Enjoy a variety of Bandung specialties, from spicy seblak to mouth-watering mie kocok, which reflect the city ‘s rich flavors and culinary traditions.
Bandung, with its cool air and stunning views, is not only known for its beauty, but also for its rich culinary delights that tempt the taste buds.
Each Bandung specialty has a unique taste, bringing a touch of tradition and modern innovation in every bite. Here are 10 Bandung Specialty Foods that you shouldn’t miss, which will bring an unforgettable culinary experience.
1. Seblak
Seblak is one of the most popular culinary delights in Bandung, famous for its very tempting spicy and savory taste.
Initially, seblak was made from wet crackers cooked with chili, garlic, and galangal spices. Kencur gives a distinctive and pungent aroma, making seblak a food that is easily recognized.
Currently, seblak has undergone many innovations with additional toppings such as noodles, meatballs, eggs, sausages, chicken feet, and others, which add to the deliciousness and variety of this dish.
2. Karedok
Karedok is a Sundanese salad consisting of fresh vegetables such as bean sprouts, cucumber, eggplant, and long beans, coated with spicy peanut sauce.
The uniqueness of karedok lies in its raw vegetables, which provide a different natural freshness compared to gado-gado which uses cooked vegetables.
Added with cayenne pepper which gives a spicy taste, karedok is often served with crackers or rice to add to its deliciousness.
3. Batagor
Batagor, or short for Baso Tahu Goreng, is one of the most famous fried foods in Bandung. A mixture of tofu and meatballs that are mashed then wrapped in wonton skin and fried until crispy.
The savory and crunchy taste is even more delicious with spicy and fresh peanut sauce, and lime juice. Batagor is the right choice for a filling and appetizing snack.
4. Tutug Oncom Rice
Nasi Tutug Oncom is a typical Bandung dish made from rice mixed with crushed oncom. Oncom provides a distinctive savory taste, making this rice so delicious when eaten with side dishes such as fried chicken or fish.
Tutug Oncom Rice is usually served warm so that the taste and texture remain delicious. Don’t forget to dip it in chili sauce to add to the deliciousness of eating.
5. Cuanki
Cuanki is a food similar to meatballs, but with various additions such as siomay, tofu, and fried tofu. Served with a savory broth, cuanki is very appetizing, especially with the addition of fried onions and celery leaves which give it a fresh aroma.
The name “Cuanki” itself comes from the abbreviation “Cari Uang Jalan Kaki,” which refers to the way cuanki traders go around selling their food. This food is often sold with a cart along the street.
6. Surabi
Surabi is a traditional Bandung snack made from a mixture of rice flour and coconut milk, cooked using a clay mold over hot coals. The uniqueness of surabi lies in the texture of the crispy outside and soft inside.
Surabi is usually served with various toppings such as brown sugar, spicy oncom, or eggs, which provide a sweet, savory, and spicy taste in one bite. Surabi is the right choice to accompany your relaxing time in the afternoon.
7. Pounded
Gepuk is a beef dish cooked by pounding it until tender, then cooked with coconut milk until it turns brown. This Bandung specialty has a sweet, savory, and slightly spicy taste that is very appetizing.
Gepuk is best enjoyed with warm rice, which makes it even more delicious. Gepuk is a perfect dish to complement lunch or dinner.
8. Peuyeum
Peuyeum, or cassava tapai, is a typical Bandung food made from fermented cassava using yeast. The sweet and slightly sour taste makes peuyeum a very popular snack.
Peuyeum can be enjoyed directly or grilled first, then doused with grated coconut and brown sugar water, which is then called Colenak. Colenak is another Bandung specialty that is refreshing and satisfying.
9. Bandros
Bandros is a traditional Bandung cake made from a mixture of rice flour and coconut milk, cooked in a concave mold. As a result, bandros has a texture that is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
This cake is usually sprinkled with grated coconut which gives it a savory taste, and can be served with sugar, salt, or coconut oil. Bandros is the perfect companion to enjoy a cup of tea in the afternoon.
10. Shake Noodles
Mie Kocok is a yellow noodle dish served with a savory and creamy beef broth. Usually, these noodles are added with sliced tendons, bean sprouts, meatballs, spring onions, and sprinkled with fried onions.
The name “Mie Kocok” comes from the way the noodles are made, which are “shaken” in hot water until cooked. Mie Kocok is the right choice to warm the body during cold weather in Bandung, with a rich and delicious taste.
Bandung cuisine offers a variety of foods that combine traditional flavors with new innovations. From spicy ones like seblak to sweet and savory ones like bandros and peuyeum, each dish reflects the uniqueness and richness of the city’s culture.
So, make sure to try all of the Bandung specialties mentioned above, and don’t forget to bring home some Typical Bandung Souvenirs to experience the culinary sensation that pampers the tongue and warms the heart.
