Best Traditional Food in Jakarta, Indonesia

Sushi Tei

The atmosphere of the place and the delicious sushi worth the money you’re paying. I love coming here despite the fact that we have to queue and sometimes it can be quite a long wait. The fresh made sushi that rolls by as you chat with your family and friends either with your choice of wine or the hot or cold green tea. However, sometimes the place is so crowded that we have to work a bit harder in getting the waitress attention. Come after lunch hour to avoid the crush of diners and the long wait and if there are two people sit by the rolling bar and if there are 3 to 4 people ask for seats along the rolling sushi.

Nasi Uduk Ala Kebon Kacang

One of Betawi's - native Jakarta - traditional food is Nasi Uduk. It's rice cooked with coconut milk and then wrapped in coconut leaf. Eaten hot with newly fried chicken and tofu and some spicy peanut sauce. This place is very popular because of its special sauce. If you can't handle spicy sauce, get ready with hot or cold tea by your side. Wear light clothes as Jakarta is hot and coupling with the hot food might suffocate you.

Nasi Campur Gereja Ayam Pasar Baru

To get here is pretty easy. First ask for Pasar Baru’s direction then in Pasar Baru ask for Gereja Ayam (Church with a rooster weather vane at the front). Right across from the church, there are many restaurants in one building where they sell nasi campur (assorted rice). Normally a nasi campur consists of all kind of pork - barbequed, smoked, and other, but for those who can't eat pork, you can also order with only slices of chicken boiled in spices and boiled eggs poured with special sauce. Usually to make your mouth watered even more they offered Hainam rice instead of plain rice. Hainam rice is cooked with sesame oil and other spices and herbs. When you’ve eaten here, you’ll know why it’s one of my favourite dining place despite the busy and crowded road to get here.

Laksa Cibinong

From Jakarta, we go out a bit to Bogor. Heading to Cibinong from Bogor and you'll arrived at Cibinong's crowded market, continue forward to the flyover to take you back to Jakarta but don't take it. Instead take the road to the side of the flyover and park there. One of the best Laksa you can find is there. Laksa is another one of Betawi's - Jakarta's native people - traditional food. Its soup is cooked to richness with coconut oil, herbs and spices. With or without rice, a hot Laksa is a fulfilling meal to have anytime of the day.

Sari Bundo Nasi Padang

It's Padang - Sumatra - traditional food. However, there are many restaurants but none has the most delicious taste as Sari Bundo has. From the big intersection of Harmony if you come from the Presidential Palace, turn right at the traffic light across the bridge. Go straight along the old buildings on the left and the small canal on the right for around 300-500meters and it's on your left. You can easily spot it by the many cars parking at its front. Sari Bundo still preserves the old way of serving the food. You can see its waiters walking to your table with both arms laden with plates of food. Most of the food are cooked with coconut milk and herbs and spices. Forewarned though, most of the food here is very spicy, as in all Padang's restaurants, so be prepared.