The Atlas · Nº 13 ·Indonesia

Most Popular Indonesian Food

Indonesian food is spice and rice across a thousand islands: skewers of satay over coals, a dark bowl of rawon soup, a Padang table crowded with rendang and sambal. Every meal turns on rice and a fiery chili paste, and the deepest, most varied cooking is Java's.

190 dishes ranked·37 in the global top 1,000 ·3,884 diner ratings·Best rank Nº 89

Plate I — The Origins

Fig. 1 Where 190 ranked indonesian dishes were born. Dish origin

Drag to pan · Double-click or +/− to zoom · Select a marker for its entry

The Signature Dishes

The twelve highest-ranked Indonesian dishes, by global position.

Batagor, snack from Indonesia
Plate IISnack · Indonesia

1 Nº 89 worldwide

Batagor

Snack

Bandung's favorite snack, fried fish-and-tofu dumplings served under a thick, sweet peanut sauce with lime and kecap manis. The name is short for baso tahu goreng, and its crisp-then-drenched contrast comes straight from the city's Chinese-Indonesian kitchens.

★ 4.4|96% positive |48 ratings

Pisang goreng, deep-fried dessert from Indonesia
Plate IIIDeep-fried Dessert · Indonesia

2 Nº 155 worldwide

Pisang goreng

Deep-fried Dessert · Godoh biu · Gedhang gorèng

Fried bananas, the everyday Indonesian snack, ripe fruit dipped in batter and deep-fried until the outside crisps and the inside turns molten and sweet. Sold hot from carts and warungs across the country, sometimes dusted with sugar or drizzled with palm syrup.

★ 4.4|87% positive |122 ratings

Soto Betawi, meat soup from Indonesia

3Soto BetawiNº 198

Meat Soup

Jakarta's rich beef soup, chunks of meat and offal simmered in a broth made creamy with coconut milk and sharpened with lime, fried shallots, and sambal. A specialty of the city's Betawi people, it is served with rice and crisp emping crackers.

★ 4.3|28 ratings

Rawon, meat soup from Indonesia

4RawonNº 226

Meat Soup · Also Beef Black Soup

East Java's black beef soup, its deep brown-black color and earthy, nutty depth coming from keluak, the fermented kluwak nut. Slow-braised beef in the dark broth is served with rice, bean sprouts, salted egg, and sambal, a dish unlike any other soup in the region.

★ 4.3|90 ratings

Serabi, pancake from Indonesia

5SerabiNº 256

Pancake · Also Surabi

Small Indonesian pancakes of rice flour and coconut milk, cooked in a little clay pan over coals so the bottom crisps while the top stays soft and spongy. Eaten sweet with palm-sugar syrup or savory with a spiced coconut sauce, they are a market-morning treat.

★ 4.3|43 ratings

Nasi padang, assorted small dishes or ritual from Indonesia

6Nasi padangNº 290

Assorted Small Dishes or Ritual

Not one dish but a way of eating: a mound of rice ringed by small plates of Minangkabau cooking from West Sumatra, rendang, gulai, fried chicken, and fiery sambal. At a Padang restaurant the dishes arrive unbidden, and you pay only for what you touch.

★ 4.3|56 ratings

Betutu, poultry dish from Indonesia

7BetutuNº 338

Poultry Dish

A ceremonial Balinese dish of chicken or duck rubbed inside and out with base genep, a complex paste of turmeric, galangal, chili, and shrimp paste, then wrapped and slow-roasted for hours until the meat falls apart. Temple-festival food, deeply spiced and tender.

★ 4.2|22 ratings

Nasi campur, assorted small dishes or ritual from Indonesia

8Nasi campurNº 356

Assorted Small Dishes or Ritual · Also Nasi rames

Mixed rice, the everyday Indonesian plate lunch, a scoop of rice surrounded by a little of everything: a piece of meat or fish, a vegetable, tempeh, egg, peanuts, and a spoon of sambal. Every warung builds it differently, and no two plates are quite the same.

★ 4.2|29 ratings

Soto ayam, soup from Indonesia

9Soto ayamNº 359

Soup

The chicken version of soto, and the most popular, a fragrant turmeric-yellow broth poured over shredded chicken, glass noodles, bean sprouts, and compressed rice cakes. Brightened with lime, fried shallots, and sambal, it is comfort food eaten any time of day.

★ 4.2|31 ratings

Sambal terasi, sauce from Indonesia

10Sambal terasiNº 372

Sauce · Also Sambal belacan

The everyday Indonesian chili sauce, red chilies ground with terasi, the pungent fermented shrimp paste, plus tomato, lime, and salt. Fiery and funky, it is set on every table as the condiment that ties a meal together, dabbed onto rice and everything beside it.

★ 4.2|21 ratings

Siomay, dumplings from Indonesia

11SiomayNº 401

Dumplings

Steamed fish dumplings served with potato, cabbage, tofu, egg, and bitter melon, all doused in the same sweet peanut sauce as batagor. A Bandung street classic descended from Chinese siumai, it is assembled to order and cut up over the plate.

★ 4.2|50 ratings

Opor ayam, stew from Indonesia

12Opor ayamNº 479

Stew

A mild, pale Indonesian chicken curry, the bird simmered in coconut milk with lemongrass, galangal, and candlenut until rich and aromatic but not fiery. It is holiday food above all, the dish served with rice cakes to break the fast at Lebaran.

★ 4.2|25 ratings

The Departments

Every Indonesian dish in our ranking, grouped the way you'd order them.

The Complete Ledger

All 190 Indonesian dishes in the world ranking. Every entry, leaf by leaf.

190 entries
  1. 89 Batagor Snack Bandung ★ 4.4
  2. 155 Pisang goreng Deep-fried Dessert Indonesia ★ 4.4
  3. 198 Soto Betawi Meat Soup Jakarta ★ 4.3
  4. 226 Rawon Meat Soup Surabaya ★ 4.3
  5. 256 Serabi Pancake Java ★ 4.3
  6. 290 Nasi padang Assorted Small Dishes or Ritual Padang ★ 4.3
  7. 338 Betutu Poultry Dish Bali ★ 4.2
  8. 356 Nasi campur Assorted Small Dishes or Ritual Indonesia ★ 4.2
  9. 359 Soto ayam Soup Indonesia ★ 4.2
  10. 372 Sambal terasi Sauce Java ★ 4.2
  11. 401 Siomay Dumplings Indonesia ★ 4.2
  12. 479 Opor ayam Stew Java ★ 4.2
  13. 492 Tempeh mendoan Street Food Purwokerto Barat ★ 4.2
  14. 509 Tempe goreng Snack Indonesia ★ 4.2
  15. 517 Rujak Fruit Salad Java ★ 4.1
  16. 522 Rica-rica Sauce Manado ★ 4.1
  17. 536 Gulai ayam Stew Padang ★ 4.1
  18. 540 Sayur lodeh Vegetable Soup Java ★ 4.1
  19. 541 Soto Lamongan Chicken Soup Lamongan ★ 4.1
  20. 573 Konro Meat Soup South Sulawesi ★ 4.1
  21. 580 Bakso goreng Meatballs Indonesia ★ 4.1
  22. 600 Ikan bakar Fish Dish Indonesia ★ 4.1
  23. 608 Bubur ayam Rice Dish Java ★ 4.1
  24. 613 Sate Padang Beef Dish West Sumatra ★ 4.1
  25. 624 Pempek Fish Dish Palembang ★ 4.1
  26. 647 Nasi kuning Rice Dish Java ★ 4.1
  27. 650 Satay Meat Dish Java ★ 4.1
  28. 669 Gulai Stew Sumatra ★ 4.1
  29. 690 Kripik Snack Indonesia ★ 4.1
  30. 704 Ayam goreng Fried Chicken Dish Indonesia ★ 4.1
  31. 773 Lemang Rice Dish Indonesia ★ 4.1
  32. 789 Dadar gulung Pancake Indonesia ★ 4.1
  33. 817 Nasi liwet Rice Dish Surakarta ★ 4.1
  34. 872 Risoles Snack Indonesia ★ 4.0
  35. 894 Ayam penyet Fried Chicken Dish East Java ★ 4.0
  36. 895 Gorengan Snack Indonesia ★ 4.0
  37. 941 Ayam bakar Chicken Dish Indonesia ★ 4.0
  38. 1,044 Tongseng Stew Central Java ★ 4.0
  39. 1,061 Tekwan Fish Soup Palembang ★ 4.0
  40. 1,083 Rendang Meat Dish West Sumatra ★ 4.0
  41. 1,099 Nasi goreng ayam Stir-fry Indonesia ★ 4.0
  42. 1,103 Minced Meat Satay (Sate lilit) Street Food Bali ★ 4.0
  43. 1,131 Nasi uduk Rice Dish Jakarta ★ 4.0
  44. 1,139 Mutton Satay (Sate kambing) Street Food Indonesia ★ 4.0
  45. 1,207 Nasi goreng Stir-fry Indonesia ★ 4.0
  46. 1,218 Klepon Dessert Java ★ 4.0
  47. 1,355 Nasi pecel Rice Dish East Java ★ 3.9
  48. 1,384 Sayur asem Vegetable Soup West Java ★ 3.9
  49. 1,406 Perkedel Appetizer Indonesia ★ 3.9
  50. 1,483 Buntil Vegetable Dish Java ★ 3.9
  51. 1,501 Empal gentong Soup Cirebon ★ 3.9
  52. 1,591 Soto Medan Meat Soup Medan ★ 3.9
  53. 1,613 Kue putu Cake Indonesia ★ 3.9
  54. 1,615 Bakwan Street Food Indonesia ★ 3.9
  55. 1,668 Soto Bandung Meat Soup Bandung ★ 3.9
  56. 1,697 Ketupat kandangan Stew South Kalimantan ★ 3.9
  57. 1,755 Rujak cingur Salad Surabaya ★ 3.9
  58. 1,757 Coto Makassar Meat Soup Makassar ★ 3.9
  59. 1,803 Tempe orek Stir-fry Indonesia ★ 3.9
  60. 1,853 Pecel Sauce East Java ★ 3.9
  61. 1,867 Sambal Sauce Java ★ 3.9
  62. 1,896 Sate Ponorogo Chicken Dish Ponorogo ★ 3.9
  63. 2,050 Asinan Side Dish Indonesia ★ 3.9
  64. 2,057 Es teler Dessert Java ★ 3.9
  65. 2,111 Cap cai Stir-fry Indonesia ★ 3.8
  66. 2,112 Tumpeng Feast West Java ★ 3.8
  67. 2,154 Sate Madura Street Food Madura Island ★ 3.8
  68. 2,177 Burasa Side Dish Makassar ★ 3.8
  69. 2,235 Dendeng balado Beef Dish Padang ★ 3.8
  70. 2,291 Kepiting saus Padang Crab Dish Padang ★ 3.8
  71. 2,328 Plecing kangkung Vegetable Dish Lombok Island ★ 3.8
  72. 2,434 Lemper Snack Java ★ 3.8
  73. 2,532 Nasi timbel Rice Dish West Java ★ 3.8
  74. 2,537 Bebek goreng Duck Dish Indonesia ★ 3.8
  75. 2,559 Tahu campur Soup East Java ★ 3.8
  76. 2,577 Arsik Freshwater Fish Dish North Sumatra ★ 3.8
  77. 2,606 Pallubasa Soup Makassar ★ 3.8
  78. 2,624 Rabbit Satay (Sate kelinci) Rabbit Dish Java ★ 3.8
  79. 2,625 Prawn Satay (Sate udang) Shrimp/Prawn Dish Indonesia ★ 3.8
  80. 2,626 Nasi goreng mawut Stir-fry Indonesia ★ 3.8
  81. 2,628 Tempe kering Vegan Dish Indonesia ★ 3.8
  82. 2,629 Soto babat Offal Soup Indonesia ★ 3.8
  83. 2,679 Semur ayam Chicken Dish Java ★ 3.8
  84. 2,681 Semur daging Stew Java ★ 3.8
  85. 2,789 Udang balado Stir-fry Padang ★ 3.8
  86. 2,797 Nasi gandul Rice Dish Pati ★ 3.8
  87. 2,835 Mie aceh Noodle Dish Aceh ★ 3.8
  88. 2,872 Pork Satay (Sate babi) Street Food Indonesia ★ 3.8
  89. 2,881 Lalap Salad West Java ★ 3.8
  90. 2,921 Kue ape Pancake Jakarta ★ 3.8
  91. 2,937 Ketupat Rice Dish Java ★ 3.8
  92. 2,978 Soto Soup Indonesia ★ 3.8
  93. 3,018 Bakwan malang Meat Soup Malang ★ 3.8
  94. 3,094 Sop saudara Meat Soup Makassar ★ 3.8
  95. 3,120 Tempe bacem Vegan Dish Indonesia ★ 3.8
  96. 3,122 Soto kaki Offal Soup Jakarta ★ 3.8
  97. 3,152 Rujak cuka Fruit Salad West Java ★ 3.8
  98. 3,153 Kerak telor Egg Dish Jakarta ★ 3.8
  99. 3,185 Rujak petis Fruit Salad Surabaya ★ 3.8
  100. 3,215 Krengsengan Stir-fry Surabaya ★ 3.8
  101. 3,216 Otak-otak goreng Snack Padang ★ 3.8
  102. 3,300 Kue nagasari Snack Indonesia ★ 3.8
  103. 3,310 Kaledo Offal Soup Palu ★ 3.8
  104. 3,429 Tengkleng Stew Surakarta ★ 3.8
  105. 3,438 Bakpia Pathok Pastry Yogyakarta ★ 3.8
  106. 3,525 Botok Vegetable Dish Java ★ 3.8
  107. 3,550 Cireng Street Food Java ★ 3.8
  108. 3,712 Mussels Satay (Sate kerang) Mussel Dish Surabaya ★ 3.7
  109. 3,713 Turmeric Fried Rice (Nasi goreng kunyit) Stir-fry Indonesia ★ 3.7
  110. 3,715 Soto ceker Offal Soup Indonesia ★ 3.7
  111. 3,716 Soto tangkar Meat Soup Indonesia ★ 3.7
  112. 3,747 R Rujak tumbuk Fruit Salad Indonesia ★ 3.7
  113. 3,826 Ayam pelalah Stir-fry Bali ★ 3.7
  114. 3,904 Klappertaart Dessert Indonesia ★ 3.7
  115. 4,015 Kupat tahu Breakfast Bandung ★ 3.7
  116. 4,071 Kuih lapis Cake Indonesia ★ 3.7
  117. 4,089 Ayam pop Chicken Dish Padang ★ 3.7
  118. 4,091 Panada Savory Pastry Manado ★ 3.7
  119. 4,111 Tinutuan Porridge Manado ★ 3.7
  120. 4,138 Bubur ketan hitam Breakfast Indonesia ★ 3.7
  121. 4,190 Stir-Fried Water Spinach (Tumis kangkung) Stir-fry Java ★ 3.7
  122. 4,192 Nagasari Dessert Indonesia ★ 3.7
  123. 4,390 Mie kocok Noodle Dish Bandung ★ 3.7
  124. 4,396 Cilok Street Food West Java ★ 3.7
  125. 4,404 Rendang ayam Chicken Dish Indonesia ★ 3.7
  126. 4,409 Otak-otak Snack Indonesia ★ 3.7
  127. 4,448 Poor Man's Satay (Sate kere) Street Food Surakarta ★ 3.7
  128. 4,459 Acar kuning Pickling Maluku Islands ★ 3.7
  129. 4,483 Singkong goreng Snack Indonesia ★ 3.7
  130. 4,579 Nasi bogana Rice Dish Tegal ★ 3.7
  131. 4,590 Tempeh Side Dish Java ★ 3.7
  132. 4,592 Krupuk Snack Indonesia ★ 3.7
  133. 4,609 Bakso Meatballs Indonesia ★ 3.7
  134. 4,730 Karedok Salad West Java ★ 3.7
  135. 4,773 Ketoprak Salad Jakarta ★ 3.7
  136. 4,783 Semur Stew Indonesia ★ 3.7
  137. 4,944 Pepes tahu Vegan Dish West Java ★ 3.7
  138. 4,973 O Odading Snack Indonesia ★ 3.7
  139. 5,003 Terong balado Stir-fry Indonesia ★ 3.7
  140. 5,092 Urap Salad Java ★ 3.6
  141. 5,210 Rujak soto Salad Banyuwangi ★ 3.6
  142. 5,311 Papeda Porridge Maluku ★ 3.6
  143. 5,323 Smashed Fried Chicken with Sambal (Ayam geprek) Fried Chicken Dish Yogyakarta ★ 3.6
  144. 5,431 Mie kangkung Noodle Soup Jakarta ★ 3.6
  145. 5,450 Kuluban Stir-fry Jepara ★ 3.6
  146. 5,593 Gudeg Street Food Yogyakarta ★ 3.6
  147. 5,626 Paniki Game Dish North Sulawesi ★ 3.6
  148. 5,646 Selat solo Beef Dish Surakarta ★ 3.6
  149. 5,677 Kue cucur Snack Indonesia ★ 3.6
  150. 5,751 Pecel lele Freshwater Fish Dish Java ★ 3.6
  151. 5,882 Arem-arem Snack Java ★ 3.6
  152. 5,999 Bakso bakar Meatballs Indonesia ★ 3.6
  153. 6,025 Nasi jagung Rice Dish Indonesia ★ 3.6
  154. 6,170 Gado-gado Salad Jakarta ★ 3.6
  155. 6,217 Bubur kacang hijau Porridge Indonesia ★ 3.6
  156. 6,227 Lapis legit Cake Java ★ 3.5
  157. 6,244 Bakso solo Meatballs Surakarta ★ 3.5
  158. 6,251 Wingko Dessert Java ★ 3.5
  159. 6,305 Lamb in Caul Fat Satay (Sate buntel) Lamb Dish Surakarta ★ 3.5
  160. 6,325 Gudeg Yogya Stew Yogyakarta ★ 3.5
  161. 6,357 B Babi masak tomat Pork Dish Kalimantan ★ 3.5
  162. 6,471 I Ikan goreng Fish Dish Indonesia ★ 3.5
  163. 6,597 Wajik Dessert Java ★ 3.5
  164. 6,714 T Tinaransay Pork Dish North Sulawesi ★ 3.5
  165. 6,905 Babi guling Pork Dish Bali ★ 3.5
  166. 6,945 Getuk Dessert Java ★ 3.5
  167. 7,016 Bakso ayam Meatballs Indonesia ★ 3.5
  168. 7,240 Babi panggang Pork Dish Sumatra ★ 3.4
  169. 7,639 Lawar Meat Dish Bali ★ 3.3
  170. 7,670 Oncom Snack Java ★ 3.3
  171. 7,697 Soto Padang Meat Soup Padang ★ 3.3
  172. 7,747 Nasi kucing Rice Dish Central Java ★ 3.3
  173. 7,780 Saksang Stew North Sumatra ★ 3.3
  174. 7,990 Nasi tim ayam Rice Dish Indonesia ★ 3.2
  175. 8,052 Kolak Dessert Indonesia ★ 3.2
  176. 8,200 Acar Side Dish Indonesia ★ 3.2
  177. 8,724 Gulai kambing Stew Indonesia
  178. 9,223 Rengginang Snack Indonesia
  179. 9,233 Brenebon Soup Manado
  180. 9,555 Fire-Roasted Satay (Sate klatak) Meat Dish Pleret
  181. 9,556 Pineapple Fried Rice (Nasi goreng nanas) Stir-fry Indonesia
  182. 9,676 I Iga senyet Beef Dish Surabaya
  183. 9,708 Cakalang fufu Saltwater Fish Dish Manado
  184. 9,791 A Ayam bakar opor Chicken Dish Indonesia
  185. 9,814 L Lapis palaro Beef Dish Maluku Islands
  186. 9,819 S Sambal tappa Salad Ambon Island
  187. 9,874 R Roti buaya Sweet Bread Jakarta
  188. 9,941 Sop buntut Meat Soup Java
  189. 10,335 Nasi jaha Rice Dish Maluku
  190. 10,522 G Gence ruan Fish Dish Kalimantan
Leaf 1 of 6

Gazetteer

A Regional Tour of Indonesian Food

Where Indonesia's ranked dishes were born, and what to order there.

Questions, Answered

Indonesian food, frequently asked. Answered from the data.

What is the most popular Indonesian food?
By ratings the icons lead: Satay, the grilled skewers with peanut sauce, then Rendang, the slow-cooked dry beef curry, and Nasi goreng, Indonesian fried rice. Our best-ranked Indonesian dish is Batagor, Bandung's fried fish dumplings under a sweet peanut sauce. All 32 Indonesian meat dishes →
What food is Indonesia known for?
Spice, rice, and skewers. Indonesia is famous for Satay and Rendang, the West Sumatran beef curry often called the world's tastiest dish, and for a deep bench of soto soups like the beefy Soto Betawi and turmeric Soto ayam. Sambal chili paste sits on every table. All 37 Indonesian soups & stews →
What is Indonesia's national dish?
Indonesia named several. The government has recognized dishes including Nasi goreng, Rendang, Satay, Soto, and Gado-gado as national dishes. Of these, Rendang, the fragrant slow-cooked beef from Padang, is the one most often crowned the country's finest. Our top-ranked is Batagor.
What should I eat in Java?
Java is Indonesia's deepest food region, and it swings sweet and savory. Try Rawon, East Java's black beef soup darkened with keluak nut, and Opor ayam, a mild coconut chicken curry. For a snack, Serabi, little coconut-rice pancakes, are cooked over coals.
What should I eat in Padang?
Padang, in West Sumatra, is the home of Minangkabau cooking and its famous spread, Nasi padang: rice ringed by small dishes brought to the table unasked. The star is Rendang, beef slow-cooked in coconut and spice until dark and dry, alongside rich Gulai ayam curry.
What Indonesian dishes do locals love that tourists miss?
Fermented soy and fiery snacks. Tempeh mendoan is a Central Javan treat, fresh tempeh in a herby batter fried barely set and floppy, dipped in sweet soy and chili. Rujak tosses unripe fruit in a sweet-hot palm-sugar sauce, and Rica-rica is a Manado dish blazing with bird's-eye chili.