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Indonesian Foods I’d Tell You to Try 🇮🇩
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items Planning a trip to Indonesia and wondering what to eat? 🇮🇩 I put together 24 Indonesian foods I’d personally recommend trying, from savory classics like rendang, nasi goreng, and sate to sweet treats like martabak manis, klepon, and es cendol. Save...
Sections
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Savory Indonesian Favorites
Indonesian Sweet Treats
Savory Indonesian Favorites
Start with these if you want to experience the rich, savory, spicy, and comforting flavors that make Indonesian food so memorable🤤
If you’re trying Indonesian food for the first time, rendang is one I’d put near the top of the list. The beef is slow-cooked with coconut milk and aromatic spices until incredibly tender and packed with deep, rich flavor
The BEST Beef Rendang Recipe | Indonesian slow cooked beef curry ...
Nasi goreng is such an easy introduction to Indonesian food. It’s savory, slightly smoky, and comforting, usually served with toppings like chicken, shrimp, vegetables, and a fried egg
Nasi Goreng (Indonesian Fried Rice)
Grilled meat skewers with a smoky char and flavorful sauce😘 sate is one of those dishes I’d happily order for the whole table. The combination of grilled meat, sweet-savory sauce, and steamed rice is hard to resist
Satay Chicken with Peanut Sauce (Indonesian/Bali)
Gudeg is a must-try if you’re visiting Yogyakarta. Young jackfruit is slowly cooked until tender and sweet, then served with rice and usually paired with chicken, egg, and spicy krecek for a delicious mix of sweet, savory, and spicy flavors
Gudeg Jogja Bu Ani
Pempek is one I’d recommend if you want to try something with a completely different texture. These chewy fish cakes are served with cuko, a sweet, sour, and slightly spicy sauce that gives the dish its signature flavor
Authentic Pempek recipe Palembang, Indonesia
Crispy fried fish dumplings, creamy peanut sauce, sweet soy sauce, and a squeeze of lime—batagor is a fun Indonesian street-food favorite. It’s crunchy, savory, and especially satisfying when served warm
Indonesian traditional food: BATAGOR – BAKSO TAHU GORENG
Soto ayam is the kind of comforting meal I’d want on a rainy day. The warm chicken broth is fragrant with spices and usually comes with shredded chicken, noodles or rice, herbs, and a squeeze of lime
soto ayam - indonesian chicken noodle soup
If you want something lighter but still full of flavor, try gado-gado. It’s a mix of vegetables, tofu, tempeh, and other toppings covered in a rich peanut sauce simple, fresh, and surprisingly filling
Gado Gado (Indonesian salad with peanut sauce)
Ayam betutu is one I’d look for when visiting Bali. The chicken is cooked with a fragrant blend of spices and herbs, giving it a rich, aromatic flavor that’s very different from typical grilled chicken
Resep ayam betutu asli Bali, pedas & penuh rempah
Rawon is instantly recognizable by its dark, rich broth made with keluak. It has a deep savory flavor that might sound unusual at first, but it’s exactly what makes this East Javanese dish so memorable
Authentic Rawon recipe
Nasi Padang is more of an experience than just one dish. You get steamed rice surrounded by different flavorful dishes, from curries and vegetables to rendang and spicy sambal, so it’s perfect when you want to try several things at once
Iconic Dishes: Your Ultimate Guide to Nasi Padang
Indonesian fried chicken is worth trying even if you’ve had fried chicken before. It’s usually marinated with aromatic spices before frying, so the flavor isn’t just on the crispy outside it goes right into the chicken
Ayam Goreng: Classic Indonesian Fried Chicken
Indonesian Sweet Treats
Save room for these sweet and refreshing favorites. Some are perfect with coffee or tea, while others are made for cooling down on a hot Indonesian afternoon
Martabak manis is basically a thick, fluffy sweet pancake loaded with toppings. Chocolate, cheese, peanuts, and condensed milk are classic combinations, and sharing one with friends is half the fun
Martabak Manis (Indonesian Sweet Pancakes)
Simple but addictive, Indonesian fried bananas are crispy and caramelized on the outside while staying soft and naturally sweet inside. They’re especially good when served warm with a cup of tea or coffee
Pisang Goreng - Indonesian Fried Banana
Cendol is one of the desserts I’d recommend on a hot day. Chewy green rice-flour jelly, coconut milk, palm sugar, and shaved ice come together for a sweet, creamy, and incredibly refreshing treat
Es Cendol | Daily Cooking Quest
These little green rice cakes are filled with melted palm sugar and coated in grated coconut. The best part is biting into one and getting that warm, sweet burst of palm sugar inside
Klepon (Pandan Glutinous Rice Balls with Palm Sugar Filling)
Serabi is a soft Indonesian rice-flour pancake with a fragrant coconut flavor and a slightly chewy texture. It’s simple, comforting, and a lovely traditional snack to enjoy with a cup of tea
Serabi
Es campur is a colorful bowl of shaved ice mixed with different fruits, jellies, coconut, syrup, and sweet toppings. Every place has its own combination, which makes trying different versions part of the fun
Es Campur - Mixed Shaved Ice Dessert
This soft layered cake is rich, buttery, and lightly sweet, making it lovely with coffee or tea. It’s also one of those Indonesian treats I’d happily bring home as a little souvenir
LAPIS SURABAYA
Bubur sumsum is a soft rice-flour pudding served with fragrant coconut milk and sweet palm sugar syrup. It’s simple, silky, and comforting without being overly sweet
Bubur Sumsum (Sweet Indonesian Coconut Porridge)
These round sesame-coated rice cakes have a chewy outside and a sweet mung bean filling inside. They’re small, easy to snack on, and have a lovely combination of nutty sesame and sweet filling
Indonesia Street Food — Onde-Onde | by Ingrid
Putu is one of those Indonesian snacks that feels nostalgic and unique. The little steamed rice-flour cakes are filled with palm sugar and finished with grated coconut, giving you soft, sweet, and slightly savory bites
Kue Putu Bambu Sudi Mampir (Oldest Traditional Dessert)
Kolak is a comforting Indonesian dessert made with ingredients like banana or sweet potato simmered in coconut milk and palm sugar. It’s especially cozy when served warm, but it’s also delicious chilled
Kolak Pisang: Banana and Coconut Milk Dessert Soup (Vegan)
Es teler is a refreshing mix of avocado, young coconut, jackfruit, ice, and sweet creamy toppings. It’s rich but refreshing at the same time, and it’s exactly the kind of dessert I’d want after a spicy Indonesian meal
Es Teler 77