Gorgeous gluten free Malang was our second destination in Indonesia and ended up being one of our favorites. In a couple of days we visited its highlights, saw the Bromo volcano and had so much food I had to write a separate blog post about it. While you can read about the best things to do in Malang right here, I wrote this gluten free Malang guide so you can eat at all the amazing places we did.
I have gathered both spots safe for celiac’s as for gluten intolerant travelers like me. During my trip I was lucky to be able to eat small amounts of soy and fish sauce, making it very easy for me to eat dinner nearly anywhere. However, you might be more careful if small amounts do upset your stomach. Still, I have a great gluten free Malang list gathered below. But, before you get to eat all that delicious food, I will show you how to get to Malang and how to get around.
How to Get There
Getting to your gluten free Malang adventure from anywhere on Java is super easy. The island’s train network is extensive, and the trains themselves are very comfortable and affordable. After flying into Yogyakarta from Singapore with tickets booked through Skyscanner, we took the six-hour train ride to Malang. The journey itself was great: we read, slept, ate snacks, drank coffee and watched Java pass us by through the window, all the while sitting in the most comfortable seats with plenty of legroom.
Make sure to book your trips well in advance though, as seats sell out quickly. One to two weeks in advance should be enough. The best place to book your train tickets is through the site of Traveloka, which is, as far as I could find, the only website that sells tickets from KAI, the train operator. I saw many creators promote Omio or 12Go as the platforms to buy your tickets, but currently you can only use those for bus and ferry tickets. Now, let’s dive into how to get around gluten free Malang.
How to Get Around
The best way to get around gluten free Malang and cover any short distance is by booking a Grab in our opinion. Grab is an app similar to Uber where you can book a taxi. We loved how convenient it was and how we got to pick our taxi driver’s brain for the best things to do around the city, talk about soccer and the history of the city we were in.
However, you do need internet for Grab to work, which is where Airalo came in for us. It was our first time using the service, but we never want to travel any other way again! Airalo is an app that offers e-sim data plans from more than 200 countries. Setting up our e-sims was incredibly simple, as Airalo tells you exactly what you need to do. Using their data meant we could book a Grab whenever we needed one. All set? Let’s dive into my ultimate gluten free Malang guide.
Gluten Free Malang: 6 Best Food Experiences
1. Where to Stay AND Eat – The Shalimar Boutique Hotel
I wrote an extensive review of the Shalimar Boutique hotel in my Malang travel guide, but it deserves another mention here. This hotel not only has beautiful interior design, but the people who work here are the friendliest. They are incredibly helpful and understanding and made sure our every need was taken care of. While I am gluten intolerant and can most of the time visually see what I can and cannot eat, I am sure they will make every celiac traveler feel just as welcome.
So, now let us talk about the food that crowns this gluten free Malang guide. While we did not have dinner at one of their fabulous restaurants, De Hemel and La Regina – of which the latter had a hidden speakeasy – we did try their breakfast buffet on our last morning, and this was something to write home about! We were welcomed into the restaurant by Maria, the hostess of the hotel. She told us we Dutchies eat too much bread at home, so we should skip the American and European breakfast buffet and come straight to the Javanese selection.
The breakfast Maria was raving about was literally center stage: while the rest of the Indonesian and Chinese buffet sat in the center of the room, the Javanese cuisine was displayed on a stage in gorgeous silver bowls. As we seemed totally clueless to her when it came to Javanese breakfast, she made us some soto ayam and this amazing brown bean porridge with whipped coconut cream, syrup and nuts. If someone knows the name of this dish, let me know in the comments (you get extra points for linking the recipe).
After a breakfast of curries, porridge and stir-fried vegetables, it was time for the photoshoot. As soon as I asked Maria whether I could take a picture of her, she told me exactly what I should be photographing. While she poured Wessel some ginger-curcuma juice and I snapped away, we came to the conclusion our morning need not end so soon but would continue in a tour of the hotel by Maria. Right then and there, I knew this would be my number one advice in my gluten free Malang guide.
Besides great breakfast and the best hostess you can imagine, the Shalimar also happened to have an interesting history. As we toured the hotel, Maria showed us photographs from the colonial period and told us the hotel used to be a dancehall for Dutch colonists. If you want to learn more about the (post)colonial history of the Shalimar and Malang, make sure to read this article.
But in the meantime, you should book your stay at the Shalimar to make your time in Malang unforgettable, or book any of these hotels in Malang, and drop in for breakfast at the Shalimar on one of your travel days. And as you embark on your gluten free Malang journey, say hi to Maria from me!
2. Kenoa Bakery – Dedicated GF
I was as surprised as you are when I found the second gluten free Malang hotspot: a gluten free bakery called Kenoa. With many vegan options available too, this is the perfect place to soothe your sweet tooth. The bakery is very small: the counter is just a hole in the wall with a fridge that has gluten free and vegan cakes and cookies on display.
Unfortunately, the cinnamon buns were not gluten free as they came from a separate supplier called Cinnabox, but I ordered a carrot cake, banana bread, brownies and some cookies for breakfast and our Bromo adventure. If you order in advance, you can also get gluten free bread, or request goodies like birthday cakes, hamburger buns and eclairs, to name a few.
However, getting to the bakery can be a bit of an adventure. The bakery is small and located on what seems to be a private terrain, meaning your Grab driver will not be able to take you all the way. Kenoa Bakery therefore might be hard to find, but if you follow your Google Maps you will be sure to get there. And you must, as no gluten free Malang trip is complete without at least one taste of their gorgeous cakes.
3. Java Dancer – GF Options
Continuing with our gluten free Malang breakfast: Malang’s famous coffee roastery and café Java Dancer. As we sat down, an Indonesian duo was singing Javanese chansons, setting the homey and welcoming tone of tour morning spent at this coffee house. While I did not eat here because I had some gluten free goodies from Kenoa, according to TripAdvisor there were some gluten free options. If we had stayed in Malang longer, I would have tried them because their coffee was out of this world!
Their latte art was stunning, but what makes this place extra special is that they offer single origin Arabica coffee from different regions in Indonesia. From Sumatra to Arabica, you can try these ‘kopi’s’ as an espresso, a cappuccino or even an affogato: this is the place for coffee lovers. Once you have picked your favorite, you can even take a bag of Java Dancer’s coffee home with you.
Gluten Free Malang: Dinner
4. Ka-Yah – GF Options
While we technically came here for lunch on our second visit, Ka-Yah deserves a spot in the gluten free Malang dinner list as you must at least spend a couple of hours here. Located on an inconspicuous street close to the Shalimar, this family restaurant has just a couple of seats on their patio camouflaged by dozens of motorbikes, and three or four tables indoors. Expect to listen to some classic Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Rihanna and Adele from the 2010s as you try their most delicious assortment of dishes.
On our two visits we tried the owner’s favorite dishes: a Korean dish with crispy chicken over glutinous rice and egg in the most delicious sauce; a Japanese stir-fry with minced meat and lots of chilies; a double cheese croque monsieur (for Wessel), and; gluten free chocolate mochi. Needless to say, everything was delicious, especially as lunch after our Bromo adventure! We ended up eating at Ka-Yah twice because it was so good.
While I dare say this place is probably not safe for celiacs – I can eat small amounts of gluten, like soy sauce and scraped-off crispy chicken – it is worth giving the place a call just to see what they can do for you. When I told them about my gluten intolerance, they brought out the mochi, so maybe they will bring out even more!
5. SaigonSan – GF Options
Another place that is probably not celiac-safe, but where we ended up because Tripadvisor told us they had plenty of gluten free options: SaigonSan, a restaurant offering a huge menu of Thai and Vietnamese curries, soups, spring rolls and more. The place itself is massive, with multiple floors and a tranquil garden sporting large mahogany tables and even a pond where koi dart around. With lanterns and drapes everywhere, they have saved no expense on the experience site of dining out.
As the restaurant was pretty quiet when we got there, I was too shy to walk around and take pictures. So, we ordered our food and drinks: classic pho for me and pho with crab for Wessel, paired with a delicious margarita and a beer. For dessert I ordered the mango sticky rice and Wessel the chocolate cake. Everything was amazing, making SaigonSan a must visit in this gluten free Malang guide.
6. Javanine – GF Options
Last on this gluten free Malang guide, but certainly not least: Javanine, a restaurant specializing in Javanese food. One of the many ‘gluten free options’ recommendations on Tripadvisor, we ventured out into the former colonial neighborhood of Malang, to find a restaurant filled with locals. Which to us meant: jackpot, we found a gem!
With a menu that might even be larger than that of Java Dancer and Saigon San combined, we decided to share everything we picked out. Starting with a lychee iced tea, which might even be more delicious than peach iced tea, Wessel and I tried a traditional beef dish with honey-sauce from Malang, gado gado, lamb satay, green beans with shredded coconut and too much sambal. Our mouths were on fire, but our bellies were content. If you want to try the local cuisine in a romantic dinner setting, Javanine is the way to go.
Final Thoughts on Gluten Free Malang
During our entire Indonesia adventure, there was no place where we had better food than on Java, with Malang being the cherry on top. While, on Bali and Lombok, it often felt like they left out most of the spices for us tourists, here the food tasted authentic. Unfortunately, though, this gluten free Malang guide leaves much to be desired for my celiac readers, but I have good hope these places can accommodate to your needs! Let me know in the comments which restaurants you have tried or are desperate to try in Malang.
In the meantime, plan the rest of your Indonesia trip using my Malang travel guide and Yogyakarta 24-hour itinerary. Stay up to date with all that is coming by signing up for my newsletter or following me on Instagram and TikTok. See you next time!
