While I blog of various topics, I'm actually a true-at-heart foodie blogger. My first blog was called "What I Ate Today" (2006) where I basically take a snapshot of my not-so-exciting daily meals and upload it to the blog. The blog had regular visitors (100+ a day) as I believe on the whole, Bruneians love their food. It is amazing how blogs can bring readers and bloggers together. Through another foodie blog, and in collaboration with local bloggers on Brunei Restaurant Reviews, we ended up hosting Esther and Innaki from the Great Tasty Tour, two Spanish Foodies Bloggers when they visited Brunei last year.
Although I now mainly blog under Geek in White, I also manage a secondary blog called Brunei Foodies, a more collaborative effort similar to ‘What I Ate Today’, but containing not only my own photos, but also those tweeted and submitted by my readers.
BorneoColours have definitely brought the Borneo Bloggers closer together and this competition no doubt garnered much attention for the Borneo Bloggers. To celebrate this, I believe it will do justice to Borneo Colours’ readers for me to list down the recommended eateries in the country for those planning to visit Bandar Seri Begawan. The following are my choices of eateries:
Breakfast:
Chop Jing Chew Coffeeshop
Jin Chew has been around sinced the early 90s. According to Brunei Times, it’s been around since 1947. (Story here). A great kopi tiam shop that serves fresh from the oven red bean filled buns to roti kawin, is definitely a place to go. Some say that if you have not been to Jin Chew, you have not been to Brunei. They started with a humble coffee shop built some time after the Second World War but now they have five branches all over Brunei!
Jin Chew has its own bakery in Gadong, and so goodies are available in the morning and afternoon. Wash it down with your favourite Kopi O or Teh Tarik India. If you are super hungry, they serve noodles and my favourite is the Zeema Kueh Teow - steamed flat noodles served with breaded fish fillets and drizzled with their own special brand or sticky dark soy sauce.
Roti Kuning Kawin
Zeema Kueh Teow
Read review by Maurina.
Twelv Cafe & Restaurant
Unit 1, Grd Floor, Block D, Bgn Hj Abd Rahman, Kiulap.
Tel: 2239771
If you're in the mood for some western style breakfast, then Twelv would be the place to go. The famous $7.90 breakfast (Monday-Saturday) will fill you up good. The usual menu includes (but not limited to) hash browns, baked beans, fried rice, hot dogs, nuggets, sauteed mushrooms, cornflakes, fresh juices, tea, coffee and many more. Here, you are simply spoilt with choices.
More photos here.
Lunch:
Aminah Ariff (Brunei Malay Cuisine)
While not totally unique to Brunei, ambuyat is still considered the most authentic local dish in Brunei. No visit to Brunei will be complete without trying it. Made from Sago and looks like glue, on its own, it can be very unpalatable to some. It is eaten with dips/condiments made from fermented durian and mangoes. Side dishes that usually accompanies an ambuyat meal is asortment of ulam, fried fish, steamed prawns, stir fried vegetables and the sambal belacan. One of the most popular places for ambuyat in Brunei is Restoran Aminah Ariff which has quite a number of branches around the country.
Photos by Food Hungry.
Excapade Sushi
(Addresses and contact numbers)
If you however have the craving for some Japanese food, then you best head down to Excapade Sushi. The establishment is so popular that it has 4 branches just in Bandar Seri Begawan itself! Reasonably priced and more than a hundred items on the menu, you'd be spoilt for choices.
Visit their Facebook page for more.
Grazie Mauri
Unit 3, Block A, Abdul Razak Complex, Gadong.
Tel: 2447471
The latest Italian Restaurant to open in town and run by real Italian brothers, Maurizio and Salvatore. The first branch is Villa Mauri which is managed by Maurizio. With years of experience, both chefs brings their own style into the Italian cuisine available on the menu. My biggest weakness is their desserts. I can never resist the Tiramisu because it is simply to die for! Other recommendations would be the Fantasia di Maria, a sinfully warm chocolate pudding named after Maurizio’s wife. and the soft, creamy, delicate Pannacota.
Linguine with seafood
Magic mushrooms & Beef Bacon
More photos here and review by Maurina here.
Manjaro Restaurant
B1 Shakirin Complex, Kiulap
Tel: 2236493
This restaurant has always been known for their good fusion dishes of asian and western. My absolute favorite item on the menu is the Chop Chop Chili Fish with fried rice. If you're on a low carbohydrate diet, then the Montreal Chicken Chop is very recommended too. And if you're not one to watch your weight, then the Volcano is a must try.
Chop Chop Chili Chicken
BBQ Honey Coated Lamb
Visit their Facebook Page.
High Tea
Taurean Cafe: The Arch
229 Ground Floor, Bgn The Arch
Tel: 245-6389
One of the most established cafes in Brunei. It serves really simple food, snacks and drinks. Their waffles and fried banana served with ice cream is quite well known. They have got an extensively long drinks menu based on the zodiacs which is the theme of the whole restaurant. (Fact: Both owners are Taureans). The best thing is that they always have new items on the menu for you to try. Prices are very reasonable too.
See Senor Pablo's post and Brunei Times write-up.
Cheezbox
Ramp A, The Mall, Gadong.
Tel: 2425506
Another very popular restaurant near the Mall Gadong with an extensive menu from light snacks to main courses. I like them most for their desserts menu. Most popular is their Chocolate Bomb and since I’m a breakfast my personal favorite is their pancakes with bananas and vanilla ice cream. You'll also be able to choose from a variety of cakes uniquely available only there like the famous durian cheesecake. Cheezbox is also popular for their free high-speed wifi.
Chicken Mushroom Kolomee
Bananarama Pancake
Visit their Facebook Page.
Dinner
Pasar Malam
Gadong (Next to the Fish Market)
Another must visit place is the night market or Pasar Malam in Gadong. You will be absolutely spoilt for choices here. From the fuss free $1 Nasi Katok to piping hot noodles of many varieties. You will also be able to taste local kueh, cakes and pastries. Last year, Senor Pablo, Thanis and myself had the pleasure of bring Innaki and Esther, the two Spanish foodies to sample the food there. They ended up impressed with the variety of good food and even more impressed with their price tags. Cheap!
Photos by Smell The Photo and read AnakBrunei's brief description of the place.
Tamu Selera
Jalan Tasek Lama, Bandar Seri Begawan
A smaller version of Pasar Malam, this area is divided into stalls and actually has proper seating. You can order a wide variety of dishes, from Tom Yam to Ayam Penyet, Satay to Seafood or quick grilled chicken wings. Crabs, Fish, Oysters, Prawns and many more to choose from and cooked to your liking. This place to me is the best place if you want to have fresh seafood. The choices are not bad and the price is way cheaper than any other place in town.
Read more at Food Hungry.
Thien Thien Chicken Rice
Many regards this (me included) as the best chicken rice restaurant in Brunei. Everyday it is constantly packed especially during lunch and dinner time. Their menu is quite limited. Other items include Mee Laksa, fried noodles and various kind of soups but really people go here for the chicken rice. My usual order would be with the sambal, extra soy sauce and dried onions.
Read another review by Food Hungry.
Pantai Restaurant
The Empire Hotel
The atmosphere and scenery here is just breathtaking. The buffets will simply leave you on another level of being stuffed! On weekends they would have Seafood BBQ buffets priced just under $40 per person. I think it goes without saying this place is not cheap but if you want to dine in a wonderful setting overlooking Brunei’s beautiful pink skies, then this place is definitely worth it.
Photo by Senor Pablo. See here for dining info.
Pink Desserts
Being a foodie and the ability to network with other local bloggers, have brought our interaction to the next level- community projects. With Bruneian superbloggers, Senor Pablo, Maurina, Thanis, Emmagoodegg, My7thlife, Mr Kurapak and Ranoadidas, we were able to raise funds to support local Non-Governmental Organisations. In 2009, we embarked on the Ultimate Foodie Challenge whereby we invited locals Foodies to bring in their dishes and recipes, which were collected and printed. They were sold and we managed to raise B$10,000 for Special Olympics Brunei Team to assist in their participate in the 2011 Special Olympics Games. This year, we repeated the same project with a Pink Desserts theme. The recipe books are currently being sold to raise another B$10,000 in aid for Brunei Breast Cancer Support Group. I would like to thank Borneo Bloggers for supporting our cause by helping us to sell it in Kota Kinabalu.
So I hope this mini guide will give a good idea of where to go for good food in Brunei. Also in this post, I'm sure you'll notice that I have link to various entries which are not mine as it is also my mission to introduce other talented Brunei bloggers. For an extensive list of Bruneian bloggers, I suggest everyone to visit Simpur's Blogging Nation.
By geekinwhite (Tech & Web category finalist Geek In White)
