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15 Best Authentic Indonesian Restaurants in the US That Taste Just Like Home
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items As a native Indonesian food writer and culinary scout who has crisscrossed the United States hunting for authentic home-cooked flavors, I curated these 15 regional warungs and restaurants serving unapologetic rendang, sate, and bakso with verified map pins!.
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East Coast & Midwest Holy Grails: NYC, Philly, DC & Chicago
West Coast & Pacific Culinary Landmarks: Los Angeles, SF Bay & Seattle
East Coast & Midwest Holy Grails: NYC, Philly, DC & Chicago
From Cédric Vongerichten's chic Nolita bistro and Elmhurst's iconic satay hubs to South Philly's beloved street-food warungs and Chicago's slow-cooked rendang institutions, these 8 East Coast and Midwest landmarks deliver authentic, unapologetic Indo...
A stunning upscale take on Indonesian flavors. The corn fritters and sambal at Wayan are absolutely divine.
Wayan - Modern French-Indonesian Bistro by Cédric Vongerichten (Nolita, NYC)
The absolute best mie ayam bakso in Queens. It really feels like a bustling Jakarta street food stall.
Awang Kitchen - Authentic Jakarta Street Food & Mie Bakso (Elmhurst, Queens)
You point at the glass case to order, just like a real warteg! The jackfruit curry is incredibly flavorful.
Hardena / Warung Surabaya - James Beard-Nominated Warteg (South Philadelphia)
The lontong sayur here tastes exactly like the streets of Medan. Unbelievably rich coconut broth.
Sky Cafe - Sumatran & Medan Homestyle Specialty Kitchen (South Philadelphia)
A tiny, unassuming spot with massive flavor. Their sate ayam is charred perfectly with incredible peanut sauce.
Java Indonesian Cafe - Cozy Homestyle Javanese Warung (Sunset Park, Brooklyn)
A classic warung experience. The nasi padang spread is generous, spicy, and perfectly hits the spot.
Asian Taste 86 - Traditional Indonesian Warung & Padang Classics (Elmhurst, Queens)
The rendang here is intensely flavorful and aromatic. It is a fantastic representation of West Sumatran cooking.
Rendang & Co. Indonesian Bistro - Authentic West Sumatran Delicacies (Vienna, VA)
Their Manado-style spicy tuna is incredible. If you love heat and vibrant spices, this Chicago gem is a must.
Minahasa - Vibrant North Sulawesi & Manado Spiced Kitchen (Chicago, IL)
West Coast & Pacific Culinary Landmarks: Los Angeles, SF Bay & Seattle
The culinary crown jewels of the Pacific Rim. From Los Angeles' spicy Padang banquets and San Francisco's modern California-Indonesian bistros to Seattle's legendary turmeric fried chicken and laksa bowls, these 7 West Coast spots are pilgrimage-wort...
Our absolute favorite spot in LA. Their nasi bungkus is legendary and the attached market is super handy.
Simpang Asia - Iconic Indonesian Market & Street Cafe (Palms, Los Angeles)
Specializes in Hakka-Indonesian fusion. The Kalimantan noodles are chewy, savory, and incredibly addictive.
Borneo Kalimantan Cuisine - Hakka-Indonesian Noodles & Laksa (Alhambra, CA)
If you are craving East Javanese food, the black rawon soup here is the most authentic I have found in the US.
Wong Java House - Legendary East Javanese Rawon & Penyet (Alhambra, CA)
Texas BBQ meets Padang spices! Their smoked brisket rendang is a mind-blowing culinary crossover.
Fikscue Craft BBQ & Indonesian - Michelin-Acclaimed Padang Smoked Brisket (Alameda / SF Bay Area)
The best street-style bakso bowl in the Bay Area. The fried wontons and bouncy meatballs are perfection.
D'Grobak - Street-Cart Bakso Malang & Javanese Noodles (Oakland / SF Bay Area)
The 36-hour bone broth is life-changing. They serve a giant beef rib in the soup that is just spectacular.
Bone Kettle - Southeast Asian 36-Hour Bone Broth & Rendang (Pasadena, CA)
A super cozy spot in Seattle. Their beef rendang is slow-cooked to perfection and falls right apart.
Indo Cafe - Cozy Pacific Northwest Indonesian Haven (Northgate, Seattle, WA)