Places to eat in Brunei

Located in the western building of the Yayasan shopping centre; try the buffet, outside, looking at the shoppers or people just sitting down for their lunch; oriental buffet for 5US$, with a friendly but cumbersome staff. Other dishes need a long time before getting on your table.

Favorite Dish: Nasi lemak

Jalan Sultan; many people working in the nearby offices take lunch there; the menu “card” contains about 30 pages; plenty of choice; service rather quick. Food is not impressive but interesting Chinese soups. The waitresses are friendly and wear mini-skirts, which is a good surprise in Brunei! 5 to 10 US$.

Favorite Dish: Chinese soups

Eat sate and nasi goreng under the trees enjoying some cool air on the riverside, watching the boat taxis; several small stalls there, friendly people; just be patient service is not top at the ones I tried. For desert, go to the market 100 m from there and buy the small sweet bananas or if the season is right, rambutan or manggis (just delicious). 2 to 5 US$.

Favorite Dish: Sate kambing (goat)

Located on a terrace above the swimming pool, with view on the sea; modern wood architecture, open view, fans (no air conditioning), silver cutlery, competent staff; the buffet is really wonderful , with lots of food varieties, from Asian to international; grilled shrimps or marinated squids are the best among them; most interesting desert is the “kacang bubur” or sweet lentil soup, slightly aromatised with durian (the king of fruits, but it is a personal opinion): delicious, and it is a pity most western people avoid to try this really delightful desert. Price: expensive (I was invited), but probably worth the money.

Favorite Dish: Kacang Bubur !

Italian restaurant; serving super good fruit cocktails and fresh seafood Italian style. Try the grilled red snapper with carbonara sauce, drink a limau manis juice with it; really interesting! Expensive : 30US$.

Favorite Dish: Grilled red snapper

Fratini’s Indian restaurant in the Yayasan shopping mall ; not super delicious, long waiting time, but the buffet is reasonable, and that changes from the many fast-food type restaurants in this shopping mall.(10-15 US$).

Favorite Dish: lentils

a different buffet every night, with cuisine from many parts of the world ; one night Chinese, another Cajun, another Indonesian, another BBQ, another seafood, etc. . . Good for 15-20 US$, friendly, but as usual, . . . no alcohol beverages.

Favorite Dish: Seafood buffet !
Try the black pepper crab!

head down to the night markets overlooking the sungai brunei in the centre of bandar seri begawan. the vendors there sell really good and cheap satays and other local dishes. the atmosphere and food is great and it's about the only place in brunei to mingle with locals after dark.

Favorite Dish: satay sticks