Indonesia Food: 20 Dishes to Try

Skewers of marinated and grilled meat (chicken, beef, lamb) served with a sweet and spicy peanut sauce and refreshing cucumber chunks, a perfect communal dish.

Gunawan Kartapranata (CC BY-SA 4.0)

The national fried rice dish, typically featuring rice stir-fried with sweet soy sauce (kecap manis), egg, vegetables, and often chicken or shrimp, offering a comforting savory-sweet flavor profile.

shankar s. from Dubai, united arab emirates (CC BY 2.0)

A traditional Sabahan breakfast, this dish consists of fragrant yellow rice (cooked with turmeric) served with spicy fish and vegetables, often found at morning street stalls.

RahmadHimawan Photography (CC BY-SA 4.0)

A popular Indonesian salad featuring blanched or steamed vegetables (like long beans, cabbage, bean sprouts) and hard-boiled eggs, drenched in a rich, slightly sweet peanut sauce.

Piknikdong (CC BY-SA 4.0)

A comforting and diverse clear soup, varying regionally with chicken, beef, or vegetables and aromatic spices.

Sakurai Midori (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Similar to nasi goreng but with yellow noodles instead of rice, this hearty dish is another Indonesian standard, often made to order with your choice of protein and vegetables.

jeff~ (CC BY 2.0)

A plate of white rice served with small portions of various side dishes, often including vegetables, meats, and sambal, showcasing a range of local flavors in one meal.

Fei Tan (CC BY 2.0)

A warming bowl of beef meatballs served in a clear broth with noodles, tofu, and sometimes eggs, it's a comforting and widely available street food.

Wiwik P (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Jackfruit stew simmered in coconut milk and palm sugar, served with rice and various side dishes — a Yogyakarta specialty, often found in Bogor restaurants catering to visitors from Java.

christian razukas from Honolulu, Hawaii (CC BY-SA 2.0)

A comforting Indonesian rice porridge, typically served for breakfast, topped with shredded chicken, crispy fried shallots, celery, and a drizzle of sweet soy sauce.

Sakurai Midori (CC BY 3.0)

A hearty, clear broth soup featuring tender oxtail pieces, carrots, potatoes, and often fried shallots, a deeply satisfying meal.

Yasmina Haryono (CC BY-SA 2.0)

A refreshing sour and spicy vegetable soup made with tamarind, peanuts, corn, and melinjo nuts, often served as a side dish to a larger meal.

Sakurai Midori (CC BY-SA 3.0)

This traditional Balinese salad combines finely chopped vegetables, grated coconut, and minced meat (often pork or chicken, or sometimes vegetarian), all mixed with rich Balinese spices.

ybs from Jakarta, Indonesia (CC BY 2.0)

Popular chicken noodle soup, often served with wontons (pangsit) and bakso (meatballs), a hearty and satisfying street food meal.

Dulily (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Small, vibrant green traditional Balinese rice cakes, flavored with pandan, and typically served with grated coconut and palm sugar syrup.

Joseagush (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Bali's signature dish, a whole roasted suckling pig seasoned with a potent spice paste (bumbu genep) and slow-roasted to crispy perfection, a specialty due to the island's Hindu majority.

I Kadek Jaya Wiguna (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Small, sweet round pastry cakes with various fillings, most famously green bean paste, originating from the Pathok area.

Sakurai Midori (CC BY-SA 3.0)

A refreshing sweet drink made with green rice flour jelly, coconut milk, palm sugar syrup, and sometimes jackfruit, a perfect tropical cooling treat.

Supardisahabu (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Freshly caught local fish, often snapper or grouper, grilled over charcoal and served with spicy sambal, common in coastal areas.

Gunawan Kartapranata (CC BY-SA 4.0)

A deep-fried or fresh spring roll, often filled with bamboo shoots, vegetables, and sometimes chicken or shrimp.

Midori (CC BY-SA 3.0)