Food from Sabah Malaysia: Sotong Tom Yum

Sotong Tom Yum from Sabah, Malaysia

Sotong Tom Yum from Malaysia
Sotong Tom Yum from Malaysia

A famous South East Asian dish found in Sabah

Tom Yum is a famous soup dish in South East Asia, mainly Laos and Thailand. It’s known for its sour and spicy flavors that give it a very distinct identification to the taste buds.

Sotong is the Malay for squid, of which there is plenty to be found in Sabah.

Soups are popular in Sabah but not with me

Everywhere I go there seems to be a small little restaurant or cafe with lots of spicy soup. Most, are very tasty indeed. However, finding a soup with something more substantial than liquid in the bowl has been a problem.

I eat to move and travel around, and soup doesn’t always do it for me. Thankfully Sotong Tom Yum comes to the rescue!

Pick a place with more meat than soup!

In one local eatery I found a Sotong Tom Yum that contained more meat and vegetables than soup. So I return many times for a hearty feast. I wouldn’t class Tom Yum soup as being one of my favorites, but this restaurants variation works a charm.

If you visit Sabah, and are looking for a meaty soup, Sotong Tom Yum might just hit the spot!

This is an additional post and one of a series highlighting Food in Sabah, Malaysia

Liked this post?

Never miss a post!
  
* indicates required

16 Replies to “Food from Sabah Malaysia: Sotong Tom Yum”

    1. I very much agree with you Jessie. Stews, and dishes like this are what I like when traveling. Otherwise I’m simply hungry again after an hour, which is not good when you are on the move a lot! Yep, this meaty soup was good!

  1. Boy oh boy! You have just ‘inceptionized’ the idea of tom yam to my thoughts! I love this hot and sour soup to bits. Best to go with white rice. :)

    1. I will now admit to the world I put rice in my soup. It soaks up all the good tastes and fills me up well. I am getting lots of strange looks here because of it :) I learned this in Nepal, and still do it until today!

  2. But this is obviously not a soup! It’s sotong Tom Yum as in Squid prepared with the Tom Yum stock. If it were soup, It would be called Sup Sotong Tom Yum ! hehe .. just saying:P

    1. Ha ha. Trust you to be picky! :) I am just a humble tourist. If the menu says it’s soup, and the person serving says it’s soup. And the girl in my guest-house says it’s soup, then … it’s soup!!! :P

    1. I can drink soup, mix it with rice, but as a meal it’s a no go for me. I’m too hungry when traveling to just have soup. Glad to see I am not the only one

    1. Ha ha, yes we are now “officially” opposites ;) I can’t handle eating vegetables alone, I am hungry an hour later. If not traveling, I find it’s easier, but if out walking all day long, I just get worn out very quickly. Don’t you get tired quickly? Or are you powered by energizer batteries? ;)

  3. I really love soups. And I also like to try different types of soups every now and then. From the most creamy ones to the “not so soup” ones. This one looks incredible. I would have liked you to post the recipe as well, because I would like to try it.

  4. Pingback: @TravelEater

Comments are closed.