Indonesia welcomed more than 12 million international tourists in 2024, a 20% increase from 2023. Whether you come from the sun-soaked beaches or the lush greenery, one thing you can't say "no" to is the cuisine.
After all, everyone needs to eat, and you deserve to feast!
Keep reading, and we'll tell you about 7 traditional dishes you must experience when visiting Indonesia.
At a Glance: 7 Traditional Indonesian Dishes
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Nasi Goreng - Indonesian fried rice
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Satay - Skewered, seasoned, and grilled chicken or meat
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Gado-Gado - Vegetable salad with peanut sauce
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Ikan Bakar - Roasted or fried fish
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Tempeh - A patty of fermented soybeans
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Nasi Padang - A mini banquet of meat, fish, vegetables, side dishes, and steamed or fried rice
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Soto - Brothy soup with meat
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A Guide To Indonesian Cuisine
Indonesia is a dazzlingly diverse place, with over 700 recorded languages (though the most commonly spoken is Bahasa Indonesian.) Every menu in Indonesia will likely have the following food items:
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Nasi – Rice
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Mie – Noodles
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Ayam – Chicken
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Ikan – Fish
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Babi – Pork
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Daging – Beef
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Sayur – Vegetable
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Keju – Cheese
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Sup – Soup
You will also see other words like goreng (fried), bakar (grilled), and panggang (roasted.)
The food available in Indonesia will vary from island to island and from town to town. With over 17,000 islands, each one has developed its own unique culture and traditions.
For example, in the east, you will see a great deal of taro, sweet potato, and cassava. In the Islamic regions, you won't see any pork, and in Bali, you may avoid beef. This diversity is what makes Indonesia so intriguing and magical!
In general, Indonesians love to use spices. Nutmeg, ginger, and cloves are commonly used in foods and beverages, as well as turmeric, garlic, chili, and tamarind.
7 Indonesian Dishes You Should Try
#1. Nasi Goreng
If you want classic Indonesian food, then you need nasi goreng. In essence, nasi goreng is Indonesian fried rice, which sounds simple, but it is loaded with flavors, spices, and aroma.
Nasi goreng is made with pre-cooked rice, meat (often chicken or seafood), vegetables, spices, and eggs. It is then spiced up with shallots, garlic, chili sauce, or tamarind.
If you buy nasi goreng from street food stalls or restaurants, you'll be able to pick the type of meat, level of spiciness, and style of eggs.
For example, you could have nasi goreng ayam (chicken fried rice) or nasi goreng cumi (squid fried rice.)
#2. Satay
Satay is skewered meat that is seasoned and grilled, often served with soy sauce or a peanut sauce (often referred to as satay sauce.)
Satay originated in Java but has spread across Indonesia and into Southeast Asia. You can find any kind of meat on a satay, including beef, goat, chicken, fish, or tofu.
#3. Gado-Gado
Gado-gado, often referred to as peanut sauce salad, is a vegetable salad made with peanut sauce, and contains a colorful assortment of foods.
It often comes with vegetables, boiled eggs, tofu, potato, and peanut sauce. You may also find spinach, cabbage, bean sprouts, or jack fruit in your gado-gado.
#4. Ikan Bakar
Indonesia is made up of 17,000 islands. In a country surrounded by water, it would make sense that fish would be a key component of many meals! Ikan bakar, which translates to "roasted fish," is a basic yet delicious dish that is a very healthy option.
The fish is marinated in a mix of soy sauce and coconut oil alongside spices like coriander, chili sauce, galangal, or tamarind.
It's then grilled on a charcoal fire and often served with sambal, a condiment made from spicy chili sauce.
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#5. Tempeh
Fried tempeh is a great source of protein. It is made from a patty of fermented soybeans and is often served in a banana leaf wrapping.
Cuts of fried tempeh are also usually served in salads, rice dishes, or noodles (instant noodles or fried noodles).
#6. Nasi Padang
If you try nasi goreng, then you need to try nasi padang!
Nasi padang is a mix of rice and side dishes, a mini banquet if you will. It features meats, fish, vegetables, side dishes, and steamed rice. It's named after the city of Padang in Sumatra.
#7. Soto
Soto is a soup that originated in Java but is found all across Indonesia. This rich broth is served with meat, boiled eggs, bean sprouts, and steamed vegetables. In Jakarta, soto is often made with coconut milk and steamed rice.
There are many variations of soto, including soto ayam (made with fried chicken and turmeric and served with rice cakes) and soto medan (made with shredded meat, boiled eggs, fish cakes, and more.)
The Bottom Line
Indonesia's diversity is beautiful and inspiring, spanning culture, religion, and cuisine. When you visit this land of wonder, try any (or all!) of the dishes on this list and indulge in this country's rich traditions and delicious food.
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People Also Ask
What is traditional Indonesian food?
Some traditional Indonesian dishes include nasi goreng, gado-gado, satay, basko, and soto. Indonesia also has many popular traditional beverages, including jamu and wedang jahe.
What is Indonesia's signature food?
Soto, a traditional soup, is often referred to as the national dish of Indonesia. However, there are many variations of soto across this vast archipelago. Others consider satay to be the natural food of Indonesia.
Is Indonesian food the same as Indian food?
No, Indonesian cuisine and Indian cuisine are not the same. However, they do have a large influence on each other. Many elements of Indonesian cooking are inspired by Indian food, just as many Indian recipes are influenced by Indonesian cuisine.
What is street food in Indonesia?
Some of the most common street foods in Indonesia include steamed siomay (fish dumplings), satay, asinan, ketoprak, and gado-gado.
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