Sundanese Food

West Java Specialties

Sundanese Food
Many people visit Bandung, the capital of West Java province, to pamper their taste buds. You'll be amazed with what Bandung has to offer. From various food sold on street vendors to haute cuisine, every visitor will be able to find something to their liking here, in Bandung.

Sundanese (the people living in West Java are called Sundanese) has tempting refreshments. Sundanese food tends to be bland yet tasty unless you add sambal dadak (chili and other ingredients grinded together) to your food. If you're looking for more spicy taste, just add this sambal dadak with nasi timbel (steamed rice formed into a roll inside a banana leaf) and other specialties. This mouthwatering treat is too good to be missed! Usually sour vegetables soup (sayur asam) is accompanied by nasi timbel.

Sundanese people eat vegetables a lot. Sometimes they even eat raw vegetables (called lalap or lalapan) like cucumbers, tomatoes, coriander leaves, eggplants, cabbages, lettuces, and so on. Lalapan is usually accompanied by sambal dadak.

Probably one of the most well known dish, timbel, consists of nasi timbel, lalapan, sambal dadak, a piece of chicken (fried or roasted Sundanese style), fried beancurd, fried tempeh, a slice of jambal (salted fish). If you want to, you can add gepuk (slices of beef, mixed in traditional herbs, then fried), pepes (main ingredients such as fish, chicken, mushroom, etc. mixed with crushed and blended herbs, folded into a banana leaf, then steamed until they're ready to eat), sauteed greens, and others. Nasi timbel is a favorite among locals and visitors. Batagor baso tahu goreng (literally means, fried meatballs & beancurd) is one of the most well-sought specialty. Made from blended fish and beancurd, with a special peanut sauce, batagor?s popularity remains constant.

People with sweet tooth might fancy pisang molen (literally
Sundanese Food
means, molen banana), Indonesian traditional pastry filled with banana and cheese. For a variation, try brownies kukus (steamed brownies). Es cendol, made of blended/grinded rice, palm sugar, and coconut milk, is delightful on a hot day. While for a colder day, you might want to taste bandrek or bajigur.

Bandung also offers various milk products most notably, yoghurt. Basically there are two kinds of yoghurt in Bandung the thin one, and the thick one (French style).

Hot snacks ala Bandung are widely sold throughout the city. Among them are gehu-toge tahu- (beancurd with beansprouts and vegetables filling), pisang goreng (fried banana), cireng-aci goreng- (fried tapioca), and many more. You might be interested in trying other snacks such as, nangka goreng (fried jackfruit), peuyeum goreng (fermented cassava, fried), nanas goreng (fried pineapple), and so on. Ketan bakar (roasted sticky rice) and jagung bakar/rebus (roasted/boiled corns) are also recommended.

Nasi goreng (fried rice), although not originally from Bandung, is also a favorite. The ingredients vary, according to people's preference. Sometimes the rice is mixed with seafood (usually shrimps, pieces of cuttlefish, pieces of crab's flesh), chicken and vegetables, mutton and vegetables, salted fish, and so on.

Cakue, a dish made of flour dough then fried, also worths a try.

Bandung also has other kinds of restaurants, like Padangese (food from West Sumatra, very spicy in taste), Javanese (sweeter in taste), Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Western, Indian, and so on.

Sundanese Food

Bandung
Fondly called Parahyangan meaning, Land of the Gods, this valley city has both metropolitan and homey atmosphere at the same time. Full of eateries, factory outlets, and malls, many people find going on a trip to Bandung both enjoyable and memorable.

Getting There
There are many ways to go to Bandung. You can go by plane, embark a train, or rent a car from Jakarta.

Where to Stay
Bandung has it all, cozy little inns to five-starred hotels.

Moving Around
Public transportation called angkot, covers most of Bandung. For greater comfort, it is best if you take a taxi. For greater comfort still, rent a car. A day's rent will save you time and trouble moving from one place to another and since Bandung is relatively small, you can cover most of Bandung's interesting places in a day.

Dining Guide
For a taste of nasi timbel and other Sundanese food, you can try the restaurants mentioned below. There are many others, though, so while you're in Bandung, you might be able to spot other restaurants selling tasty food.

BUMBU DESA
Jalan Pasirkaliki 160, Bandung
Jalan Laswi 1, Bandung
Traditional food with elegant surrounding.

BALE GAZEEBO
Jalan Surapati 49
Wide place, where you can eat while lesehan (sitting on the floor without chairs) or using a chair.

SINDANG RERET
Jalan Raya Cikole Km 22
Jalan Raya Propinsi Ciwidey, Kabupaten Bandung
Jalan Surapati 53
One of the most famous Sundanese restaurants in Bandung.

SAUNG KABAYAN
Jalan Dr. Junjunan 107, Bandung
Modernized Sundanese cooking.

SARI PARAHYANGAN
Jalan L.L.R.E. Martadinata (Riau) 156-158
Jalan Soekarno-Hatta 408
Good, plain Sundanese cooking.

KELAPA LAGOON
Jalan Sumatera 9
Chic place. Tasty but the price is higher than other Sundanese restaurants.

Most foodcourts on the malls feature Sundanese cookings/restaurants. Most well-known is Ampera. You can grab nasi timbel here after browsing the malls.

If batagor seems to tempt you, then you might want to check out these restaurants:

BATAGOR RIRI
Jalan Burangrang 41
You can buy the batagors here half-cooked, so you can fry them at home. Half-cooked batagors only last a few days if put inside a refridgerator.

BATAGOR KINGSLEY
Jalan Veteran (Bungsu) 25
Has been Bandung?s favorite for ages. You can also buy half-cooked batagors here.

BATAGOR YEYE
Jalan Buah Batu 139
Jalan Cihampelas 198B
Famous for its batagor and mutton soup.

Pisang molen, brownies kukus are available at:
Sundanese Food

KARTIKA SARI
Jalan Buah Batu 165A
Jalan Kebon Jukut 3C
Jalan H. Akbar
Jalan Kopo Sayati 111A
Jalan Terusan Jakarta 77E
Jalan Ir. H. Djuanda (Dago)

PRIMA RASA
Jalan Kemuning 20
Jalan Buah Batu 169A
Jalan Peta 169

Other bakeries also sell these delicacies. If you're busy, you can always go to supermarket. Most of them sell pisang molen and brownies kukus.

Es cendol are available at:
The most famous es cendol is called cendol Elizabeth, for it is being sold in front of Elizabeth's store (store selling bags and shoes) in Southern side of Bandung. However, it might be easier for you to order es cendol at traditional restaurants or buy it at the supermarket (prepacked, so you have to add the mixture of coconut's milk, palm sugar syrup, and the cendol on your own).

Bandrek, Bajigur are available at most Sundanese restaurants.
Sometimes they even sell bandrek and bajigur on sachets, so you can bring them as souvenirs for your loved ones.

Should you fancy yoghurt, you might try these places:

RUMAH MAKAN YOGHURT
Jalan Cisangkuy 66
Thin type of yoghurt, the hangout place for young and old alike.

BMC (BANDOENGSCHE MELK CENTRALE)
Jalan Aceh 30
Apart from yoghurt, you can try other milk products here, such as milk, kefir, and so on.

OLEH-OLEH ODISE
Jalan Sukawarna Baru 28
French-style yoghurt, thick type. You can order the yoghurt in small cups or in liters.


Interested in hot snacks?
The street vendors selling these snacks can be found throughout Bandung, most notably in Jalan Supratman and Jalan Cilaki. Ketan bakar and jagung bakar/rebus can be found on Jalan Ir. H. Djuanda (Dago) and in Lembang area.

Want a taste of fried rice?
You can get fried rice on street vendors, restaurants, or food courts in malls.

Cakue, you say? Try this place:

HAUS TEA
BEC Mall Jalan Purnawarman 13-15 2nd floor, C-05
Istana Plaza Mall Jalan Pasirkaliki 121-123, LG-B3
Try the various yummy sauce to add some taste to your cakue.


Feeling adventurous in sampling spicy Padangese food? Try these restaurants:

SIMPANG RAYA RESTAURANT
Jalan Buah Batu 150
Jalan Ir. H. Djuanda (Dago) 55
Jalan Surapati
Jalan L.L. R.E. Martadinata (Riau)
A tad more expensive than other restaurants with similar type, but decidedly tasty. Try ayam pop without the chili sauce, for those of you who favor blander (yet still delicious) food.

RUMAH MAKAN KAPAU JAYA
Jalan Dipati Ukur 80A
Relatively cheap and yummy.


If you feel like tasting Japanese, Chinese, or Korean food:

HANAMASA
Jalan Ir. H. Djuanda (Dago) 48
Buffet style, Japanese food.

SAN SUSHI BAR
Hotel Holiday Inn
Jalan Ir. H. Djuanda 29
Just like sushi bars in Japan.

OKOH
Hotel Horizon
Jalan Pelajar Pejuang 45
For sushi and various teppanyaki lovers.

MOMIJI JAPANESE CUISINE
Jalan Braga 64
Classy and unique.

PAGODA MENU MANDARIN HALAL RESTAURANT
Jalan Trunojoyo 32
Spacious place, oriental-style. Delicious food, too. It is also halal, so Muslim people can eat here without any doubts.

EASTERN SHARK FIN?S RESTAURANT
IP Mall, Jalan Pasirkaliki 121-123
Wide variety of Chinese food.

FLAMBOYANT CENTRE
Flamboyant Centre, Jalan Sukajadi 232-234
For hainan rice and juan lo lovers.

KOREAN HOUSE
Jalan Sukajadi 175
Cozy place with great service.

HAN KOOK GARDEN RESTAURANT
Jalan Karang Sari 21
Very Korean, very chic.


If steak and western food are your favorites, then you might be interested in trying these places:

CAFE BALI
Jalan L.L. R.E. Martadinata (Riau) 215
Yummy western food with Balinese atmosphere. Aside from western food, this place also serves tradional Indonesian food.

DAKKEN COFFEE & STEAK
Jalan L.L. R.E. Martadinata (Riau) 67
While savoring your steak, you can also try their coffee. Ideal for hang out.

WARUNG LAOS
Jalan Prof. Dr. Eyckman 2
Delicious spaghetti and tasty pizza with thin crusts will make you longing for more.

SUIS BUTCHER & TERRACE
Jalan Dr. Setiabudhi 174
Cool atmosphere, yummy food.

TAMANI CAFE Jalan Ir. H. Djuanda 7-9
Great western food. Also serves Indonesian and Japanese food. Big portion.

Bandung also has many good restaurants serving seafood. Among them are:

KEPITING SUPER PARIT 9 SEAFOOD
Jalan Cendana 4
Mouthwatering dishes. You can also buy their specialty?crabs, put inside a thermos flask. Ideals as gifts.

THE OCEAN SEA FOOD & GRILL
Jalan Sukajadi 225
On weekends, you will be able to watch live music. Big portion.

Those who fancy Thai food can try these restaurants:

COCA SUKI
Jalan Ir. H. Djuanda (Dago) 173
Great service. Mouthwatering dishes.

ROYAL SIAM THAI RESTAURANT
Jalan Braga 121 2nd Floor
Endless variations of Thai food.


Vietnamese food lovers might find this restaurant to their liking:

HANOI HOUSE
Jalan Sunda 56
If you visit this place on weekends, you'll be able to order from their special menu.


Souvenir Tips
Bandung mainly offers food and drink as souvenirs. Visit these stores to grab the famous keripik tempeh, keripik oncom, sale pisang, dodol, and other delicacies:

RAOS, KARYA UMBI
Both are located in Jalan Cihampelas.


Other Things to See or Do
Shop till you drop at the plentiful Factory Outlets and Malls, visit Cihampelas street to find jeans and clothes, go to Cibaduyut street to see leather products especially shoes and bags, visit other places of attraction in Bandung and surroundings.



Travel Tips

* If you plan to go to Bandung often, buy a complete map in major book stores. It's a great investment. That way you might save some money. Instead of renting a car, for instance, you can maximize public transportation to bring you anywhere you want to go.
* If you're not certain of local customs, language, menu, etc. don't hesitate to ask!
* It is advisable to learn a few important phrases in Indonesian. Not all Indonesians can speak English well.