For the love of cats, please do not visit Indonesia, especially Bali, and only eat avocado toast; you’ll be missing out on really delicious Indonesian cuisine and a chance to understand the country’s culture through food.
Traditional Indonesian dishes are full of flavour, bold, and very aromatic, and yes, sometimes spicy (spicy meaning hot, not as in using spices like ginger). And the best part is there’s plenty of vegetarian dishes too, like gado-gado and tempe goreng, not to mention lots of sweet treats like dadar gulung.
Here’s what to eat in Indonesia; it’s especially useful if you’re pescatarian, vegetarian, or eat chicken but avoid all other meats (especially beef, pork, and lamb) like me.
PS: for the best local recommendations and hidden gem eateries, I truly recommend doing a food tour with a local guide.
What are the top savoury traditional Indonesian dishes?
Traditional Indonesian dishes (with or without meat)
1. Mee goreng
Mee goreng means fried noodles, and Indonesia’s fried noodles are a delicious treat consisting of stir-fried noodles, garlic, veggies, and prawns or meat, or both. It’s origin is said to be the Chinese chow mein.
Where to find mee goreng?
You can find mee goreng at casual restaurants (warungs), street food stalls, and even high-end restaurants.
2. Nasi goreng
Nasi goreng means fried rice, and it’s one of Indonesia’s official dishes. Nasi goreng is made with pre-cooked rice (usually made the day before, or a few hours before), which is stir-fried with garlic, soy sauce, shallots, and ground shrimp paste. It’s usually served with meat or prawns, but there are vegetarian versions too.
Where to find nasi goreng?
Nasi goreng is one of the most popular and traditional Indonesian dishes, meaning it’s very popular among locals and tourists alike. You can find it everywhere, from the food stall to the warungs (small, modest local restaurants) to fine dining restaurants.
3. Rendang
Rendang is usually made with beef or chicken, though you can find vegetarian versions made with jackfruit, mushrooms, or tofu. The protein (usually meat) is slow-cooked for hours in coconut milk and spices and herbs, until the liquid evaporates and the dish looks dry rather than brothy or saucy.
Where to find rendang?
You can find rendang in local food stalls like Rumah Makan Padang or Nasi Padang, but since it’s a highly popularised food that takes hours to prepare, you can also find it for a hiked-up price at higher-end restaurants.
4. Nasi Uduk
Nasi Uduk is a popular dish from Jakarta, and is made with rice cooked in coconut milk with spices like lemongrass, pandan, and bay leaves.
Where to find nasi uduk?
You can find nasi uduk at street food stalls, night markets, and at sit-down restaurants.
Indonesian dishes for pescatarians
1. Ikan bakar
Ikan bakar means grilled fish, and it’s usually cooked over charcoal, leaving a smoky flavour and a crispy texture. It’s served with sambal and veggies/salad.
Where to find ikan bakar?
You can find ikan bakar at lots of sit-in restaurants across Indonesia.
2. Ikan woku
Ikan woku is from Sulawesi, and is an aromatic fish dish usually served in a delicious broth, with fresh leaves, or wrapped in leaves and roasted.
Where to find ikan woku?
You can find ikan woku at Manadonese restaurants (called Rumah Makan Manado), at local restaurants (warungs), and at fine-dining restaurants.
3. Pepes ikan
Pepes ikan translates to “spiced fish in banana leaves”, and it’s exactly that: fish marinated in a spice paste mixture and wrapped in banana leaves before cooking. It’s usually grilled over charcoal, or sometimes steamed, and the end product is an umami, fragrant, warm, but tender dish.
Where to find pepes ikan?
You can find pepes ikan at traditional local restaurants (warungs) and markets.
4. Cakalang fufu
Cakalang fufu is a delicacy originating from Sulawesi, particularly the Minahasa people from the city of Manado, and consists of skipjack tuna on a bamboo stick, which is then cured and smoked.
Where to find cakalang fufu?
You can find cakalang fufu in traditional markets, but also at restaurants and even online stores like Tokopedia, where they’re sold vacuum-packed.
5. Pecel lele
Pecel lele originates from Jakarta and is deep-fried catfish served with sambal, rice, vegetables, and tempe/tofu. It has a crispy exterior but a soft interior.
Where to find pecel lele?
You can find pecel lele at markets and local restaurants (warungs).
6. Ikan goreng
Ikan goreng literally means fried fish, and it’s a crispy fish that has been marinated in a spice blend (bumbu) and deep-fried, then served with soy sauce or sambal, accompanied by rice and vegetables.
Where to find ikan goreng?
Ikan goreng is very popular all over Indonesia, and you can find it everywhere, from the street food stalls to restaurants to the local chain Ikan Goreng Cianjur.
Traditional Indonesian dishes for chicken-eaters
1. Satay
Some will argue that satay is a Malaysian meal rather than Indonesian. The truth is, they both claim satay as one of their traditional dishes. Satay is grilled pieces of chicken on a stick, served with crunchy peanut sauce. It makes for a great snack or starter.
Where to find satay?
Satay is a favourite street food snack, so you can usually find it at casual food stalls, night markets, food courts, and some restaurants.
2. Ayam goreng
Ayam Goreng means fried chicken, and while this is not a unique dish to Indonesia, the country’s ayam goreng is the crunchiest, juiciest fried chicken I’ve ever tasted (as good as what I’ve had in South Korea).
Where to find ayam goreng?
You can find ayam goreng in various places in Indonesia, from food stalls to night markets to local restaurants (warungs) to specialist chains like Ayam Goreng Suharti, Ayam Goreng Berkah Rachmat, or Ayam Goreng Mbok Berek.
What to eat in Indonesia for vegetarians
1. Tempe goreng
Tempe is a fried fermented soybean cake, and tempe goreng is fried tempe. This is a popular Indonesian snack and accompaniment, coated in a spice paste consisting of garlic, coriander powder, and turmeric.
Where to find tempe goreng?
You’ll find tempe goreng everywhere in Indonesia, such as at markets, at street food stalls, at local restaurants, and high-end restaurants.
2. Gado-gado
Gado-gado is a vegetarian Indonesian dish consisting of a variety of vegetables like cucumber, tofu, tempe, green beans, potatoes, and sometimes boiled eggs.
Where to find gado-gado?
Gado-gado is one of Indonesia’s national dishes, meaning you can find it everywhere in the country, from street carts to markets to hotel restaurants.
3. Tumis Kangkung
Turmis kangkung’s main ingredient is water spinach, and it’s stir-fried with shallots, garlic, chili, and oyster sauce or shrimp paste.
Where to find tumis kangkung?
Usually served as a side to a main dish, you’ll find tumis kangkung in many local food spots like markets, food stalls, local restaurants, etc.
4. Terong Balado
Terong balado originates from Padang in Sumatra, and is a dish made of fried eggplant in spicy sambal. It has a fiery taste with a soft and silky texture, and is usually served over steamed rice.
Where to find terong balado?
You can easily find terong balado at local restaurants, food courts at the mall, and markets.
5. Bakwan Sayur
Bakwan sayur is a crispy vegetable snack with a delicious crunch, usually made from shredded cabbage, carrots, and bean sprouts.
Where to find bakwan sayur?
Bakan sayur is a popular snack in Indonesia, so you’ll find it easily, from street food carts to restaurants.
6. Tempe orek
Tempe orek is a dish made of tempe (fermented soybean cake) and stir-fried with soy sauce, garlic, shallot, chili, and served over rice. It looks like kung pao chicken.
Where to find tempe orek?
Tempe orek is usually found at local eateries, markets, and roadside food stalls.
7. Bakwan Jagung
Bakwan jagung are corn fritters, and they make a perfect snack or side dish. Made with corn kernels, they’re crispy, and slightly sweet and savoury at the same time.
Where to find bakwan jagung?
Bakwan jagung can be purchased at roadside food carts, local restaurants, and markets.
Traditional Indonesian dishes for sweet-tooths
1. Dadar gulung
Dadar gulung is a sweet crepe made with pandan leaves, giving it its bright green colour. It’s usually stuffed with grated coconut and brown sugar, and pairs really well with coffee or tea, making it an ideal breakfast or tea-time snack.
Where to find dadar gulung?
Dadar gulung can be found at local cafes, markets, casual eateries, and at street-food carts.
2. Pisang goreng
Pisang goreng means fried banana, and they are ripe bananas coated in batter and deep-fried, resulting in a crispy exterior and soft interior.
Where to find pisang goreng?
You can find pisang goreng at roadside mobile carts, market stalls, and restaurants. I had a delicious pisang goreng at my gorgeous hotel in Yogyakarta, and I don’t even like bananas.
3. Martabak manis / apam balik
Also known as apam balik, martabak manis is a thick pancake filled with crushed peanuts and sometimes chocolate sprinkles.
Where to find martabak manis/apam balik?
Martabak manis is usually found at markets, especially night markets.
4. Kue lapis
Kue lapis is a steamed, multi-layer dessert made of tapioca, rice flour, and coconut milk, resulting in a soft, spongy cake with a grassy-vanilla flavour.
Where to find kue lapis?
You’ll find kue lapis at markets and bakeries. Note that these don’t keep fresh very long, and it’s best to keep in the fridge and consume within a few days.
5. Lapis legit
Lapis legit is one of Indonesia’s most popular treats, made of ultra-thin layers of cake all baked separately before being stacked on top of one another, which makes it a labour-intensive cake and a bit more expensive than regular desserts. Lapis Legit literally means rich/intense layer, with “lapis” meaning layers, and “legit” meaning sweet or very flavourful. It’s a rich, heavy cake made with eggs, butter, sugar, and spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.
Where to find lapis legit?
You can find lapis legit at markets, various bakeries, specialty boutiques, and even souvenir shops.
6. Nagasari
A steamed cake originating from Java, nagasari is made of rice flour, coconut milk, sugar, and has a sliced banana inside. The result ends up looking like a soft-boiled egg, but it’s sweet rather than savoury.
Where to find nagasari?
You can find nagasari at street food stalls, markets, and cake shops.
7. Dodol
Dodol is a sticky-sweet treat made of rice flour, coconut milk, and sugar. The results look like caramel toffee or fudge.
Where to find dodol?
You can find dodol everywhere, from markets to supermarkets to souvenir shops.
FAQs: Top traditional Indonesian dishes
What is Indonesia’s national dish?
Even though there are 5 dishes considered as Indonesia’s national dish, the most recognised one is Nasi Goreng, which translates to fried rice. Nasi goreng can be vegetarian, or comes with chicken, shrimp, or other meat, and is very delicious and flavourful.
What’s the best dessert to eat in Indonesia?
There are many desserts to satisfy a sweet tooth in Indonesia, and the “best” one depends on what you’re craving. For a crunchy, fried option, go for pisang goreng (fried banana). Dadar gulung is a unique green crepe made with pandan cake and stuffed with coconut and sugar, perfect for breakfast or a snack on the go. For a decadent treat, try martabak manis (also known as apam balik), a thick pancake with chocolate sprinkles in the middle. If you want a rich cake, go for lapis legit (layer cake), though this is a bit more expensive than other treats.
What’s the spiciest dish in Indonesia?
Indonesian dishes in general tend to be spicy, but the spiciest dish is oseng-oseng mercon from Yogyakarta, a stir-fry beef dish covered with chili paste.
Is it easy to find vegetarian dishes in Indonesia?
It’s quite easy to find vegetarian dishes in Indonesia, as there are dishes that are originally meat-free, such as tempe goreng (fried soy-bean “cake”) and the famous gado-gado (veggies and soybeans served with peanut sauce).
