Tourist Attractions : 11 Best Local Dishes You Must Try In Jakarta, Indonesia
Indonesia is a large country and Jakarta, its capital, is Indonesia’s largest city and an excellent place to discover Indonesian cuisine. It offers cuisines including Indonesian-Malay and fusion dishes with Japanese or Chinese influences.
Because of its strategic trading geography, Indonesian cuisine also draws influences from China and India. These influences are even more evident near the coast cities. Many of the Jakarta’s foods were brought from Indonesian regions and adapted for the area.
The cuisine of Jakarta is heavily influenced by Sundanese, Malay and Arab cultures. Nasi Uduk (coconut rice), sweet and sour vegetable soup, gado-gado and ketoprak are some of the city’s most beloved dishes.
Jakarta, an amazing city full of life, friendly people and diversity, there is an almost infinite supply of delicious food. Jakarta will provide unforgettable meals and smiles.
Street hawker food is an integral part of Jakarta culture. You’ll find it everywhere. There’s a dish for everyone, whether you need a quick meal, snack, or a full-blown meal.
This guide will give you an authentic guide to Jakarta’s best food options. It can be found at small shops, restaurants and food courts as well as on the street.
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Bebek Goreng # 1
Bebek Goreng, a popular Indonesian dish, is one of the best. This fried duck dish is tender and juicy on the inside and crispy on its exterior.
It is served with fresh green vegetables and chili paste. It can be found at many of the Indonesian food stalls or warungs.
Babi guling is another popular meat dish. It’s a roast suckling pork that has been soaked in coconut water and then rubbed with chili and turmeric. This dish is often served with rice, sambal and some side dishes.
This dish can be enjoyed best at a local warung or food stall.
Ayam Penyet # 2
This Indonesian dish is made up of pieces of fried chicken, which are then seasoned with sambal. Penyet is the name of the dish. It refers to the method by which the chicken is pressurized with a pestle to make it more tender.
The dish is usually served with extra sambal and fresh vegetables, tempeh or tofu on the side. Ayam penyet, although it is from East Java is popular throughout the country.
Pecel # 3
The Indonesian pecel can be referred to either a fragrant peanut sauce, or a mixture of the sauce with various vegetables. It is often called a salad.
The sauce base is made with roasted peanuts, spices such as garlic, chili peppers, palm sugar and shrimp paste. It also includes Kencur, which is an aromatic ginger variety.
The sauce is often associated with Java and is known for its unique combination of sweet-spicy flavors. The dish is known as nasipecel when served with rice.
Ketoprak # 4
Ketoprak, a Jakarta favorite dish, can be found at many food carts. It is made up of vermicelli, steamed rice cubes (ketupat, lontong), tofu and bean sprouts. They are served with peanut sauce, and topped with fried shallots.
This delicious street snack is a great choice for quick, healthy meals. It is a popular staple in Indonesian cuisine, and many people enjoy it at least three times per week.
Gado-Gado # 5
Gado-gado, an Indonesian mix salad. It typically includes a variety vegetables, eggs and tempeh. The vegetables are usually boiled just a little, and then tossed in a nutty sauce. Finally, crispy prawn crackers are added.
The original sauce was made with cashews. However, due to the lower cost and availability of peanuts, it is more common today. This dish is an authentic representation of Indonesian street food and has been around since the 16th Century.
Sambal # 6
This classic Southeast Asian condiment is made with only spicy chili peppers, salt and garlic. Sometimes, it is flavored with sugar, ginger and lime juice. It is traditionally prepared in a mortar and has a thick consistency.
The original Indonesian recipe has been praised worldwide. Store bought versions are also available in many Asian food markets and international shops around the globe.
Sambal can be used in many Asian dishes. It is often used as a seasoning or condiment and served with meat, seafood, vegetables or rice.
Sop Kaki Kambing # 7
Sop Kaki Kambing is a great local dish that you should try if you’re looking for something to eat in Jakarta. This dish usually contains beef or chicken skewers and is served with plenty of rice.
This delicious Indonesian dish is best served with sambal Ayam, a chili sauce, or kecap Manis (sweet soy sauce). This dish has a mild saltiness and can be paired either with fresh lime juice or calamansi.
Sop Buntut Goreng is another popular Jakarta dish. It is made with slices fried or barbecued Oxtail. This dish uses beef as the ox, not a specific cow. It was probably added because butchers would rather sell it than eat it.
Sop & Sate Kambing Estu RAMe in Tebet Barat is the place to go if you’re looking for a sop kaki Kambing. This place is highly rated and provides excellent service.
Nasi Uduk # 8
One of many rice-based Indonesian dishes is nasi uduk. Nasi uduk rice is made with coconut milk, lemongrass, cloves and pandan leaves. This results in a wonderfully fragrant, fluffy rice. Each portion is then topped with fried shallots.
This dish is rarely eaten by itself, but it’s often served alongside a variety side dishes and condiments. A variety of rice noodles, rice noodles and eggs are often served with rice.
The most popular condiments with nasi Uduk are regular sambal and peanut-sambal.
Bubur ayam # 9
This thick rice porridge is topped with shredded chicken, and other savory condiments. Although this breakfast staple is likely a Chinese version of rice porridge, it uses regional ingredients and toppings to make an authentic Indonesian dish.
It starts by boiling the chicken, which is usually darker on the bones. The same broth is used to cook the rice until the rice becomes dense.
Tumpeng # 10
This complex Indonesian dish is often associated with Java Island. It consists of a pile of rice in a cone shape, surrounded by many other traditional Indonesian dishes.
Because of its complexity, tumpeng can only be prepared for special occasions. It also has strong symbolic meaning, just like other Indonesian dishes.
Rice’s shape is symbolic of higher power and the cone at the top of it represents the importance of Indonesian deities. To symbolize continuity, the dishes are served around the rice to represent abundance and prosperity.
Kerak Telor # 11
Kerak telor, an Indonesian omelet with eggs and sticky rice, is topped with fried coconut. The mixture is both crunchy and soft on the inside.
This is a popular choice for both locals and tourists. It is made without oil so it’s very light and crunchy.
The omelet is often cooked over charcoal to add flavor. It is usually topped with toasted coconut shredded and sprinkled with dried shrimp powder.
You can find this dish at many restaurants in Jakarta. It is popular for lunch and dinner. Enjoy the omelet with hot sweet drinks such as bandrek or bajigur, which are coconut milk-based hot drinks made with coconut sugar (gula Jawa).
FAQs About Food In Jakarta
What makes Indonesian food special?
Indonesian cuisine often displays complex flavours, which are often obtained from certain ingredients and bumbu spice mixture. Indonesian cuisine is rich in flavours. It’s most commonly described as spicy, savory, and hot, as well as having a combination of basic tastes like sweet, salty and bitter.
