Bandung's Culinary

From various food sold on street vendors to haute cuisine, every visitor will be able to find something to their liking here, in Bandung.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.