Food · Yogyakarta · Indonesia
What to eat in Yogyakarta
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Yogyakarta, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Start with Gudeg, Bakpia and Kopi joss. Sit on mats or benches at an angkringan cart near Tugu station, pick skewers to be grilled, eat nasi kucing and finish with a hissing glass of kopi joss. Yogyakarta food leans sweet; ask for 'pedas' if you want more chilli or 'tidak manis' for less sugar in drinks.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Gudeg
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 5
- Tipping
- Tipping is not expected in warung, but small tips for guides, drivers and becak riders…
- Food experiences
- 3
11 foods to try
Dish
1.Gudeg
Yogyakarta's signature dish: young jackfruit slow-cooked for hours in coconut milk and palm sugar until sweet and brown, served with rice, chicken, egg, tofu and spicy cattle-skin stew (sambal krecek).
Where: The gudeg stalls of Jalan Wijilan near the Kraton, and early-morning gudeg sellers across the city.
Snack · Vegetarian
2.Bakpia
Small round pastries with flaky crusts filled with sweet mung bean paste, or newer fillings such as chocolate and cheese, sold in numbered boxes and bought by the dozen as gifts.
Where: Bakeries in the Pathuk area west of Malioboro, where many family brands are named after their house numbers.
Drink · Vegetarian
3.Kopi joss
Sweet black coffee into which a glowing piece of charcoal is dropped, making it hiss; locals say it reduces acidity. A Yogyakarta night-time ritual.
Where: Angkringan stalls north of Tugu station, especially on Jalan Wongsodirjan.
Street food
4.Nasi kucing
'Cat rice': tiny banana-leaf parcels of rice with a little sambal and anchovy or tempeh, eaten with skewers of quail egg, offal and fritters grilled on request at angkringan carts.
Where: Angkringan carts lit by oil lamps around Tugu station and across the city after dark.
Dish
5.Sate klathak
Goat satay seasoned simply with salt and grilled on iron bicycle spokes, which conduct heat through the meat, served with curry-like gulai broth.
Where: Specialist stalls in Bantul south of the city, especially around Pleret and Imogiri.
Dish
6.Javanese noodles (Bakmi Jawa)
Fried or soupy egg noodles cooked to order one portion at a time in a wok over charcoal, with chicken, egg and cabbage. Expect to wait; slow cooking is part of the appeal.
Where: Evening bakmi stalls across the city; the popular ones have long queues.
Dish
7.Kalasan fried chicken (Ayam goreng Kalasan)
Free-range chicken first simmered in coconut water and spices, then fried until crisp, served with sambal, raw vegetables and the fried spice crumbs.
Where: Restaurants along the road to Prambanan in Kalasan, a natural lunch stop after the temples.
Drink · Vegetarian
8.Wedang ronde
A warm ginger drink with glutinous rice balls filled with ground peanuts and palm sugar, plus peanuts and bread cubes, sold from carts in the evening.
Where: Night stalls at Alun-Alun Kidul and along Malioboro.
Dish
9.Oseng-oseng mercon
A fiercely spicy stir-fry of beef fat and tendons with large amounts of chilli, its name meaning 'firecracker'. Only for those who like heat.
Where: Warung around Jalan KH Ahmad Dahlan west of Malioboro, mainly in the evening.
Drink · Vegetarian
10.Jamu
Traditional Javanese herbal tonics made from turmeric, ginger, tamarind and other roots, sold fresh by street sellers and in market stalls, each blend linked to a health benefit.
Where: Morning jamu sellers and herbal stalls in Beringharjo Market; try kunyit asam, turmeric with tamarind.
Dessert · Vegetarian
11.Geplak
Brightly coloured sweets of grated coconut cooked with sugar, a traditional snack from Bantul, south of the city.
Where: Souvenir food shops in Malioboro and Bantul markets.
Food experiences
Angkringan night
Sit on mats or benches at an angkringan cart near Tugu station, pick skewers to be grilled, eat nasi kucing and finish with a hissing glass of kopi joss.
Gudeg breakfast
Gudeg is traditionally eaten early; join locals at a stall in Wijilan or a market for a sweet-and-spicy breakfast on banana leaf.
Sate klathak run
Take an evening trip south to Bantul for goat satay grilled on bicycle spokes at one of the specialist stalls.
Quick bites and street food
- Bakpia — Bakeries in the Pathuk area west of Malioboro, where many family brands are named after their house numbers.
- Nasi kucing — Angkringan carts lit by oil lamps around Tugu station and across the city after dark.
Vegetarian options
Of the 11 foods in this guide, 5 are usually vegetarian: Bakpia, Kopi joss, Wedang ronde, Jamu and Geplak. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Yogyakarta food leans sweet; ask for 'pedas' if you want more chilli or 'tidak manis' for less sugar in drinks.
- Many warung and angkringan are cash only; carry small notes.
- Lesehan dining, sitting on mats at low tables, is common at night along Malioboro; check prices before ordering at tourist-facing stalls.
- Eat with your right hand when eating with fingers, as locals do with many rice dishes.
- Alcohol is less widely available than in Bali; Prawirotaman has the most bars.
Tipping
Tipping is not expected in warung, but small tips for guides, drivers and becak riders are appreciated. Hotels and restaurants often add a service charge.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Sugeng enjing | Good morning (Javanese) |
| Matur nuwun | Thank you (Javanese) |
| Terima kasih | Thank you (Indonesian) |
| Berapa harganya? | How much is it? |
| Pinten? | How much? (Javanese) |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Yogyakarta famous for?
Gudeg, Bakpia, Kopi joss and Nasi kucing. Yogyakarta's signature dish: young jackfruit slow-cooked for hours in coconut milk and palm sugar until sweet and brown, served with rice, chicken, egg, tofu and spicy cattle-skin stew (sambal krecek).
+Is Yogyakarta good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Bakpia, Kopi joss and Wedang ronde.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Yogyakarta?
Tipping is not expected in warung, but small tips for guides, drivers and becak riders are appreciated. Hotels and restaurants often add a service charge.