TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - For first-time tourists, understanding what to eat in Jakarta is as essential as identifying the top destinations to explore before their trip. From the hearty meal soto, world-renowned delicacy nasi goreng, and festive cuisine nasi padang, this Indonesian travel hub has a knack for capturing people’s hearts through its incredible cuisine.
What to Eat in Jakarta?
Various travel sources, including TasteAtlas, Holidify, and Agoda, all recommend bakso, soto, and sate among the must-try foods to eat in Jakarta. Beyond these classics, prepare your taste buds for these other scrumptious options:
1. Soto Betawi
Recognized as one of the world’s best soups by TasteAtlas, soto Betawi (traditional Indonesian soup from Betawi) remains a perennial favorite among locals and travelers alike. This Jakarta specialty has earned its place in the hearts of food lovers for its bold and creamy taste, infused with a combination of aromatic spices like turmeric, galangal, lemongrass, coriander, and kaffir lime leaves.
2. Nasi Goreng
Nasi goreng, or Indonesian fried rice, is arguably the most popular local dish among international visitors, thanks to its ubiquitous presence on restaurant menus across the country. This flavorful comfort food is made by stir-frying rice with a variety of savory ingredients. Common additions include fluffy scrambled eggs, tender shredded chicken, juicy sausages, and bite-sized meatballs, all coming together in a deliciously smoky, aromatic blend that keeps diners coming back for more.
3. Sate
Easily found at eateries from street stalls to upscale restaurants, sate is a quintessential Indonesian dish that every visitor should experience. Similar in concept to BBQ skewers, this meal features three to four chunks of marinated meat, carefully threaded onto bamboo sticks and grilled over a smoky charcoal flame. What truly sets the Indonesian sate apart from its Southeast Asian counterparts is the flavorful variety of sauces it is served with.
4. Bubur Ayam
When it comes to breakfast dishes to eat in Jakarta, look no further than the city’s beloved morning staple: bubur ayam. Between 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., the streets come alive with vendors ladling out steaming bowls of this Indonesian-style chicken congee.
Thick, comforting rice porridge forms the base, while generous toppings of shredded chicken, crispy peanuts, crunchy crackers, and other savory condiments transform it into a flavor-packed dish that fuels early risers.
5. Bakso
Bakso, Indonesia’s take on the humble meatball, is a street food staple deeply woven into the country’s culinary fabric. Typically served in a flavorful broth alongside vermicelli or other noodle varieties, bakso comes in many forms, with beef being the most popular choice, especially among foreign visitors, though versions made from chicken or pork also exist.
With countless roadside stalls and vendors serving up piping-hot bowls across the city, it is no surprise that bakso remains a go-to comfort food for locals and travelers alike.
6. Gado-Gado
For those craving a meat-free option in Indonesia, gado-gado stands out as a vibrant choice. Often hailed as the country’s signature salad, this vegetarian-friendly dish brings together an array of fresh and cooked vegetables—think bean sprouts, spinach, corn, green beans, and string beans, all arranged on a plate. What truly ties it all together is the rich and slightly sweet peanut sauce poured over the top.
7. Nasi Uduk
Nasi uduk is a beloved breakfast classic in Jakarta that offers a flavorful twist on everyday rice. Infused with aromatic spices and cooked in rich coconut milk, this fragrant rice is famous for its subtly sweet and savory taste. You can easily spot roadside stalls dishing out generous portions of nasi uduk, typically paired with classic toppings like sunny-side-up eggs, shredded chicken, crispy fried shallots, and a fiery dollop of sambal (chili) as early as 6 a.m. every day.
8. Pecel Lele
As the sun sets and Jakarta’s street food scene comes alive, pecel lele takes center stage. What makes this dish truly memorable is not just the flavor, but the hands-on experience—quite literally. Locals often dig in with their hands, adding a personal, authentic touch to every bite.
At the heart of pecel lele is a crispy deep-fried catfish, served alongside a warm scoop of rice, a fiery helping of sambal, and a refreshing assortment of fresh vegetables called lalapan.
9. Nasi Padang
Originating from West Sumatra, nasi padang has become a national staple, and the Jakarta food scene is not an exception. The feast of nasi padang is recognized as much for its bold flavors as for the dramatic way it is served.
When you visit Rumah Makan Padang (Padang-style eateries), a plate of fragrant rice comes with an array of rich side dishes, from spicy rendang beef and crispy fried chicken to curried fish, creating a feast of textures and tastes that showcase the country’s diversity.
10. Martabak
Martabak is a popular street food in Jakarta, typically sold from evening through late at night. This thick, flavorful snack comes in two variations: sweet and savory. The sweet version features thick, fluffy layers of wheat batter stuffed with gooey fillings like chocolate, cheese, condensed milk, or even crushed nuts. The savory side offers a perfectly different taste, creating distinction with a crispy, pan-fried pastry filled with a flavorful mix of eggs, minced meat, and aromatic herbs.
From sunrise bites to late-night street snacks, you will never run out of food to eat in Jakarta. For travelers hungry to explore more than just landmarks, diving into the city's food scene is a delicious way to connect with the soul of Jakarta. So, come prepared and explore all the things to do in Jakarta with ease.
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