Indonesian Cuisine – Top 10 Traditional Dishes You Must Have To Try Now!

The best thing about Indonesian cuisine is their recipes that get passed down from one generation to the next. Being the home to some of the best spices and herbs, Indonesia has all it takes to create a cuisine tasty and spicy.

But what are the best cuisines you should try once in Indonesia? Don’t worry; I have the best cuisines lined up for you to taste.

This article is all about the best Indonesian cuisines, and you must try them once in Indonesia. Here, I have listed the ten best Indonesian cuisines. So, without any delay, let us jump right in.

Ten Delicious Indonesian Cuisines:

Here are the ten handpicked cuisines from Indonesia you must try at least once in your life.

1. Nasi Padang

With rice at the core, Nasi Padang is a dish rich in various aromatic flavors and tastes. The top rice with fish, curries, chicken, and different parts of beef make this delicacy. Don’t use those forks and spoons.

If you want to have the best of its taste, you should use your bare hand and dig right in. people trying to get themselves acquainted with the Indonesian food culture must try this Indonesian cuisine.

Try Here:  Java Indonesian Restaurant, New York 

This place offers some of the freshest Indonesian dishes I’ve tasted. A must try for the Nasi Padang, every other dish is a must-have! Other dishes from their menu – include gado gado salad, chicken satay and corn fritters which I enjoyed during my visit.  

2. Indonesian Satay

The taste of meat dumplings and skewers may be the warmest and happiest feeling in many mouths. The Indonesian Satay makes sure that you receive that happiness. Cooked over coals, these meat skewers are just as juicy as they are delicious.

Many Indonesian street vendors sell this delicacy. They serve it with rice cakes and pour peanut sauce on top of it. Most restaurants in Indonesia serve this Indonesian cuisine.

Try Here: Satay By The Bay, San Francisco  

Many Indonesian restaurants can get you the freshest dishes, but they need help to nail the peanut sauce. Satay By The Bay does precisely that! We tried the chicken satay with the mind-blowing peanut sauce that takes you back to the streets of Indonesia selling freshly made sauce with such dishes.  

3. Rawon ( Beef Stew)

Now hold on. You might think that this dark meat broth is not as not tasty from the looks of it. But, I am very happy to tell you that you have the wrong idea. The use of kluwak ( one of the main spices in the recipe) causes the Rawon soup to look dark.

Since the recipe is a slow process of cooking, the spices deeply penetrate the meat making it taste as good as it does. It is one of the traditional Indonesian foods you must not skip.

Try Here:  Rasa Rasa Kitchen – San Francisco 

Another one of the must-visit places to have lip-smacking Indonesian food, Rasa Rasa Kitchen will not disappoint your tastebuds! The Rawon has meat that just melts in your mouth. You won’t be able to forget its taste for days! I still think about the mouthfeel and how exceptional it tasted. My trip to SanFran was a success! 

4. Pecel ( Indonesian Vegetable Salad)

All non-veg and nothing for vegetarians? No, I can’t be that heartless. If you are in for a salad, Pecel is the Indonesian cuisine you are looking for. The dish contains several boiled green veggies. They top it up with spicy peanut sauce and serve it alongside tempeh or rice.

Often called Nasi Pecel, this Indonesian cuisine is also called Sambal Pecel when topped with Peanut sauce.

Try Here: Lime Tree Southeast Asian Kitchen, San Francisco 

A must-visit place for almost all Indonesian dishes, but the Pecel just takes the cake. Even if you  prefer non-vegetarian food, this dish will probably convert you to a vegetarian lover. Knowing my love for peanut sauce, Lime Tree did not disappoint either. 

5. Indomie

Any list of cuisines, and I say it again. Literally, any list of cuisines is incomplete without some noodles. No, this is nothing extraordinary ( since most countries have their instant noodles, right?). But what makes Indomie so special are the various flavors it is available in.

You can try the taste of the different flavors and let your mouth be overjoyed with happiness.

Try Here: INDO Restaurant & Lounge, California  

INDO restaurant has been my go-to for authentic Indomie  which is so much different than the one you have at food markets. The rich flavors take you on a rollercoaster of flavors, and you keep wanting more! 

6. Siomay

You may have figured out by now that most of the street foods available in Indonesia are associated with peanut sauce. The Indonesian version of dim sum, Siomay, (also called siomai) consists of fish dumplings. The rest of the portion contains cabbage and eggs; they are served with peanut sauce.

If you are ever in Indonesia, you can taste the best of this Indonesian cuisine from one of the bicycle vendors on the roadside.

Try Here: Dim Sum Bistro, Chinatown 

The siomay at this place is just exceptional! usually I do not like how it tastes, but , I’m willing to make that rare exception for this one. If like me you were averse to dim sums, you will fall in love with the ones they have!  

The siomay was just what they claimed it to bhe – fresh and delicious!  

7. Nasi Uduk

Another national dish of Indonesia, Nasi Uduk, is a must-try if you are looking for Indonesia’s famous foods. This Indonesian cuisine consists of rice cooked in coconut milk. Then they serve it with chicken, Tempe, fried onions, and shredded omelets.

If you are thinking best lunch ideas during a trip to Indonesia, try out Nasi Uduk.

Try Here: Nyonya cafe 

 You don’t need  visit to Indonesia to get a taste of nasi uduk. Nyonya cafe nails the authentic flavors that you will get in Indonesia. The fragrant broth makes your mouth water even before you’ve  tasted the dish.  

The chicken melts in your mouth, and the ingredients come together to give you flavorful mouthfeel.  

8. Sweet Martabak

When you need something sweet, you should try out Sweet Martabak, an Indonesian Dessert. It is simply an Indonesian Pancake, but it is yummy. They come with different types of fillings like Chocolate, cheese, or peanuts. The taste is up to you.

Try Here: SanDai, California 

Apart from being a crowd-favorite, this place also serves some of the most delicious Martabak I’ve tried. Not many Indonesian places serve this dish and that’s a shame because I could have it any day!  

You can also enjoy the vegan dishes they serve, for example the cauliflower satay was something I did not expect to taste THAT good! The pistachio sambal elevates the dish, give it a try when you visit! 

9. Ayam Taliwang

If chickens are your thing, you will love Ayam Taliwang. The roasted chicken is seasoned with dried chilies, shallots, garlic, tomatoes, fried shrimp, chopped tomatoes, galangal, salt, and brown sugar. This Indonesian cuisine is all about spiciness, smokiness, and flavors.

Try Here: Borobudur Restaurant, San Francisco, Now closed.  

One of the best places I had the privilege of having authentic Indonesian food in the US was Borobudur. Sadly, it has recently closed permanently, but I hope they decide to open again soon. 

10. Pempek Palembang

This is a traditional Indonesian signature dish made out of fish meat. Palembang is a place surrounded by water. As a result, fish is a dominant ingredient in their dishes. Cassava starch and fish meat are the two main ingredients of this Indonesian cuisine.

Try Here: MingHin Cuisine, Chinatown  

This place is one of those must-visit places where you want to spend all your money because the food is just THAT great! The fish was so fresh that you would think you  were having it sitting in Indonesia. 

End Of The Table

Now that I have put all of my recommendations to the table, you should be able to decide which one to taste first. The Indonesian cuisines here are all tasty and healthy. Although many consider Indonesian cuisines to be unhealthy, the foods listed here tell otherwise.

I have listed mostly nong veg and some non-veg dishes in this article. If you want dessert, you can also taste sweet martabak, a sweet Indonesian dessert. I hope you like all of these recommendations. If you want us to add any other cuisines to the list, you just have to let us know. The comment box is yours for the taking!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

Here are some most popularly asked questions related to Indonesian cuisines:

Read Also:

• Thai Cuisine – Top 10 Traditional Dishes You Must Try In 2022
• Nepali Cuisine – Top 10 Traditional Dishes You Must Try In 2022
• Sri Lankan Cuisine – Top 10 Traditional Dishes You Must Try In 2022