Indonesia’s regional cuisines make the country rich with its food culture. I hope I will be able to try every regional cuisine the country has while I am living here in Indonesia. This may be a high hope for now in a country with 17,508 islands. Yes, Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world. Imagine each island or region having its own distinct food culture. This is going to be a real challenge to get to taste all of its unique food cultures.
Let me start with the cuisine I have personally tried so far.
Balinese Cuisine
Balinese Cuisine was the first cuisine our family tried after the restriction level was lowered down and dining in was allowed. We went to Smarapura Traditional Restaurant that offers an authentic Balinese feel. It has an open-dining set-up and a small pool with the constant sound of water add to its island ambiance. As the name suggests, this cuisine originates from the popular island of Bali. We got Nasi Goreng Kampung, ayam, and satay. These are common Indonesian food that you can safely have even if you are not keen on spicy food. You can check this video for more:
Manadonese Cuisine
Manadonese Cuisine comes from North Sulawesi, Indonesia. It is called Manadonese after one of the places in North Sulawesi called Manado. Food from this area is big on foreign influences. Another worth noting is its Christian population. So if you want some pork dishes, you can visit a Manadonese restaurant.
My husband and I went to Beautika Khas Manado Restoran. We ordered Perkedel Jagung (corn fritters), cakalang saos (tuna), ayam cekap (chicken dish), and sayur garo (vegetable dish). We read that the best food is cakalang rabe and it is the most recommended Manadonese dish. But I wasn’t ready for a very spicy dish. So we settled for the less spicy fish dish cakalang saos. The ayam cekap is very familiar as it looks and tastes like our Philippine chicken adobo.
They are also known for their desserts but we didn’t try one during this visit. Maybe next time we are in a Manadonese restaurant we’ll definitely get one of the desserts.
You can check our Manadonese food experience in this video:
Sundanese Cuisine
Sundanese Cuisine is from West Java and the Banten region. It is normal to eat with your hands in a Sundanese restaurant. Especially when you get to have their gurame goreng! You will be tempted to devour those crispy fish with your hands and dip in sambal. I especially liked the juice alpukat (avocado). And I highly recommend their dishes with rich peanut sauce! You should get the karedok (vegetale salad) and tahu telur, both with rich peanut flavors. The Sundanese rice called nasi liwet has small fishes on top of the rice which makes it extra tasteful when mixed.
Check out our Sundanese dining experience in this video to know how much I liked it!
Javanese Cuisine
Javanese food has one particular dish it is known for. Gudeg. It is a traditional Javanese dish from Yogyakarta and Central Java. I first tasted this in Grand Lucky’s food hall before I did my grocery. Guti, the Indonesian who helps me in the house was happy to have it since she comes from Jawa Tengah, a province in Central Java.
But I was glad I went to Yogyakarta so I got a chance to taste one of Indonesia’s regional cuisines right where it comes from. There is a place in Jogja called Jalan Wijilan where the narrow street is lined up with tiny restaurants serving gudeg dishes. You can check it out when you are there.
Better yet, eat what the royals eat! Yogyakarta is home to Indonesia’s royal family and there is a restaurant inside the Kraton (the Sultanate Palace) that serves royal dishes. You can check this video where I shared our lunch at Bale Raos:
Padang Cuisine
Padang Cuisine is known as Masakan Padang here in Indonesia. It originates from West Sumatra. Masakan Padang takes its own unique culinary culture when you enter a Padang Restaurant. Diners do not need to order. The waiters put all the small bowls of food on the table, and some are stacked on top of each other. You can eat as much as you can and ask for more of the kind of food you like and not touch those that you don’t like. And you will only be billed for those you have eaten. You can check out this video to see how it goes.
These are just a few of Indonesia’s regional cuisines that I have tasted so far. This blog will be continuously updated as I continue with my food adventure here in Indonesia.
Stay tuned!
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One of the things I would love to do is go to Indonesia and taste all those food! We used to play at this Asian Cuisine restaurant called Taza (as an acoustic duo), and we were able to try some of the food. I’m familiar with Satay and Nasi Goreng…in fact, Nasi Goreng is one of the food we order a lot at Banana Leaf, but not familiar with the term “kampung.” I think I’ve tried the Ayam Sekap, too, because I remember eating Adobo-like dish that was sweeter than the Filipino version.
I wanna try these, I wanna experience myself how scrumptious their cuisine is.
I love how diverse Indonesia’s cuisines are. If ever I get the chance to visit Indonesia, I’d go on endless food trips there.
This looks like an amazing adventure. I would love to visit one day as I’ve personally only been Asian countries a handful of times. I would love to try some authentic Indonesian cuisine.
Ohh I haven’t been to any authentic asian cuisines except filipino cuisine of course but it’s on my bucketlist pag medyo di na masyadong mahigpit yung travel restrictions. I just wonder, what’s the general taste/vibe ng Indonesian cuisine like kung sa Korea, mahilig sila sa spicy foods diba.
Wow, Indonesian foods are so good! I can’t wait to visit Indonesia and enjoy the ‘eat, pray, love’ moment. They are so good at using their native produce and ingredients which are so unique.
I actually am not familiar with indonesian cuisine so this blog post was a nice treat. Will be on the look out for indonesian restos here in manila
Add something special on your taste buds! Varieties of goodness and rich in culture too!
I’m not so familiar with the food itself from Indonesia. Parang never ako naka encounter in my life. I hope I can try them out one time, im sure they are so good too!
BTW im so excited to read about your new adventures in Indonesia! XD
Migoreng and Nasi Goreng are the Indonesian cuisine that I am familiar with. Glad you’re enjoying your life adventures there in Indonesia Ate Wendy. I miss you! Hope one day, I can visit you there.
Cheers and more Indonesian adventures to come. You should check their pink beach, I think Komodo Island yung name. It was mentioned by my Indonesian friend. Let me know pag mapunta ka kung pink talaga yung sand. hahaha
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thanks for sharing ,very informative blog about Indonesian Cuisine
Yay dami mo na din po natikman na masarap na food nila Ms. Wendy sana ma experience ko din ma tikman yung masasarap na food nila more blog pa po about dito😍.
I’m not really familiar in Indonesian food though I really love traveling and explore something especially I want to try their activities,food and learn other countries culture that i’ve never seen or tried in my whole life.Thank you Ms wendy for sharing this po,this is noted of my bucketlist (actually I want to explore the whole word as much as I can)when I become Flight Attendant and become financially stable, hoping for this. I’m really interested to know what others countries have especially their foods. Indonesian food looks delicious and interesting!😍
Nkakatakam din tlga ung mga foods nila . Gusto ko din matikman kse nkaka curious tlga ung lasa 🤤😍
Wow looks so delicious naman po ng different authentic foods sa Indonesia.
Ang dami niyo na po natikman na sure na masarap lahat😋
Iba iba din talaga ang nakasanayang pagkain ng bawat country 😍
Love this thanks for sharing these delicious cuisine of Indonesia! So excited for more details about this especially sa mga foods na maittry nyo po soon. Very nice, rich, and unique culture 💯
[…] popular, especially among world travelers and food enthusiasts. It is very rich and diverse. Its regional cuisines vary in taste and character. What unites them is their sambal. And there are many kinds of these […]
Wow definitely awesome experience to visit indonesia and to try their authentic food.. this is such a wonderful experience..ms..wendy
Ang daming Pagpipilian Ms.wend
Pero Interesting din ako matikman ang Indonesian Foods