Tales of Temburong: 5 uniquely Bruneian dishes you must Try!

Brunei is home to an incredible range of exciting dishes. Traditional Malay cooking is brought to life in all aspects of Brunei’s food culture, from the market stalls of Tamu Kianggeh & Gadong night market to the buffets lunches and BBQ dinners at our Rainforest lodge. Restaurants lie around every corner and you are never short of fantastic places to eat. As such, selecting the right place, let alone the perfect dish can be difficult task.

On our many city and Temburong tours we often get asked what is best dish to try whilst in Brunei? Where is the best place to eat in Brunei? How are these dishes made? In the case of the famous Ambuyat, how do I eat this? Therefore we want to share with you a sneak peak at the culinary delights that await you when you book a tour with us.

5. Bamboo Chicken

Bamboo Chicken is unquic to Borneo and has long been a secret of the Iban tribe. A bamboo cane is carefully taken down and expertly crafted to form a 1/2 meter long hollow pole. Then, cut marinated chicken is stuffed into the poles with onion and other spices and wedged shut with bamboo leaves. Next the bamboo is nestled atop an open fire, and a wonderful aroma fills the air as the chicken is slowly cooked to perfection. Couple with rice this dish is a favourite amongst our guests at the rainforest lodge.

4.  Pulut Panggang 

Unlike your full English or danish pastry, a bite of Pulut Panggang will send your senses into overdrive without leaving you tired and unable to move. A mixture of dried shrimp, coconut and a wonderful combination of spices is encased by glutinous rice and wrapped inside a Pandan leaf. Once wrapped up , this delightful little nibble will give you a wonderful burst of South East Asian flavour and set you up perfectly for a days’ adventure in the rainforest.

3. Honey Garlic Chicken Pizza

Now this maybe an odd choice as you are probably thinking that Pizza isn’t a typically Asian cuisine, let alone being from Brunei. Its not the pizza itself that makes this dish unique, it is the choice of topping. Nowhere else in the world can you find the Honey Garlic Chicken Pizza. Originating from Pizza Hut Brunei, this pizza encompasses the Bruneian spirit of creating an amazing taste experience, by mixing both sweet and savoury ingredients. A bite of this fantastic pizza, fills your pallet with the savoy tones of the gooey cheese and combines it with the sweet flavours of the drizzled honey. This taste sensation has spread beyond Pizza Hut and has been replicated in almost every pizza restaurant in Brunei.

2. Nasi Lemak

Nasi Lemak is a classic Malay dish that encompasses some of the most common ingredients found in South East Asian cuisine.  Comprising of fragrant rice cooked in coconut milk served with Sambal (a spicy sweet chilli paste), anchovies and fried chicken wrapped inside a Pandan leaf. As you walk through the markets at night or during the day you will see numerous vendors selling this dish for as little as B$1. You cannot leave Brunei without first trying this wonderful South East Asian delicacy.

1. Ambuyat

Brunei’s national dish, Ambuyat is a once in a lifetime treat that you simply must try! Ambuyat is a dish derived from the interior trunk of the sago palm and has a similar texture to tapioca starch. Often Ambuyat is served with a wide selection of sauces, such as mango, or for those who like their spice we would recommend trying the chilli sauce. To eat this exotic cuisine you roll the Ambuyat around a two pronged bamboo stick  called a chandas, dip in the sauce and swallow.

From morning tea to your evening meal when you book a tour with us, you will get a true taste of Brunei cuisine. Our guides have spent their whole lives in the some of country’s culinary hot spots and thus have an in-depth knowledge of Bruneian cuisine. This means that you can be assured that you only receive the best dishes as part of our tours. For more information on what is provided or to book one of our tours please click here.