Returning to the dense, mystical jungles of Southeast Asia, Bourdain sought out a profound personal and cultural reconnection during Parts Unknown Season 6 (2015). Borneo is a rugged, intoxicating island shared by Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei, renowned for its incredible biodiversity and deep-rooted tribal histories. Tony’s journey was far more than a simple food tour; it was an emotional pilgrimage back to the Iban longhouses he had visited a decade prior, examining how modernization had crept into the remote rainforest. The culinary landscape here is a wildly diverse tapestry, weaving together spicy, complex street vendor fare in the urban centers with hyper-local, indigenous cooking methods deep in the jungle. From hawker stalls dishing out fiery bowls of laksa to communal village feasts, Bourdain’s focus was on the preservation of culture in a rapidly changing world. To retrace his deeply moving journey through the rainforest, pull up a chair at these essential stops.
The great Anthony Bourdain left his mark everywhere he went. When his death was announced to the world in June 2018, media throughout the globe chimed in and listed all the great things he had done for their respective city, town, province, country. Whereas before, tourists would shy away from exotic foods, thanks to him, travellers now go the extra mile to find and try local bites. With this in mind, here are all the restaurants Bourdain visited and the dishes he tasted when he shot Anthony Bourdain Borneo for his show, Parts Unknown Season 6 Episode 7 (originally aired November 1, 2015):
DISH – Black Pepper Crab, Char Kway Teow and Siew Yoke Meen
WHAT IS IT?
Black Pepper Crab – hard-shell crabs stir-fried with black pepper. Char Kway Teow – stir fried rice noodles with shrimp, bean sprouts, cockles, egg, chives and spices. Siew Yoke Meen – roast pork noodles.
READ MORE: MACAU: ALL OF THE RESTAURANTS PICKED BY ANTHONY BOURDAIN ON NO RESERVATIONS
WHERE IS IT?
Wong Ah Wah Restaurant
9 Off, 7, Jalan Alor, Cheras Batu 2 1/2
Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
ANTHONY BOURDAIN BORNEO NOTES
Wong Ah Wah Restaurant is a Chinese-Malaysian restaurant that was Anthony Bourdain’s first stop in Parts Unknown Borneo.
DISH – Roast Beef, Poached Eggs and Chicken Rendang
WHAT IS IT?
Roast Beef – roasted beef. Poached Eggs – egg cooked through poaching. Rendang Chicken – Indo-Malaysian chicken stew, with coconut milk and spices.
WHERE IS IT?
Aunty Aini’s
Batu 16, Kampung Chelet
Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
ANTHONY BOURDAIN BORNEO NOTES
Aunty Aini’s is a Kampong-style restaurant that specializes in village/country classics.
READ MORE: ANTHONY BOURDAIN NEW ORLEANS : ALL OF THE RESTAURANTS PICKED ON NO RESERVATIONS
DISH – Laksa
WHAT IS IT?
Spicy noodle soup, with chicken, prawns, coconut and chili.
WHERE IS IT?
Choon Hui Cafe
34, Jalan Ban Hock
Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
ANTHONY BOURDAIN BORNEO NOTES
Here, Anthony Bourdain can be seen enjoying bowls of Laksa for his breakfast in Kuching. He remembers having the same table as the last time he visited.
READ MORE: MALAYSIA: ALL OF THE RESTAURANTS PICKED BY ANTHONY BOURDAIN ON NO RESERVATIONS
Bourdain’s return to Borneo remains one of the most poignant, soul-stirring episodes in his entire television catalog. It was a raw meditation on aging, memory, and the inevitable encroachment of the modern world on ancient traditions. His reunion with the Iban community wasn’t just about sharing a meal; it was a beautiful, heartbreaking look at how places and people evolve, and the fleeting nature of the travel experiences we hold dear. The episode highlighted his unparalleled ability to use food—whether a perfectly balanced bowl of laksa or a humble village stew—as a bridge to profound human connection. Embrace the humidity, seek out the hidden hawker stalls, and venture deep into the extraordinary, vibrant heart of this majestic island.
