The traditional foods of Balikpapan offer unique flavors, blending authentic spices that tantalize the taste buds.
Balikpapan, known as an industrial city with stunning beaches, also offers a rich culinary scene worth exploring.
The variety of dishes from this city combines sweet, savory, and unique flavors that are hard to find elsewhere. From traditional snacks to seafood dishes, here are some must-try specialties of Balikpapan:
1. Roti Mantau: An Iconic Dish of Balikpapan
Roti Mantau is a must-try dish in Balikpapan. Made from a mixture of flour, water, sugar, milk, and yeast, this bread is fried to a golden yellow color and has a soft inside with a crispy outside.
Mantau is often served with various toppings such as palm sugar, jam, or cheese, making it a perfect sweet snack.
2. Pisang Gapit: Sweet and Fragrant Flavor
Pisang Gapit is a traditional Balikpapan snack made from grilled or fried kepok bananas. The ripe bananas are then drenched in a sweet sauce made from palm sugar, coconut milk, and fresh jackfruit.
The distinctive sweetness and fragrant aroma make Pisang Gapit, one of the Balikpapan Specialties, a favorite snack among locals and tourists.
3. Abon Kepiting: Crispy and Flavorful Snack
Abon Kepiting is a popular seafood snack in Balikpapan. Made from fresh crab meat that is boiled, shredded, and fried until dry, this snack has a crunchy texture and a savory flavor.
Abon Kepiting is often enjoyed as a snack or a side dish with rice, and is a great souvenir from Balikpapan.
4. Bubur Gunting: A Warm, Tempting Dish
Bubur Gunting is a traditional dish made from a mixture of glutinous rice flour, pandan leaves, salt, and lime water. After the dough is ready, it is cut into small pieces before being cooked in a sweet coconut milk broth with palm sugar.
Its sweet taste and soft texture make this porridge delicious when served warm, especially in the morning or evening.
5. Kue Bingka Kentang: Sweet Traditional Snack
Kue Bingka is a traditional snack from Kalimantan in the shape of a flower and made from flour. In Balikpapan, one of the favorite variations is Bingka Kentang, which uses potatoes as the main ingredient.
Its soft texture and sweet flavor make Bingka a popular choice. Other variations of this dish include pandan, cheese, chocolate, and palm sugar.
6. Sate Payau: Exotic Deer Meat Satay
For lovers of extreme cuisine, Sate Payau, made from deer meat, is a must-try. The tender texture of the meat combined with a savory and slightly sweet satay sauce creates an unforgettable flavor experience. The deer meat used in this dish comes from special farms, making it safe and legal to consume.
7. Nasi Bakar Seafood: Savory Dish with a Touch of the Sea
Balikpapan, rich in seafood, offers a delicious Nasi Bakar Seafood. This grilled rice dish is filled with shrimp, fish, or crab, wrapped in banana leaves and grilled until aromatic. The savory taste of the rice, combined with fresh seafood, makes this dish a favorite among seafood lovers.
8. Kepiting Soka: Delicious Dish with Soft Shell
Kepiting Soka is a popular seafood dish in Balikpapan. What makes this dish special is the crab, which has a soft shell and can be eaten whole. Often served with a tangy sweet sauce, Kepiting Soka offers a tender texture and delicious flavor, making it irresistible to anyone who tries it.
9. Mie Hijau: Healthy and Delicious Noodles
Mie Hijau, a traditional noodle dish from Balikpapan, is perfect for noodle lovers. Made with added vegetables that give the dough a natural green color, this noodle is healthier and unique.
Served with chicken or crab toppings, Mie Hijau offers a flavor that sets it apart from regular noodles and is a must-try when visiting Balikpapan.
Balikpapan is home to a wide array of unique and delicious culinary delights. From sweet dishes like Pisang Gapit and Kue Bingka Kentang, to savory ones like Sate Payau and Abon Kepiting, each dish has its own special qualities.
So, when you plan your visit to this city, make sure to explore its culinary diversity, including East Kalimantan Specialties, for an unforgettable experience.
