rental is available all year round at approximately RM30 per hour. You definitely need to try the Molokini - a transparent kayak that gives you quick and easy access to the marine life without having to get wet!

Ocean kayaking at Pulau Mabul

Catch the Sunrise and Sunset

Sabah is the first state in Malaysia to be blessed by the golden rays. You can get up early and catch the sunrise at around 5.45am, or if you miss this, you can always catch the sunset instead which is equally a remarkable sight to help you end the day in awe!

Catch the spectacular sunrise and sunset at Pulau Mabul

Visit the Tun Sakaran Marine Park

Every corner is postcard worthy at the Tun Sakaran Marine Park - the gateway to a world of spellbinding beauty and untouched wonders. As home to the islands of Boheydulang, Sabangkat, Bodgaya and Salakan, the sand cays of Sibuan, Maiga, and Mantabuan, as well as the patch reefs of Church and Kapikan - it is no wonder why it has become the most photographed region in the world.

Pulau Mabul must-do: Visit the Boheydulang Island at Tun Sakaran Marine Park

Stargazing at Mabul Island

Nature is amazing, and Pulau Mabul is the perfect destination for you to open up your senses and absorb the raw beauty of this planet. When the sun goes down, the Milky Way comes into view and light up the sky. Away from noise and light pollution, the island gives you the opportunity to stay enamored throughout your trip.

Stargazing at Pulau Mabul is a must-do

Island Hopping at Semporna

The quickest and most exciting way to discover the grandeur of this region is by island hopping, where you get access to islands that are otherwise unreachable or restricted to travelers without a guide. Other than the more popular islands like Kapalai and Sipadan, hopping onto a boat can gain you entry to smaller but astonishing islands such as Pom Pom, Mataking and Bum Bum.

Got some extra time on hand? Why not indulge in a day of island hopping at Pulau Mabul!

Photography

You can find Instagram-worthy shots at every corner of the island. From capturing the Sea Gypsies to the vast, blue ocean, the sky’s the limit when it comes to taking the perfect photos here. A very important tip to keep in mind is to never give money to the Sea Gypsies in return for their photos to be taken. Instead, you can give them snacks or stationery instead - something they can actually use.

Read also: Best Resort in Pulau Mabul: Sipadan-Mabul Resort (SMART)

Seaventures Dive Rig: PADI 5-Star Resort at Sipadan, Sabah

Seaventures Dive Rig: PADI 5-Star Resort at Sipadan, Sabah