By Nabila Uzma Abd Kadir
KUALA LUMPUR, May 23 (Bernama) -- Traditional Sabah dishes, including ambuyat sets, sold out before evening at the Borneo Native Festival (BNF) 2026 as strong demand for Borneo delicacies drew large crowds to the three-day event at Central Market here.
Wilhelm Avila Empire owner Wilhelmina Avila Beda, 39, said 200 packs of traditional Sabah food prepared at her stall were snapped up within hours.
“The response has exceeded our expectations. Even 200 packs were not enough,” she told Bernama.
Demand for traditional dishes such as tuhau, bosou, mi kolok and Sarawak laksa kept traders busy serving a steady stream of visitors over the past two days.
Wilhelmina said her stall offers 12 traditional dishes, including nasi kuning kokot, ambuyat, tuhau floss, bosou sambal and salted fish specially brought from Sabah.
She said the response came not only from Sabahans living in Kuala Lumpur, but also international visitors from Korea, Japan and Bangladesh eager to try the dishes.
Meanwhile, Maria Noodles owner Suria Amran, 55, said mi kolok and Sarawak laksa had also received encouraging response from locals and foreign tourists.
She said the uniqueness of mi kolok lies in its specially prepared noodles and choice of chicken or beef, while Sarawak laksa uses homemade paste and a distinctive prawn-based broth blended with special spices.
Suria said BNF provides an opportunity to introduce Sabah and Sarawak traditional food and culinary heritage to a wider audience.
For Dapo Duda owner Muhammad Firdaus Ibnil, 40, the rarity of ayam pansuh in Peninsular Malaysia inspired him to learn how to prepare the traditional Sarawak dish before turning it into a source of income during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Although I am not from Sarawak, I maintain the traditional cooking methods, including the use of special bamboo and spices brought from the state,” he said.
Muhammad Firdaus said sourcing original ingredients such as tepus, a type of herb difficult to find in Peninsular Malaysia, remains a challenge, but the response has been encouraging, especially from Sarawakians living here.
“Most customers first try it because they miss food from home, and later become regular customers. Previously, I only sold online during weekends and this is my first time joining an event like this,” he said.
Besides ayam pansuh, he also offers premium variations such as black angus pansuh and wagyu pansuh, along with fried white chilli and Bario salt brought from Sarawak.
BNF 2026, held at Central Market from May 22 to 24, is organised by the Kuala Lumpur Arts Enthusiasts Association (Sukaseni) in conjunction with the Kaamatan Festival in Sabah and the Gawai Dayak celebration in Sarawak.
-- BERNAMA
