West Java Specialties

Many people visit Bandung, the capital of West Java province, to pamper their taste buds. You'll be amazed with what Bandung has to offer. From various food sold on street vendors to haute cuisine, every visitor will be able to find something to their liking here, in Bandung.

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.

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, shroom, 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.

People with sweet tooth might fancy pisang molen (literally, molen banana), Indonesian traditional pastry filled with banana and cheese. For a variation, try brownies kukus (steamed brownies). Es cendol, made of blended/grinded rice, palm sugar, and coconut milk, is delightful on a hot day. While for a colder day, you might want to taste bandrek or bajigur.

Bandung also offers various milk products most notably, yoghurt. Basically there are two kinds of yoghurt in Bandung the thin one, and the thick one (French style).

Hot snacks ala Bandung are widely sold throughout the city. Among them are gehu-toge tahu- (beancurd with beansprouts and vegetables filling), pisang goreng (fried banana), cireng-aci goreng- (fried tapioca), and many more. You might be interested in trying other snacks such as, nangka goreng (fried jackfruit), peuyeum goreng (fermented cassava, fried), nanas goreng (fried pineapple), and so on. Ketan bakar (roasted sticky rice) and jagung bakar/rebus (roasted/boiled corns) are also recommended.

Nasi goreng (fried rice), although not originally from Bandung, is also a favorite. The ingredients vary, according to people's preference. Sometimes the rice is mixed with seafood (usually shrimps, pieces of cuttlefish, pieces of crab's flesh), chicken and vegetables, mutton and vegetables, salted fish, and so on.

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

Bandung also has other kinds of restaurants, like Padangese (food from West Sumatra, very spicy in taste), Javanese (sweeter in taste), Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Western, Indian, and so on.

Bandung

Fondly called Parahyangan meaning, Land of the Gods, this valley city has both metropolitan and homey atmosphere at the same time. Full of eateries, factory outlets, and malls, many people find going on a trip to Bandung both enjoyable and memorable.

Getting There

There are many ways to go to Bandung. You can go by plane, embark a train, or rent a car from Jakarta.

Where to Stay
Bandung has it all, cozy little inns to five-starred hotels.

Moving Around

Public transportation called angkot, covers most of Bandung. For greater comfort, it is best if you take a taxi. For greater comfort still, rent a car. A day's rent will save you time and trouble moving from one place to another and since Bandung is relatively small, you can cover most of Bandung's interesting places in a day.

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.

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 onthe floor without chairs) or using a chair.

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.

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.

Most foodcourts on themalls feature Sundanese cookings/restaurants. Most well-known is Ampera. You can grab nasi timbel here after browsing the malls.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:

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).

Bandrek, Bajigur are available at most Sundanese restaurants. Sometimes they even sell bandrek and bajigur on sachets, so you can bring them as souvenirs for your loved ones.

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.

Feeling adventurous in sampling spicy Padangese food? Try these restaurants:

SIMPANG RAYA RESTAURANT
Jalan Buah Batu 150
Jalan Ir. H. Djuanda (Dago) 55

Jalan Surapati
Jalan L.L. R.E. Martadinata (Riau)
A tad more expensive than other restaurants with similar type, but decidedly tasty.
Try ayam pop without the chili sauce, for those of you who favor blander
(yet still delicious) food.

RUMAH MAKAN KAPAU JAYA
Jalan Dipati Ukur 80A
Relatively cheap and yummy.

If you feel like tasting Japanese, Chinese, or Korean food:

HANAMASA
Jalan Ir. H. Djuanda (Dago) 48
Buffet style, Japanese food.

SAN SUSHI BAR

Hotel Holiday Inn
Jalan Ir. H. Djuanda 29
Just like sushi bars in Japan.

OKOH
Hotel Horizon
Jalan Pelajar Pejuang 45
For sushi and various teppanyaki lovers.

MOMIJI JAPANESE

CUISINE Jalan Braga 64
Classy and unique.

PAGODA MENU MANDARIN HALAL RESTAURANT
Jalan Trunojoyo 32 Spacious place,
oriental-style. Delicious food, too. It is also halal, so Muslim people
can eat here without any doubts.

EASTERN SHARK FIN?S RESTAURANT
IP Mall, Jalan Pasirkaliki 121-123
Wide variety of Chinese food.

FLAMBOYANT CENTRE
Flamboyant Centre, Jalan Sukajadi 232-234
For hainan rice and juan lo lovers.

KOREAN HOUSE

Jalan Sukajadi 175
Cozy place with great service.

HAN KOOK GARDEN RESTAURANT
Jalan Karang Sari 21
Very Korean, verychic.

If steak and western food are your favorites, then you might be interested in trying these
places:

CAFE BALI
Jalan L.L. R.E. Martadinata (Riau) 215
Yummy western food with Balinese atmosphere. Aside from western food, this place also serves tradional Indonesian food.

DAKKEN COFFEE & STEAK
Jalan L.L. R.E. Martadinata (Riau) 67
While savoring your
steak, you can also try their coffee. Ideal for hang out.

WARUNG LAOS
Jalan Prof. Dr. Eyckman 2
Delicious spaghetti and tasty pizza with thin
crusts will make you longing for more.

SUIS BUTCHER & TERRACE
Jalan Dr. Setiabudhi 174
Cool atmosphere, yummy food.

TAMANI CAFE
Jalan Ir. H. Djuanda 7-9
Great western food. Also serves Indonesian and Japanese
food. Big portion.

Bandung also has many good restaurants serving seafood. Among them are:

KEPITING SUPER PARIT 9 SEAFOOD
Jalan Cendana 4 Mouthwatering dishes. You can also buy
their specialty?crabs, put inside a thermos flask. Ideals as gifts.

THE OCEAN SEA FOOD & GRILL
Jalan Sukajadi 225 On weekends, you will be able to watch live music. Big portion.

Those who fancy Thai food can try these restaurants:

COCA SUKI
Jalan Ir. H. Djuanda (Dago) 173
Great service. Mouthwatering dishes.

ROYAL SIAM THAI RESTAURANT
Jalan Braga 121 2nd Floor
Endless variations of Thai food.

Vietnamese food lovers might find this restaurant to their liking:

HANOI HOUSE
Jalan Sunda 56
If you visit this place on weekends, you'll be able to order from their special menu.

Souvenir Tips
Bandung mainly offers food and drink as souvenirs. Visit these stores to grab the famous keripik tempeh, keripik oncom, sale pisang, dodol, and other delicacies:

RAOS, KARYA UMBI
Both are located in Jalan Cihampelas.

Other Things to See or Do

Shop till you drop at the plentiful Factory Outlets and Malls, visit Cihampelas street to find jeans
and clothes, go to Cibaduyut street to see leather products especially shoes and bags, visit other places of attraction in Bandung and surroundings.

Travel Tips

• If you plan to go to Bandung often, buy a complete map in major book stores. It's a greatinvestment. That way you might save some money. Instead of renting a car, for instance, you can maximize public transportation to bring you anywhere you want to go.
  
• If you're not certain of local customs, language, menu, etc. don't hesitate to ask!
  
• It is advisable to learn a few important phrases in Indonesian. Not all Indonesians can
  speak English well.

Jogjakarta's Dining Guide

Jogjakarta is truly a unique city. Ruled by a king (sultan) whose lineage can be traced to centuries, this city offers plenty cultural and historical heritage. Here you can eat lesehan style without chairs. The rather sweet cuisine of Jogjakarta might surprise you first, but many people have been longing for good Javanese food after trying it once, so you might have the same experience.

This city offers many luscious delicacies. From bakpia cookies, wingko babat, to enting-enting kacang, visitors will be delighted to find there are so many delicious choices here in this town.

Getting There

To make it easier, and shorter, you can take a plane from major cities such as Jakarta or Bali. From Jakarta and Bandung you can also go to Jogjakarta by train and the journey will take approx. 8-12 hours, though. Some travel agents or rental cars also offer trips to Yogya from big cities with a reasonable fee. The journey will take longer than 12 hours from Jakarta or Bandung.

Where to Stay
Packed with local and international tourists, Yogya is ready with its innumerable inns and hotels. Choose the place to stay according to your budget and your liking.

Moving Around

Jogjakarta is a small city. To illustrate this, for some Jogjakartans, 2 kilometers is considered very far. In the city, you can give your legs some exercise, ride andong/delman (cart carried by a/two horse/s), use the bus and public transportation, ride a taxi, or, try how it feels like to ride becak/pedicab. If you want to visit interesting sites within the city, it is best to move around on foot. If, however, you want to marvel at the grandiose of Borobudur Temple, for instance, it is best if you rent a car.

Dining Guide

Gudeg is one of Jogjakarta's specialties. This dish is made of young jackfruit with traditional herbs, sometimes with eggs and chicken. Cow's inner skin, cooked until tender, usually accompanies gudeg with steamed rice. Most traditional restaurants in Jogjakarta sell this specialty.

Don't let the sweet taste of gudeg fool you, however, the chili sauce of Javanese food can be really, really spicy because it is made mainly from cabe rawit the spiciest chili in Indonesia.

Restaurants worth visiting in Jogjakarta:

DJOGJA KAFE
Jalan Kyai Mojo 57

GADJAH WONG
Jalan Gejayan 79D

OMAH DHUWUR
Jalan Mondorakan 252, Kota Gede

MBOK BEREK RESTAURANT
Jalan Kaliurang Km 16 Pakem

MORO SENENG RESTAURANT
Jalan Solo 55

AYAM GORENG SUHARTI RESTAURANT
Jalan Laksda Adisucipto 208

Souvenir Tips

Jogjakarta is synonymous with arts and crafts. There are plenty to choose from: from batik clothings, silverwares and silver jewelries, potteries, to wayang figurines made of cow's hide or wood. You can also bring along boxes of the famous bakpia for your family and close friends. Bakpia doesn't last long, though, so please ask the salespeople for expiration date.

Other Things to See or Do

• Take a walk on Malioboro street, it's packed with people selling interesting souvenirs, with stores offering more exclusive products. Bering Harjo market on Malioboro street offers cheaper products. Don't forget to use your
  bargaining skill!
  
• Visit Kota Gede, the center of silverwares and silver jewelries. You can even see silversmith at work here. The items sold here are usually more pricey because they're more exclusive. For regular yet still beautiful silver jewelries, visit Malioboro instead.
  
• Visit Kasongan if you're into potteries.
  
• Explore the city from Kraton (Palace) to Taman Sari, where old kings and their families spent their happy days, swimming and enjoying themselves.
  
• Take a trip to Borobudur and Loro Jonggrang (Prambanan) Temples.
  

Travel Tips

• Because there are so many things to see, if you don't have much time, it is best if you go to a travel agency. It will save you time.
  
• On traditional markets and Malioboro, most of the items sold there are bargainable. When in doubt, ask if the wares are bargainable or not. Bargain at least half the price the seller offers first. If you're not certain, take a look around and ask for the similar item's prices, for comparison.
  
• If you have a travel guide from a travel agency, ask her/him to bargain things for you. The same goes if you're lucky enough to have locals as your friends or relatives.
  
• Never hire an unlicensed travel guide.
  
• Bring lightweight clothings, also hats and shades, if necessary. Jogjakarta can be quite hot.
  
• If you're being offered things that do not interest you, be firm and say no.

Feasting on the Isle of The Gods

Bali has been the favorite destination for locals and international tourists for ages. Full of magnificent beaches, breathtaking sceneries, marvellous trinkets and interesting culture, Bali is ideal for people wanting to escape from daily activities, enjoy a honeymoon, or even, have a great time with family and friends.

Bali offers many kinds of food restaurants and cafes flourish here thanks to the happy visitors in Bali.

Getting There
Bali is accessible by plane. You can go to Bali from most of major airports in Indonesia.

Where to Stay
Intimate bungalows and cottages or luxurious hotels, Take your pick. Choose one according to your liking.

Moving Around
Public transportation are available. You can investigate most major sites on foot, but it is advisable to rent a car. It'll save your energy. You'll be needing it to explore the beaches and countless interesting places of interest!

Dining Guide
Feasting on the island of Paradise is like a dream comes true. There are many unique, cozy restaurants and cafes, beckoning visitors to linger. For traditional taste, you might be interested in sampling pelecing kangkung, a dish made of sauteed green (kangkung), and sea food, marinated in Balinese traditional herbs.

In Jimbaran area, for instance, you can sample seafood dishes while sitting on the beach. Visit this place in the evening, the cool atmosphere and caressing breeze will make your dining experience remarkable.

You might want to try these:

ANGIN LAUT
Jalan Legian

BATUR INDAH
Panelokan Kintamani, Bangli

BENGAWAN SOLO & BAR
Jalan Imam Bonjol 386, Denpasar

CAFE DAHANDE
Jalan Raya Seminyak, Kuta

PUALAN INT'L RESTAURANT
Jalan Sanur Beach 37, Sanur

ULAM
Jalan Pantai Mengiat, Nusa Dua

PLAZA BALI SEAFOOD
Jalan By Pass Ngurah Rai, Kuta

Souvenir Tips

• Pasar Sukowati is the place to go. From object art to colorful beach wears, this place is packed with myriad of souvenirs.
  
• Most places of interest have their own share of shops selling curios. They range from silver jeweleries to exquisite carved statues, from beach wears to boutique outfits.
  
• Try kacang bali (Balinese peanuts) and salak bali. Their unique tastes will remind you of Bali, heaven on earth.
  

Other Things to See or Do

• While in Bali, it might be a good idea to explore fabulous places of interest! See the local travel agency for details.
  
• Walk on the beaches, there are plenty to choose from.
  
• Parasailing, bungee jumping, banana boat, diving.
  
• Art-hunting, from paintings, sculptures, to antique silverwares.
  

Travel Tips

• Most items in Sukawati market are bargainable. Ask your tour guide or a local to bargain for you, for cheaper prices.
  
• Bring along sunblock lotion and swim apparels. If you forget to bring them, however, have no fear, for you can buy them in Bali.
  
• Not all places accept credit card, so supply ample amount of cash in your pocket just in case.