As its name suggests, bakwan Malang is an Indonesian dish that originated in the city of Malang, and it is closely associated with bakso - another well-known Indonesian meatball soup. Both bakso and bakwan Malang derive from the Indonesian-Chinese culinary tradition, and since Indonesia is predominantly a Muslim country, the meatballs are usually made with beef or chicken.

The two dishes share some similarities, but bakwan Malang is characterized by the addition of fried wontons (bakwan). Although it consists of common and inexpensive ingredients, the dish combines typical Indonesian flavors that are enjoyed both by locals and tourists.