Brunei food reviews

Cheap Cheerful &

Eating out can get expensive and the inevitable rising cost of goods means meals will take a bigger toll on your pocket. Fortunately, there will always be a gerai, or nasi katok stall hiding somewhere in your kampong and this quarter we rounded up a small list of great cheap eats around town that we keep hearing good things about on the Grapevine. The best part? You can grab a good feed for five dollars or under at each of these spots. No frills, no fuss.

Famous for their namesake carbohydrates, the nasi lemak at The Green Rice is truly the stuff of legend. Going on 30-years strong, the specialty nasi lemak restaurant serves up their famous plate of aromatic pandan coconut rice with juicy fried chicken and a sweet chili sambal. Other home-style delights include the kolo mee and boiled Jao Zi (dumplings) with a savoury dressing and chilli sauce that

The

eat, drink Green Rice many find addictive. A small combo meal gets you a bungkus-sized Brunei pack of nasi lemak, half a boiled egg and the necessary condiments like acar, deep fried pusu and sambal, and a hot or cold drink, all for under a fiver. Not a fan of eggs, sambal or pusu? Not to worry – you can customise your order and add what you like!

appetite

Unit 1, Simpang 470, Jalan Subok, BSB Tel: 673-2229413 IG: @thegreenrice.bn

Soto Rapini

We love a good bowl of soto here and this place serves up a heaping bowl of delicious broth, lots of beef chunks and toppings, and dreamy silky noodles. At just $2.00 for a bowl of beef noodles, you will have money to spare for any extra treats on their menu, most of which are just a dollar. Yup, you read that right. You can snack on crunchy spring rolls or curry puffs, and grab a drink, all for a fiver. They are open from 10am – 6pm and conveniently located in the Rpn Lambak area, and you can dine at their cosy outdoor seating area if you wish. ••

IG: @sotorapini

Nasi Ayam Samdi

Ah, the beauty of a perfectly poached chicken with fluffy, savoury rice and of course, a home made chili sauce. Nasi Ayam Samdi specialises in this heartwarming and humble dish down at the lively Gerai Jangsak, for the mere price of $3.00 – but if Nasi Ayam is not your thing, they also do a good bowl of soto for around $2.00. If you’re curious and hungry, you can get both to decide which one wins your heart. Th restaurant was opened in 2020, and continues to be busy with orders from loyal chicken-loving customers and fans of their aromatic teh tarik pandan. Typically open from 9.30am to 2pm and 4pm to 7pm (Monday to Thursday), and closed during Friday prayers at 12pm-2pm and all of Sunday. ••

No. 3B, Gerai Jangsak, Simpang 845 (Opposite Jangsak Shell Station) Tel: 673-7179767 IG: @nasiayamsamdi.bn

Hau Lo Café and Grill

If you love grilled meats and lamb, this is the place to get a cheap protein fix. For $5.00 and under, Hau Lo has a range of rice cups that are packed with saucy goodness. While they do have more expensive choices on their menu, the nasi kambing cup with black pepper sauce at $3.00 is their best-selling item for good reason. You can also get 200 grams of grilled beef, lamb, or a half grilled chicken with homemade barbecue sauce for $5.00 or under. They often sell out quick so it’s best to call ahead of time and book your orders to avoid disappointment! ••

Unit A4 Ground floor, Spg 636, Jalan Gadong, Kg Beribi Tel: 673-8980315 IG: @h.a.u.lo

Cha Roen-Sap (Nasi Katok Tom Yam)

This takeaway joint already has a huge fan base and for good reason – larger than average portions and a list of sambals that guarantee a flavour festival no matter which one you choose, at $1.50 per portion. You have your requisite red and green sambals, along with more unusual choices like sambal tahai, tom yam and salted egg, alongside two large pieces of juicy fried chicken. If you’re into Thai flavours, the signature tom yam sauce is a perfect balance of salty, sweet and spicy ingredients, but their red and salted egg sambals are particularly good choices! They only open at 12.30, but do close late, usually by 11pm, and you can expect queues if you’re going during lunch or dinner time. The location can be tricky to find – it is tucked right at the back of a building, and only has a small sign and an unmarked tuckshop next to it that sells some interesting Korean styled beverages like banana milk, as memorable markers. If you are familiar with Nadj Restaurant in Sengkurong, the building is directly behind them. ••

Behind Unit 13B, Ground Floor, Bangunan Nur Baqiah, Sengkurong A

Saiba Jaya Restaurant & Minimart

This hidden gem is tucked away in a non-descript building along the busy back road of Pasir Berakas. Saiba Jaya specialises in Bangladeshi and Malay cuisines, feeding the community with spice-packed authentic dishes and homey favourites. A classic mee goreng is just $2.50, while the price range for chicken dishes such as their curry and korma Ayam Kari start at $2.00. The piece de resistance however is their nasi campur. A heaping mound of hot white rice and a wide selection of always delicious vegetables and meat dishes (try the spicy-sweet pumpkin), will only set you back a mere $2.50 to $3.00. Mornings mean you may have to fight for a seat as people fill the restaurant to enjoy a roti for breakfast, but this is definitely worth the trip. ••

Unit 17, Ground floor, Bangunan Dato Hj Hamidoon Agora, Spg 274, Kampong Lambak, Jalan Pasir Berakas, BSB FB: Saibajaya Minimart & Restaurant