10 Must-Try Foods in Indonesia!
Indonesia is a country full of diverse regional cuisines.
Here are 10 representative Indonesian dishes that you must try during your trip! We've also checked to see if they suit Korean tastes.
1. Nasi Goreng - Indonesian Fried Rice 🍚
Indonesia's signature dish! Stir-fried with soy sauce and various spices for a rich savory flavor, it often includes eggs, shrimp, and chicken. It tastes even better with sambal (chili sauce).
- Korean Taste:** ★★★★☆ (Not too salty and full of savory flavor!)
2. Sate - Indonesian Satay 🍢
Chicken, beef, or goat meat skewered and grilled over charcoal, served with a savory peanut sauce. It's characterized by its sweet and savory flavor.
- Korean Taste:** ★★★★☆ (The familiar taste of sweet and savory peanut sauce!)
3. Rendang - Indonesian Beef Stew 🥩
Beef simmered slowly in coconut milk and various spices. It has a deep, rich flavor, but the strong spices may not be to everyone's liking.
- Korean Taste:** ★★★☆☆ (If you are used to spices, you can enjoy it!)
4. Soto Ayam - Indonesian Chicken Soup 🍲
A clear chicken broth soup with noodles or rice. It has a similar feeling to Korean samgyetang, so Koreans can enjoy it without any burden.
- Korean Taste:** ★★★★★ (Light and familiar soup flavor!)
5. Mie Ayam - Chicken Noodle Soup with Soy Sauce 🍜
Boiled wheat noodles topped with chicken seasoned with soy sauce and garlic. The soy sauce base makes it taste like jajangmyeon.
- Korean Taste:** ★★★★★ (Everyone will love the soy sauce base!)
6. Nasi Campur - Rice with Various Side Dishes 🍛
A one-dish meal consisting of rice topped with various side dishes (meat, vegetables, tempeh, eggs, etc.). The side dish combinations vary by region, but you can enjoy multiple flavors at once.
- Korean Taste:** ★★★★☆ (Enjoyable with a variety of side dish combinations!)
7. Bakso - Indonesian Meatball Soup 🍲
A noodle soup dish with chewy beef meatballs. The broth is sweet, and adding soy sauce enhances the depth of flavor.
- Korean Taste:** ★★★☆☆ (The broth is sweet, but the meatballs have a familiar texture!)
8. Gado-Gado - Peanut Sauce Salad 🥗
A salad consisting of boiled vegetables with a savory peanut sauce. It includes tempeh (fermented soybeans), tofu, potatoes, and more, making it a satisfying meal.
- Korean Taste: ★★★★☆ (Thanks to the savory peanut sauce, you can enjoy it without burden!)
9. Martabak - Indonesian Pancake 🥞
Martabak Manis is a sweet pancake filled with chocolate, cheese, peanuts, and palm sugar, while Martabak Telur is a savory crepe-style dish filled with eggs and meat.
- Korean Taste: ★★★★★ (Perfect as a sweet dessert or savory snack!)
10. Siomay - Indonesian Dumplings 🥟
It is a steamed dumpling-like dish made with fish and tofu as main ingredients. It's enjoyed as a light snack with sweet peanut sauce.
- Korean Taste: ★★★★☆ (Delicious with savory peanut sauce!)
Tips for Enjoying Indonesian Food
✔️ Many dishes are heavily spiced, so it's a good idea to try them in small amounts at first.
✔️ Most Indonesian food tends to be sweet, so if you want to reduce the sweetness, say "kurangi manis" (reduce the sweetness) when ordering.
✔️ Dishes at local restaurants can be spicy or have a strong flavor, so start with dishes that suit Korean tastes.
Now you don't have to worry about what to eat when you first come to Indonesia? Refer to it.
