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Thali

🇮🇩 The food of Indonesia

57 dishes from Indonesia, best known first, across 32 cities and regions.

Indonesian cooking brings together a huge range of local traditions from thousands of islands, shaped by centuries of trade and migration. Meals are built around rice, with bold spice blends, chili heat, and a mix of sweet, sour, and savory flavors. Dishes and techniques vary widely by region, reflecting both indigenous roots and outside influences.

  • Indonesia has over 5,000 traditional recipes.
  • Sambal chili sauce is a staple at every table.
  • Tempeh, a fermented soybean cake, was invented in Java.
  • Tumpeng, a cone-shaped rice dish, is the official national dish.
  • Meals are usually eaten with a spoon and fork, not knives.

The cooking of Indonesia

Indonesian food is shaped by its geography and history. With over 600 ethnic groups across thousands of islands, each region has developed its own cooking style. Indian, Middle Eastern, Chinese, and European traders brought new ingredients and methods, which blended with local traditions. Spices like cloves and nutmeg, once prized worldwide, are native here. Meals often feature complex spice pastes, chili heat, and a balance of sweet, salty, sour, and bitter. Common ways of cooking include frying, grilling, sautéing, boiling, and steaming. Dishes such as nasi goreng (fried rice), satay (skewered grilled meat), and soto (aromatic soup) are found everywhere, while each area has its own specialties.

Staple foods in Indonesia

Rice is central to Indonesian meals and culture, eaten daily in many forms. It can be served plain, cooked in coconut milk, or steamed in woven palm leaves. Soy-based foods like tofu and tempeh (a fermented soybean cake from Java) are common. Vegetables, fish, and meat are frequent sides, and sambal, a spicy chili sauce, is nearly always present. Noodles and soups also appear often, reflecting Chinese influence.

From region to region in Indonesia

Food changes noticeably from island to island. Sumatran cooking uses more Indian and Middle Eastern spices, with dishes like rich curries and gulai (spiced stews). Javanese food is mostly native, with some Chinese touches, and tends to be sweeter. In eastern Indonesia, meals resemble those of Polynesia and Melanesia, with more root vegetables and less rice. Some inland groups, like the Bataks and Dayaks, keep older traditions, including pork and wild meats, while coastal areas often follow Muslim dietary rules.

At the table in Indonesia

A typical meal centers on steamed rice, with several shared dishes of vegetables, meat, or fish. Everyone helps themselves, placing food from communal plates onto their own. Mixing dishes on the plate is normal. Meals are usually eaten with a spoon and fork, as knives are not used at the table. In some regions, eating with bare hands is common, and a bowl of scented water is provided for washing. Chopsticks are used mainly for Chinese-style noodle dishes.

Where this page comes from

The facts in this overview come from the Wikipedia article "Indonesian cuisine", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence. Thali rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

Cities and regions of Indonesia

Java 11Sumatra 7Surabaya 4Sulawesi 3West Sumatra 3Borneo 2Jakarta 2Padang 2Yogyakarta 2Aceh 1Bagansiapiapi 1Bali 1Bandung 1Bangka Belitung Islands 1Bengkalis 1Bogor 1East Java 1Gianyar 1Kampung Tugu 1Kebon Kacang 1Kerinci Regency 1Malang 1Medan 1North Sulawesi 1Padang Pariaman 1Palembang 1Pemalang 1Rembang 1Riau 1Sidoarjo 1Solo 1Wonogiri 1
MealBreakfastLunchTea timeDinnerSupperSnacks
KindMain dishStreet foodSoupStew or curryRice dishNoodle or pasta dishDumplingBreadGrill or roastSandwich or wrapPie or savoury pastrySalad or sideCheese or dairy foodSausage or cured foodSauce, pickle or fermentSweet or dessertDrink
DietVegetarianVeganFish and seafoodMeat
CoffeeVegan 🇾🇪 Yemen and 5 moreA dark, bitter drink made by brewing roasted coffee beans Drink, Breakfast, Snacks TofuVegan豆腐 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreSoft white blocks made by curdling soy milk and pressing the curds Main dish Biryani 🇮🇳 India and 5 moreRice and spiced meat or vegetables layered and cooked together Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Naanनान 🇮🇳 India and 5 moreLeavened flatbread baked in a tandoor or on a pan, soft and spotted with golden brown Bread, Lunch, Dinner Palm wineVegan 🇳🇬 Nigeria and 5 moreA lightly alcoholic drink made by fermenting the sap of palm trees Drink Lei chaVegan擂茶 🇨🇳 China and 3 moreA Hakka tea-based drink or soup made with ground tea, nuts, seeds and grains Drink Roti canaiரொட்டி சென்னை 🇲🇾 Malaysia and 5 moreUnleavened flatbread tossed thin and cooked until crisp, served with curry or dal Bread, Breakfast, Snacks BreadfruitVegan 🇵🇭 Philippines and 4 moreLarge tropical fruit cooked as a starchy staple in many island cuisines Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Iced teaVegan 🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreChilled tea served over ice, sometimes sweetened or flavored with fruit Drink, Lunch, Dinner Fried rice 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreCooked rice stir-fried with eggs, vegetables, meat or seafood, and seasonings Main dish, Breakfast, Lunch Congee粥 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreRice simmered in water to make a soft, comforting porridge Main dish, Breakfast, Dinner SharbatVeganشربت 🇮🇷 Iran and 5 moreSweet fruit or flower drink, served chilled or as a syrup Drink, Snacks Nasi goreng 🇮🇩 Indonesia and 5 moreSoutheast Asian fried rice seasoned with sweet soy sauce and spices Main dish, Breakfast, Lunch Satayꦱꦠꦺ 🇮🇩 Indonesia and 5 moreGrilled skewers of seasoned meat or seafood, often served with peanut sauce Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Spring roll春卷 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreA thin wrapper rolled around vegetables or meat, served fried or fresh Main dish, Snacks, Lunch Pastel de nataVegetarian 🇵🇹 Portugal and 4 moreSmall Portuguese tarts with a creamy egg custard in crisp pastry Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time RendangMeatRandang 🇮🇩 Indonesia and 4 moreMeat simmered with coconut and spices until coated in a rich, dry sauce Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Baozi包子 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreSteamed wheat buns filled with meat or vegetables, common across China and beyond Main dish, Breakfast, Snacks Gado-gado 🇮🇩 IndonesiaVegetables, tofu and rice cake in a rich Indonesian peanut sauce Salad or side, Lunch, Dinner Wonton云吞 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreChinese dumplings with a thin wrapper, filled and served in soup or fried Dumpling, Lunch, Dinner Chow mein炒麵 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreStir-fried noodles with vegetables and often meat or tofu Noodle or pasta dish, Lunch, Dinner Korma 🇮🇳 India and 4 moreA rich curry of meat or vegetables simmered in yogurt and spices Stew or curry, Lunch, Dinner Laksaلقسا / 叻沙 🇲🇾 Malaysia and 3 moreSpicy Southeast Asian noodle soup with coconut or sour broth Soup, Breakfast, Lunch Sambal 🇮🇩 Indonesia and 5 moreA spicy Southeast Asian paste or sauce made mainly from ground chillies Sauce, pickle or ferment KetupatVegan 🇮🇩 Indonesia and 5 moreRice packed in woven palm leaf pouches and boiled until firm Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Sugarcane juiceVegan 🇮🇳 India and 6 moreFresh juice pressed from sugarcane stalks, sold widely as a street drink Drink, Snacks Nian gaoVegan年糕 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreSticky rice cake enjoyed at Chinese New Year for good luck Sweet or dessert, Snacks Tangyuan汤圆 / 湯圓 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreGlutinous rice balls, often filled, served in sweet or savory broth Sweet or dessert, Snacks Rojakrujak (ꦫꦸꦗꦏ꧀) 🇮🇩 Indonesia and 2 moreA spicy-sweet fruit and vegetable salad with peanut and palm sugar dressing Salad or side, Snacks Kouign-amannVegetarian 🇫🇷 France and 3 moreBreton pastry of caramelized butter and sugar in flaky layers Pie or savoury pastry, Tea time, Snacks CendolVeganꦕꦺꦤ꧀ꦝꦺꦴꦭ꧀ 🇮🇩 Indonesia and 5 moreGreen rice flour jelly with coconut milk, palm sugar syrup and ice Drink, Snacks LemangVegan 🇮🇩 Indonesia and 3 moreGlutinous rice cooked with coconut milk in bamboo tubes lined with banana leaves Main dish, Lunch, Dinner YoutiaoVegan油條 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreLong, golden-brown strips of deep-fried dough eaten across East and Southeast Asia Street food, Breakfast, Snacks Jian duiVegetarian 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreFried glutinous rice balls coated with sesame seeds and filled with sweet paste Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time Tofu skinVeganゆば 🇨🇳 China and 2 moreThin sheets formed from the surface of heated soy milk Main dish RawonMeatꦫꦮꦺꦴꦤ꧀ 🇮🇩 Indonesia and 1 moreJavanese beef soup made dark with keluak nut Soup, Lunch, Dinner MurtabakMeatمُطَبَّق 🇾🇪 Yemen and 5 moreA stuffed, folded pancake or flatbread with savoury or sweet fillings Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Bakso 🇮🇩 IndonesiaIndonesian meatballs served in broth with noodles and toppings Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Bak kut tehMeat肉骨茶 🇲🇾 Malaysia and 3 morePork ribs in a spiced herbal broth, served with fried dough and condiments Soup, Breakfast, Lunch Shumai烧卖 / 燒賣 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreChinese dumplings filled with seasoned meat, often served as dim sum Dumpling, Breakfast, Lunch LontongVegan 🇮🇩 Indonesia and 2 moreCylindrical rice cake wrapped in banana leaf, served with sauces or soups Main dish, Breakfast, Lunch Tumpengꦠꦸꦩ꧀ꦥꦼꦁ 🇮🇩 Indonesia and 2 moreCone-shaped rice surrounded by assorted Indonesian side dishes Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Soto 🇮🇩 Indonesia and 3 moreIndonesian soup of spiced broth, meat and vegetables with many regional versions Soup, Lunch, Dinner Gulai 🇮🇩 Indonesia and 4 moreSpiced Southeast Asian stew with coconut milk and a blend of local herbs Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Ginger teaVegan 🇮🇩 Indonesia and 5 moreA hot drink made by steeping ginger root, often with tea, sweetener or milk Drink, Breakfast, Snacks Nasi udukꦤꦱꦶ​ꦮꦸꦢꦸꦏ꧀ 🇮🇩 Indonesia and 2 moreSteamed coconut rice with spices, served with assorted side dishes Main dish, Breakfast, Lunch Gudeg 🇮🇩 Indonesia and 2 moreYoung jackfruit slow-cooked in coconut milk and spices, a specialty of Yogyakarta Main dish, Lunch, Dinner BibingkaVegetarian 🇵🇭 Philippines and 1 moreBaked rice cake cooked in banana leaves, often enjoyed warm at Christmas Sweet or dessert, Breakfast, Snacks
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