Ask anyone from Java, and they will tell you Bandung is the place to savour its flavourful exotic cuisine.
Apart from embracing its remarkable colonial heritage and being culturally inclined, Bandung’s denizens will warmly welcome you to a feast of it’s fusion food. Whether it's Sundanese, Chinese, Dutch or a fusion of it all, Bandung has delights uniquely its own even Jakartans would eager travel here the weekend for.
Eat your way through this breathtaking city with this following must-try list.
- Bakso Tahu/Siomay is a steamed fish paste dumpling, similar to Chinese dim sum, either made with or without tofu which can be eaten as a snack anytime. It is served with peanut sauce, sweet soy sauce and lime for dipping. Can be found at Batagor Riri at Jl. Burarangrang 41, and 15 year old shop Siomay Pak Lili at Jl. Geger Kalong Girang.
- Batagor, an acronym for Bakso Tahu Goreng, is similar to bakso tahu/siomay but is fried. It is also served with peanut sauce and sweet soy sauce. Also found at Batagor Riri.
- Martabak is a deliciously thick fried pancake stuffed with confections or meat. There are two variations - sweet and savoury. The sweet martabak, or “martabak manis” is a thick pancake stuffed with a choice of chocolate rice, cheese, banana or sugar and topped off with peanuts and condense milk. The savory martabak is a thin fried pancake version filled with with eggs, vegetables, mushrooms, chicken or beef. The most famous of places to enjoy this is at the original Martabak San Fransisco at Jln. Lodaya.
- Soto Bandung, a traditional Sundanese dish, is a flavourful beef broth cooked with peanut and white carrot known as lobak. To spice up this number, it is served with green sambal (chilli paste) to enjoy its kick. A wonderful dish to savour on a rainy day. Soto Ojolali, Jl. Cibadak is oldest food stall famous for this dish.
- Nasi Timbel is the famous Sundanese dish, and a must try local delicacy. It is a tube-shaped rice with distinguished flavour, made from being cooked while wrapped in banana leaf. It is served with lalapan (raw vegetables), tempe (fried tofu), fried chicken and sambal. The most popular haunt for Nasi Timbel is beside the Istiqomah mosque at Jl Citarum. Or try it at Nasi Timbel Dago at Jl. Dago.
- Dutch delights and savouries from Bandung’s colonial past are a must try at Sumber Hidangen on Jl Braga. Nasi Tomat, or tomato rice is a savoury fried rice with sausages in tomato sauce Dutch style. Also pick from many traditional Dutch cookies and pastries such as Frou frou Mocca, Bokkepootjes, pasteikorst and vruchten zandtaart.
- All over Bandung, you are sure not to miss the stalls selling “Amanda’s Brownies” even from a car boot stopped along the road side. Succulent and sweet brownies, Amanda’s brownies is steamed and not baked like all other regular brownies. Although you may try the many vendors knock-off brownies using the name, that are sold almost illegally anywhere around the city, try the original at Jl. Rancabolang no 29 or Jl. Lengkong Besar no. 101.
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