The Nasi Katok trail

Nasi Katok, where “nasi” means rice and “katok” signifies knocking, got its name from the tradition of customers knocking on the rice seller’s door to place an order. Over time, the name stuck, giving rise to one of the country’s most cherished dishes. While variations exist across Brunei, the core components persist: a serving of rice, a piece of fried chicken, and the highlight – the flavorful sambal dip. Each bite is a journey into Brunei’s culinary heritage, with chefs adding their unique twists to signature sambals. Indulge in this delectable fast food delight, a must-try for tourists seeking an unforgettable taste of Brunei’s diverse culture. There’s one problem though, with so many variations of this simple dish, it can be quite hard to start your Nasi Katok journey, so we’ve made this list of the Nasi Katok spots for your Nasi Katok trail:

We can’t start off a Nasi Katok trail without the unofficial first Nasi Katok establishment since the 1980s. The roots of the term Nasi Katok originated from the act of “katok” (knocking), on the window of this small flat in Bandar Seri Begawan, to buy “nasi” (rice). Priced at BND$1.20, it stands out among the rest with its unchanged serving of rice, boiled egg, and sambal pusu (crispy fried anchovies with sambal). If you’re looking for a classic Nasi Katok, then look no further.

Located in Jerudong, Bandar Seri Begawan, Nasi Katok Kaka was one of the first stores of the Nasi Katok boom in the late 2000s and has since maintained its stride, opening multiple chains across the country and recently representing this Bruneian fare in the South Korea-ASEAN Food Street Festival in Busan in November 2019.

Not to be confused with Nasi Katok Kaka, Nasi Katok Mama has been a mainstay in the Nasi Katok scene since the start of the Nasi Katok trend. With its increasing number of stores, they definitely deserve a spot on our Nasi Katok Trail. Located in the heart of the city centre of Bandar Seri Begawan, they are open 24/7 so they’ll always be ready to satisfy your even your midnight munchies.

A name no stranger to the local Nasi Katok scene and a favourite of many, Nasi Katok Lily pride themselves on their unique version of the nasi katok by using juicy grilled meat instead of the typical fried chicken. The other items on their menu are also quite popular with their regular patrons such as Penang Laksa, noodles and grilled skewered meats.

Hidden inside a Thai owned tuckshop in Sengkurong, this littlee hole-in-the-wall is just a solid all-rounder with its choices of sambal and generous servings of chicken. The star attraction however, is their Sambal Tom Yam, a unique blend of Bruneian and Thai flavours that you just can’t find elsewhere!  It may be a bit challenging to find this hidden gem, but worth it when you do!

Our last stop for Nasi Katok here in Brunei/Muara District is the locals’ secret located in Kg Madang. One can get your Nasi Katok fix from their rustic original pull cart hidden inside the housing areas of Kg Madang. Their sweet and savory sambal paired with their fried chicken is a personal favourite.

Moving onto Tutong District, we have this little treasure located in the heart of Tutong town. Tucked inside Samsudin Hana Restaurant, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a Nasi Katok stall more recognized by the district locals.

Located in the tranquil town of Lumut, this small Nasi Katok stall attracts quite a lot of Lumut residents with their offerings of meats and sambals. Paired with their large selection of coffee and tea, Oiltown has been happily serving their local community, and the many commuting staff of the nearby LNG refinery.

Congratulations for making it all the way down this list! Finally, and if you’re still in the mood for more, the last stop in our Nasi Katok trail takes us to the peaceful, green district of Temburong to Abu Marta Kitchen – an eatery found away from the hustle and bustle of the urban districts. Being one of the few places to open past 9pm, the lively atmosphere perfectly complements their hearty Nasi Katok, and other Bruneian warong staples.