After half a day exploring Bandung’s southern district of Ciwidey, we were ready for lunch. Our stop was a local resto called Saung Gawir, which specializes in Sundanese cuisine.

Located on the hillside, the place has a nice view of the gentle slopes, but parents wanted to sit in the shade so we sat inside ._. The simple structure is built from bamboo and leaves; as are the chairs and tables.

Kicked off with some appetizers, the local otak-otak. The Malaysian version uses fish paste and has a distinct orange tint from chillies, turmeric and curry powder. The Indonesian version is white and less spicy, but also come wrapped in banana leaves. They served it with a sauce that tasted like Indian white bean dip – sour, minty and refreshing.

Slightly chewy and sweet, these were so addictive I kept popping them into my mouth and was almost full by the time the main course came 😛

Mutton fried rice. It was Fragrant and filled with generous chunks of tender mutton. I didn’t really like the crackers that came with the dish coz it had a bitter aftertaste.

Some okay-tasting stir fried veggies, and lamb/chicken satay. The latter was the bomb, especially the lamb. Tender and juicy with the right amount of lean and fat, smothered in a sweet and savoury sauce that was like a cross between teriyaki and BBQ.

Everyone else had some sort of rice from a metal pot with egg, chillies, onions and herbs in it. Really fragrant, like nasi lemak.

Fuyong egg – fried with veggies and shrimp – was fluffy and crispy. Nothing to complain about here..

When you order ‘fried chicken’ from any restaurant in Bandung, don’t expect the huge, KFC-sized kind. They all use spring chickens here so the portions are tiny. These were really good though: crispy and crunchy, salty but tender on the inside. Not much meat on them.. I could have eaten one whole chicken on my own 😀

Fed the resident kitties 😀

SAUNG GAWIR 

Jalan Raya Ciwidey – Rancabali KM. 6,

Desa Alam Endah, Bandung, Jawa Barat, Indonesia

Phone: +62 22 85920675

Mon – Fri : 9am – 5pm, Sat-Sun: 9am – 8pm