Semarang Indonesia – Best Places to Eat and Dishes to Try

A flavoursome hybrid of Indonesian, Chinese, Indian, and even Dutch influences all fuse together seamlessly to form the delicious meals and dishes in Semarang. It’s no wonder then that this melting pot of cultures has appetising, unusual and highly memorable food on offer that is sure to keep you satisfied and content during your travels through the bustling city. Fortunately, for those travelling on a budget, the food is mostly very very cheap and unbelievably easy to locate. Travellers can choose to dine at standard restaurants, local warungs (eateries), or at the many street-food stalls that seem to magically appear as the sun goes down.

Local specialties in Semarang

Sometimes the best way to get a feel for a city is to eat like a local and to try to sample as many local specialities as you possible can before your departure flight. This is true too of Semarang. With several very unique and delicious traditional dishes to try it’d be a shame to miss up the opportunity.

The city’s most famous food would have to be Loenpia Semarang and after tasting them we were convinced as to why._ Loenpia Semarang are deliciously crispy springrolls made of thin, rice-flour pastry that are stuffed with bamboo shoots, scrambled eggs, and slices of chicken or prawn. The scrumptious packages of flavour are then deep-fried and served with a dipping sauce. These greasy gems can be sourced from pretty much any restaurant, as well as eaten gleefully from a polystyrene container on the side of a street corner. A portion from a street vendor will cost around IDR 7,000 to IDR 10,000.

Another local savoury dish that is highly recommended are, bandeng presto. This is a boneless, pressure-cooked milkfish usually seasoned with turmeric, salt and garlic and cooked in a banana leaf. The pressure-cooker allows the fish to get extremely tender and locks in all the wonderfully flavours. Some variations include coating the fish in egg before baking.

Other local Semarang specialities include, Japanese-inspired, kuemochi; which are essentially small, white, moist balls made of palm sugar and a sticky rice-flour paste. The sweet, chewy snacks have an unusual, addictive glutinous texture and mild flavour. Other popular sweet snacks are kue lekker and wingko babat. Kue lekker is a thin, crispy crepe-like snack that is usually filled with chocolate or banana and is perfect for a quick, sweet treat on the go. Wingko babat is a type of circular cake made from shredded coconut, sugar, glutinous rice and coconut milk and then baked. The cakes are cut into small pieces, wrapped in paper and frequently sold at bus and train stations or pastry shops.

Street food and markets

Jalan Pandanaran Street, Simpang Lima, the campus in front of Dipongoro University, and the weekend Semawis Night Market with its lively karaoke crowd and animated food sellers, offers visitors very affordable mealtime options. Travellers on the hunt for cheap, tasty and local food should check out these haunts for an easy and inexpensive meal while exploring the city. Not only are these spots easy on the wallet but they also allow travellers to learn more about the food culture in Semarang and offer a fun and unique experience of their own. Keep your eyes peeled for tahu pong, a popular street snack combining salty, sweet and peppery flavours. The snack is made from fried tofu that is usually served with pickles, radish and a dipping sauce.

Local warungs and restaurants

One of our favourite local warungs in Semarang was Ayam Bakar Primarasa located on Jl Jend Sudirman Kpg Barusari. This cheap and cheerful eatery offered great value for money and the local food was absolutely superb. A clean, simple interior with a helpful picture-menu set the stage for the delicious meals that we hungrily devoured. The food was all local or Indonesian and there were plenty of both meat and fish options available. They are most famous for their ayam bakar, traditional marinated and charcoal-grilled chicken that they serve with a soy dipping sauce.

Another definite favourite would have to be Ikan Bakar Cianjur. This spot is an excellent, local, seafood joint with deep-fried and grilled fish options as their main menu items. The décor is a mix of local influences that are combined with Dutch-colonial style which makes for a unique and unusual setting. The prices are mid-range, the presentation stunning and the service was warm and welcoming.

Travellers looking for a restaurant with a bit of atmosphere and ambiance should not miss up the opportunity to dine at Kampung Laut, a beautiful restaurant on the water where you can even watch fishermen fishing in the lagoon. The food is delicious and the portion sizes are generous. This is the ideal spot for couples wanting a romantic night out, business professionals looking to take out a client, or even those travelling with the family.

Western and international food

For those craving a taste of home, there are a few international restaurants in Semarang that we thoroughly enjoyed eating at. Goodfellas Resto and Bar offers steak, Italian pastas, burgers and fries all with rolling hills as a backdrop. Be sure to try and plan your dinner around sunset time as the view from the restaurant is absolutely gorgeous. The interior of the restaurant is stunning, the service impeccable and the ambiance is wonderfully romantic and tranquil. Open daily from 10am until midnight and then until 1am on weekends.

Those craving Italian or Japanese should head to Trattoria Semarang for a bite to eat. Slightly pricier than most but we found the quality of the food and the portion sizes to be well worth the extra couple of bucks. The live band and extensive wine menu added to the enjoyment. The food ranges from sushi to pizza, calzones, pasta and salads.

Cafes and coffee houses

Next up is Semarang’s coffee scene. While there is the ever-present Starbucks in the city, those wishing to support and sample the local coffee should definitely try The Blue Lotus Coffee House. While this spot obviously serves superbly roasted and brewed cups of coffee, the coffee house also serves delicious homemade cakes, Western food and local dishes too. Blue Lotus is a great spot for those wanting to grab a coffee or a meal in a place with a comfortable and tranquil atmosphere.

Strada Coffee and Café is another fantastic coffee spot that has delicious coffee aromas wafting through the street. The coffee is organic and perfectly prepared. The menu is an excellent hybrid of local and Western with many different snacks and dishes on offer. Although the food and coffee were amazing, what we enjoyed the most at Strada was the informative and wonderful staff members. The bubbly barista had extensive knowledge about the background of the coffee beans and was only to happy to share his wealth of information. We returned to this spot more than a few times and were never let down by the experience.

For those wanting to enjoy their coffee in a countryside setting or amongst greenery, Kampoeng Kopi Banaran is the coffee spot for you. Located next to a coffee plantation, the views are gorgeous, and if you’re not in the mood for coffee, the menu boasts finger snacks and other beverages too. The coffee plantation can be explored alone or with a guide and if you don’t fancy a walk, horses and golf carts are available instead. Little ones will have a field day playing on the playground too.

Bars and night life

Travellers looking to explore Semarang’s nightlife will find that the clubbing scene in Semarang is a lot more low-key than the nightlife in Jakarta. Having said that, there are still a fair number of great places to have a fun night out at and travellers will be able to find several upbeat places to relax after sunset. The Simpang Lima area in Semarang has several relaxed bars that visitors can unwind at after a long day exploring the city. The On-On Pub, located in Hotel Candi Baru, on Jalan Rinjani, is a popular choice for foreigners and we really enjoyed the lively ambiance and vibrant energy of the bar. Featuring live music over weekends and serving traditional sake, Nori Japanese Kitchen Lounge is also a great spot to relax with friends or to meet other travellers and locals.