What to Eat When Visiting Bintan

What is the one thing you look for when visiting a new city or country? Well, some travel for the scenery, some to raid the shops and markets, others travel in pursuit of indulging in extraordinary  cuisine in foreign lands. 

Culinary tourism is consistently increasing in the past decade. Many people define cuisine to be some kind of artistic expression as well as a reflection of a city’s or a country’s culture and community values. It makes you appreciate more about the places you set foot in. 

And Bintan is no exception. Other than being a nautical paradise, Bintan is also rich in culinary treasures. The culinary delights on Bintan Island are heavily influenced by Malay and Chinese culture and the area that’s surrounded by the sea.

Gonggong

Gonggong is probably the most famous Bintan dish. It is a type of sea snail that is found in the waters around Bintan and is commonly served as a menu in many restaurants on the island. 

How to eat gonggong is very simple. Take a toothpick, remove the flesh from the shell, dip it in the chili sauce then eat. The taste and texture are somewhat similar to squid. This dish is very unique and a must try in Bintan. Gonggong is also believed to increase vitality for adult men.

Otak-Otak Sotong

Cuttlefish (sotong) are a type of squid that is flatter in shape. On Bintan Island, cuttlefish is processed as a base for otak-otak, a grilled fish cake made of ground fish meat mixed with spices and tapioca starch. 

Otak-otak is a traditional snack that is widely found in Malaysia and Indonesia. If most otak-otak are white, it is different from the otak-otak sotong which are red. Red chilies are the main spices in making otak-otak sotong, making this Bintan’s specialty dish red in colour.

Asam Pedas Sembilang

Asam Pedas (sour and spicy) is a typical Malay menu. But this Bintan Island spicy sour dish is different from the others because the main ingredient used is Sembilang fish.

The serving of Asam Pedas Sembilang culinary menu is quite appetizing; the appearance of fish with a thick yellow sauce that is rich in spices, especially the sour and spicy taste which is quite indulgent on our taste buds. Asam Pedas Sembilang is high in iron and protein, making it very healthy and safe to be consumed by the whole family.

Mie Tarempa

Tarempa noodles are one of the most famous noodle dishes from the Riau Islands. Precisely coming from Tarempa, Anambas Regency. This noodle is made with flour and eggs. Not much different in shape and taste compared to Tarempa noodles from the area of origin.

Tarempa noodles have a sweet and sour taste that is slightly spicy on the tongue. The sauce is light even though it is quite oily. The flavors blend perfectly with the texture of the noodles which are slightly chewy. Seafood topping consisting of squid or cuttlefish, shrimp, and fish balls makes the noodles even more delicious.

Mie Laksa

This peranakan dish is noodles made from sago flour, making it a little chewy. These sago noodles are placed on a piece of bowled leaf so the portions are very small - perfect for an appetizer or main course for breakfast.

The noodles are then poured into a thick sauce with a very delicious fish aroma and taste. The sauce itself is made from fish tamban (a kind of mackerel) mashed with ginger, curry, chilies, coriander, shallots, shrimp paste, and coconut milk.

From these five dishes, which one is your favourite?

Stay at ANMON

Complete your vacation experience in Bintan Island by staying at The ANMON Resort Bintan, a desert-inspired glamping resort that offers both comfort and luxury for its guests. Enjoy the best glamping experience that you’ve never felt before only here at The ANMON Resort Bintan.