Zoooli Fish 竹里酸菜鱼 — Restaurant in Borneo

Terrible Experience – Avoid This Restaurant

We visited Zoooli today after making a reservation in advance. Unfortunately, the experience was nothing short of disappointing. We ordered multiple dishes (around 4/5 for our group), but only one dish was served after 30 minutes. After that, no other dishes arrived despite repeatedly asking the staff.

I even reminded the staff that we had two hungry kids waiting patiently for food, but even after an hour, no progress was made. I saw the waiter go into the kitchen multiple times to follow up on our orders, but the chef simply ignored the requests. Instead, we kept seeing dishes being served to other tables while our orders were completely neglected.

When I spoke to the chef directly, he claimed to have cooked the chicken, but when I asked where it was, he couldn’t give me an answer. This level of mismanagement is shocking. Frustrated, we had to cancel our order after waiting an hour, as the kids were starving and couldn’t wait any longer.

To make matters worse, we were still charged in full for the only dish served (a fish dish), plus five bowls of cold rice—most of which were untouched because no other dishes arrived.

This restaurant’s management is terrible, and it’s been a long time since I’ve had such a bad experience anywhere. Avoid this place if you don’t want to ruin your mood or waste your time. Unless they make drastic improvements, I doubt they’ll survive for long.

• looking at the reviews and similar experience others had before (MONTHS AGO), it’s clearly that I have already given a try to your restaurant and this is clearly shown that the management has not been improve. You know what is happening and affecting your business months ago but not doing anything. A copy and paste reply will not help your restaurant to improve, you may just continue that and seeing the same review...

My family and I recently dined at Zooli Fish 竹里酸菜鱼 in Kota Kinabalu, and it was an absolute delight from start to finish. We were particularly blown away by their signature fish dish, which stood out as the highlight of our meal. The flavors were bold yet perfectly balanced, showcasing a level of passion and culinary expertise that’s hard to come by. It’s clear that every dish is crafted with care, elevating simple ingredients into something truly memorable.

What sets Zooli Fish apart is its unique take on Chinese cuisine, blending traditional elements with a Malaysian twist that feels fresh and innovative. The sour and spicy fish we tried was a revelation—tangy, aromatic, and packed with natural flavors that spoke to the quality of the ingredients. You can tell they prioritize authenticity, steering clear of MSG to let the food shine on its own merit. The ambiance was warm and welcoming, making it an ideal spot for a family outing. The staff were attentive, and the cleanliness of the place—right down to the meticulously disinfected utensils—added to our comfort and enjoyment.

Overall, Zooli Fish is a gem in Kota Kinabalu’s dining scene. It’s not just a meal; it’s an experience that celebrates skillful cooking and thoughtful flavors. We left satisfied and eager to return, and I’d highly recommend it to anyone looking for a standout family dining experience with a unique...

The service captain exhibited a lack of professionalism and adherence to service protocols during our dining experience. 😒 Despite initially informing us that walk-in reservations were accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis, we were unexpectedly asked to vacate our table after placing our order to make way for VIP patrons with reserved seating. 😡 Additionally, the waiter provided assurances of prompt service for additional dishes ordered at later stage, yet the chicken dish arrived with a significant delay of 40 minutes after our main courses had been served. 🐌 Furthermore, the service captain exhibited a lack of attention to detail by inquiring if we had completed our meal when not all of our dishes had been delivered or completed. 🧐 This behavior was unprofessional and demonstrated a lack of attention to detail. 😤 While the culinary offerings were delectable, the substandard service standards and exorbitant drink prices compel me to seek alternative...