Food in Indonesia

Indonesia, a vast archipelago with over 17,000 islands, beckons travelers with its vibrant culture, picturesque views, and diverse culinary landscape. Indonesian cuisine is a tapestry of flavors and techniques, reflecting the country's rich history and the myriad of cultures that have influenced it. As a tourist in Indonesia, you'll be treated to a gastronomic journey that includes spicy, sweet, savory, and umami flavors, all balanced to create dishes that are both satisfying and unique. Discover the must-try Indonesian dishes and the fascinating stories behind them as you embark on a flavorful adventure in this Southeast Asian paradise.

Indonesian Dishes

Nasi Goreng

Nasi Goreng, which literally means "fried rice" in Indonesian, is considered the national dish. It is a flavorful and spicy fried rice dish cooked with pieces of meat and vegetables, seasoned with sweet soy sauce, garlic, tamarind, and chili and typically topped with a fried egg. It can be found everywhere from street hawker carts to fine dining restaurants throughout the country.

Satay

Satay consists of skewered and grilled meats such as chicken, goat, mutton, beef, or pork, which are marinated with turmeric and other spices. It's served with a rich peanut sauce and often accompanied by lontong, a type of rice cake. This dish is ubiquitous at Indonesian celebrations and is a must-try for meat lovers.

Rendang

Originating from the Minangkabau ethnic group of Indonesia, Rendang is a rich and tender coconut beef stew which is explosively flavorful. It is made by slowly simmering beef in coconut milk and a paste of mixed ground spices, which includes ginger, galangal, turmeric leaves, lemongrass, garlic, and chilies. Rendang is often served at ceremonial occasions to honor guests.

Gado-Gado

Gado-Gado is a traditional Indonesian salad that consists of a mix of raw and cooked vegetables such as potatoes, long beans, bean sprouts, spinach, corn, and cabbage, along with tofu, tempeh, and hard-boiled eggs, all covered in a peanut sauce dressing. It's a healthy and hearty dish that's widely available across Indonesia.

Soto

Soto is a traditional Indonesian soup made with broth, meats, and vegetables. Each region has its own version, such as Soto Ayam (chicken soto) or Soto Betawi (beef soto from Jakarta). The soup is often enriched with noodles or rice and flavored with turmeric, which gives it a characteristic yellow color.

Bakso

Bakso is a savory meatball soup, its bouncy meatballs made from beef surimi and served in a beef broth, often with noodles, tofu, and a hard-boiled egg. Sold by street vendors and in restaurants, bakso has become an Indonesian favorite, with endless regional variations.

Nasi Uduk

Nasi Uduk is a fragrant rice dish cooked in coconut milk, often including clove, cassia bark, and lemongrass, to add aroma. It is typically accompanied by a variety of side dishes such as fried chicken, sambal (chili sauce), fried tempeh, shredded omelet, and fried onions.

Ayam Goreng

Ayam Goreng refers to deep-fried chicken, which is marinated in a mixture of spices and herbs before frying. It's often served with sambal, rice, and fresh vegetables. The marinade usually includes turmeric, which gives the chicken its golden-yellow hue.

Pecel Lele

Pecel Lele is a popular street food consisting of deep-fried catfish served with sambal and steamed rice. The catfish is marinated in a traditional mixture of spices before frying, resulting in a crispy exterior and tender meat inside.

Tumpeng

Tumpeng is a cone-shaped rice dish like a mountain with its side dishes around it, traditionally featured in the slametan ceremony. The rice is often cooked in coconut milk and colored with turmeric, then shaped into a cone and surrounded by assorted Indonesian dishes such as vegetables, fish, and meat.

Indonesian Desserts

Klepon

Klepon is a type of sweet rice cake, stuffed with palm sugar and coated in grated coconut. When bitten into, the palm sugar inside the glutinous rice ball melts, creating a delightful burst of sweetness.

Dadar Gulung

Dadar Gulung is a green-colored pancake roll filled with sweet coconut and palm sugar. The green hue comes from the juice of pandan leaves, which also gives it a unique flavor and aroma.

Kue Lapis

Kue Lapis is a colorful layered cake made from rice flour, sago, coconut milk, sugar, and flavored with pandan. It's steamed layer by layer and is a popular treat during festive occasions.

Es Campur

Es Campur is a refreshing dessert of mixed ice, perfect for the tropical climate of Indonesia. It contains a variety of ingredients such as young coconut, jackfruit, grass jelly, and pieces of other fruits and jellies, all served in sweetened coconut milk or syrup.

Bika Ambon

Bika Ambon is a type of sponge cake, known for its distinctive honeycomb structure inside and its moist texture. It's often flavored with pandan, banana, or vanilla and is a specialty of Medan in North Sumatra.

Martabak Manis

Also known as Terang Bulan, Martabak Manis is a thick, sweet pancake filled with ingredients such as chocolate, peanuts, and condensed milk. It's cooked in a large pan, folded in half, and typically served warm and gooey.