The Reasons Why You Should Enjoy Indonesian Street Food
Exotic and timeless.
These are the first words that come in my mind when I have to describe about Indonesian street food.
Street food always steals my attention, makes my eyes busy rolling and my sense of smell working harder, especially when I get in a new place, exploring corners of cities, towns or villages.
They are unique, they are colorful, and very appetizing.
Living or only visiting this country, without tasting our street 'soul' food... ohh No!
It'll be an incomplete mission.
Let me tell you 9 reasons why you should try Indonesian Street Food, and having a sensational gastronomy adventure here.
Easy to be found
In this culinary nirvana, street hawkers spread from metropolitan cities to a corner of humble villages. Not only on the streets, the hawkers also can be found in markets, public areas and some of them walking around with their carts or carrying their yoke on their shoulders in housing compounds.
The interesting thing; we can find traditional food from different regions of Indonesia; from different islands, different tribes, and the sellers speak different languages, just around us.
Remember, Indonesia is the largest archipelago country in the world.
The famous Empek-Empek from Palembang (South Sumatra), Mie Kocok Bandung, Tahu Gejrot Cirebon and many many more can be found in the streets of Jakarta. Don't you think it's cool ?
The diversity of freshly made food to choose are almost unlimited.
Reflection of the Culture
For most of Indonesians, not eating rice means not eating yet! So a plate of rice (regardless the way it is prepared) is the most popular breakfast in this country. It's a big complete meal in one dish.
So, don't be surprised to see Chicken Porridge, Lontong Sayur, Kupat Tahu or Nasi Uduk sellers in morning time. It's all about habit, custom and tradition.
As the rice is the 'national' main course, during lunch and dinner time... again the 'rice' with more complete side dishes are the most wanted target. From Nasi Goreng, Pecel Lele (served with rice), Sate Padang (with Ketupat/Lontong) to Nasi Gudeg in Yogyakarta.
Here, the eating culture in this country is represented by the food that available on the 'street'.
Exotic Food.
Indonesia has rich culinary heritages, including exotic street food which are defined as the food that is 'not common'. Not all of street food is exotic, though.
They are unique, they are special, I like call it as treasures, something that always teases & invites us to try. Yes, they are looked unusual, but for sure they are edible.
The range of food types that available in street hawkers are very wide. There is always something new out there to try! Do try Sate Kere from Solo, Rujak Cingur from Surabaya or Oncom Leunca from West Java.
We have many-many exotic food available to try.
Authentic Taste
The authentic taste of Indonesian cuisine is best captured in street food. Some hawkers sell the food for many years, from generation to generation. They know the best ingredients, they cook with proper cooking method and for sure the 'secret' authentic recipes.
Their commitment to quality and purity of the ingredients produce authentic delicious food.
For me, nothing can beat the perfect 'Serabi Oncom' from Pasar Punclut in Bandung where an old lady prepares the dough almost every morning for many years, or the tasty 'Mutton Fried Rice' in Kebon Sirih Jakarta, that have been selling the fried rice since 1958!
Yes, they know exactly how to produce the best food.
Timeless traditional street food
Like fashions, food also has its own transformations, and we're on a decade of food trends. They come and go... but traditional street food has its special place in our heart and tummy for sure.
Their original natural flavor, using local ingredients, consistent with the quality making them stand up straight. It's not strange to see that Wedang Ronde hawkers and Sate Ayam sellers have many customers from evening to night at the end of Malioboro street, Jogjakarta. Or Mie Bakso sellers who always go home with his empty cart at late evening.
Evoke Nostalgia
I was struct by waves of nostalgia when found out there are Sekoteng (Indonesian traditional ginger based hot drink) hawkers walk around in our housing complex (here in Jakarta). Almost every night I used to call him and ordered some bowls like there is no tomorrow. My sense of smell took me down memory lane of my school time in Bandung many years ago.
As smells and tastes can evoke the past, so food that is present in street carts can be easily bring back our memory of childhood or just years before. For anyone who grows up in Indonesia, spent their childhood here, will always miss the street food that used to be popular while they are young.
The food hawkers survive because customers keep coming, ordering and eating.
The customers keep coming, because the food is delicious and meet their budget, affordable.
... We call it 'symbiosis mutual-ism'.
From the bite size finger food, cold and hot beverages, to the complete set of meal... It's a public secret that Indonesian Street Food are so good. Delicious, tasty, have a nice harmony of flavor.. you name it!
With affordable price, those delicious food can be enjoyed by all levels of the community.
Here, no caste; a bank manager may sit down together with a taxi driver eating Bubur Ayam. All are welcome. Everyone can sit down together, enjoying the beauty of being street food customers.
Cooking Entertainment
I never get bored to watch the 'street cooking entertainment'.
One of the most enthralling sight is the making of Martabak. Balls of oily dough are stretched with a few deft kneads with the heel of palm on a well-oiled stainless steel or marble surface, before it is magically transformed into a large sheet of sheer, membrane-like skin....and continue by frying, pour the filling, folding, frying, cutting, and finally, serving.
Or watching the making of Kerak Telor; step-by-step the seller put eggs, raw rice, mixing and bake on the upside down pan. It's awesome, isn't it?
There are many more entertainment by the hawkers.
This is a big bonus, ... free entertainment before we enjoy the food.
These are the first words that come in my mind when I have to describe about Indonesian street food.
Street food always steals my attention, makes my eyes busy rolling and my sense of smell working harder, especially when I get in a new place, exploring corners of cities, towns or villages.
They are unique, they are colorful, and very appetizing.
Living or only visiting this country, without tasting our street 'soul' food... ohh No!
It'll be an incomplete mission.
Let me tell you 9 reasons why you should try Indonesian Street Food, and having a sensational gastronomy adventure here.
 |
| Sate Ayam (Chicken Satay) @Jl. Malioboro, Jogjakarta. |
In this culinary nirvana, street hawkers spread from metropolitan cities to a corner of humble villages. Not only on the streets, the hawkers also can be found in markets, public areas and some of them walking around with their carts or carrying their yoke on their shoulders in housing compounds.
The interesting thing; we can find traditional food from different regions of Indonesia; from different islands, different tribes, and the sellers speak different languages, just around us.
Remember, Indonesia is the largest archipelago country in the world.
The famous Empek-Empek from Palembang (South Sumatra), Mie Kocok Bandung, Tahu Gejrot Cirebon and many many more can be found in the streets of Jakarta. Don't you think it's cool ?
The diversity of freshly made food to choose are almost unlimited.
Reflection of the Culture
For most of Indonesians, not eating rice means not eating yet! So a plate of rice (regardless the way it is prepared) is the most popular breakfast in this country. It's a big complete meal in one dish.
So, don't be surprised to see Chicken Porridge, Lontong Sayur, Kupat Tahu or Nasi Uduk sellers in morning time. It's all about habit, custom and tradition.
As the rice is the 'national' main course, during lunch and dinner time... again the 'rice' with more complete side dishes are the most wanted target. From Nasi Goreng, Pecel Lele (served with rice), Sate Padang (with Ketupat/Lontong) to Nasi Gudeg in Yogyakarta.
Here, the eating culture in this country is represented by the food that available on the 'street'.
 |
| Sate Kere (L), Getuk Potong (R) @Solo, Central Java. |
Exotic Food.
Indonesia has rich culinary heritages, including exotic street food which are defined as the food that is 'not common'. Not all of street food is exotic, though.
They are unique, they are special, I like call it as treasures, something that always teases & invites us to try. Yes, they are looked unusual, but for sure they are edible.
The range of food types that available in street hawkers are very wide. There is always something new out there to try! Do try Sate Kere from Solo, Rujak Cingur from Surabaya or Oncom Leunca from West Java.
We have many-many exotic food available to try.
Authentic Taste
The authentic taste of Indonesian cuisine is best captured in street food. Some hawkers sell the food for many years, from generation to generation. They know the best ingredients, they cook with proper cooking method and for sure the 'secret' authentic recipes.
Their commitment to quality and purity of the ingredients produce authentic delicious food.
For me, nothing can beat the perfect 'Serabi Oncom' from Pasar Punclut in Bandung where an old lady prepares the dough almost every morning for many years, or the tasty 'Mutton Fried Rice' in Kebon Sirih Jakarta, that have been selling the fried rice since 1958!
Yes, they know exactly how to produce the best food.
 |
| Wedang Ronde @Malioboro, Jogjakarta. |
Timeless traditional street food
Like fashions, food also has its own transformations, and we're on a decade of food trends. They come and go... but traditional street food has its special place in our heart and tummy for sure.
Their original natural flavor, using local ingredients, consistent with the quality making them stand up straight. It's not strange to see that Wedang Ronde hawkers and Sate Ayam sellers have many customers from evening to night at the end of Malioboro street, Jogjakarta. Or Mie Bakso sellers who always go home with his empty cart at late evening.
Evoke Nostalgia
I was struct by waves of nostalgia when found out there are Sekoteng (Indonesian traditional ginger based hot drink) hawkers walk around in our housing complex (here in Jakarta). Almost every night I used to call him and ordered some bowls like there is no tomorrow. My sense of smell took me down memory lane of my school time in Bandung many years ago.
As smells and tastes can evoke the past, so food that is present in street carts can be easily bring back our memory of childhood or just years before. For anyone who grows up in Indonesia, spent their childhood here, will always miss the street food that used to be popular while they are young.
 |
| Es Dawet @Pasar Gang Baru, Semarang, Central Java. |
The food hawkers survive because customers keep coming, ordering and eating.
The customers keep coming, because the food is delicious and meet their budget, affordable.
... We call it 'symbiosis mutual-ism'.
From the bite size finger food, cold and hot beverages, to the complete set of meal... It's a public secret that Indonesian Street Food are so good. Delicious, tasty, have a nice harmony of flavor.. you name it!
With affordable price, those delicious food can be enjoyed by all levels of the community.
Here, no caste; a bank manager may sit down together with a taxi driver eating Bubur Ayam. All are welcome. Everyone can sit down together, enjoying the beauty of being street food customers.
Cooking Entertainment
I never get bored to watch the 'street cooking entertainment'.
One of the most enthralling sight is the making of Martabak. Balls of oily dough are stretched with a few deft kneads with the heel of palm on a well-oiled stainless steel or marble surface, before it is magically transformed into a large sheet of sheer, membrane-like skin....and continue by frying, pour the filling, folding, frying, cutting, and finally, serving.
The making of Martabak @Ciwidey, West Java
Or watching the making of Kerak Telor; step-by-step the seller put eggs, raw rice, mixing and bake on the upside down pan. It's awesome, isn't it?
There are many more entertainment by the hawkers.
This is a big bonus, ... free entertainment before we enjoy the food.
The making of Kerak Telur @ Kemang Festival, Jakarta.
Preserving the traditional local culinary
At the end...
I have to say that the presence of street food is an important part of every society living in this country. It's a part of our cultures.
It provides livelihood for the hawkers, it presents affordable delicious food for all levels of community, and also it preserves the authentic traditional culinary.
With the good management from the government, Indonesian street food will always live in our heart and happy tummy. Because...
Tongue never lie!
Comments
Good luck with the contest :)
All the best with the competition and wishing you best of luck.
Nicely done ! Well-written post and beautiful pictures.
Wishing you good luck, Vania :)
Thank you so much for the appreciation, nice words, support.
I couldn't expect to be a winner, there are many-many good-strong candidates.
I'm so glad can finish this post, it's been awhile I planed to write about this topic, and put my collection of 'street food' pics.
Finally...
Cheers.
Min, aku jg taunya krn postinganmu di IDFB. Thanks :)
Pengen sih menang, sekalipun kemungkinannya agak keciiiil kali ya :D
@Cazere, thanks :)
Tour and Travel Companies in Panchkula
Really lovely blog, I wish I can be food blogger like you
xx
http://overloadstories.blogspot.com