It is not a complete trip if you visit Bandung without trying out their iconic and authentic local dishes. There are many of them. Basically, Bandung is a paradise for foodies because there are wide varieties of foods to try started from authentic local dishes to fusion foods. Bandung also has many cafes and restaurants scattered around the city which offer various foods in relatively affordable price.
Food hunting in Bandung
One of the reasons why Bandung is a great place for food exploration is that because there are cafes and restaurants that like experimenting or creating new food variations. If you are not food lovers, this may be concerning because new food creations may not for everyone. However, there are many places to explore when it comes to food hunting in Bandung. You won’t run out of choice.
Martabak is highly recommended to try especially for international travelers. This is a local dish which is almost similar to pancake. However, it is stuffed with various fillings. There are two types of Martabak; sweet and savory. Sweet Martabak is usually stuffed with chocolate, silk, bananas, sugar, and whatever fillings you prefer. Meanwhile, savory Martabak is usually stuffed with eggs, mushroom, beef, chicken, and some vegetables. Most recommended places to try Martabak are Martabak San Fransisco and Martabak Lodaya.
Bakso Tahu or Siomay is also a local dish in a form of steamed meat with/without tofu. It has special sauce made from peanut. This dish is also served with sweet soy sauce, lime, and chili. Actually, this food is more like snack. It can be found in many street stalls and vendors in almost every street in Bandung. Siomay Pak Lili is one of the most popular places to try this delicious snack.
Oxtail soup is one of the most favorite dishes for Indonesian, including Sundanese people in Bandung. The flavor is pretty string due to various spices and herb added when it is cooked. One of the most recommended places to try authentic oxtail soup is Waroeng Boentoet. It serves variety of oxtail menu including oxtail soup, oxtail barbecue, oxtail teriyaki, oxtail chili penyet, and many more. If you are oxtail lovers, this place is your heaven.
Nasi Liwet or Nasi Timbel is also highly recommended local dish to try. It is a full course meal consisted of steamy rice, tempeh, tofu, fish, fried/grilled chicken, sambal (chili paste), and some raw vegetables (lalapan). This is Sundanese food that has been existed for generations. There are many places where you can enjoy Nasi Liwet such as Bumbu Desa, Ampera, Sindang Reret, Ponyo, and many more. Just find Sundanese restaurant and you can order Nasi Liwet or Nasi Timbel.
International foods are also available in various cafes and restaurants in Bandung. There are Chinese foods, Japanese food, Korean foods, Italian foods, Mexican foods, Mediterranean foods, as well as Thai foods. It is not hard to locate restaurants with specialized menu. Most recommended places to eat international foods include Eastern Restaurant, Sushi Tei, Mujigae, Viena Cafe&Resto, Amigos Restaurant, Gaza Mediterranean Restaurant, Thai Palace, and many more.
