Tjilik Riwut Airport

Tjilik Riwut Airport is a modest regional hub, and its dining scene reflects that intimate, unhurried character in the best possible way. The small food court on the departures level is your go-to spot before boarding, offering a rotating mix of local warung-style stalls alongside a couple of more familiar Indonesian chain counters. Arrive with a little extra time and you'll find the atmosphere genuinely welcoming — staff are chatty, portions are generous, and the prices stay refreshingly reasonable even by local standards.

The real reward for curious eaters is tracking down Kalimantan staples that rarely make it onto menus outside Central Borneo. Keep an eye out for juhu umbut rotan, a tangy rattan shoot dish that showcases the forest larder of the Dayak people, and wadi — fermented river fish with a pungent, addictive depth of flavour. Rice-based dishes dominate, and a steaming bowl of soto Banjar, the fragrant turmeric-laced chicken broth of the region, makes an ideal pre-flight meal that will keep you satisfied well into your journey.

For something lighter, the airport's small café area near the check-in hall does a decent kopi Banjar, a strong, slightly sweet local coffee that holds its own against anything you'd find in the city's independent cafés. Pair it with a slice of bingka — a soft, coconut-rich Banjarese cake — and you have a farewell bite that genuinely tastes like Kalimantan. Dining options close fairly early in the evening, so if you're on a late departure, stock up before you clear security rather than counting on finding a full meal airside.