Bandung’s Legendary Street Food Scene

Only a few hours from Jakarta, locals love coming to explore street food in Bandung from batagor to siomay and lots of vegetarian options.

I had heard from so many Indonesian friends that Bandung was their favorite city in Java. Although Yogyakarta is popular with western tourists, few know about Bandung.

And that’s surprising as during colonial times it was a popular holiday spot. Unlike Java’s hot and humid cities, Bandung’s elevation makes it feel like spring time all year round.

It’s known as the city of flowers for its greenery. And the Dutch named it the Paris of Java for its beautiful colonial buildings and vibrant food scene.

BANDUNG FOOD INFLUENCES

Bandung’s food is influenced by Javanese, Sundanese, Chinese, Dutch, Indian and Middle Eastern cuisines.

Sundanese Cuisine

As a food explorer, I can’t help but be amazed at the variety and richness of the Sundanese cuisine in Bandung.

Not to be confused with food from Sudan. The Sudanese people are an Indigenous group from the highlands in West Java

Sundanese food in Bandung is famous with many restaurants and street food options.

It’s popular for its use of raw, fresh vegetables and bright and sour flavors. Look for popular dishes like spicy and tangy seblak and deliciously savory nasi timbel.

Chinese Influence

Bandung’s food scene would not be complete without the influence of Chinese cuisine.

This can be seen in local dishes like mie kocok Bandung, a type of noodle soup that is both comforting and rich in flavor.

Chinese-influenced restaurants such as Batagor Kingsley have been around for over 30 years. They offer delicious combinations like cheesy bakso (meatballs) and crispy yamien (fried noodles).

Arab Influence

The Arab influence in Bandung’s gastronomy is both subtle and fascinating.

Among the most notable examples is the presence of Middle Eastern inspired dishes like kebuli rice and beef shawarma.

These dishes have been adapted to the local taste with the addition of Indonesian spices like candlenut, turmeric, and galangal.

Dutch Influence

Finally, the Dutch influence on Bandung’s culinary heritage is still evident in dishes like klappertaart and lapis legit.

These Indonesian desserts have been adapted from traditional Dutch recipes and feature unique ingredients like coconut, condensed milk, and various local spices.

BEST SPOTS FOR STREET FOOD IN BANDUNG

The funny thing about food cities like Bandung is that it’s difficult to say whether a dish is a street food or a restaurant food.

It’s because ALL food can be found in the street. Street food carts are now like outdoor cafes with tables and chairs to eat outside.

And they are so popular locals order delivery on food apps.

Westerners often make the mistake of thinking street food is for people who can’t afford restaurants. But locals go where the best food is and for many it’s on the street in Bandung.

And you must try Indonesian drinks in Bandung as this city has a big coffee culture with many traditional options.

If you loved egg coffee in Vietnam wait until until you egg tea known as teh telur.

Bandung Street Food Eats include:

1. Braga Street: Known for its variety of street food stalls offering local delicacies.
2. Cibadak Street: A popular spot for authentic Indonesian street food and snacks.
3. Sudirman Street: Offers a wide range of street food options, from traditional to modern.

These areas are known for their vibrant street food scenes, offering a diverse range of flavors and culinary experiences.

TRADITIONAL STREET FOOD IN BANDUNG

If you’re a bit timid Bandung is one of the best places to dip your toes into street food. You’ll find lots of locals out on the street.

Vendors use filtered water and ice. And if you’re a bit worried about utensils, I actually travel with my own set and keep them in my purse.

Although to be honest I usually use theirs, I use the straw the most as I’m trying to cut back on plastic use as I travel.

Batagor 

If you can only eat one street food in Bandung this is it! featuring meatballs and tofu. Often eaten as a snack, try this delightful dish from Bandung Suki or Sha-Waregna.

A deep-fried snack made of fish paste and tofu, served with a rich and flavorful peanut sauce. The most famous place to try Batagor is at Batagor Kingsley located on Jalan Veteran.

Lotek

For a healthy option, try lotek. It’s a salad with bean sprouts, spinach and tofu drizzled with the spicy peanut sauce typical of Javanese cuisine.

Enjoy this dish at Lotek Mahmud or Warung Lotek Macan.

Serabi

Indonesia’s delightful version of pancakes, serabi are made with flour and cooked on a special mold with charcoal.

You can find these thick pancakes topped with palm sugar sauce, cheese, chocolate sprinkles, or bananas at Surabi Rajda and Surabi Imut.

Oncom

A popular Sundanese dish, oncom is a traditional food in Bandung, rich in flavor.

It’s made from fermented soybean and often used in various local dishes.

A great spot to try it is at Oncom Raos.

Bubur Ayam Bandung

Bubur ayam Bandung is a savory Indonesian chicken porridge that you may know as Chinese congee.

It’s a popularIndonesian breakfast dish, topped with herbs and crispy fried shallots and ayam or chicken. What makes it different from other bubur ayam is the use of shredded chicken.

Cireng

Made from tapioca flour, cireng is a deep-fried, bite-sized snack, best enjoyed with a spicy peanut dipping sauce.

Head over to Cireng Joyo at Astana Anyar market for some mouth-watering cireng.

Karedok

Karedok is a fresh, raw vegetable salad from Bandung, coated in a zesty peanut sauce. It’s a delightful, crunchy, and healthy traditional dish.

One of the best is at Warung Nasi Ibu Imas.

Seblak

A spicy, soupy dish made with various ingredients like chicken, crackers, and vegetables, seblak is known for its tangy taste.

For a delicious bowl of seblak, visit Seblak Jeletet Murni on Jalan Sudirman.

Peuyeum

Peuyeum is a sweet, fermented cassava snack from Bandung. It’s known for its unique, slightly alcoholic taste and soft, chewy texture.

You can find a good one at Bandung Suki and Eastern.

Nasi Goreng | Fried Rice

 You can’t miss the Indonesian classic, fried rice. It’s actually one of five national food in Indonesia.

I found a great street food stall named Mang Oyo Fried Rice along Sudirman Street that served the tastiest Nasi Goreng with an affordable price.

Gepuk

Gepuk is a Sundanese dish featuring tender, sweet and savory beef. It’s delicately pounded and cooked in coconut milk, a Bandung street food favorite.

Sample this tasty meal at Gepuk Ny Ong and Gepuk Ny Yong.

Ayam Goreng | Fried Chicken

Crispy Indonesian fried chicken is a must-try. It’s very similar to the country style fried chicken version in Malang.

One of the best places to enjoy this dish is at Ayam Goreng Suharti, known for their flavorful, tender chicken.

Lalapan

Lalapan is a simple, fresh Indonesian side dish. It consists of raw vegetables, often served with spicy sambal for dipping.

Check it out at Lalapan Sambal Petir or Sambal Lalap.

Sate | Satay

Grilled skewers of meat, typically beef or chicken, served with a savory peanut sauce in Java. 

Sate Maulana Yusuf near Sudirman Street is popular for their delicious and well-marinated sate.

Nasi Timbel

Nasi timbel is a traditional Sundanese meal wrapped in banana leaves. It features steamed rice with accompaniments like fried chicken and sambal.

Nasi Timbel Komplit Bandung and Nasi Timbel Dago are great places to try it.

Siomay Bandung

Steamed fish dumplings served with peanut sauce, tofu, and cabbage.

For some tasty siomay, head to Siomay Sri Yono, located at Astana Anyar market.

Pisang Goreng | Fried Banana

Deep-fried bananas are a simple yet delicious snack. I enjoyed the crispy, warm Pisang Goreng at Pisang Goreng Harum Manis on Jalan Cibaduyut – a delightful, sweet treat.

Tahu Kupat

Tahu kupat is a Bandung street food staple, combining tofu, rice cakes, and bean sprouts, drizzled with a savory peanut sauce.

Yamien

Yamien is a popular noodle dish in Bandung, served sweet or salty.

It’s often garnished with chicken, scallions, and a flavorful broth.Try this at Warung Lela and Toko You.

Ronde

Warm, sweet ginger soup containing chewy glutinous rice balls, peanuts, and coconut. It’s a comforting dessert, and I found one of the best at Ronde Gerai Sobirin in Astana Anyar.

Mie Kocok 

A unique dish featuring flat noodles in a flavorful beef broth.

Customize your bowl with chicken or meatballs and relish it at Mie Kocok Mang Nanang Tea or Mie Kocok Persib.

VEGETARIAN RESTAURANTS IN BANDUNG

Although I am not vegetarian, as evidenced by the name of this website Bacon is Magic, I always seek it out.

Traveling full time means you really need to look for nourishing food as you aren’t cooking at home. Vegetarian food in Indonesia is very common for traditional dishes.

But you need to be a bit careful because everyone eats tofu and tempeh. So if you see it on a menu that does not mean there’s no meat. Many Javanese dishes use tofu alongside meat.

But Indonesians are well aware of plant based diets so just double check with your server.

If you’ve tried vegetarian food in Yogyakarta and were thrilled with the options these vegetarian restaurants will hit the spot:

1. Miss Bee Providore: A cozy restaurant offering a wide range of vegetarian options, including Western and Indonesian dishes. I absolutely loved their nasi goreng and tempeh satay.
2. Fortunate Coffee Bandung: A vegetarian cafe focusing on Indonesian flavors. I was impressed with their tempeh-based dishes and must-try rawon a traditional Indonesian soup that is a popular Surabaya food.
3. Kehidupan Tidak Pernah Berakhir: A popular vegan buffet serving plant based versions of traditional Indonesian food, such as rendang the iconic Padang food.

I would definitely recommend visiting these vegetarian and vegan eateries when you’re in Bandung.

The variety of traditional Indonesian dishes infused with local flavors will definitely leave you craving for more.