Ten Dishes You Can Expect to Find at an Indonesian Restaurant

Indonesia is home to a rich variety of cultures, each translating into unique local dishes that carry history in its flavours. The country’s food culture is so diverse that when you visit, you will find individual restaurants and street vendors dedicated to a certain province’s cuisine. Padang restaurants, for example, are known for their pyramid of stacked plates on display at the front of the establishment. Meanwhile, it’s common to find food from Aceh served in street markets, the smells wafting from the carts.

With such a wide array of dishes, there are also Indonesian restaurants that serve food items staple to any Indonesian province. If you find yourself in the country, here are some of the dishes you will find in Indonesian restaurants.

Sate

Different areas in Indonesia cook and serve satay differently. In Bali for instance, satay is made by wrapping a blend of mixed fish and spices around bamboo skewers or lemongrass. However, the kind you’ll find at Indonesian restaurants will usually be skewered chicken, chicken skin, or beef, grilled and served with a peanut sauce. Some restaurants offer vegetarian options, substituting the meat for tofu or tempeh. Every portion is usually served with rice or lontong (Indonesian rice cakes) and topped with fried shallots.

Nasi goreng

As one of Indonesia’s most popular food items, nasi goreng can almost always be found in any Indonesian restaurant you walk into. This fried rice dish comes in many iterations depending on the province, but restaurants will commonly serve the Javanese kind. Rice is tossed together with protein and vegetables along with a spice blend of shallots, garlic, and chili, then doused in sweet soy sauce. Nasi goreng is commonly served with a fried egg and prawn crackers.

Soto

The most common form of soto is a light yellow soup containing shredded chicken, boiled eggs, beansprouts, and vermicelli. The broth’s colour is thanks to the spice mixture of shallots, garlic, turmeric, candlenut, and crushed galangal. In other parts of Indonesia, the soto broth is thicker and richer with the inclusion of coconut milk.

Nasi uduk

Originating from Jakarta, the star of nasi uduk is fragrant rice cooked in coconut milk. This makes the rice rich and aromatic. Other ingredients in the rice includes pandan leaves, bay leaves, lemongrass, and galangal, which adds to the aromatics of the dish. Typical side dishes for nasi uduk are fried chicken, tofu, shredded omelette, tempeh, and sambal. Fried shallots are sprinkled on top of the rice for garnish.

Nasi campur

You can find different versions of nasi campur depending on the Indonesian restaurant you go to. Traditionally, this menu features white rice with a variety of side dishes positioned around the plate. Side dishes will differ depending on the restaurant, but you can expect a mix of meat, vegetables, tofu or tempeh, and eggs cooked in a variety of ways. Nasi campur is better when enjoyed with crackers and some sambal.

Pecel

For a vegan-friendly dish, try pecel, an Indonesian salad containing steamed cassava leaves, long beans, spinach, and beansprouts. To make the dish more filling, some restaurants may serve pecel with lontong. The salad dressing is a refreshing peanut sauce that adds a nice texture. Pecel is typically served with fried crackers for an extra crunch.

Ayam goreng

Unlike Western-style fried chicken, the Indonesian version goes through a pre-cooking process called ungkep. This is where the chicken is first braised or boiled in a spice-infused broth that includes garlic, turmeric, shallots, galangal, bay leaves, and coriander. These spices infuses the chicken with an aromatic and savoury taste. After this process, the chicken is then deep fried until golden and then served with white rice, sambal, and lalapan or fresh raw vegetables.

Mie ayam

While popularly a street food, mie ayam or chicken noodles can be found in Indonesian restaurants around the country. This dish contains springy wheat noodles tossed in a light soy-based or chicken-based oil, with savoury seasoned chicken on top. Variations on the chicken include braised and minced, with spices that include sweet soy sauce, oyster sauce, shallots, and garlic. Blanched leafy greens are also part of the dish, along with a clear chicken broth on the side. For the full experience, mie ayam can be enjoyed with side dishes like meatballs, fried wontons, or pickled green chilies.

Gulai

Gulai is another street food dish that often feature in restaurant menus. It originates from Sumatra and shares similarities with curries from India and Malaysia. However, the Indonesian version is unique thanks to the local spices. This rich and aromatic curry is made by slow-cooking meat, fish, or vegetables in spiced coconut milk. Aromatics like lemongrass, coriander, galangal, cumin, and bay leaves, are added to give the dish a fragrant punch.

Ketoprak

Finally, ketoprak is a dish with a wonderful combination of textures, made with steamed tofu, vermicelli, beansprouts, and lontong. Everything is smothered with a peanut sauce which is spiced up with garlic, tamarind, palm sugar, and some sweet soy sauce. This perfect balance of sweet and savoury flavours, along with the softness of tofu and the crunch from the beansprouts, make for a hearty meal.

The beauty of Indonesian cuisine is how the food can find their feet in both worlds, being served as street food or fine dining. For a decadent, upscale Indonesian food experience, book a table at Merah Putih Bali with these exclusive gift vouchers. This Indonesian restaurant located in Bali’s bustling Petitenget area serves elevated local dishes that will spoil your palate.

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