Food · Jakarta · Indonesia
What to eat in Jakarta
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Jakarta, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Start with Soto Betawi, Kerak telor and Nasi uduk. Jalan Haji Agus Salim, known as Jalan Sabang, near Thamrin, is lined with satay, soto and fried-rice stalls in the evenings, an easy street-food walk from central hotels. Eat with a fork and spoon, the Indonesian standard; use your right hand when eating with fingers or passing food.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Soto Betawi
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 4
- Tipping
- Restaurants usually include a service charge.
- Food experiences
- 3
12 foods to try
Dish
1.Soto Betawi
Jakarta's signature soup: beef and offal in a rich broth of coconut milk and milk, spiced with lemongrass and galangal, served with rice, potato, tomato, emping crackers and lime.
Where: Long-established soto stalls and Betawi restaurants across the city, especially in Central and South Jakarta.
Street food
2.Kerak telor
A Betawi omelette of sticky rice and duck or chicken egg cooked in a small wok over charcoal, flipped to char against the coals and topped with fried shallots, coconut and dried shrimp.
Where: Street vendors at Kota Tua, Setu Babakan, Monas and the annual Jakarta Fair.
Breakfast
3.Nasi uduk
Rice cooked in coconut milk with lemongrass and pandan, served with fried chicken, tempeh, egg, peanuts and sambal. A Betawi favourite for breakfast or late night.
Where: Street stalls and warung throughout the city, many busiest early morning or after dark.
Dish · Vegetarian
4.Gado-gado
A salad of blanched vegetables, tofu, tempeh, egg and rice cake (lontong) dressed in peanut sauce ground to order and topped with crackers.
Where: Warung and food courts across Jakarta; ask for it without egg for a vegetarian version.
Street food · Vegetarian
5.Ketoprak
A Jakarta street dish of rice cake, fried tofu, rice vermicelli and bean sprouts in a garlicky peanut sauce with sweet soy and crackers.
Where: Pushcarts in residential streets and outside offices, mainly at lunchtime.
Street food
6.Satay (Sate)
Skewers of chicken, goat or beef grilled over charcoal and served with peanut or sweet soy sauce, rice cakes and shallots. Goat satay (sate kambing) is a Jakarta favourite.
Where: Evening satay stalls and specialist restaurants, including the satay vendors along Jalan Sabang.
Street food
7.Martabak
Two very different evening snacks: martabak manis, a thick sweet pancake folded around chocolate, cheese or peanuts, and martabak telur, a crisp stuffed pastry of egg, minced meat and scallions.
Where: Martabak carts that set up after dark on busy streets citywide; Pecenongan in Central Jakarta is a well-known cluster.
Dish
8.Meatball soup (Bakso)
Springy beef meatballs in clear broth with noodles, tofu and fried shallots, seasoned at the table with chilli sauce, sweet soy and vinegar.
Where: Pushcarts and dedicated bakso shops everywhere, from street corners to mall food courts.
Breakfast
9.Chicken rice porridge (Bubur ayam)
Smooth rice porridge topped with shredded chicken, crackers, fried soybeans, celery and sweet soy, eaten for breakfast across Jakarta.
Where: Morning carts and breakfast warung, usually until mid-morning.
Dessert · Vegetarian
10.Es teler
An iced dessert of avocado, young coconut and jackfruit in sweetened condensed milk and coconut milk, a reliable cure for Jakarta's heat.
Where: Dessert stalls and mall food courts throughout the city.
Drink · Vegetarian
11.Kopi susu gula aren
Iced coffee with milk sweetened with palm sugar, popularised by Jakarta's many local coffee chains and now drunk across the country.
Where: Local coffee shops and kiosks throughout the city, often for take-away.
Dish
12.Nasi goreng
Indonesia's fried rice, cooked with sweet soy, shallots, garlic and chilli and topped with a fried egg and crackers; Jakarta's carts serve it late into the night.
Where: Nasi goreng carts that appear after dark in every neighbourhood.
Food experiences
Jalan Sabang evening
Jalan Haji Agus Salim, known as Jalan Sabang, near Thamrin, is lined with satay, soto and fried-rice stalls in the evenings, an easy street-food walk from central hotels.
Glodok food crawl
Work through Chinese-Indonesian snacks in Petak Sembilan and Gang Gloria, from noodle soups to sweet cakes, starting in the morning before the stalls sell out.
Betawi food at Setu Babakan
Try kerak telor, soto Betawi and traditional cakes at the stalls in Jakarta's Betawi cultural village, especially at weekends.
Quick bites and street food
- Kerak telor — Street vendors at Kota Tua, Setu Babakan, Monas and the annual Jakarta Fair.
- Nasi uduk — Street stalls and warung throughout the city, many busiest early morning or after dark.
- Ketoprak — Pushcarts in residential streets and outside offices, mainly at lunchtime.
- Satay — Evening satay stalls and specialist restaurants, including the satay vendors along Jalan Sabang.
- Martabak — Martabak carts that set up after dark on busy streets citywide; Pecenongan in Central Jakarta is a well-known cluster.
- Chicken rice porridge — Morning carts and breakfast warung, usually until mid-morning.
Vegetarian options
Of the 12 foods in this guide, 4 are usually vegetarian: Gado-gado, Ketoprak, Es teler and Kopi susu gula aren. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Eat with a fork and spoon, the Indonesian standard; use your right hand when eating with fingers or passing food.
- Restaurants usually add about 10% service and 10% tax to the bill.
- Choose street food from busy stalls with high turnover; drink bottled water and ask for no ice if unsure.
- During Ramadan many restaurants stay open, but eat discreetly in public during daylight and expect crowded venues at sunset.
- Pork is uncommon outside Chinese-Indonesian and international restaurants.
Tipping
Restaurants usually include a service charge. Tipping is not expected, but rounding up for taxi drivers and leaving small change for hotel porters and guides is appreciated.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Selamat pagi | Good morning |
| Terima kasih | Thank you |
| Berapa harganya? | How much is it? |
| Tidak pedas | Not spicy |
| Permisi | Excuse me |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Jakarta famous for?
Soto Betawi, Kerak telor, Nasi uduk and Gado-gado. Jakarta's signature soup: beef and offal in a rich broth of coconut milk and milk, spiced with lemongrass and galangal, served with rice, potato, tomato, emping crackers and lime.
+Is Jakarta good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Gado-gado, Ketoprak and Es teler.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Jakarta?
Restaurants usually include a service charge. Tipping is not expected, but rounding up for taxi drivers and leaving small change for hotel porters and guides is appreciated.