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By Mihar Dias October 2025
If you ever find yourself hungry in Tawau or Kunak and wondering where to eat, take it from me — head straight to Dojo. It has quickly become our favourite spot in both towns. The food is always consistent, the service is friendly, and — this is rare in Sabah’s small towns — the kitchen is spotless.
You can actually peek in and not lose your appetite.
Yes, Dojo takes cleanliness seriously.
The Kunak outlet, in particular, deserves applause. The kitchen gleams with stainless steel order, and even the toilet — usually the Achilles’ heel of many eateries — is surprisingly well maintained. That alone earns them a gold star in my book.
Now, the Tawau branch deserves a slightly different kind of review. The kitchen there, too, is commendably clean, and the dining area cheerful and comfortable.
Photo by Mihar Dias
But beware when nature calls. Dojo in Tawau, despite being in the “more modern” Tawau City Centre, still clings stubbornly to a squat toilet.
Now, I have nothing against squat toilets — they’re great for strengthening the thighs and, according to some, more “natural.” But this one is not for the faint-hearted. It’s colourful, yes, and very clean. But once you open the door, you’ll notice something odd — the steps leading up to the toilet.
Photo by Mihar Dias
They look perfectly harmless until you realise they’re not made to standard specs. Step too far or too fast, and you might find yourself performing an unintended yoga pose before you even get to the squat.
So, a friendly tip: when in Tawau’s Dojo, eat heartily, admire the cleanliness, but tread carefully on your way to the restroom.
One wrong move and your review might shift from “best meal in town” to “unexpected trip hazard.”
Still, I’ll give credit where it’s due. In a region where “clean toilet” often ranks lower than “good sambal” on the list of priorities, Dojo stands out for trying. They’re proof that you can serve good food and maintain basic hygiene — even if a small step (literally) still needs fixing.
So yes, Dojo remains our favourite eating outlet in both Tawau and Kunak. Great kitchen, good people, clean premises — and one small lesson in ergonomics waiting in the loo.
Mihar Dias (mihardias@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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