When you visit Sandakan, one thing becomes very clear: YOU CAN’T REALLY ESCAPE SEAFOOD!

From kopitiams to seafood restaurants, fresh fish is everywhere. One of our first dinner stops in Sandakan was Big Three Fish Noodles, a popular spot known for its generous seafood portions and variety of broth options. If you’re unsure what to order, this is the kind of place where “just go with the mixed fish” is usually the safest and best decision.

We decided to try a few different combinations to get a better idea of what the restaurant offers.

1. Dry Noodles with Tomato Broth + Mixed Fish

This was our first choice, and arguably the most balanced one. The mixed fish option came with a variety of fresh seafood, and the quality definitely stood out. The fish was fresh, clean-tasting, and generously portioned. The tomato broth, paired with dry noodles, was especially appetising. It had a light, tangy sweetness that complemented the seafood beautifully.

Best combination if you want something flavourful but not too heavy.

2. Tomato Broth with Milk (Unexpected Twist)

We also tried the tomato broth fish noodles with added milk, thinking it might create a creamier texture. However, the result was quite unexpected. The milk ended up overpowering the tomato flavour almost completely. Instead of a balanced creamy tomato broth, the taste leaned heavily towards milk.

Best combination if you want something interesting.

3. Classic Tomato Broth Fish Noodles

We also had the standard tomato-broth fish noodles, which felt quite similar to the dry-noodle version in terms of the flavour base.

The main difference lies in the presentation and the distribution of ingredients, but the broth itself remains consistent: light, tangy, and comforting.

A safe and reliable option.

4. Tom Yum Fish Noodles (Standout Dish)

The clear winner of the meal was definitely the tom yum fish noodles. This version delivered everything you would expect from a good tom yum: sour, spicy, aromatic, yet extremely appetising. The flavour was bold but well-balanced, making it the most memorable dish of the visit.

Highly recommended if you enjoy strong, punchy flavours.

Will I Return Again?

Yes, because of its fresh seafood selection, variety of broth options, and flexible noodle combinations.

All in all, if you’re in Sandakan and craving seafood noodles, Big Three Fish Noodles is a solid stop. While not every combination worked perfectly (like the milk + tomato broth experiment), the freshness of the fish and the strong flavour profiles, especially the tom yum, make it worth a visit. For first-timers, the safest and most satisfying choice is still the mixed fish with tomato broth. 

Ambient: 3/5

Price: $$$

Food: Chinese food, fish noodles

Service: 3/5

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Key Notes

1. Do I need to make a reservation before heading there?  

Not really, walk-ins will do. 

2. Does it offer other dishes? 

It offers predominantly fish and noodles as its main dishes, but if you want to have rice to complement them, they do have it. There are other side dishes like fried wantan and vegetables too. 

Big Three Fish Noodles, 

Lot 84, Lorong Avenue 10,

One Avenue, 90000 Sandakan, Sabah

Opens from 7am - 9pm (closed on Tuesday) 

Written by,

FoodiesTravelblog

Ps: This is based on my personal opinion