A yummy-looking bowl of tinutuan (it doesn't taste that bad, honest)
Manadonese food is famous throughout Indonesia for two things: the Minahasa eat absolutely anything, and the flavor of choice is very, very spicy. Sugar is used little if at all, with flavor added through lemon and herbs. Being Christian, the Minahasa also often marinate meat in alcohol and favor pork. More exotic protein options include cats, forest rats, fruit bats, and dogs, the last of which is the obligatory centerpiece of any wedding ceremony or Christmas feast. Classic dishes include:
ikan mas bakar rica bambuden, grilled spicy fish cooked in traditional style, using a piece of coconut shell as a way of cooking. Grilled together with chilli, that poured in the fish while cooking.
ikan mas goreng bambuden, fish fried till the soft bone is crunchy.
ayam rica-rica bambuden, grilled chicken topped with a fiery red chili-and-onion paste
ikan mas woku balanga bambuden, fish simmered in herbs
babi tore, fried pork until crunch with a lot of chilli
perkedel milu, corn fritters
tinutuan (or bubur manado), a goopy porridge of rice, pumpkin, noodles and random vegetables ? doesn't look very attractive, but it can be tasty (and, for once, not spicy)
Dutch settlement here has also brought in a few surprising influences, notably:
breneibon, a rich kidney bean soup
klappertaart, a Western-style coconut cake
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Manado
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Manado - updated May 2024
SAVE up to 75% on Last Minute deals! Search for discount Manado hotels, motels, apartments, hostels, guest accommodations and vacation resorts. Book now and pay at the hotel. Instant email confirmation!
Manado Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.
