Liputan6.com, Jakarta – US media CNN held a poll several years ago about the most delicious food in the world. Rendang was then voted the site’s version of the most delicious food in the world.
In 2017, this media reviewed the culinary variety of the vast archipelagic nation of Indonesia. Discussing food that deserves to be the center of attention.
There are mouth-watering noodle soups, spicy curries, fish wrapped in banana or pepes, and vegetable salad with sweet peanut sauce called gado-gado.
The following are recommendations for Indonesian food that has been in the spotlight CNNquoted Monday (20/2/2023):
1. Chili sauce
Although technically more of a condiment, the chili-based sauce known as sambal is a staple on all Indonesian tables. Therefore, Indonesian people can be said to be “spicy resistant” because there are many different types of chili sauce and of course they are spicier than chili sauces from other countries in general.
A meal feels incomplete without a spoonful of the delicious chili sauce, a combination of chilies, tangy fermented shrimp paste, lime juice, sugar and salt pounded with a mortar and pestle.
Now, the average restaurant in Indonesia has made chili sauce its main attraction, with choices of young mango, mushrooms and even durian.
The restaurant recommendations taken by CNN came from Pedas Abis, Waroeng Special Sambal, Jl. RM. Said No. 39, Solo, Surakarta.
2. Satay
This delicious meat satay is grilled over very hot coals. Be it chicken, rabbit or goat. The pieces of meat are skewered, then marinated in turmeric, grilled, then covered in sweet peanut sauce.
Currently there are many countries that claim this satay food, but Indonesians consider it a national dish that is often sold by street vendors and was popularized by Arab traders in their time.
Usually, each vendor has their own unique taste, but “sate Madura” – served with ketupat, diced cucumber and onion – is distinguished by its boat-shaped roadside cart.
Sate Ragusa serves legendary satay that dates back to the 1950s. This CNN-recommended restaurant also serves signature spaghetti ice cream, the perfect dessert to wash down your mouth after a meal.
Sate Ragusa is on Jalan Veteran 1 No. 10, Gambir, Jakarta.
3. Meatballs
This savory meatball noodle soup gained international fame when US President Barack Obama remembered it as one of his favorite dishes when he visited Jakarta.
These meatballs are made from chicken, beef, pork, or a combination of all of them, which are shaped into rounds the size of golf balls, and have a soft and slightly chewy texture.
This dish is also often sold by street vendors, and is suitable for eating anytime and anywhere. With its relatively cheap price, these meatballs, which are accompanied by fried shallots, boiled eggs and dumplings, are very popular with office workers and students.
Now there are even “jumbo meatballs” which are made the size of a hand.
CNN’s reference comes from Bakso Lapangan Tembak Senayan, Jl. Youth Gate 1, Senayan, Jakarta.
4. Soto
This traditional meat soup consists of broth and ingredients that vary throughout the archipelago.
The versions sold are generally made from a simple clear soup flavored with chicken, goat, or beef. But in Jakarta, home to the indigenous Betawi population, Betawi soto is usually served with a sweet and creamy coconut milk-based sauce. Equipped with a sprinkling of crispy shallots, fried garlic and chili sauce to taste.
The following are restaurant recommendations from CNN:
- Betawi Cafe, No. 1, Grand Indonesia Mall, West Mall Fl. LG No. 08, Jalan MH. Thamrin No. 1, Jakarta; +62 21 2358 0501
- Soto Madura, Jl. Ir. H. Juanda No. 16, Gambir, Jakarta
5. Fried Rice
Well known among tourists, fried rice is considered Indonesia’s national dish. Rice fried with various spices and thick sweet soy sauce is very suitable when eaten with eggs and pickled cucumber as an accompaniment.
Apart from fried rice, visitors can also try crazy rice and see how many types of meat they find buried in the rice.
CNN recommendation: Menteng Plaza, Ground Floor, Jl. HOS. Cokroaminoto No. 79, Menteng, Jakarta
6. Gado-gado
The term gado-gado, which means “mixed up”, is often used to describe a completely mixed up situation.
However, as a food, it is one of the most famous dishes in Indonesia. Gado-gado is basically a vegetable salad tossed with classic Indonesian peanut sauce.
The vegetables consist of boiled long beans, spinach, potatoes, corn, eggs and bean sprouts plus cucumber, tofu and tempeh.
Peanut sauce is often used for many dishes in Indonesia. But for gado-gado itself, the peanut sauce tastes sweeter as you travel east through Indonesia – but Jakartans love the cashew sauce in Gado-Gado Boplo.
CNN Recommendation: Gado-Gado Boplo, Jl. Commander of Polym IX No. 124, Special Capital Region of Jakarta; +62 21 724 8334.
7. Uduk rice
An all-time favorite food among native Betawi people, nasi uduk is rice cooked in coconut milk and accompanied by various meats and vegetables. Sometimes it includes fried chicken, boiled eggs, tempeh with anchovies and also emping crackers.
This food is usually sold at affordable prices, quickly, and is popular among crowds at lunchtime.
Almost four decades old and still going, the Nasi Uduk Babe Saman restaurant is very popular with everyone from students to celebrities. This restaurant is busy with visitors from morning to night.
Nasi Uduk Babe Saman is located on Jalan Kebon Kacang 3, Jakarta; +62 21 314 1842
8. Padang Rice
Many Singaporeans may say they can’t live without nasi Padang, but this dish, named after its hometown in Sumatra, is 100% authentic to Indonesia.
Nasi Padang is basically steamed rice accompanied by more than a dozen side dishes. If you eat directly at a restaurant, various side dishes will be piled on the table, but visitors can choose for themselves just a few of the side dishes they are interested in.
For example, there are boiled shrimp, curry chicken, fish heads, beef feet, pete sauce, kale, and many more.
If you want to mingle with local residents, the best way to eat nasi Padang is with your hands, then finish the dish with a drink of sweet iced tea.
CNN’s recommendation is Garuda Nasi Padang, Jl. Elephant Mada no. 8, Medan, Sumatra
9. Fried Chicken
The key to making typical Indonesian fried chicken is to use chicken that is usually found hanging around the village. Even though the size is not as big as a KFC cut of meat, the taste is still no less delicious.
This fried chicken is very suitable when served with chili sauce and fresh vegetables.
CNN recommendation: Suharti Fried Chicken, Jalan Captain Tendean No. 13, Mampang Prapatan, Special Capital Region of Jakarta; +62 21 525 4595
10. Fried Noodles
Noodles and rice are Indonesians’ favorite carbohydrates, including wide types of noodles like kwetiau, or thin noodles like vermicelli.
But the most popular are the pencil-thin noodles and in this case, they are fried with egg, meat and vegetables.
Vendors usually add their own unique spices to differentiate their dishes, but the iconic Bakmi Gajah Mada has a loyal following. Now, more modern vendors are able to make vegetable-based noodles.
Bakmi Gang Mangga provides a cool hangout in the old city, but only after 5pm. Before that time, you can try it at Bakmi GM on Jl. Sundanese.
CNN Recommendations:
- Bakmi Gang Mango, Purity IV No. 38B, Gang Mangga, Glodok, Taman Sari, Special Capital Region of Jakarta
- Bakmi GM, Jl. Sunda No. 9, Thamrin, Jakarta; +62 21 390 3018
