Traditional food

Be it a gastronomical adventure or just a tour for a street-style lunch then Bandung makes sure not to disappoint you! Each food item tastes unique and delicious. But more importantly, the street food in Bandung remains one of the best ways to get a glimpse of Sundanese cuisine! So, the top three dishes you got to try from Bandung’s street food joints during your trip.

Sampling the dishes in Bandung

1. Combro

Combro is a super-Sundanese-snack and is had with your afternoon tea. It contains grated cassava(root vegetable) as its main ingredient and made into medium-sized balls filled with oncom — a traditional fermented Indonesian staple food made with soybeans, similar to tempeh( a soy product like that of tofu). The oncom-filled balls are then deep fried until the outer part becomes brown and crispy. Chew it with green chillies and experience pure bliss!

2. Bakso Tahu Goreng

Popularly known as Batagor, Bakso Tahu Goreng simply refers to Indonesian fried meatballs and tofu. Batagor, primarily, means a fried tenggiri fish dumpling served as a snack with a mildly spicy and aromatic peanut sauce. Relish this Sundanese dish at any popular Batagor outlet in Bandung and you sure will keep coming back for more!

3. Nasi Timbel

Nasi Timbel is a rice dish similar to lontong(compressed rice cakes); wrapped inside the banana leaf and steamed (or sometimes barbecued) until the leaf produces a pleasant aroma. And then served with a variety of side dishes — including fried chicken or beef, duck egg, tofu, a traditional hot sauce, and a special raw vegetable salad called lalab. In the meanwhile, this dish perfectly qualifies for lunch or supper.

Opting for a tour guide from  Locaguide can ease down your hunt for the best street food in Bandung. He/She can not only show you the best places but will also tell you about the history and traditions associated with these lip-smacking Sundanese dishes.

The sublime taste of the dishes, the use of unique spices, the perfect balance of saltiness, sweetness and sourness — Bandung’s food streets have everything that will make your tummy rumble in happiness!

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A short trip from Kota Kinabalu, Mari Mari constitutes a village where the ethnic culture of the Borneo tribes is kept alive. The village houses five of the indigenous Borneo tribes, who continue to live in their old ways. Every tribe’s lifestyle, culture and history tell a different yet fascinating story.

You get a first-hand view of their way of life, work, customs, traditions and their clothing. Also, know what sets them apart from each other. Everyone who visits the village learns about the tribe’s rich past and ancient customs of the tribes. You can partake in each of the custom and activity to experience them personally. Every tribe showcases their hunting and survival skills to the tourists. Thus, altogether making it a fun excursion.

Things to do at Mari Mari Cultural Village

You can taste their traditional food, see how the dish is prepared and perhaps even try your hand at it. Moreover, while dining, each tribe will share with you how their tribe name came about and what it stands for. The experience of eating in an antiquated village will stay with you forever.

Spending half a day at the cultural village lets you explore activities each belonging to one of the five tribes. You can also sit back and enjoy the cultural performances or take part in them alongside the locals. The village surrounding remains a natural habitat of rainforest trees thus keeping you away from the city’s hustle and bustle.

Gain hands-on experience in traditional bamboo cooking, fire starting or play a game of Congkak(Malay game).

Furthermore, the experience of visiting the Mari Mari Cultural Village gets even better with a local travel guide accompanying you. Someone who can help you translate and understand the stories of the tribes and help you grasp the true essence. Find yourself a suitable local guide from Locaguide and plan a personalized itinerary with their help. Visit this cultural village with your guide and get a glimpse of tribal life in the Borneo islands.

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Nasi Lemak sometimes referred to as the national dish of Malaysia, is an aromatic rice dish. Cooked in a base of coconut milk and pandan leaf, the dish is usually served piping hot. Featured in the Times Magazine as one of the top ten healthy breakfast dishes across the globe, it is a must-have when you visit Malaysia.

Culinary background of Nasi Lemak

Nasi Lemak became popular worldwide upon its mention in “The Circumstances of Malay Life”, a book by Sir Winstedt. The dish gets its name from the cooking method used and thus translates to creamy rice. While the preparation uses a traditional method, the difference in taste and aroma remain attributed to the use of Pandan leaves. The rice cooked in coconut milk continues to steam along with the knotted leaves of Pandan screwpine. Meanwhile, the leaves enhance the flavour and fragrance of the dish. Few recipes even involve the addition of spices such as ginger and herbs like lemongrass for a distinctive flavour.

How they serve it

Traditionally served with sambal, a hot spicy sauce, the dish comes with a variety of garnishes. The garnishes include cucumber slices, fried anchovies, crushed roasted peanuts and fried or boiled eggs. You can customise the dish on adding meat of your choice from — fried chicken (Ayam Goreng), fish, squid or cockles. Thus, many stalls or restaurants pre-pack portions of Nasi Lemak in banana leaves to serve them on the go.

Sometimes the best way to explore a city is through the eyes of a local guide. Opt for a guided city tour from Locaguide. The guide can take you to some of the best places that serve the authentic Nasi Lemak in Kuala Lumpur. Order a side of Malay-style fried chicken and a glass of chilled Milo for more awesome feels.

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