Manado Shopping Guide: Must-Buy Souvenirs & Top Malls

Wondering what souvenirs and shopping items to grab in Manado?

With so little travel info out there, shopping tips are even harder to find!

So to figure out what's famous and what to add to my shopping list,

I turned to the "Inni Manado" (Indonesia Manado) Naver Cafe first.

When you search like this, a whole list pops up. It was incredibly helpful!

Search term: Shopping list

You should definitely try searching just like this!

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Inni Manado - Indonesia, Manado, Bu... : Naver Cafem.site.naver.com

Inni Manado - Indonesia, Manado, Bu... : Naver Cafem.site.naver.com

By the way,

most of the must-buys from Bali, Indonesia's ultimate vacation spot,

are also available right here in Manado!

Manado Shopping Malls

The main spots are Trufarm, Mantos, and Megamall.

If you just want to visit a supermarket, Trufarm is your best bet.

But if you want to do some other shopping, grab a drink at the famous Chatime or Excelso Cafe,

or catch a stunning Manado sunset, I highly recommend heading over to the Mega Mas area.

(Keep in mind, the supermarket is a bit of a walk from here!)

The ultimate sunset spot at Megamall, Manado

There is a Hypermart inside the Mantos shopping mall,

but I didn't get a chance to visit, so I can't say much about it! ~

Manado Trufarm Shopping List

What's in my bag, freshly arrived from across the sea!

Trufarm sells everything from fresh fruit to groceries and daily essentials.

Let me show you the absolute must-buys!

Indonesian Peanuts

They are easily as delicious as Korea's famous Udo Island peanuts!

Whether you're in Bali or Manado, make sure to toss some peanuts into your shopping cart.

Specifically, these peanuts sold in their shells (pictured below) are incredibly tasty.

And don't worry, you'll have no issues bringing them through customs!

Ellips Hair Treatment

This is an absolute must-buy!

The tap water here can be a bit harsh on your hair, making it super tangled and impossible to brush after washing.

But apply just one of these, and your hair becomes incredibly soft and smooth~

It's actually an Australian brand, but it's super cheap in Indonesia.

A 6-capsule pack of Ellips is about ~$1

and a whole jar is around ~$6.

It's way more expensive to buy online back home, so definitely stock up here.

They say each color has a different function,

but honestly, I couldn't tell much of a difference. Haha!

Aside from these, the local toothpastes are also super popular!

The Snack Aisle

By the way, snacks and supermarket items in Indonesia and Malaysia are pretty much identical!

Lexus & Roma Biscuits

Lexus biscuits come in so many flavors and are incredibly popular.

They aren't super cheap, but still very affordable!

A small pack is around ~$1, and a multi-pack is about ~$2.

Also, the Malkist crackers from the brand Roma are famous too!

There's a massive variety of biscuits here.

They might taste somewhat familiar, but they're still a must-try!

Black Tea, Milk Tea, and Coffee

Tea & coffee are absolute must-buys when you're in Southeast Asia!

Out of all of these, the one I always make sure to grab is

ABC Kopi Susu.

A chain of 10 individual packets costs only about ~$1,

It's a coffee brand you absolutely have to buy in Manado~

It's sweet and so delicious.

Indonesian & Manado Instant Noodles

Indonesia boasts some of the highest instant noodle production and consumption rates in the world,

and the variety of flavors is mind-blowing.

They have so many tasty options that you won't even miss your usual instant noodles from home.

If I had to pick just one, it would be POP MIE

Mi Goreng (the red package)!

Manado Shopping List: Wow Spageti

It's an instant spaghetti that cooks up super fast, just like 3-minute instant curry.

It comes in three flavors.

It costs less than ~$1.

But it actually comes with three packs inside!~

I picked up the Carbonara and Bolognese flavors.

I haven't tried them yet, though!

Manado Wow Spageti

Muesli & Granola

These are also very popular here.

The Yava Granola, which is a must-buy when visiting Bali,

is sold in Manado too.

It's around ~$1 per bag~

Since I bought plenty of it when I visited Bali back in February, I skipped it this time~

Besides that, there are so many varieties, and they are famous for their great quality and flavor.

Dried Fruit, Nuts, and Local Chips

Personally, this is my favorite section!

For now, I brought back these fried banana chips,

and all three are the absolute best snacks to go with drinks!

They cost around ~$1 to ~$2.

These bananas are coated in a spicy sambal sauce with little anchovy-like pieces—so delicious!

Chips labeled with "Manado"

They're made from sweet potato, cassava, banana, and more.

I bought a few bags, and while they're tasty, they can be a tiny bit greasy.

Yupi Fruit Gummies

You'll see these pop up a lot if you search for local snack recommendations.

They're individually wrapped fruit gummies.

They cost under ~$1,

but since there are only about 8 pieces inside, they might not feel incredibly cheap.

But trust me, they're delicious, so definitely grab some!

They taste similar to those famous mango jellies from Japan or the Philippines, but with a much softer texture.

Sambal Sauce & Pepper

Just like gochujang is a staple in Korea,

Indonesia's ultimate signature condiment is Sambal!

Whenever you go to a restaurant, it's always served right alongside your meal.

They have everything from spicy to sweet varieties.

I personally love this sauce so much that I bought a bunch of different sizes to give as gifts.

Small bottles start under ~$1, and the larger ones are only around ~$1.

I picked up a spicy one and a sweet chili one to bring home.

And the thing I want to recommend the absolute most...

...is none other than the black pepper!

It's usually right next to the Sambal sauce section.

This pepper is incredibly aromatic and delicious.

It's a little pricey at around ~$2,

but it is worth every single penny.

And of course, you can't leave out Bintang beer!~

And that's my "light" grocery haul!

Since it was my last day, I used up all my remaining cash,

but card payments are accepted at the True Farm supermarket as well.

As a quick tip for managing the Rupiah exchange rate,

just drop four zeros from the Rupiah to get a rough estimate in USD!

I packed all of these goodies tightly into my suitcase!

Polo Store at Manado Airport, Indonesia

Taking Eastar Jet at 2:00 AM...

The only shop open at this hour was the Polo store!

The prices here are absolutely insane.

Of course, you can buy Polo in downtown shopping malls as well.

Caps and t-shirts are mostly in the ~$6 range!

Everyone was stocking up like crazy.

But here's a quick heads-up...

Polo in the US is actually different from the Polo brand in Indonesia.

I only found out after buying, but I'm still wearing mine and loving it!

Manado Airport Supermarket & Duty Free

There's a supermarket inside the airport too.

You can grab your last-minute gifts and souvenirs right here!

Especially those coconut chips that everyone absolutely must buy when visiting Bali!

I found out they sell them at the Manado Airport duty-free shop.

They're just ~$2 a bag!

They also sell chocolate, dried fruits, nuts (including peanuts),

Manado specialties, snacks, and more,

though the prices are a bit higher than in the city.

Besides snacks, they also have Ellips hair vitamins and perfumes.

I didn't manage to snap a picture, but

they also sell Cap Tikus, a traditional distilled liquor

often called "Manado Soju," at the duty-free shop.

(I heard it’s cheaper at Hypermart or Fresh Mart in the city!)

I don't usually shop this much,

but as I kept adding all my favorite things,

my suitcase almost went overweight!

The checked baggage limit for Eastar Jet is 15kg,

but they were nice enough to let it slide when I was slightly over.

I brought everything safely back home and unpacked my haul.

This wasn't on my original shopping list,

but you know how almost every restaurant in Manado serves fried bananas?

They are one of my absolute favorite snacks (I used to eat them all the time in Chiang Mai),

so I was thrilled to spot them here!

I bought these banana chips at the Tomohon Traditional Market for about ~$0.30 a pack.

Another thing I highly recommend

are the vinegar and brown sugar

I bought from the Tuur Ma'asering traditional brewery.

Even though I didn't buy it myself, Cap Tikus—

a traditional Indonesian distilled liquor—

is the ultimate Manado souvenir.

While they do sell it at the duty-free shop, buying it straight from the brewery is the real deal!

If you want to grab some banana chips, vinegar, and brown sugar,

I highly recommend joining the Tomohon Live Tour in Manado rather than traveling solo.

Even if you've traveled all over Southeast Asia, you've probably never seen a place quite like this.

It's so unique, mysterious, and fascinating!

Since these spots are on the tour itinerary, just ask your guide to help you make a quick stop~

🔻 Check out the Manado Tomohon Tour 🔻

[Tomohon Live Tour] Traditional Market & Emerald Lake & Cultural Experience Course !m.site.naver.com

If you need more info while planning your trip...

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Search for Manado, Indonesia Travel Info

Manado literally had almost everything you can buy in Bali,

except for Ticket to the Moon!

I hope you use my shopping list to fill up your suitcase.

If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below.

Wondering if the internet connection is good in Manado?

Check out the post below!

Recommended eSIM & SIM Card for Manado, Indonesia | High-Speed Internet with USIMSA: 5-Day Installation & Review | Save yourself the trouble!m.blog.naver.com