Food in Brunei

Brunei’s national dish is a sago-based national dish (Ambuyat). The sticky mass is made from sago or rumbia starch and water. It is traditionally picked up with a V-shaped bamboo utensil (Candas) and swallowed without chewing. It is served with Cacah, a dip that complements the flavour. It is a rice, fried chicken and sambal dish (Nasi Katok) and is one of the common simple meals. Other local dishes and sweets include Kelupis, a sticky-rice cake wrapped in Nyirik leaves, Pulut Panggang, Penyaram, Tapai, Seri Muka, Selurut, Kuih Cincin, Wajid Temburong or Wajid Jawa, and prawn crackers made from prawn and starch. Rice, fish and other seafood, coconut and sambal shape many dishes. Supply remains dependent on imports for several staple products. In 2024, Brunei consumed 31,097 tonnes of rice, produced 2,348 tonnes domestically and imported 29,127 tonnes. The import share was therefore 92.45 percent, domestic self-sufficiency was 7.55 percent and per-capita consumption was 68.27 kilograms per year. Some individual sectors reached higher levels: for 2022, self-sufficiency was reported at 100 percent for broiler chickens and eggs, 68.5 percent for tropical vegetables, 39.9 percent for beef and buffalo meat, 37.7 percent for tropical fruits, 3.9 percent for goat and sheep meat and 8.4 percent for rice. These figures apply to the stated year and do not support a blanket statement about the overall food supply. The Department of Agriculture and Agrifood supports production, agricultural statistics, farms and marketing. This includes pilot projects, contract farming for young people, farm-expansion programmes and the facilitation of local and international markets. Local production strengthens supply but does not fully replace the dominant dependence on imports. Markets, including a local market (Tamu), food courts, cafés and restaurants offer local and international food. The official tourism guide lists Malay, Chinese, Japanese, Pakistani, Western, vegetarian and vegan providers, as well as separately identified non-halal venues. Tamu Kianggeh in Brunei-Muara offers fresh ingredients and homemade food; the Gadong Night Market is also located there. In Tutong, Pasarneka Tutong takes place on Thursdays from 6.0 to 12.0, ending at 12. Tamu Bangar in Temburong is associated with local produce, Wajid Jawa, Temburong-Cendol, Udang Galah, Manuk Pansuh and Pucuk Ubi. For Belait, verified information is found mainly in official dining directories, rather than in a clearly documented local speciality of its own. Whether a provider accepts cash or cards depends on the particular stall or venue. Businesses that manufacture, supply or serve food or drinks require a halal certificate and/or halal permit under government rules. The Halal Food Control Division of the Ministry of Religious Affairs is responsible, with the involvement of the Majlis Ugama Islam Brunei. An application requires at least two recognised Halal Food Supervisors, knowledge of Islamic food requirements, documentation on ingredients and procedures, and an inspection of the premises. The approved fee is 50 BND per product. The application is submitted at the counter; its status can be requested by telephone, and no fixed published processing time is available. At non-halal venues, the status should be checked using the labelling and information provided by the individual business. During the fasting hours of Ramadan, § 195 of the Syariah Penal Code, Cap. 275, prohibits the public consumption of food, drinks or tobacco, as well as directly serving or selling them publicly for this purpose. Medical exceptions exist. Violations may be punished with a fine of up to 4,000 BND and/or up to one year of imprisonment. In practice, purchases are often shifted to take-away and consumption in private spaces; iftar and sahur take place after sunset and before dawn, respectively. Ramadan bazaars and food stalls become more important during this period. The National Dietary Guidelines 2020 of the Ministry of Health recommend daily variety, at least two servings of fruit and three servings of vegetables per day, and a grain share of at least 50 percent whole grains. Fish, poultry, lean meat, pulses and nuts should be included in moderate amounts. Lower-fat dairy products, sparingly used oil and water fit these recommendations; energy-dense foods, sugary drinks and highly salted foods should be limited. The Brunei Darussalam Food Authority, or BDFA, oversees food safety. The requirements apply to food businesses, workers, imports, production, storage and distribution. Food workers need a Basic Food Safety and Health Education Course and a Food Handlers Certificate. Food intended for sale must be assessed and registered online by the BDFA; processed imports additionally require a Processed Food Import Registration. Inspections examine hygiene, storage, equipment, personnel, waste, pests and vector control, among other matters. A score of at least 70 percent is considered satisfactory; a score of 51 to 69 percent requires corrective action followed by another inspection, while a score of 50 percent or less may result in immediate closure. Follow-up inspections may take place after three months; a closure may last up to seven months. Consumers should check labels, storage instructions, expiry or sale dates, damaged cans and the provider’s hygiene, and report concerns to the BDFA. Price controls apply only to certain staple goods. These include rice, sugar, formulated milk powder and cooking oils, among others. The Price Display Order requires clear and accurate price information. Seasonal maximum prices for whole chickens, eggs, butter, margarine, ghee, flour and milk may apply during Ramadan and Syawal. In 2025, the index for food and non-alcoholic beverages fell by 0.3 percent, meat by 2.3 percent, dairy products and eggs by 1.1 percent, and vegetables by 0.6 percent; fruit rose by 1.9 percent and restaurants and hotels by 0.3 percent. In December 2025, the food index was 0.5 percent above its level a year earlier, while fish and seafood became 3.7 percent more expensive and fruit 4.5 percent more expensive. The cited reference prices were 1.25 BND per kilogram for local and fragrant rice, 0.85 BND for ordinary rice and 0.76 BND for glutinous rice. For current prices, consult the ongoing statistics of the Department of Economic Planning and Statistics. Food waste was the largest waste category in a 2019 composition study. At Sungai Paku landfill, food accounted for 32 percent of approximately 500 to 600 tonnes of total waste. The Eco Food Waste Initiative launched in 2025 uses the slogan Plan.Eat.Save and provides for awareness-raising, digesters for food waste, a digital 3R platform, guides for households, restaurants and providers, as well as composting and a circular economy. Brunei also tracks food loss and waste as part of SDG 12.