Food In Indonesia – Top Dishes and Drinks to Try with Pictures

Indonesian food often doesn’t get the credit that it deserves, as it has failed to capture the imagination of the international food scene in the way that other Southeast Asian foods like Thai or Vietnamese have. This is a shame as Indonesian food is delicious and also incredibly diverse depending on where you are in the country.

Spicy Delights

If you like spicy flavours then you will be in for a treat, as Indonesian food is often heavy on the chillies, but you can also enjoy sweeter dishes such as curries flavoured with coconut milk. Vegetarians can also enjoy an array of delicious vegetable dishes such as salads and vegetable based curries.

5 Best Local Dishes to Try in Indonesia

1. Gado Gado

One of the most famous dishes in Indonesia is gado gado which is a toothsome salad made of steamed vegetables like potatoes, carrots, spinach and lettuce, topped with crunchy bean sprouts and chunks of tofu. The whole salad is then drizzled with a delicious peanut sauce which is usually mixed with chilli for a bit of a kick. Often the salad is also served with a handful of prawn crackers and a boiled egg but these can be left off to make the dish vegetarian or vegan.

2. Rendang

Rendang is often said to be the national dish of Indonesia and would have been made with buffalo meat in the days of old. Now it is made with beef or chicken and the meat is covered in a thick paste. This is made from chilies and coconut milk which is simmered for hours to make the sweet and spicy flavors for which rendang is famous.

3. Nasi Goreng

Nasi goreng just means ‘fried rice’ in Indonesian and this is one of the most popular dishes served across the archipelago. It usually consists of rice which is fried in a wok along with other ingredients like shallots, chilies, carrots and meat or seafood. The rice is then usually topped with a fried egg or an omelet and served with an accompaniment of prawn crackers, sliced tomato and cucumber. Nasi Goreng is a great pick in Indonesia as it is served all day long so you can eat if for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

4. Mie Goreng

Mie goreng is the noodle based version of Nasi Goreng and is cooked in much the same way. Egg noodles are cooked in a hot wok, with sauces, meat and egg added as the noodles are frying. Mie Goreng is also usually served with a kind of pickle which is made from bird’s eye chilies and shallots.

5. Ayam Penyet

Ayam penyet is the name for one of the most famous chicken dishes in Indonesia. The meat is pounded to make it even more tender and then fried in a mélange of spices and herbs like galangal, lemongrass and ginger. Once it is cooked the chicken is served with a very spicy chili and garlic sauce and usually comes with simple steamed rice and a side dish of vegetables.

5 Best Local Drinks to Try in Indonesia

1.Teh Manis

Teh manis is drunk all over Indonesia at any time of the day or night. This consists of the local strong tea which is mixed with sugar to make a hot, sweet drink. If you visit someone’s home in Indonesia then you will usually be presented with a glass of the tea on arrival to welcome you as a guest.

2. Avocado Juice

Indonesia is known for its avocados which grow all over the archipelago. With that in mind, a favourite drink in Indonesia is avocado juice which is called jus alpokat. The avocado pulp is usually blended with condensed milk and then topped with chocolate sauce to make a thick and sweet drink akin to a smoothie.

3. Kopi Luwak

Kopi luwak is a famous kind of coffee in Indonesia which means ‘Civet Coffee’. The civets eat the coffee beans and then expel them and the digestion process of the animals is said to make the beans even tastier. Even though it may not sound very palatable, civet coffee is actually considered a delicacy in Indonesia.

4. Cendol

Cendol is a cross between a drink and a dessert and is made up of a sweet, sugary drink to which other ingredients are added. The base of cendol can vary but it is often made of syrup mixed with soda water and condensed milk. Ingredients are then added to the base mix such as grass jelly or sweet corn.

5. Bandrek

If you are feeling a little under the weather in Indonesia then you may like to try a glass of bandrek. This is a drink made from considered milk to which a variety of spices are added along with hot water. These include ginger, cloves and cinnamon and the taste is similar to something like spiced eggnog.

Food Prices in Indonesia

Food in Indonesia is extremely cheap if you are on a budget and are happy to eat the local food. You can get a portion or fried rice or noodles for as little as IDR 15,000 across the archipelago, or you can also get a plate of mixed rice and curry for around IDR 25,000.

When it comes to fine dining however, then the sky really is the limit and if you go for a hotel buffet in one of the five star resorts in Bali then you can pay over IDR 1,000,000 for a meal without drinks.

One of the bigger expenses in Indonesia is buying alcohol to go with your meal as beer can be between IDR 30,000 and 50,000 for a small bottle of the local tipple which is called Bintang. If you want to drink spirits or wine then these are much more expensive and you can pay around IDR 100,000 for a glass of imported wine or a mixed drink.

Food Security

Indonesia is a haven for street food, and in almost any town, city, or village, you will find food stands lining the streets. Contrary to popular belief, these can be some of the safest places to eat in the country, as they often make your food to order and you can see the dishes being made in front of you and judge the food security of the stall. With that in mind, if you are eating noodles which have been flash fried in a very hot wok to order, then there is much less chance that you will end up with an upset stomach compared to the chances of getting sick eating food at a hotel buffet which has been sitting around for hours.

Best Restaurants to Dine at in Indonesia

Blanco par Mandif

Blanco par Mandif is located in Ubud in Bali and is also part of the ornate Blanco Renaissance Museum. As you dine you can look out over the pretty Tjampuhan River and eat a mixture of Indonesian and international dishes which are made with locally sourced produce. Some of the highlights are dishes such as traditional Balinese crispy duck and a high-end play on typical Indonesian desserts that are usually bought in the local market.

Garuda

Garuda is a chain of restaurants that you will find all over Indonesia. These restaurants serve Nasi Padang which is a kind of rice based meal that originates from Padang in Sumatra. When you sit down in the restaurant you will be presented with a plate of white rice and an array of side dishes such as curries, vegetables, seafood and grilled meats. You only pay for the dishes you touch and add to your rice.

Boneka Restaurant at the St. Regis

If you really want to splash out when you are in Bali then why not head to the St. Regis Hotel in Nusa Dua. Here you will find Boneka Restaurant which is taken from the Indonesian work for ‘puppet’. At Boneka Restaurant you can sample their delectable breakfast buffet which features bites such as fresh oysters, smoked salmon and buttery sushi and sashimi.

Learning to Cook Indonesian Food

If you want to learn to cook Indonesian food then the best place to do so in Bali which has a number of amazing cooking schools. In other parts of the country however, such as Java or Sumatra, cooking classes have not really taken off in the same way that they have in Bali, and although you may find some informal cooking schools dotted around who will be happy to show you a few tricks of the trade.

1.Bumbu Bali

Bumbu Bali is probably the most famous cooking school in Bali and is owned by celebrity chef Heinz von Holzen. Classes are held in Tanjung Benoa and usually start with a visit to a local market to pick up a range of fresh local produce. Once back in the communal kitchen, you will then learn how to make a range of dishes such as curries, vegetable side dishes and snacks. As you would expect, you can then finish the class by eating everything you have prepared. Classes are $95 per person, making this one of the most expensive cooking classes in Bali.

2. Warung Eny

If you are looking for something a little more budget friendly in Bali then you may prefer to visit Warung Eny. Here you can learn how to make a range of signature Balinese dishes such as ayam betutu which is chicken which has been rubbed with local herbs and spices and then cooked in banana leaves. One of the great joys of this cooking school is that they also have their own onsite garden so you can learn all about the traditional herbs and plants for which Bali is famous. Classes here are a very reasonable $26 per person.

3.Anika Cooking Class

Another more traditional option is Anika Cooking Class which is located in Tuban in Bali. The emphasis here, like Warung Eny, is on cooking traditional Balinese treats, and you can also visit the market at the same time to check out a colorful array of local produce. The lunch menu offers you the chance to cook a mind-boggling 9 different dishes and you can then dine with the other class participants and eat the fruits of your labors. There are two different class times here, one in the morning which costs $73 and includes a market tour, and the other in the evening which costs $65 without a trip to the market.

Conclusion

If you are something of a foodie then Indonesia is the place for you. One of the great things about this country is the sheer range of dining options available, and you can try street food stalls extremely cheaply, or enjoy amazing fine dining if you have a larger budget. In tourist areas you will find a good selection of international plates, but even in rural areas you won’t go hungry thanks to the delicious local flavours.