Jakarta Traditional Cuisines You Have To Try! — Ever wonder what Jakarta’s traditional cuisines are? Every city in Indonesia has its own specialty dishes and here are some of the most famous specialties from Jakarta. Best of all, most of them are very affordable and you can find them anywhere!
Kerak Telor
Kerak Telor is typically a spicy omelette traditionally made using a unique pan. It’s made up of rice, eggs, fried shallots, dried shrimps and serundeng. While rice is present, the locals considered kerak telor as a snack. You can find this dish in Indonesian restaurants or at food festivals.
Semur Jengkol
Semur is a meat stew served in brown gravy. But this type of semur, features jengkol—which is a stinky bean that’s common in some Indonesian dishes. Despite the unpleasant smell, it tastes delicious especially when eaten with rice. They are commonly sold in warteg or any Indonesian restaurants in Jakarta.
Soto Betawi
Soto Betawi is not an unfamiliar dish if you happen to be in Jakarta. Unlike other types of soto, soto Betawi is known for having a thicker soup thanks to coconut milk mixed in it. You can find Soto Betawi at an Indonesian restaurant around the city, though some are sold hawker-style or on street stalls too. Like any other soto, they’re typically served with steamed rice.
Asinan Betawi
Asinan is typically a pickled vegetable and fruit dish. Asinan Betawi is preserved Chinese cabbage, cabbage, bean sprouts, tofu, and lettuce served with runny peanut sauce that’s mixed with vinegar, chili, and a krupuk mie. Most commonly, they’re found hawker-style but you can probably find asinan Betawi at any Indonesian restaurant.
Roti Buaya
As the name states, Roti Buaya is a huge bread shaped like a crocodile. The bread is not an ordinary bread but rather, a special one. Roti buaya is present at a traditional Betawi wedding ceremony as the bread symbolizes longevity. This idea comes from the fact that crocodiles only married once.
Ketoprak
Who is not familiar with this particular dish? Ketoprak is a vegetarian dish made up of ketoprak, tofu, vegetables, and rice vermicelli covered in peanut sauce. Sometimes you can find other condiments such as potatoes or eggs. The dish is not complete without the presence of krupuk.
Soto Tangkar
Another Jakarta specialty soto is Soto Tangkar. This soto mainly uses beef ribs, from the broth that’s boiled with beef ribs and other spices. The meat is typically slices of beef ribs served with emping and sambal. It also has a history of being served and eaten by lower-class Indonesians during the Dutch colonialization.
Got your mouth watering? Make sure to check the food above when you visit Jakarta! For more information about Jakarta or Bali in general, check us out here!
