Indonesian food can be summed up in two words: delicious and inexpensive. Whether street food or actual restaurant, whether on Sumatra, Java, or somewhere further east, it is pretty hard to go wrong in this culinary country.
I’ve eaten some amazing meals that cost only 15,000 rupiah ($1.00 USD) yet have left me so stuffed I had to get a take-away box for the unfinished portions. The cheapest meal so far cost a mere 7,000 rupiah ($0.50 USD) — a vegetable dish covered in peanut sauce and chili peppers called gado-gago (also known as lotek).
Be honest, you want to pin this, yes? Okay, here ya go 🙂
In Jakarta nine of us had an amazing dinner for a grand total of less than $20 USD.
Yes, here in Indonesia street food is very popular and the street restaurants are known as warung. Some of the larger warung will actually have a little dining area setup. Those ones are the best because you know they always have great food if there are tables out for people to eat at, rather than the vendors with nothing more than a cart on wheels who serve their dishes in a plastic to-go bag. Of course those guys are also amazing, so don’t rule them out too quickly.
Indonesian street food vendors in Yogyakarta
Indonesian food cheat-sheet
Travel Tip: Download and save this cheat sheet to your phone or tablet 😉
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Of course there is more to Indonesian food then just the street vendors and small shanty restaurants. I’ve also tried the Indonesian food at fancy restaurants with much less success. Don’t get me wrong, the food was still good. However…
Considering that dinner for two at an average 3-star restaurant costs $30 USD yet street food that tastes exactly the same cost less than $3 USD (a whopping 90% discount) it is just was not worth it — unless you are on a romantic getaway or are an avid luxury traveler. (Especially for first time backpackers and other budget travelers.)
Notice the prices on the menu below. $1 USD = roughly 14,000 rupiah
In closing, the food mentioned and photographed here in no way represents the entire Indonesian cuisine. There is much more to be found, especially as you travel the many different regions of this incredibly diverse country. However these are definitely the basics and a great place to start tickling your taste buds.
The whole chicken looks good. I found you can’t go wrong with the rotisserie chicken sold in most Asian countries.
Hi Derek,
Yummy food!
Have you ever try tongseng? That is one of my favorite.
Hi Firsta, thanks for the comment. Nope, actually have not yet tried tongseng — I have not yet been to Surakarta. Is it only available there?
Just looked up a description and it sounds really good! Might have to add a trip Surakarta to my itinerary now… 😉
Hi Derek,
You can find Tongseng easily anywhere I guess, even it is originally from Surakarta / Solo. You can find it in Jakarta for sure. 🙂
The food look delicious, and can’t beat the price! I’ve tried the Nasi Goreng and really liked it.
Correct on both counts Salika 🙂 Thanks for the comment!
Good one! I think that does justice to what most people are going to encounter when they swing through.
Thanks, glad I covered it well. Not perfectly, but decently 😉
Nice. I made a little cheat sheet for Bali. I found that most of the dishes were called the same. They all understand Bahasa Indo. Here’s my cheat sheet: http://wp.me/p3n2VF-2g
I was just in Bali myself, and my favorite for sure was the Ayam Bakar Bumbu Rujak !! Good write-up..now I’m hungry…
I was just in Bali too! Had nothing but horrible experiences there so I left for Lombok, had a much better time there. Back in Jogja now…absolutely love this city! Best one in Java 😉
But yes, the Ayam Bakar Bumbu Rujak is one of my absolute favorite dishes in all of Indonesia….TASTY! 🙂
Um, crazy to call Sate “Thai-style Satay” when Sate originated in Java!
Oops! Sorry for the mistake Dave, thanks very much for pointing it out…I have to update this post and cheat-sheet 🙂
Nice overview on popular Indonesian food dishes. If I may suggest, the term “Ayam Kampung” is usually equal with “free range chicken,” or “naturally raised chicken.”
Hey Bayu, thanks for the comment and the further information on exactly what ayam kampung stands for…much appreciated! That is one of my favorite dishes here. Someone there is a village without any chickens anymore because I have been gobbling them up like a madman….they’re just so good! 🙂
Hmm you have successfully made me want to go back home and eat my favourite Indonesian food!
Just to point out, I’m Indonesian and I say “bakso” with the ‘k’ (so not silent) although I don’t know if it’s just me 🙂 – I like it that way too, it makes much more a point “what do you wanna eat?” “baKso!” 😀
Hey Aggy, thanks for the comment. I have heard a few people pronounce it with the ‘k’ but most leave it silent. Actually at the mall last night I noticed the restaurant “BASOOO” and their special is bakso. Unfortunately I’ve found that — at least in my opinion — the bakso from street vendors is far better than at any of the restaurants I have tried.
Let me know if you return to Indonesia anytime soon. With as much as I love this country, I think I’m going to be here for a while!
I loved the food in Indonesia. Even better that I never spent more than $5 on a meal.
Agreed. Tasty and inexpensive….such an unbeatable combination! 😉
Have you try Sumatra’s food called “rendang” from Padang?
I loved all the food I tried when I was in Bali and the price is even better. To be honest I preferred eating at the local warung than anywhere else!
I completely agree with you! There is nothing better than the local warungs…..mmmmm getting hungry just thinking about them.
Let me know the next time you come back to Indonesia. I’ve been learning the language and recently have started blogging in Bahasa Indonesia. The country has been treating me well and although I’m always traveling, I always go back to Indonesia in between trips. Let’s cross paths sometime / somewhere 🙂
Blogging in Bahasa …. wow, that’s cool! I’ll let you know when I’m visiting Bali again 🙂
We love Indonesian food and you can eat such a tasty, filling meal at a warung so cheap! Here’s a list of our favourite local warungs in Seminyak: http://myseminyakvillas.com/best-local-seminyak-cafes-warungs/
Oh yeah, I love eating at warungs…not only is it inexpensive but also tastier and more authentic. Actually I was just in Seminyak last week with a couple of my Indonesian friends. Shame I didn’t see this comment earlier. Speaking of, any chance you work with travel bloggers that specialize is Indonesia? 🙂
Hey Derek, I am really curious. Since you have travelled extensively in Indonesia, have you tried these food: martabak manis, martabak telur, lumpia, kerak telur, perkedel, and pastel? What is your favorite?
Ohhhhh martabak manis….maknyuus! One of my favorites, especially when it is fresh and warm. Think I had martabak telur once at a wedding but am not 100% certain. Lumpia, that similar to the lumpia in the Philippes or is it something different? Never heard of perkedel or pastel though. So out of those my favorite is definitely martabak manis 😀
I am really curious, please cek this martabak paling enak di jakaRTA
Mmmmmmm gw suka martabak cokelat…maknyuus! Tapi belum ke martabak onis.
wow it’s a “nasi goreng”, i have ever eat that, and nice………..
Glad that you enjoy our food. Although, as an Indonesian (from southern Borneo_, I think we only go for street food when we’re too lazy to cook or when we’re running low on cash. Street food are usually simple fares and can be boring after a while. Some food are just too complex and you need to go to a proper warung or rumah makan to have them. But I think the best Indonesian food can only be found at homes 🙂
Agreed, the best food is always home-cooked. I had some amazing meals at locals homes in Sumatra — gw suka sambal pedas disana! However in the year I’ve spent exploring Indonesia so far, one of my all-time favorite dishes (not just in Indonesia but worldwide) is soto. I love it! Simple, filling, available everywhere AND different everywhere….maknyuus! Simply amazing.
Haven’t made it out to Kalimantan yet…but hope to next year! 🙂
im glad you like indonesian food, you should try serabi in my city, solo city
Awwwwww I used to call Solo home but I’ve never had serabi 🙁 looks like I need to return soon!
Great experience
saya sangat suka dengan baksonya…. soal gue hobi makan bakso…
maknyuus! 😂