TABLE OF CONTENTS
Best Indonesian Foods
Siomay is an Indonesian dish consisting of steamed cone-shaped fish dumplings, eggs, potatoes, cabbage, tofu, and bitter melon. After they have been steamed, all ingredients are assembled on a plate, cut into bite-sized pieces, and generously drizzled with a spicy peanut sauce.
The final touch to the dish is a splash of sweet soy sauce, along with a drizzle of lime juice. Siomay is derived from Chinese shumai, and it is believed to have originated among Chinese immigrants who came to Indonesia during the Dutch colonial period.
OTHER VARIATIONS OF Dim sum
MOST ICONIC Siomay
View moreSoto Betawi is a hearty beef soup consisting of chunks of meat and offal that are slowly simmered in a coconut milk broth, which is usually enriched with various spices such as lemongrass, turmeric, galangal, kefir lime leaves, and coriander. When served, the soup is accompanied by different condiments that typically include tomatoes, scallions, sweet soy sauce, and emping crackers.
Because of its name, it is believed that the dish originated in Jakarta among the Betawi people, and today it is one of the most popular dishes in the city, usually sold at various street stalls, restaurants, or hawker-style establishments. Soto Betawi is traditionally enjoyed with steamed rice and pickled acar on the side.
OTHER VARIATIONS OF Soto
MOST ICONIC Soto Betawi
View moreRawon is a unique Indonesian dish with origins in East Java. This flavorful soup is usually made with slow-braised beef and other traditional Indonesian ingredients such as lime leaves, lemongrass, ginger, and chili. However, the key element is buah kluwek, the Indonesian black nut.
This unusual Indonesian spice is highly toxic when raw, and always needs to be fermented before consumption. It is ground with other ingredients and spices, giving the dish its earthy and sour taste and the unique dark black color. The origin of the dish is believed to be the city of Surabaya, the capital of East Java.
MOST ICONIC Rawon
View moreOne of the most famous snacks in Indonesia is batagor, a fried fish dumpling served in a traditional spicy sauce. It has roots in the Chinese culinary tradition, which has left a trace on many Indonesian dishes. Although this famous snack is reminiscent of the more famous Chinese dumpling, its distinguishable characteristic is that it is fried, not steamed.
The most common fish used to make the dish is wahoo, but tuna, mackerel, and even prawns can also be used. Potatoes, tofu, or cabbage are also occasionally added to the dish. Batagor is the perfect snack because of the way it is served. When fried, the dumplings are cut into small bite-sized pieces and covered in peanut, soy, and chili sauce with a splash of lime juice.
MOST ICONIC Batagor
View moreSate kambing is a traditional dish and a type of satay prepared with goat or mutton as the main ingredient. The meat is cut into chunks or cubes and it's marinated in a combination of ingredients such as kecap manis (sweet soy sauce), galangal, ground shallots, pineapple juice, and (often) chili peppers.
After it's been marinated, the meat is placed on skewers that are larger and thicker than the ones used for chicken satay as the texture and thickness of mutton or goat is tougher than chicken. The skewers for sate kambing are usually made from bamboo.
OTHER VARIATIONS OF Satay
MOST ICONIC Sate kambing
View moreMAIN INGREDIENTS
Pempek is a traditional fish cake made with ground fish meat and tapioca. The actual origin of this dish is the city of Palembang, situated in the South Sumatra province. The origin story of pempek says that an old Palembang citizen was tired of the traditional fried or grilled fish, so he thought of an innovative way to ground the meat, mix it with tapioca flour, and deep-fry it to get a crunchy and delicious snack.
He then used to cycle through the city and sell the fish cakes to Palembang citizens. Over time, pempek was recognized as a praise-worthy snack, and today it is considered to be a traditional Indonesian delicacy. These round or rectangular cakes are usually steamed, and right before serving they are fried in vegetable oil and cut into bite-sized pieces.
MOST ICONIC Pempek
View morePerkedel are Indonesian fried delicacies consisting of either mashed potatoes, ground meat, ground corn, or minced fish (perkedel ikan). The name of these savory patties is derived from the Dutch word frikadel, showing the Dutch culinary influence on Indonesian territory.
Prior to frying, the main ingredient is usually combined with finely chopped scallions and pepper, then dipped in beaten eggs. Perkedel is traditionally served as an appetizer or a side dish with soto ayam soup, although it can also be consumed as a main dish, when it is usually accompanied by nasi kuning (yellow rice).
MOST ICONIC Perkedel
View moreNasi goreng ayam is a traditional fried rice dish that's also popular in Singapore, Brunei, and Malaysia. Although there are many versions of this nasi goreng variety, it is usually made with a combination of chicken thighs, oil, salt, white pepper, shallots, rice, turmeric, soy sauce, fish sauce, galangal, ginger, garlic, scallions, kecap manis, and hot peppers.
Most of the ingredients are fried with rice, and the dish is then topped with fried eggs, fried shallots, and sliced chili peppers. It's recommended to serve nasi goreng ayam with prawn crackers on the side.
OTHER VARIATIONS OF Nasi goreng
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Fried bananas or plantains are a common everyday snack eaten throughout Indonesia. They come in numerous versions in which the fruit is simply fried in shallow oil, but more often sliced banana pieces are coated in batter before they are fried until golden.
Besides numerous other varieties, fried bananas also appear under different names such as godoh biu on Bali or gedhang gorèng on Java. They are traditionally sold at street stalls and carts and belong to a group of gorengan dishes—Indonesian deep-fried snacks.
OTHER VARIATIONS OF Gorengan
MAIN INGREDIENTS
In its basic form, Indonesian-style fried chicken consists of chicken cuts, preferably bone-in pieces such as thighs and drumsticks, which are marinated in spices, then shortly braised before being fried until golden and crispy. The marinade is typically based on traditional spices such as lemongrass, galangal, turmeric, and tamarind, but since the dish is enjoyed throughout the country, it comes in numerous regional variations that may include other spices and marinades, or various additions such as grated coconut or rice flour crumbs.
All varieties of ayam goreng can be enjoyed as individual dishes, usually accompanied by rice and fresh vegetables or salads, but ayam goreng is also a common side dish at Indonesian banquet-style meals.
MOST ICONIC Ayam goreng
View moreTABLE OF CONTENTS
Best Indonesian Food Producers
AWARDS

Bartender Spirits Awards - Double Gold
2023

World Liqueur Awards - Country Winner
2024

World Gin Awards - Country Winner
2022
BEST Spice Islands Distilling Spirits
Gayo Kopi is a distinguished Indonesian company specializing in the production and export of premium Wild Kopi Luwak coffee. Their beans are sourced from the Gayo Highlands in Northern Sumatra, where wild civets naturally select and consume the finest coffee cherries.
This natural process imparts unique flavor profiles to the beans, resulting in a rich and indulgent coffee experience. Gayo Kopi is committed to ethical sourcing, ensuring that all their Kopi Luwak is collected from wild, uncaged civets, thereby supporting both environmental sustainability and animal welfare.
BEST Gayo Kopi Coffees
AWARDS

EVO IOOC - Gold Medal
2016

Terraolivo IOOC - Prestige Gold
2016, 2015

Terraolivo IOOC - Gold Medal
2014
BEST Altar Resources Olive Oils
Toarco Toraja is a premier producer of high-quality Arabica coffee from the Toraja Highlands in North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Toarco Toraja stands out as one of the few producers in Indonesia that maintains complete control over the entire coffee production process.
From seedling selection and sustainable cultivation to hand-picking, meticulous sorting, and state-of-the-art "Full Wash" processing, every step is carefully managed to ensure absolute consistency and excellence. The washed processing method enhances the clarity, balance, and refined acidity of the beans, resulting in a clean and vibrant cup profile.
BEST Toarco Toraja Coffee Beans
AWARDS

Academy of Chocolate - Silver
2018, 2017

Academy of Chocolate - Bronze
2018, 2017
BEST Krakakoa Chocolates
AWARDS

Academy of Chocolate - Silver
2022

Academy of Chocolate - Bronze
2024

Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2023
BEST Junglegold Bali Chocolates
Primo Chocolab Bali is a chocolate producer located in Bali, Indonesia, known for creating handcrafted chocolates using locally sourced cacao beans. They focus on sustainable production practices and offer a variety of chocolate products, including bars and truffles, that highlight the unique flavors of Indonesian cacao.
The company also provides educational tours and chocolate-making workshops to visitors.
AWARDS

Academy of Chocolate - Bronze
2023
BEST Primo Chocolab Bali Chocolates
Sacred Cacao is a chocolate producer based in Bali, Indonesia. They focus on creating artisanal chocolates using locally sourced cacao beans. The company emphasizes sustainable and ethical farming practices. Sacred Cacao often incorporates traditional Balinese methods in their chocolate production process.
Their products include a variety of chocolate bars, truffles, and cacao nibs.
Indofood is one of Indonesia's largest and most prominent food companies, specializing in a wide range of products including instant noodles, snacks, dairy, beverages, and packaged foods. Established in 1968, it has become a household name, with its flagship product being the iconic Indomie instant noodles.
Indofood has a strong presence both in Indonesia and internationally, known for its high-quality food offerings and innovative production techniques.
BEST Indofood Condiments
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. For the “Top 100 Indonesian Foods” list until March 20, 2025, 7,296 ratings were recorded, of which 4,698 were recognized by the system as legitimate. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.