Indonesian cuisine
Photo: christian razukas from Singapore, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Indonesian cuisine is an umbrella term referring to the culinary traditions spanning the archipelago of Indonesia, using different ingredients and spices to create a rich and flavourful masterpiece. It has left strong influences on the cuisine of neighbouring Malaysia and Singapore and can also be found in other countries that have long associations with Indonesia, such as the Netherlands and Suriname.
UnderstandWith 17,000 islands to choose from, Indonesian food is an umbrella term covering a vast variety of regional cuisines found across the nation.
National main dishesThe predominant cuisine in Indonesia is Javanese.
Regional cuisinesWhile Javanese food is predominant on the main islands, there are many regional cuisines to explore. They're covered in detail in the regional articles linked below, but here's a quick overview.
DrinkQuite a few Indonesians believe that cold drinks are unhealthy, so specify dingin when ordering if you prefer your water, bottled tea or beer cold, rather than at room temperature.
RestaurantsMany food stalls are easy to find, from big cities to sub-districts or villages with the majority of the menu being rice with vegetables and protein side dishes.
Dietary restrictionsIndonesia off the beaten track can be a tough place if you have dietary restrictions.
RespectEating with your hand (instead of utensils like forks and spoons) is very common.
See also
Sources and licences
- Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Indonesian cuisine" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo: christian razukas from Singapore, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons