Eating Out in Jakarta

There’s Something About Food, Indonesian Food

Republic of Indonesia is a very large country with diversity as its chief attribute. Indonesia's national motto, "Bhinneka Tunggal Ika" ("many, yet one"), shows how much this aspect is dear to them. This diversity is extended to their food also. In my recent trip to Indonesia, I observed many of their famous food varieties and found Indonesian food among very finest cuisines of the world. For people planning to visit Indonesia, here are my few observations about their food, along with a bit about their culture, people etc. Main helpers in our mini quests in Jakarta and Bogor was Mr. Robin Parisabu, without his help we would be sitting in our apartment ordering food by telephone, throughout the trip...
 

All the international chains have their outlets in Jakarta, so if you don’t like Indonesian cuisine you can order anything as all your KFCs, McDonalds, BurgerKings, PizzaHuts are not very far from your location.  

Indonesian famous local food items are:    
1. Padang food (on the base of rice you can have topping of your choice from many a items of Chicken, Mutton, Beef, Sea food with many sauces, potato cutlets as sideons)

2. Satay (a dish of marinated, skewered and grilled meats (chicken, mutton, beef) served with a sauce. Something very close to “Seekh boti” of our part of world)

3. Gado-gado (a traditional dish in Indonesian cuisine, and is a vegetable salad served with a peanut sauce dressing, you have to develop taste for it though)

4. Nasi Goreng (Indonesian version of Fried rice, available with many variances of ingredients)

5. Mie goring (Indonesian version of Noodles, available with many variances of ingredients)

6. Bubur is rice pudding with meat of your choice.

There must be plenty of other items but I was able to develop my taste for these items only.

Best eating place that I’d been to is Plaza Semanggi rooftop. It has many outlets of local (their) and International food. Overall environment, View and food quality is excellent.

Hey what about Drinks

1) The most common and popular Indonesian drinks and beverages are Tea (tea) and Coffee (kopi).

2) They don’t like milk in the tea or coffee so you have to tell them explicitly for Creamer. You will get it, if you are in luck i.e. You can also order a variety of Coffee “Kopi susu” (milk coffee).

3) They also like Jasmine tea or Lemon tea (both cold) along with their meals.

4) International famous drinks (Pepsi, Coke, 7UP, Dew etc) are all easily available.

5) Coconut water is my personal favorite there, ask them not to add sweetener if you are not a fan.

6) A huge variety of Shakes and Juices of tropical fruits is available.

7) Alcoholic drinks are also easily available.

Some General Tips

1) Some useful translations Ayan (Chicken), Meat (Daging), Mutton (Kambing), Beef (Sapi), Milk (Susu), Teri Makasi (Thank you), Hi (hai), bye(selamat tinggal), How much (Berapa), Too expensive (Terlalu mahal), OK (Oke), keep on using “La” here and there it is roughly equivalent to Hmmm, Yes or Acha. Muslims use Aslaam-o-Alaikum for both Hi and bye.

2) Being a Muslim majority country Halal food is not an issue, in fact by default food is Halal.

 3) Indonesian like their food sweet, so if you are not a sweet fan (especially in main course) you have to tell them (somehow:-)) to keep your food free from it.

4) Items like Eggs, Bananas, Citric fruits are available in kgs. not in dozens.

5) Rice they use isnot considered of of very high quality (Irri 6), and our traditional Basmati rice are not available. That is the difference of cultures for you... :-)

6) Sea food based items are of very high quality along with being economical.

7) If you are looking for our traditional vegetables and fruits (Potato, Onion, Oranges etc), Jakarta is not the place for you. Such items are either not available or if available are very expensive.

8) You have to taste their traditional fruits (Pitaya or Dragon fruit, Coconut (again ask them to not mix the sweetener in coco water if you are not a sweet fan), mangosteen, rambutan, jackfruit, durian), they are awesome. Their dish equivalent to our Fruit Chat contains many of these fruits and no one can eat just once…

9) If you are in Jakarta, you must must (yes Must has been used twice deliberately) have to try Starbucks (there are many outlets in different part of the city). Taste, quality, ambiance overall experience is awesome.

10) If you are ordering rice make sure you tell them explicitly to bring fork or spoons. Otherwise you’ll have to try your food juggling skills using chop sticks.

11) Indonesian like their food cold (mostly) and water hot or rather moderate. So be prepared.

12) No Roti and Biryani there, be prepared…:-)

Do in Rome:

If Indonesian food is too risky for you and you don’t like the international chains either, then you may take the tinned Pakistani food. However I believe, if you are going to an alien land, you must enjoy their culture, their food. In my opinion, you were having the local food for your entire life and you will continue to have it for rest of your life, so let’s give their food a fair chance… :-)

 
A Fun Fact:

If you don’t eat beef, you must avoid Mr. Duncan Rahman, Hasan Shahzad and Scharique as companions. They will make you feel that not having beef is the biggest “Food Crime” ever. Furthermore you will have to answer in detail every alternate day or earlier, questions like these….

• “How can you not like beef?”
• “Why on earth someone cannot eat beef?”
• “You can eat chicken and mutton, but not beef.... strange very strange…”
• “Would you like to order beef or will be your usual looser-self (by ordering chicken)”

Not having beef was never such an issue ever in my life… :-)

Advice for Bachelors (or Bachelors at heart)

If you have an eye contact with person of opposite gender, he/she will pass a smile, don’t take it wrong, don’t start to develop fantasies in your head and don’t go and ask him/her out. It is part of their culture. Don’t believe me, try having an eye contact with 5 year, 70 year old of both genders. You will get the smile…:-)