Malang is famous for its delicious green apple products, which are made fresh and are of excellent quality. Almost all Malang food oleh-oleh (gift) items are made from green apples! Additionally, products made with tempeh as the main ingredient are highly popular among tourists. The Sanan region of Malang is particularly renowned for its tempeh production, which is sold in various supermarkets throughout Malang on a consignment basis.
The popularity of their tempeh products is such that they have even entered markets in other East Javanese areas! It’s not just savory dishes either; even sweet desserts such as pies made from tempeh are available from non-Sanan small and medium enterprises.
But that’s not all! Malang’s food gifts are not limited to green apples and tempeh products. Check out my recommended list of top food items from Malang, Indonesia, you should buy on your next visit.
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1. All tempeh-based products
Keripik tempeh (tempeh chips) is the first food item that comes to my mind when I think about Malang’s authentic tempeh-based products. I love purchasing these chips because it’s affordable (only 15,000 IDR or 0.92 USD for one pack), and they have a diverse selection of seasonings!
Botok tempeh is yet another must-try for tempeh-based food gifts in Malang. It is minced tempeh marinated in spices, garnished with coconut shreds and vegetables, and wrapped in leaves. Sometimes, the packaging includes something special, such as a boiled salted egg cut in half. It is the perfect pairing for rice and is available in all Malang supermarkets!
2. Mixed fruit chips
Batu, which is approximately a 15 km (9.32 mi) drive from Malang city, is also well known. Visitors particularly love Selecta, an iconic place known for producing the best apples.
When I think of Selecta’s apples and other food items, their chips, called keripik apel, immediately come to mind. Recently, the same region has also started producing mixed fruit chips with around two to three different fruit variants in each package. I have also noticed other similar options, such as keripik nanas (pineapple chips) or keripik nangka (jackfruit chips).
It’s easy to find Selecta’s fruit chips and, believe me, one bag is never enough!
3. Bluder
Locals and tourists in Malang are well aware of Bluder as a soft breakfast and tea time cube-shaped bread. The plastic wrap is always in a pyramid shape, while the outer texture of Bluder bread is fluffy and blends well with the fillings. Any filling that includes chocolate will significantly boost the popularity of Malang’s Bluder. Some examples include Nutella, Chocomaltine, and Ovomaltine.
Bluder Kapas is one of the most popular Bluder brands in Malang. The individual Bluder wraps remind me of Madiun’s Bluder Cokro. However, their Nutella fillings have an unparalleled light, airy, yet full-bodied taste.
4. Locally made bakpao
Ideally, bakpao (an Indonesian way of referring to Chinese pao dim sum dishes) should be ball-shaped instead of circular. However, sometimes Indonesians associate balls with circles. As a result, locally made bakpao in Malang has a more solid form and thinner size.
Nevertheless, Malang’s bakpao retains its original characteristics because steaming (called “kukus” or “mengukus” in Indonesian) the pao instead of deep-frying it remains an integral part of the process.
You can see the fluffy yet solid texture in Bakpao Kukus Malang! They also have different colors for different fillings. For instance, the red pao has their newly launched Kit Kat filling, which I can’t wait to try.
5. Strudel
Did you think of Germany and Austria’s Apfelstrudel, also known as Apple Strudel, when I mentioned strudel? Well, Malang’s version of strudel draws inspiration from the mouthwatering original Apfelstrudel.
Like the European version, the minced and diced apples marinated in a rich and flavorful spice should be the original fillings. However, over time, Malang Strudel has developed other tasty variations, such as the sweet banana and chocolate flavor, as well as savory options such as tuna, chicken curry, and mixed vegetable fillings.
Until now, Malang Strudel doesn’t have branches in other cities. This is because they want to provide a unique food shopping experience exclusively in Malang.
6. Kue bolu and lapis
Both cakes (the translation for “kue”) are block-shaped, measuring around 20-30 cm (7.87 in) in length, and have a tendency to be fluffy in texture. The distinction lies in the thin layers that all kue lapis products possess.
Bolu Malang Singosari is one example of a gift shop in Malang that specializes in kue bolu products. Their black forest bolu never disappoints me. The individual packs also have a fixed price of 30,000 IDR (1.84 USD), placing the product in the economical category.
When it comes to lapis products, why not give Lapis Tugu Malang a try? Recently, their lava lapis products have become quite popular! This is a kue lapis with a melting, runny, and lava-like chocolate sauce.
7. Locally made brownies
It’s no surprise that Malang is never short of inventive food ideas. Brownies are one of Malang’s signature creations, and I’ve found several unique brownie inventions that are exclusive to Malang.
What is Malang if we can’t find tempeh-based foods? Yep, tempeh brownies, aka brownies tempeh, exist! These products essentially combine tempeh and brownie batter in one.
Brownies Bakar and Pie Brownies are locally-made alternatives to traditional brownies that you can only find in Malang. Brownies Bakar is a torched brownie with various flavors, while Pie Brownies are recreated Balinese milk pies with a chocolate brownie filling to give them the appearance of a brownie inside a pie.
8. Pia
Yogyakarta in Indonesia is famous for bakpia, a bean-filled moon cake-like pastry that is beloved by both locals and tourists. Malang’s bakpia, or “pia” for short, is similar to Yogyakarta’s in terms of the thickness of the crust. We can even find some of Yogyakarta’s bakpia flavors in the ones from Malang, although some authentic Yogyakarta flavors like Kumbu Hitam are not available in the Malang variation.
One authentic Malang variation that I remember is Mister Pia! In this product, the seller rolls the sheets in the pia dough to make it resemble mini breakfast roll danishes.
9. An assortment of jajan pasar
All supermarkets in Malang, such as Lai Lai Market or Samudra Supermarket, always have this food item. Mind you, even Ranch Market on Jalan Semeru has this food item. Generally, “jajan pasar” refers to Indonesian sweet street snacks, although some jajan variants also fall into the savory category. One thing is for sure—all of them are bite-sized.
Apem, getas, kue tok, and other glutinous rice-based jajan are some of the most popular jajan pasar variants in Malang, and my most beloved treats.
10. Frozen foods
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Malang’s abundant culinary offerings are showcased through its authentic frozen foods. I think this is because the locals want to ensure that tourists can still indulge in the unique Malang food experience even after leaving the city.
Among the notable restaurants in Malang, Bakso President and Rumah Makan Gloria stand out for their frozen food options that can be enjoyed at home.
As the name suggests, Bakso President specializes in various frozen meatball products (bakso being Malang’s specialty). On the other hand, Rumah Makan Gloria offers frozen food products such as Suikiao (wontons), which are not halal. However, they also have vegetarian options, such as the vegetarian fried wonton filled with mushrooms and vegetables.
Bring back delicious food from Malang
Malang is well-known for its large and delicious food oleh-oleh products. The price ranges are also affordable. Visit Malang to discover more about the food souvenirs you can bring back through my list. After all, Malang’s culinary products are too amazing to miss out on!
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