Must try delicious rujak (Indonesian salad) in Bandung

Bandung, my hometown is famous for culinary adventures because of many beautiful places to visit as well as variety of foods to taste, especially Bandung specialties. No matter how often I visit Bandung, I will always miss the foods.

This time hunting rujak is one of my agenda in Bandung.  For those who don’t know what rujak is, this is a mix of selected fruits and vegetables blended with traditional palm sugar dressing (you may call it traditional Indonesian salad). There are many kinds of delicious rujak that can be chosen, some are made from a mix of fruits, or full vegetables, or a mix of fruits and veggies. The taste also varies depending on what you order. Here are some delicious and fresh rujak to try.

1. Rujak Bebek (pronounced ‘beubeuk’)

This salad is a mixture of various fruits such as green mango, ambarella fruit (“kedongdong”), pineapple, jicama (“bengkuang”), sweet potato which are chopped into small pieces, and then combined with the dressing made from palm sugar, tamarind, and mashed chilies.  Rujak bebek taste is fresh, sweet, and a bit sour. You can add some yellow noodle crackers to give crunchy sensation.  My favorite place to order is on Macan street in Buah Batu area.

2. Rujak Ulek

Do you want rujak with more dry thick sauce? Why not trying rujak ulek which is a combination of fresh fruits such as green mango, jicama (‘”bengkuang”),  papaya, ambarella fruit (“kedongdong”), guava, sweet potato, pineapple and starfruit. You can then mix all fruits with thick sauce made from palm sugar, tamarind, shrimp paste, chili and seasoning.  Add some smashed ground nuts to the sauce to give crunchy taste and also not to miss adding some round white crackers.  I usually order rujak ulek from a place nearby Mahmud street in Pajajaran area.  

3. Rujak Cuka

Another option is rujak cuka.  This salad has a mixture of several fruits such as jicama (“bengkuang”), green mango, pineapple, ambarella fruit (“kedongdong”), and vegetables such as cabbage, bean sprouts and cucumber. Because the name is rujak cuka (cuka means vinegar), then, the watery dressing is made of fresh vinegar, tamarind, chili, seasoning and liquid palm sugar to give you sweet and sour taste. Rujak cuka will taste more refreshing when eaten cold.  To add more flavor, you can mix the watery dressing with ground nuts and yellow noodle crackers or brown noodle crackers. The place I often go to order rujak cuka is on Macan street in Buah Batu area. One portion is enough for two persons shared.

4. Rujak Banci

And my final favorite is rujak banci – This salad is a combination of fruits (such as jicama (‘”bengkuang”), papaya, ambarella fruit (“kedongdong”), green mango, guava) and vegetables (cabbage, bean sprouts) mixed with traditional watery dressing made from palm sugar, vinegar, chili, tamarind and some seasoning. The taste varies from sour, sweet and spicy (spicy level will be at your choice) but refreshing when eaten during the hot day. Adding yellow noodle crackers to the sauce will give you an addiction to order again.  My favorite rujak banci is located near Mahmud street in Pajajaran area.

Ready to order some rujak now.  Don’t forget to put “rujak hunting” into your culinary adventure when you visit Bandung.

By the way, these photos were taken using cutleries from my private collection since all the rujak was ordered by delivery or take away.

Happy hunting.