Indonesia holds special spices taste of ingredients, in each region showcase a unique authentic flavor. Especially in Jakarta, there are plenty of legendary favourite dish like Nasi Goreng, Soto Betawi, Satay and more.
Here, we have Jakarta food guide listings 10 must-try foods in Jakarta that will fullfill your best taste exploring!
What is Indonesian Food?
Indonesian dishes have rich and complex flavors, it characterized as savory, hot, and spicy, with a combination of sweet, salty, and sour. Most Indonesians favor hot and spicy food, with sambal (chili sauce) being the main condiment.
Fun fact about Indonesian meals are usually eaten with a spoon in the right hand and a fork in the left hand, using the fork to push the food onto the spoon not the otherwise.
Jakarta Travel Guide On 10 Must-Try Jakarta Food
1. Soto Betawi or Jakarta Beef Soup (Best Jakarta Food)
If you are looking for a soup to warm your body, Soto Betawi is a must taste! The mix blend culture influences from Chinese, Arabic, and Dutch has created a soup master with coconut milk as main ingredients.
What you will taste? filled with tender chunks of beef and full of aromatic spices like herbs. Common ingredients include potatoes, tomatoes, and fried shallots. Soto Betawi is often enjoyed with a side of rice cooked in coconut milk and garnished with crispy crackers or emping for added crunch.
Where to eat?
2. Kerak Telor or Egg Crust
Kerak Telor or Egg Crust, it is a famous dish throughout Indonesia from Jakarta and unique traditional recipes from Betawi culture.
The main ingredients of Kerak Telor include glutinous rice (known as ketan), eggs (either chicken or duck), grated coconut, and a mix of spices such as shallots, garlic, coriander, and pepper.
The unique way of cooking is traditionally using a charcoal fire, which imparts a distinctive smoky flavor. It is then cooked until the bottom that create a crispy crust while leaving the top slightly chewy.
Kerak Telor is typically served on a small banana leaf, enhancing its authentic presentation.
3. Semur Jengkol
Semur Jengkol in a rich sauce has strong spices among other seasonings. Key ingredients include shallots, garlic, candlenuts, ginger, and aromatic herbs such as lemongrass and bay leaves.
It is one of the unique taste of Jakarta food that you must try while visiting.
4. Roti Buaya
Roti Buaya is bread that is crafted in the shape of a crocodile and is attached to traditional Betawi culture wedding ceremonies, symbolizing loyalty and commitment between couples.
5. Nasi Goreng or Indonesian Fried Rice
The next one is Nasi Goreng. The key taste to this delicious food is the right timing in using the stove and high-low fire. The strong taste of chopped onions, finely shredded chicken and sweet soy sauce on top of it all, create a magnificent dish.
What makes Jakarta food Nasi Goreng different than in any other regions is the typical sweet soy sauce, while in other cities like Surabaya the tomato sauce is use.
Nasi goreng has become the national dish of Indonesia that you must try and local Jakartan favourite.
Where to eat?
6. Gado Gado or Indonesian Salad
Gado-gado or you can called it Indonesian salad, what you will taste is consisting of a mix of raw, blanched, steamed, or lightly boiled vegetables, boiled eggs slices, fried tofu and tempeh, and creamy peanut sauce dressing. The strong herbs and spices is the key to reveal best taste.
The name “gado-gado” comes from the Betawi language of Jakarta, meaning “to eat without rice,” although it is often served with rice or lontong (compressed rice cakes).
Where to eat?
7. Nasi Padang
Nasi Padang is typical Indonesian family dish, although the origin place is in Padang, West Sumatra. In restaurants of Jakarta holds the best taste of Nasi Padang.
What you can expect is eaten with rice served alongside a variety of pre-cooked dishes that typically include meats, fish, vegetables, and spicy sambals.
You can choose from popular toppings such as beef rendang (slow-cooked spicy beef), curried fish, fried chicken, and various vegetables. It is the best culinary experience not-to-be-missed.
Where to eat?
8. Nasi Uduk with Telor Balado or Indonesian Egg Sambal
Another Jakarta food is Nasi Uduk is a traditional meal consists of steamed rice cooked in coconut milk, infused with a blend of aromatic spices such as lemongrass, cloves, and bay leaves.
It often comes with Telor Balado topping that complete the savoury taste of the rice and strong sambal taste from the eggs.
9. Bubur Ayam or Chicken Porridge
Next, we have Bubur Ayam! Most Jakartan people consider Bubur Ayam as dinner dish. While in any other regions, this is a breakfast dish that comforting.
Bubur Ayam is made of rice that is boiled until it reaches a soft, porridge-like consistency. It is seasoned with ingredients such as lemongrass and bay leaves, to splash it a fragrant aroma.
The one dish is usually topped with shredded chicken, fried shallots, chopped celery, and sometimes crispy crullers known as cakwe. It available in Jakarta and easy to find on the streets. After trying this Jakarta food, you will end up lip-smacking good food!
Where to eat?
10. Bakso or Indonesian Meatball Soup
Bakso or Indonesian meatball soup is usually made with beef and tapioca flour but throughout time it has been innovated in using chicken.
It is usually served in beef broth with yellow noodles, rice vermicelli, salted vegetables, tofu, egg, Chinese broccoli, bean sprouts, steamed meat dumplings, and crisp wontons, sprinkled with fried shallots and celery.
