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My Recommendation Traditional Indonesian Food That You Must Try
15
items Here’s my list of traditional Indonesian foods I genuinely love — from street food classics to regional specialties. If you’re curious about Indonesian cuisine, start here 🤤
Sections
5
Snacks & Street Food
Noodles & Rice
Skewers & Grilled
Soups
Regional Specialties
Snacks & Street Food
This one’s a must if you haven’t tried it. Fish cake eaten with cuko (the sweet-spicy vinegar sauce) and fresh cucumber on top. Best eaten hot, trust me.
Pempek Palembang
A great snack option — fish dumplings with egg and tofu, served with peanut sauce. Simple but always hits.
Somay Bandung
A Betawi street food classic — ketupat, vermicelli, and tofu drenched in peanut sauce, topped with crackers. I always look out for the carts selling this around Jakarta.
Ketoprak
My comfort food whenever I’m feeling under the weather. Chicken porridge loaded with cakwe, soybeans, spring onions, fried onions, and crackers — the broth ties everything together.
Bubur Ayam
Noodles & Rice
Thick yellow noodles in a spicy curry-like broth, loaded with your choice of beef, goat, lamb, or seafood. Not for the spice-averse, but so satisfying if you can handle the heat.
Mie Aceh
The definition of cheap and delicious. Fried rice with sweet soy sauce, onions, and chilies — you’ll find it on literally every street corner in Indonesia for less than a dollar 😆
Nasi Goreng
Skewers & Grilled
Grilled beef ribs with this savory-sweet spice coating, served with konro sauce on the side. If you love grilled meat, this one’s for you.
Konro Bakar
Honestly one of my ultimate comfort foods. Chicken skewers grilled and dipped in peanut sauce with a little sweetness from soy sauce — I always order it with lontong or rice, never just on its own.
Sate Ayam
Soups
My go-to when I want something rich and savory. The black broth comes from kluwek and it’s so deep in flavor — I always pair it with warm rice and a salted egg, non-negotiable.
Rawon
Beef, potato chunks, and emping in a rich coconut milk broth. Spicy and savory in the best way — perfect for lunch, especially if you’re in Jakarta.
Soto Betawi
A sour, spicy fish soup from the Bugis-Makassar region with this distinct yellow broth. Usually made with milkfish, tuna, or snapper — refreshing and packed with flavor.
Pallumara
Regional Specialties
This might be my favorite on the whole list. Slow-cooked for hours in Indonesian spices until the meat is fall-apart tender. It’s a little spicy but so worth it — West Sumatra did not miss with this one
Beef Rendang
A Yogyakarta specialty I always associate with home. Young jackfruit slow-cooked in coconut milk and brown sugar until it’s sweet and rich — usually served with rice and krecek.
Gudeg Jogja
A South Sulawesi specialty from Pangkep that I don’t see talked about enough. Beef soup with vermicelli, potato croquettes, and fried lung, usually paired with rice or ketupat and grilled milkfish. Worth seeking out if you’re ever there.
Sop Saudara
This is what I crave whenever I miss my village - South Sulawesi food. Minced meat in a thick peanut-spice sauce — usually shows up at special occasions like Eid or weddings, but honestly I’d eat it any day.
Coto Makassar