This is a fact: Most Mirians associate daily trips to Kuala Belait or Seria with 2 things, either
- Sushi (Excapade or Kaizen. I'd include Misato as well but it really isn't that strong a contender)
- Imported groceries (typically SupaSave..yes, there's NAAFI for the quintessential British garrison vibe, the German Shop for the quirky European-meets-Middle-Eastern offerings, and MC Maju for the cuts of wagyu, Angus, and salmon – but those are relatively obscure and much smaller retail destinations)
There's another form of cuisine worth trying in Kuala Belait – authentic Indian fare. Unsurprising considering the close-knit foreign Indian communities working and staying in Brunei.
Serikandi D' Rest House is one of the two Serikandi cafes in Kuala Belait, Brunei. The Serikandi D' Rest House branch in particular is heartily recommended by Indians nostalgic for a taste of home. It is located at the Kuala Belait Government Rest House (coordinates: 4°35'20"N 114°11'46"E).
This gem is relatively secluded with less of a crowd, and is reasonably priced to boot.
It should be noted, however, that the food at the Serikandi Restaurant in Seria (also known as Serikandi Dua Puluh Sembilan, the-Serikandi-behind-the cinema, or the-Serikandi-near-the-bowling-centre) is inedible. The "Indian" fare served at the Seria branch can aptly be described as Brunei food pretending to be from India. This is not a knock at Bruneian fare in general, it is a knock at knock-offs.
Back to Serikandi D' Rest House. Here's a photo of the entrance, visible from Jalan Maulana.
Serikandi D' Rest House serves both Southern and Northern Indian cuisine. The quality of the food served at Serikandi is on par with that of its Northern Indian counterpart, Zaika, but Serikandi is decidedly more plebeian in terms of its décor and general setup. And accordingly, more reasonably priced.
Teh Tarik India is a deliciously frothy milk tea. Indians traditionally drink their teas hot, but this localized outlet serves iced Teh Tarik India as well. Every Malaysian Indian food outlet I've visited includes iced options, but according to Indians this is just not done back home.
Plain water is served upon arrival, and the glasses are topped up upon request at no charge.
For starters, we ordered Onion Pakoda.
Onion Pakoda or pakora (पकोड़ा) is a typical Indian fritter made with sliced onions mixed with spices in gram flour batter. This deep fried spicy snack was well complemented with a delicious light coriander chutney.
We also ordered Chicken 65 as an appetizer or additional side dish.
Chicken 65 is a perennial favourite from Tamil Nadu in Southern India; a spicy deep-fried dish of tender boneless chicken pieces served with raw onion ringlets, either roughly chopped coriander or fried curry leaves, and a wedge of lime. The raw onion and tangy fresh-squeezed lime add zest to the spicy fried chicken pieces.
As a main course, we selected the Special Nasi Briyani with Lamb.
The Special Nasi Briyani was fluffy basmati rice served with some crispy papadum, a fried boiled egg (no kidding – it was boiled, then fried), a light vegetable raita (yoghurt, raw vegetables), and a mild vegetable curry. A hearty vegetarian meal on its own!
The lamb was served under the bed of fluffy biryani rice. It was deliciously tender and relatively mild..very understated.
To complement our nasi briyani, we ordered a bowl of Aloo Gobi.
A decidedly Northern Indian dish, the Aloo (potatoes) Gobi (cauliflower) served was a rich curry dish, with curry gravy so thick and well-spiced you could have it as a naan dip. Another vegetarian-friendly dish!
The dishes ordered were enough to feed 2-3 pax, at a total cost of approx. BND20.
There was also a bowl of fennel seeds and a bowl of sugar at the counter by the door for you to refresh your palate after all the spicy gravy and deep-fried munchies.
The food service was slightly slow but if you know your way around an Indian menu, calling to make reservations and placing your order in advance would be a great way to reduce waiting time.
Telephone contact information: +673-333-5573 (landline) / +673-883-3058 (mobile)
Why would you eat here? Authentic fare, hearty food, perfect if you're a fan of spicy Indian food. Good value, reasonably priced in comparison to other outlets of similar quality. Free WiFi (a potential godsend for daily-tripping Mirians not on roaming data tele-comm plans), ample free parking. Non-existent lunch-time crowds (as compared to the high-traffic Excapade KB).
Why wouldn't you eat here? You're not a fan of Indian food. You're not fond of or accustomed to spicy food. Relatively isolated location, and you have no idea how to find this place. It may take a while to be served after ordering.
Healthy options? The Special Nasi Briyani is a complete balanced meal, the vegetable raita in particular is extremely healthy (yoghurt-based, raw veggies packed with vitamins and nutrients, low carb, low sodium). That said, Indian food is generally rich and hearty – and not especially renowned for being favourited by calorie-counting gym rats.
Life hack: Indian restaurants serve a good variety of vegetarian dishes – great if you're a vegetarian or eating with one.
