Yogyakarta Indonesia – Best Places to Eat and Dishes to Try

Yogyakarta is known as one of the main food hubs in Java so you are in for a treat when you dine here. We loved the fact that many of the dishes here are sweeter than in other parts of Indonesia and even the curries had a delicious balance of sweet and savoury flavours to them that we couldn’t get enough of. That said, be aware that, as with most foods in Indonesia, lots of the dishes here are pretty spicy. There is also a good mix of Western and local cuisine in Yogyakarta so there is something for everyone no matter what you budget and preferences.

Local dishes to try

Although not as famous as some other dishes across Indonesia, Yogyakarta is known for its curry called gudeg. This is basically a kind of dark brown curry which is made with delicious local jackfruit which is mixed in with egg and chicken. We were surprised but delighted by the meaty taste of the jackfruit and we highly recommend trying this dish when you are in town.

We also really enjoyed the rujak in Yogyakarta which is a kind of fruit salad that uses various local fruits like mango, papaya, pineapple and cucumber. This is then served with a surprising sauce that is made of palm sugar, lime juice and chilies so it is sweet and savoury at the same time.

Finally Yogyakarta is also known for its Nasi Kucing which means ‘Cat Rice’ in Indonesia and is made up of rice which is served with a spicy chili sauce and a variety of accompaniments and then wrapped up in a banana leaf which gives it a kind of aromatic flavour.

Also make sure you try the fried chicken when you are in town which is just known as ayam goreng in Indonesia and is usually drenched in aromatic spices and coconut milk in Yogyakarta before being fried to crispy perfection.

Street food

If you are looking for street food then you will be spoiled for choice in Yogyakarta as this place is a haven for quick snacks that you can eat on the go. Some of the various snacks that you can buy include satay which is beef which has been threaded onto skewers and then grilled, which is served with a dipping sauce of peanuts and chilies. This also usually comes with lontong which is a kind of cake made from compressed rice which is squeezed into the shape of a sausage and then sliced.

If you are feeling the heat in Yogyakarta then you can also try the iced treats that are found all over the city such as the aforementioned rujak which often comes with a scoop of ice cream on top making it the perfect cooling bite when temperatures rise.

Local restaurants

There is a wealth of restaurants to choose from in Yogyakarta and one of the best things about the city is that you can choose from a range of places in different budget brackets.

If you are looking to save money then you may want to head to Gudeg Tugu which is on Jalan Diponegoro and which has local curry gudeg for sale. This comes with rice, chicken and hard boiled eggs and you can get a plate for IDR 15,000.

For some more local bites you may want to try Waroeng Jepara which is on Jalan Wolter Monginsidi which serves Jepara food and which has delights like stingray in a spicy sauce and sayur lodeh which is a kind of jackfruit curry. You can get a plate of curry and rice here for around IDR 30,000.

Also in the business of serving up local food is The House of Raminten which is on Jalan Fairdan Muridan which has Javanese food and you can get the usual gudeg as well as other local dishes and drinks including jamu which is a kind of herbal drink made with tamarind and ginger. Prices start at around IDR 15,000.

Yogyakarta is also a good place to visit if you are vegetarian or vegan as there are a number of restaurants around town that specialize in meat free cuisine.

Western and international food

If you are looking for some international fare in Yogyakarta then you will be pleasantly surprised as there are a large number of Western and international restaurants here. These include Gajah Wong on Jalan Gejayan which has a dazzling array of dishes to choose from including French, Indian, Chinese, Italian and Indonesian. They also have live music here in the evenings.

Another good choice is Androwino Bistro which is located on Jalan Laksda Adisucipto and is part of the Sheraton. Here you will find a range of international and Asian options and the views also look out in the direction of Mount Merapi.

If you want budget Western food then all the malls in Yogyakarta usually have some kind of Western fast food chain inside like Wendy’s or McDonald’s.

Coffee shops and cafes

Compared with many other Indonesian towns Yogyakarta has an excellent coffee shop scene, perhaps due to its large student population. This means that you can get a cup of coffee or tea all over the city and many of the international chains are in attendance here such as Starbucks.

Other local options however include the Junction Cafe which is on Jalan Anggrek and this served up Mexican bites as well as plenty of iced and hot drinks made with coffee and tea.

Another choice if you are looking for something local is Kopi Joss which is close to Tugu Train Station and which sells local Joss coffee which is coffee mixed with charcoal. If that doesn’t appeal then you can also try Fortunate Coffee on Jalan Jogonegaran which has vegan dishes and a full range of coffees, teas and pastries.

Bars, pubs and other drinking venues

Although Yogyakarta is a large city, it is also in a conservative part of Indonesia which means that you will need to go to a licensed venue to get an alcoholic drink. Many of these are located inside large hotels and you need to bear in mind that alcohol is very expensive in Indonesia as there is a large tax on all imported alcoholic drinks in the country.

If you want to go for a drink then you will need to choose a spot such as Agenda which is located on the top of the Greenhost Hotel on Jalan Prawirotaman 2 and has beers and wines which you can enjoy while also taking the view.

Another hotel venue is Sugar which is on the fifth floor of the Indoluxe Hotel and which is known for being packed in the evenings.

If you want to try something a little different then you can visit Liquid on Jalan Magelang which is known for its wild karaoke nights and live music.

If you are looking for a quieter place for a late night drink then you may want to make your way to Soda Lounge which is located on Jalan Laksda Adisucipto and which has been in business for years. They often host events such as cultural evenings when they have things such as poetry readings so it is a good idea to check the local listings to see what’s on here when you are in town.