WHAT TO EAT IN MALANG & BATU

Hi hi! Yes, we're back with one of those guide-type of post, since we hope that this will somehow help you, especially when you're traveling without a tour guide because I'd definitely appreciate this kind of posts when I don't know where to go. Here's some culinary guidance when you're in Malang! I guess Malang is a place with not so many recreational areas, so my only entertainment is their foods..lol! Malang here is pretty close to Batu with only 45 minutes of distance by car. Now Batu is a completely different story, there are definitely a lot of recreational area in Batu to the point that people would call it a tourist city! There's Jawa Timur Park 1; where it's more like an amusement park, Jawa Timur Park 2; inside is filled with animals museum and Batu Secret Zoo, also Eco Green Park, Transportation Museum, Batu Night Spectacular also known as BNS, Paralayang Hill (Omah Kayu), and much much more! Not only those recreational but the foods are also good, though not as many variant as Malang when it comes to foods!

Let's start with Malang, shall we?

1. BAKSO BAKAR TROWULAN

I recommend coming here early, cause when we came at 2 o'clock noon, there's only 3 skewers left, so I guess they're super crowded on lunch time. For those who have never tried this grilled meatballs, it's pretty much like ordinary meatballs but covered with spicy sauce, though you can get non-spicy ones as well. There's also a self-service meatballs soup. It's also new to me that every Bakso Bakar seller will let us get our own meatballs soup and just tell them how many we had. It's a test of honesty, I guess..lol!

What I was taken aback by is the blue rice noodles..so I prefer to just eat without it. A lot of people ate the rice noodles though, so I guess it's supposedly safe? Oh and if I remember it correctly, the meatballs cost IDR 2K each!

2. TOKO "OEN"

What they sell here are oldies ice cream. There's no AC but thankfully the place isn't hot, especially after eating some ice cream. Other than ice creams, they also have Dutch foods. This ice cream below costs me IDR 55K, yes, pretty pricey and taste just okay to me. Maybe the ingredients are high quality?

3. BAKSO BAKAR PAK MAN

Similar to the Trowulan from before only the place is smaller and cramped. Super crowded when we came here making it so much more cramped! A piece costs IDR 3K and usually sold in a portion of 10 to 15 pieces.

Honestly, I prefer Trowulan over this and it costs less too!

4. CUI MIE GLORIA

At first I was curious what Cui Mie is and turns out, it's like wonton noodles. They don't only sell Cui Mie here but also Chinese foods. I got the Cui Mie with meatballs IDR 27K and fried meatballs IDR 24K for 6 pieces!

5. RAWON NGULING

Open from 7 am and I thought whoever wants a rawon breakfast, so I decided to come that early hoping there would be no one..how wrong I am! Turns out it's a full house!! I guess people here like to have heavy breakfast. A portion costs IDR 40K and taste amazing! A definite must-try!

6. DEPOT HOK LAY

Been here since 1946! Only a year after our Independence day..wow! The place is super oldies and also without AC but still crowded. They're Cui Mie is amazing, even more than Cui Mie Gloria in my opinion and only costs IDR 17K!

There're spring rolls filled with bamboo shoot as well, so some might not like it because of the smell as myself..lol! Oh and don't forget to order Fosco! It's those coca cola bottles in the background, they're Milo with sea salt and I bet you'll be addicted! A bottle only costs IDR 12K!

7. DEPOT 'KEE TJIE'

In line with RM Gloria, Hoklay, Rawon Nguling, you even walk on foot. There's no specific dish here actually, just a typical Chinese food restaurant, so everything is pretty much comfort food. I got the Crab Fried Rice IDR 40K and Fried Pork IDR 44K, both are amazing!

8. WARUNG SOTO RAMPAL

Saw from the photos that SBY once ate here. Not that crowded with a hard to find signage, so you need to pay close attention. Their soto is delicious by the way, generous meats, unlike the ones in Jakarta. They're also known for their Babat and Empal Manis but since I don't eat Babat, I only get the Empal and I can see why it's popular! Ordered 2 Soto, 2 rice, 2 Empal with a total of IDR 140K.

9. BAKWAN SUBUR

Though it's only in a neighborhood, it's still crowded! Cost only IDR 2K per piece, whatever it is, beancurd, meatballs, anything. The soup has this strong taste of Usus but I like it, so there's no problem. Their fried foods are also good, like the fried pork wonton!

10. WARUNG MOBIL 88

Used to be sold in a car but now they've opened a small restaurant. This place is super famous with their Nasi Kremikan and what I got is their Nasi Kremikan Nano Nano IDR 25K, inside there're Empal, Udang, Paru, and Ayam Suir. From the Nasi Kremikan itself, there's already Bihun, Kacang Panjang, and Kremes.

11. BAKSO CAK MAN

Now this is a more modern spot, like Bakso Tahu Saboga, only difference is the price, which is IDR 2K per piece. Super cheap, right? Taste ordinary though, the only one I love is the Fried Meatballs!

12. NASI BUG MATIRAH

Near the train station in Malang and everything here is IDR 30K. Truthfully, till now I still have no idea what Nasi Bug is, all I know is it's rice with a lot of topping mixed into it. Paru, Sayur Nangka, and you can add Sate Sapi!

13. BAKWAN MULIA

There's pork Bakwan here and everything else here is filled with pork! Located next to Vosco Coffee Malang inside a house. Most of them taste good, especially the fried foods!

14. DEPOT 21

Similar to Depot Kee Tjie, so Chinese food as well. We got the Kolobak (fried pork with sweet and sour sauce) IDR 46K, Tamie Capjay IDR 40K, Ayam Goreng Mentega IDR 51K. Everything tastes delicious!

15. BAKSO GONDHOL

Yeap, it's another pork meatballs, can't get bored with it. It costs IDR 3K per pieces and all of them is delicious! I especially love the fried foods, yes, again. Can't really compare them, all is delicious in a different way, so I'd say just try them all..lol!

16. TAMAN INDIE

Super nature kind of place. Located in the same neighborhood as Djati Lounge in Kota Araya. If you're visiting Djati Lounge, then you'll definitely pass this. I think they're definitely selling view, since the foods are just ordinary. The foods are Nasi Liwet, Nasi Kuning, Nasi Bakar, and stuff like that!

17. DJATI LOUNGE

Who doesn't know this place?? It's super popular since a long time ago and is always crowded. The perfect spot to hangout and relax, plus the foods are also affordable for a place like this!

Made it to BATU

18. JUNGLE FAST FOOD

Located inside JaTim Park 2 with a unique concept. It's like literally eating in the middle of a jungle surrounded by leopard, cheetah, and jaguar..lol! See that green track below the tables? That's actually a machine that will turn, so we will be eating on a circling table. Don't worry though, it's very slow! The foods are not that special though, not bad but not special!

19. NASI TEMPONG AYAM BETUTU

A very secluded spot, even I found out about this from a guy at a car rental..lol! You need to go into an alley but it's worth the try. A portion of Nasi Tempong Ayam Betutu costs IDR 20K only! It's like a Balinese spicy rice and pretty filling too.

You'll get Tahu, Tempe, Sambal Matah, Daun Singkong, Ayam Suir, Udang Kering, Ikan Asin, and Bakwan Jagung..pretty full, right? Not to mention there's Ayam Betutu as well!

20. WARUNG SATE KELINCI

There're 2 branch in Batu and I recommend the upper one, cause it's bigger and better. Don't really know if the owner is different or not, maybe it's a franchise? This is my first time eating rabbit meat and please don't judge me as an evil person. I'm just really curious, since it's super crowded! The satay are put on a hot stone and smeared with peanut sauce and shallots. I went with half portion of rabbit satay which costs IDR 22,5K and a portion of turkey satay IDR 45K. Prefer the turkey one cause it taste like chicken, the rabbit meat is too chewy for me and each bite makes me feel guilty, so it's a no for me.

21. WARUNG BETHANIA

A must visit when you're in Batu. It's a small restaurant and a very crowded one, filled with mostly families on vacation. They're known for their Ikan Gurame, you can choose either fried, grilled, pesmol, etc. It costs around IDR 65K per portion, pretty pricey for Batu but still okay.

22. WARUNG SIDIK

It's only a small stall but taste super good! Tried their Nasi Rawon that costs IDR 17K but I still like Rawon Nguling better and Nasi Krengsengan IDR 18K, which is rice with meat and spicy potato, taste super good! All of them is definitely comfort foods!

23. WAROENG BAMBU
The concept is a sit on the floor beside a fish pond yet you wouldn't be able to guess it at first, since from the outside, it doesn't look like it and you need to go into an alley. The place is actually pretty cool for a restaurant in Batu but don't expect too much. They sell various of traditional dishes but I think it's a 4,5 out of 10 for taste.

24. BATU SUKI
Since Batu is chilly, you need something like this; soup! It's in Batu Suki Resort and it's usually used for breakfast for those who stayed at the resort. Taste okay but you need to add your own spices, like sesame oil, garlic, soy sauce for flavors!

25. ALUN ALUN BATU
Around Alun Alun Batu here, there's a lot of street foods like Lok Lok and boiled satay!

26. POS KETAN LEGENDA
Said to have been here since 1967 and also around Alun Alun but it's in a small stall. Super crowded and they sell various of Ketan flavors like durian, chocolate, cheese, etc, each costing around IDR 5-6K!

27. ROTI BAKAR YOENOES
A kind of Ropang but a very famous one! People usually order STMJ here, it's a traditional drink made out of milk (Susu), tea (Teh), honey (Madu), ginger (Jahe), perfect for the weather!

Well, that's everything that I've tried in Malang and Batu. We hope that this will help you even in a bit! Have a great time!