Discover a variety of mouth-watering North Sulawesi specialties. Taste authentic cuisine with distinctive spicy, sour, and savory flavors!
North Sulawesi, especially Manado City, is famous not only for its stunning underwater natural charm, but also for its unique and authentic culinary delights. Every tourist who visits will be enchanted by the rich taste of North Sulawesi cuisine.
These foods make extensive use of seafood, combined with special spices that combine spicy, sour, and savory flavors, making them a favorite for many people. Let’s take a look at the list of 10 Typical North Sulawesi Foods that you must try!
1. Manadonese Porridge (Tinutuan)
Manadonese porridge, also known as tinutuan, is the most iconic food from North Sulawesi. Different from porridge in general, this porridge is made from various vegetables such as pumpkin, spinach, kale, gedi leaves, cassava, and corn.
The thick texture of the porridge with a golden yellow color comes from the pumpkin that is cooked together. To complete it, this porridge is usually eaten with salted fish or fried chicken, and don’t forget the roa chili sauce which gives it a distinctive spicy kick.
You can taste authentic Manadonese porridge at Tikala Coffee House, a place famous for its special porridge dish.
2. Skipjack Tuna Noodles
Mie Cakalang is a favorite choice for tourists visiting Manado. These noodles are served with smoked skipjack tuna, giving it a delicious aroma and savory taste.
In one serving, these yellow noodles are combined with vegetables such as cabbage, caisim, spring onions, and chilies. Eaten with roa chili sauce or green chili sauce, it makes the taste of these noodles even more delicious.
If you want to try it, Bastianos Megamas is one of the best places in Manado to enjoy cakalang noodles.
3. Tuturuga Chicken
Ayam tuturuga is a chicken dish with coconut milk sauce that is similar to opor, but with a more complex taste. The red sauce is caused by a mixture of chili and lime, giving it a refreshing spicy and sour taste. This dish is very delicious when eaten with warm rice.
Raja Oci Restaurant is a recommended place to try authentic ayam tuturuga.
4. Colombi Satay
Unlike most satay, the typical North Sulawesi Kolombi satay uses golden snail meat as its main ingredient.
This satay is cooked with special spices that make the snail meat taste savory and delicious. Usually, this satay is served with warm rice and can be enjoyed during the day or night.
If you are curious, try the Colombian satay at HoHo Restaurant, which is famous for its satay dishes.
5. Skipjack Tuna
Cakalang fufu is processed skipjack tuna that is seasoned, then smoked for several hours until perfectly cooked. After being smoked, this fish is usually served with dabu-dabu chili sauce and warm rice. The smoking process gives this fish a distinctive aroma that is appetizing.
To taste the best cakalang fufu in Manado, visit Kios 88 Kalawat.
6. Manado Gohu
Gohu Manado is a typical pickle from North Sulawesi made from young papaya pieces soaked in sour and spicy seasoning. This pickle is perfect to eat as a fresh snack on a sunny afternoon.
Its refreshing taste makes it a favorite, especially for those who want to enjoy a snack that is different from the usual.
7. Brenebon
Brenebon is a red bean soup cooked with various vegetables and spices, such as nutmeg, cloves, garlic, and other herbs.
This dish has a savory taste that comes from the meat broth. Initially, brenebon was a Dutch dish adopted by the local community, but with a distinctive Manadonese touch.
This soup is best enjoyed during cold weather as a dish that warms the body.
8. Pampis
Pampis is a dish made from shredded skipjack tuna cooked with spicy spices. Unlike smoked cakalang fufu, pampis is cooked until dry without sauce. Pampis is often used as a filling for panada (a typical Manadonese fried bread) or eaten with warm rice.
You can find delicious pampis in various seafood restaurants in Manado.
9. Grilled Tilapia with Woku
Grilled Mujair Woku is a dish of mujair fish cooked with typical North Sulawesi woku spices. There are two types of woku: woku daun and woku belanga.
Mujair fish is coated with woku spices consisting of a mixture of chili, turmeric, lemongrass, lime leaves, and basil leaves, then grilled until cooked.
You can taste grilled mujair woku at Bambuden Megamas, one of the famous seafood restaurants in Manado.
10. Rica Roa
Rica roa is a chili sauce made from smoked roa fish. The smoked roa fish is then finely ground and mixed with the typical North Sulawesi rica spices. This chili sauce has a distinctive spicy taste and is often used as a complement to various dishes, such as Manado porridge or yellow rice.
Sambal roa can be bought as a souvenir or enjoyed directly at local restaurants.
North Sulawesi is a culinary heaven that offers a variety of delicious and authentic dishes that are a must-try. From Typical Manado Food like Manadonese Porridge to Rica Roa, each dish reflects the rich culture and distinctive flavors of the region.
With a unique blend of spices, these North Sulawesi specialties are sure to pamper your taste buds. So, if you visit North Sulawesi, don’t miss the chance to enjoy these mouth-watering culinary delights!
