One of the nicest ways to get to know Bandung is through its breakfasts. Mornings here mean cool air, porridge carts at the roadside and queues at kupat tahu stalls. A local Bandung breakfast is simple, warming and filling enough to carry you through a busy morning of sightseeing.
One thing to know before you plan: room rates at Aksara Hotel do not currently include breakfast. That is half the fun, though, because you are free to head out and eat like a local. Here are five dishes worth trying, tips for getting there before they sell out, and easy options for a slower morning.
Five Bandung Breakfast Dishes to Try
All five are easy to find around the city, from push carts to simple local eateries. Portions are usually sized for one, but ordering a few dishes to share is a fun way to taste more.
Bubur Ayam
Silky rice porridge topped with shredded chicken, cakwe (fried dough sticks), crackers, fried soybeans, spring onion and crispy shallots, then seasoned with soy sauce and sambal to taste. Some vendors add skewers of chicken liver and gizzard, or an egg, on the side. Whether you stir it all together or eat it layer by layer is entirely up to you.
Kupat Tahu
A dish closely tied to Bandung. Chunks of kupat (rice cakes cooked in woven palm leaves) and fried tofu are served with bean sprouts, drenched in a peanut sauce mixed with sweet soy sauce, then finished with fried shallots and crackers. It is savoury, a little sweet and a great way to fuel up before a day out.
Lontong Kari
Slices of lontong (compressed rice cake) in a spiced curry broth, usually with beef or chicken, scattered with fried shallots and crackers. The warm, fragrant broth is just the thing on a chilly morning, especially after a night of rain.
Surabi
Surabi are traditional Sundanese pancakes made from rice flour and coconut milk, cooked in small clay moulds over a traditional stove. The two classics are savoury surabi oncom, topped with fermented oncom, and plain surabi with kinca, a sweet palm sugar syrup. These days you will also find modern versions with toppings from cheese to chocolate.
Nasi Kuning
Rice cooked with turmeric and coconut milk until it turns golden and fragrant. It usually comes with egg, tempe orek (sweet and spicy fried tempeh), perkedel (potato fritters), shredded chicken, sambal and crackers. You will spot it at roadside carts and small eateries in the morning, and it is easy to take away.
When to Head Out
Many breakfast vendors in Bandung start very early and pack up as soon as they sell out. Popular ones can be finished well before noon, so an early start is the key to a good Bandung breakfast.
- Go early, especially at weekends and on public holidays when plenty of locals are out for breakfast too.
- Check the latest opening hours before you set off, as street vendors sometimes take a day off or move.
- Carry some cash as well as an e-wallet, since not every vendor accepts the same payment methods.
- Allow for travel time: the city centre is about 15 minutes from Ciumbuleuit, depending on traffic.
- Bring a light jacket, as mornings in north Bandung can feel chilly.
If you are staying more than one night, try a different dish each morning. That way you can work through all five without rushing a single one.
Easy Options Near the Hotel
Not in the mood to travel far? The Yogya Ciumbuleuit supermarket is about 550 m from the hotel. Pick up bread, fruit or yoghurt and keep it in the mini fridge you will find in every room.
Up before anywhere opens? Every room has an electric kettle with tea and coffee, so you can make a hot drink before heading out to hunt for breakfast.
Drinking water refills are free too, so you can top up your bottle before you go.
A Slow Morning at Artisan Coffee
If you would rather ease into the day, Artisan Coffee on the 2nd floor of Aksara Hotel opens at 8 am. Order a coffee, a pastry or a main course such as Nasi Goreng Merah, then enjoy it on the rooftop terrace overlooking the trees of Ciumbuleuit. Everything on the menu is halal.
As breakfast is not included in the room rate, anything you order at Artisan is charged separately. Artisan is open to the public as well, so friends or family who are not staying can join you. Find out more about the space in our guide to Artisan Coffee.
Plan Your Bandung Mornings
A Bandung breakfast is a warm, unpretentious way to start the day and see the city up close. Once you are full, carry on exploring with our guide to Sundanese food to try in Bandung.
Staying in Ciumbuleuit makes early starts easy. Browse our rooms, compare room types and rates, and book directly on the website. Happy breakfast hunting!
