Indonesian Street Food: 5 Places to Eat & Top Restaurants in Jakarta

Jakarta's culinary landscape truly mirrors its rich Indonesian cultures. The city offers an adventure for every palate and budget from the enticing street food to sophisticated rooftop dining. Each neighborhood contributes a unique flavor to its gastronomic identity.

Venture into areas like Jakarta's bustling Chinatown Glodok, and you'll discover a lot of Chinese-Indonesian culinary heritage. Here, generations of family recipes are served up in bustling eateries, offering iconic dishes like nasi campur (mixed rice), bakmi (noodles), and a variety of savory dumplings. The vibrant atmosphere and the sheer variety of dishes make it a must-visit for any food enthusiast looking to delve deeper into Jakarta's multicultural roots.

Explore the colonial-influenced district of Menteng, and you'll find a blend of traditional Indonesian restaurants and modern cafes. This area often showcases refined versions of classic Indonesian dishes, emphasizing fresh ingredients and elegant presentation. It’s a place where you can savor authentic flavors in a more relaxed and upscale setting, offering a different perspective on Indonesian gastronomy.

There's also a local experience through the smaller gangs (alleys) where you might stumble upon a warung (small eatery) specializing in a single, perfectly executed dish passed down through family lines. From flavorful soto ayam (chicken soup) to aromatic sate lilit (minced satay), these unassuming spots often offer the most authentic and heartwarming flavors of Jakarta.

All in all, Jakarta street cooks in the likes of Jalan Jaksa deliver tradition, and upscale chefs in Kemang never shortchange your five-star experience. Hot and spicy, sweet and salty, food in Jakarta is rich in flavor and drenched in tradition.

If you consider yourself a foodie, Jakarta is definitely the place to be. Before you hop on your flight to enjoy a plethora of restaurants and street food vendors, make sure you have Grab downloaded on your phone. Link your domestic card on the app so that you can enjoy cash-free transactions for rides and meals!

In addition to the convenience of Grab, there are plenty of mouth-watering deals and discounts available for GrabFood restaurants. You have the likes of scrumptious grilled meat with rice from Nasi Campur Afuk, spicy noodles from UENA (Mie Ayam Chili Oil) - Rasuna Garden Food Street, or heart-warming curry from Soto Ayam Lamongan - Menteng Dalam. Try GrabFood delivery to your hotel if you're short on time, or if you prefer eating at the restaurant, book a table through Grab Dine Out!

Whether you're navigating the bustling street food scene, indulging in a fine dining experience with panoramic city views, or uncovering the hidden culinary corners of its diverse neighborhoods, Jakarta's food truly tells the story of its people – a vibrant blend of tradition, innovation, and an undeniable passion for flavor.

AGODA EXTRA: Jakartans love to eat, and that’s why street food vendors are open around the clock. The favorite way to eat, however, is family-style. In traditional homes and even in restaurants in Jakarta, everyone shares different dishes placed around the table, and the meal is normally started by the oldest member of the family or male head of household.

 

Source (L-R): @racheldjuanda, @missgembil

1. Enjoy traditional street food at GANG GLORIA in CHINATOWN (GLODOK)

Inside the largest Chinatown in Indonesia you won’t have any trouble locating some Indonesian street food in Gloria Alley (Gang Gloria). The quaint road is home to some famous favorites like Bakmi Amoy, which is loved for its fried meatballs, and Kopi Es Tak Kie, where you’ll find traditional iced coffee, as well as a tasty round of local dishes. Don’t stop at the obvious, though. Jakarta is the birthplace of soto betawi (beef in coconut milk), and Gloria Alley is where local cooks made it famous! Also try at Gang Gloria:

• Ketoprak: a vegetarian dish containing tofu, vegetables, rice cake and rice vermicelli covered in peanut sauce.
• Ketupat sayur: typically a breakfast dish that contains slices of ketupat (rice cake) and vegetables in flavorful coconut milk.
• Sekba: a dish of pork offals stewed in a mild soy sauce-based broth fused with garlic and Chinese herbs.

Popular eateries can get busy with locals as soon as they open, but with GrabFood, you can make the most of your time by having your meals delivered. Try authentic Indonesian curry dishes from Ketoprak Telor Kuliner Budi Kemuliaan - Gambir, or start early with breakfast from Ketupat Sayur Mang Ado - Cideng. For wholesome eats, Bubur Ayam HK - Tegal Alur is ready to serve you with chicken congee that will warm your whole body and soul.

Check In to Novotel Mangga Dua Hotel, Step Out to Gang Gloria

Discover more hostels and hotels in Chinatown (Glodok)

2. Treat yourself to Indonesian street food at GADING FOOD CITY at KELAPA GADING

Situated in the center of KG (Kelapa Gading), Gading Food City is where local flavors and international cuisine collide. Not only will you find a satisfactory assortment of Indonesian, Chinese, Korean and western menus (with pork!), but you’ll also find live music and a chilled-out atmosphere every, single night. Where to eat in Gading Food City:

• Ibu Jum’s is famous for its nasi uduk, or mixed rice. The dish starts with steamed rice that’s been cooked in coconut milk fused with cloves, lemongrass, cinnamon and pandan leaf. What you add to it is up to you! Ibu Jum’s is famous for its nasi uduk because of the selection of side dishes that come with it. Load up on everything from stir-fried papaya flowers to grilled squid, and eat up in an open-air seat in front of a big screen!

More must-try restaurants in Kelapa Gading

• Angke, Jl. Boulevard Bar. Raya No.33, RT.18/RW.8, Klp. Gading Bar.
• IPPEKE KOMACHI, Mall Kelapa Gading 3 Lantai Dasar Unit 38A-B
• Wiro Sableng 212, Jl. Boulevard Raya No.12, RT.1/RW.6, Klp. Gading Bar.
• Bakmi Ernie, Jalan Boulevard Raya FY 1/15, Kelapa Gading, RT.8/RW.13, Klp. Gading Tim.
• Sushi Hiro Kelapa Gading, Komplek Graha Boulevard Blok KGC No. A01, Jl. Boulevard Raya, Kelapa Gading, RW.1, Klp. Gading Tim.

Right after you fill up your tummy with the scrumptious local street food, consider enjoying a nightcap before heading back to your room at one of the buzzy bars in the area. You can count on Grab to return you safely back to your hotel, with verified drivers and the Share My Ride feature. Using GrabCar ensures a fixed fare and easy cashless payments, ensuring a stress-free journey.

Check In to eL Royale Hotel Jakarta Kelapa Gading, Step Out to Gading Food City at La Piazza

Explore more hotels and apartments in Kelapa Kading

3. Satisfy your upscale food cravings in KEMANG DISTRICT

Jakarta’s elite business district serves as the gathering hub for stylish professionals and visiting internationals who love to eat. Enjoy brunch from the rooftop of FJ on 7, or share a feast of grilled meats at El Asador. Daytime in Kemang is fairly laid back, but at night and on weekends, the area lights up with live music and foodies ready to sample French, Italian, German and other international cuisines at the best restaurants in Jakarta!

Best restaurants in Kemang

• Mamma Rosy, Jl. Kemang Raya No.58, RT.8/RW.2, Bangka, Mampang Prpt., Kota Jakarta Selatan
• Koi Kemang, Jl. Kemang Raya No.72b, RT.7/RW.2, Bangka, Mampang Prpt., Kota Jakarta Selatan
• Queens Head, Jl.Kemang Raya No.18C, Bangka, Mampang Prapatan, RT.11/RW.5, Bangka, Mampang Prpt., Kota Jakarta Selatan
• Warung Turki, Jl. Kemang Raya No.18A, RT.11/RW.5, Bangka, Mampang Prpt., Kota Jakarta Selatan
• Fez-Kinara dining & Lounge, Jl. Kemang Raya No.78B, RT.4/RW.2, Bangka, Mampang Prpt., Kota Jakarta Selatan
• HAKATA IKKOUSHA, Gedung Kemang Arcade, Jalan Kemang Raya No.20A, RT.11/RW.5, Bangka, Mampang Prapatan, RT.11/RW.5, Bangka, Mampang Prpt., Kota Jakarta Selatan
• Gourmet Kemang, Jl. Kemang Raya No.68, RT.8/RW.2, Bangka, Mampang Prpt., Kota Jakarta Selatan

The night in Kemang District is always young - stay out late and make the most of your holiday by ensuring a safe ride home with Grab. Booking a ride through Grab is convenient, with auto-translation and cashless payments. If you're traveling alone, you can send your ride details to a trusted friend or loved one through the Share My Ride feature, adding to your peace of mind.

Check In to Grandkemang Hotel, Step Out to Kemang Village

Explore more guest houses and apartments in Kemang

4. Tempt your taste buds with Indonesian satay and savory local dishes at JALAN JAKSA and JALAN SABANG

Street food doesn’t get any more authentic than the grub you’ll discover along Jalan Jaksa and Jalan Sabang. Located just south of Merdeka Square, the two parallel venues feature rows and rows of food stalls, manned by local chefs who know how to whip up some tasty originals. Grab breakfast or a middle-of-the-night snack because these streets never sleep and always have a hot-and-ready order of Indonesian satay (grilled meat skewers), fried lele (catfish) and all the gado-gado you can heap on one plate! Best Indonesian street food at Jalan Jaksa and Jalan Sabang:

• Gado-gado: an Indonesian-style salad containing tofu, hard-boiled eggs and mixed vegetables – usually potatoes, string beans, spinach and baby corn – all doused in a hefty ladleful of peanut sauce and topped with crunchy rice crackers.

Best places to eat on Jalan Jaksa

• Sate Khas Senayan
• Ocha & Bella
• Plataran Menteng

Best places to eat on Jalan Sabang

• Kopi Oey
• Bangi Kopitiam Sabang
• Mercure Jakarta Sabang

If you happen to stay outside of the above mentioned areas, you can still get a taste of these delicious dishes without having to cross town. Order through Grab and enjoy these local cuisines delivered right to your door. From breakfast to a late night snack, Grab is a convenient way to try it all!

Check In to Vertu Harmoni Jakarta, Step Out to Jalan Jaksa

Explore more hotels and guest houses near Jalan Sabang

5. Eat at a local warung at BENDUNGAN HILIR (BENHIL)

There may be no better place than Bendungan Hilir, popularly known as Benhil, to experience authentic Indonesian street food. Stuff your face with local favorites, all sold from a friendly warung (streetside restaurants in Jakarta) or from the back end of a kaki lima, or “five leg” vendor, parked on the street. The mobile food carts get their name from the three wheels on the cart itself and the two legs of the vendor who pushes it!

Best foods to try at Benhil

• Martabak (stuffed pancakes)
• Bubur ayam (chicken porridge)
• Bakso (meatball soup)
• Gorengan (deep-fried fritters)

Check In to The Hermitage, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, Step Out to Bendungan Hilir (Benhil)

Discover more hostels and hotels near Jakarta Convention Center