The Capital City Specialty, Nasi Goreng Jakarta

First timer in Indonesia? Try Nasi Goreng Jakarta. If Indonesians are asked any kinds of food to recommend to foreigners, no doubt the answer will be nasi goreng or fried rice. Fried rice peddlers are easily found in almost every part of Indonesia, usually at night. They will be pushing their cart around the neighborhood and waiting for to be called by customers to buy their fried rice. Aside from fried rice, they usually have other options like fried noodle and boiled noodle. As it is a very popular menu in Indonesia, it also can be easily found in restaurants.

There are countless types of fried rice in Indonesian, some of them are named based on the area they are residing, like Nasi Goreng Jawa, Nasi Goreng Aceh, or Nasi Goreng Jakarta. Some of them are named by the ingredients, like chicken fried rice, mutton fried rice, seafood fried rice, rendang fried rice, and many more.

While there is also fried rice in different parts of the world, Indonesian fried rice has their own uniqueness, which is using an ingredient that most of the other countries didn’t have, kecap manis or sweet soy sauce. The texture of sweet soy sauce is thicker than the ordinary soy sauce and has a sweet flavor from palm sugar. Sweet soy sauce is an essential ingredient to cook many other Indonesian food such as satay, tongseng, semur, and many more. However, there might be some versions that only use original soy sauce.

If you stay in Jakarta, of course you don’t want to miss finding the capital city version, which is Nasi Goreng Jakarta. Fried rice is a convenient choice to be eaten any time and anywhere in Jakarta. It is a perfect menu for dinner, lunch, or even breakfast. The key to having perfect fried rice is to use an overnight left-over rice as it will provide a crunchy texture. It also has a unique dark brown color from the sweet soy sauce.

While most of the populations are fond of spicy flavor, some sellers will naturally add chili to add some spiciness, so if you have a low tolerance of spiciness, you might need to request the chili to be left out in your fried rice. Now enough with the description, join our Jakarta Food Tour to try the authentic Nasi Goreng Jakarta firsthand. No need to be fancy, just prepare your tummy!

Kerak Telor In Jakarta, a Delicacy for Delightful Fiesta

Crack some eggs, add some spices, roast a little, then Kerak Telor will be ready to serve. It is another indigenous cuisine from Jakarta, a Betawi traditional omelet from chicken or duck eggs, but in crunchy version, thus the name is Kerak Telor, from kerak or crust, and eggs or telor.

Asian is well known to eat rice with almost everything, even snacks. But the main difference in Kerak Telor, instead of steamed rice, glutinous rice is directly added to be roasted along with eggs and other ingredients, such as dried shrimp, along with other spices, producing a crunchy sensation.

Using eggs as the main ingredients, you can choose between chicken or duck eggs. Some people prefer using duck eggs as they have more savory taste. Kerak Telor is known to be easily found around Central and West Jakarta, near Jakarta’s landmark, National Monument or Monas. Other than in those areas, the dish is not easily found elsewhere because it is rarely found in restaurants’ menus. Kerak Telor is usually sold by a street peddler who carries their bakul or traditional basket on their shoulders by walking around the city.

There are some convenient ways to find Kerak Telor peddler, one of them is visiting Jakarta Fair, it is an annual festival held every year to celebrate the capital city’s birthday. There will be many Kerak Telor sellers setting up their stalls around the area. It usually starts around the middle of June and will end in the middle of July. It is called Pekan Raya Jakarta, or in literal translation, Jakarta Fair. There will be many kinds of activities, including shopping, concerts, and many more.

However, if you want to try Kerak Telor even though the annual event hasn’t started or already ended, you can still find it around Jakarta area. Not every Jakartans know when and where to find an original Kerak Telor, but you can leave it to Jakarta Walking Tour Happy Walkers for guidance. Join our Jakarta Food tour, and we will gladly help you find a route full of delicacies as you stay in Jakarta. Have an unforgettable journey to find the authentic taste of Jakarta with us.

Find A Bowl of Soto Betawi on A Sunny Day by Walking Around the City

If the weather is scorching hot, find Soto Betawi to the rescue. It is said that eating piping hot food in hot weather will lower your body temperature. For weather like in Jakarta, which is almost always sunny with average temperature around 27-33 °C throughout the year, the perfect lunch menu is soto. It is a soup-based dish that is extremely popular around Jakarta and the rest of the archipelago.

There are so many variants of soto in Indonesia, some said between 16 until 40 kinds of soto can be found in Indonesia, from Sabang to Merauke. In Jakarta, of course Soto Betawi is the main star. Even though it is called Soto Betawi, it is first introduced by a Chinese descendant, Li Boen Po in 1971. He created this name because there were already many kinds of soto in Indonesia. Soto Madura, Soto Kudus, Soto Sulung, Soto Bogor, Soto Bandung, and many more for example. So, in order not to lose on the competition, he decided to use the name that didn’t exist before. And since native people of Jakarta is from Betawi ethnicity, he named it Soto Betawi.

The main difference of Soto Betawi from other variants of soto is in the broth, which is using milk as the ingredient. It also contains almost every part of cow’s body, from its meat, offal, liver, and the rest. For many restaurants, they usually provide options if you only want to eat only the “daging” or flesh, without offal or other parts.

Not only using milk and coconut milk as a broth, but there are also many spices and other ingredients to add in. Along with beef, diced potato, and slice tomatoes, with also ghee as a main ingredient, Soto Betawi is rich in flavour. The savoury and slightly sour taste are perfect to taste in a sunny afternoon. If you have a sweet tooth, you can add sweet soy sauce to add the sweet flavour.

Don’t miss the chance to taste the delicious Soto Betawi by walking around the city. Our Happy Walker Agents will help you experience a delightful journey to find what the best delicacies that the city can offer. So, see you on the next Jakarta Food Tour!

Indonesian Style Salad, Gado-gado Jakarta

Set aside your salad, choose Gado-gado Jakarta instead. Gado-gado is derived from “digado”, or usually eaten not with rice, but with lontong (rice cake) instead. It is made from many kinds of ingredients, which contain various kinds of green vegetables, from lettuce, cabbage, cauliflower, long beans, cucumber, and bitter gourd.  Also combined with tofu, corn, and tempeh, with peanut sauce as the dressing, it adds a nice combination of flavors between sweet and savory. Most of the ingredients are boiled, and you can request the level of spiciness from the vendor. The ingredients may vary according to the location.

Indonesian culinary are rich in spices, condiments, and flavors. While it is enjoyable to eat, depending on the ingredients or the cooking process, eating too much of certain food can lead to health problems, too much fried food for example, is not good for your body as we need nutritional balance. So, Gado-gado Jakarta is the right choice for you. Only one thing that you need to pay attention to. Make sure that you are not allergic to peanuts, as some people may have it and resulting in a terrible reaction, or you can confirm to us before about what you can and cannot consume during our Jakarta Food Tour.

Gado-gado Jakarta or better known as Gado-gado Betawi in some areas, can usually be found in the mornings. Gado-gado is one of Betawi cuisine, native ethnic of Jakarta. Several sources stated that the founders are from Tugu Village community, situated in North Jakarta, who were originally of Portuguese descent. There might be some different version around Java area. Gado-gado is popular among Jakartans.  Usually sold by street vendors on the side of the main roads and often sold out right before afternoon comes. However, if you want to find places that sell Gado-gado Jakarta on the normal working hours, some restaurants or warung makan may have it on the menu.

You can ask locals or search independently about these restaurants or warung makan, or feel free to make inquiries to our Happy Walkers Agents during Jakarta Food Tour. We will gladly guide and provide you with useful information about delicacies around Jakarta. Don’t hesitate anymore, come join our Jakarta Food Tour and we will gladly help you find and try not only tasty, but healthy Gado-gado Jakarta.

Explore A Tasty Culinary Experience for Food in Jakarta

If you are travelling to Jakarta, don’t ever skip to try various Food in Jakarta. Jakarta is known as a “melting pot”, which many people from various ethnicities with different cultures meet, resulting in a rich and abundant culinary option that you can choose.

Start from the west part of Indonesia, there are many Sumatrans residing in Jakarta, therefore you can easily find Padangnese restaurants, at almost every corner in Jakarta. Rumah Makan Padang or Padang Restaurant offers many menus and a unique experience where they will present you with many options on the table and you can just pay for what you eat there. Meanwhile, sate Padang are usually sold by street vendors at night.

Moving a bit to the east, Java as the most populated island and Javanese as the most widely spread ethnicity in Indonesia, Javanese food can be found almost everywhere in Indonesia. Soto, sate, bakso (meatball), pecel, fried rice, and fried noodle are only just a few examples. Food from other islands such as Borneo, Sulawesi, and many more also exist as an option for Food in Jakarta, nonetheless, not as popular. Aside from traditional Indonesian food, you don’t have to worry if you find those are not suitable to your taste. Western cuisines, Chinese food and fast-food chain are readily available if you prefer to choose a familiar taste. Availability for Food in Jakarta also comes with many options, from fine dining locations to fast and cheap street food often served by pedagang kaki lima (carts or modified bicycles), or in roadside warungs (modest local restaurants).

While many kinds of Food in Jakarta are originated from cities outside Jakarta, the city itself also have interesting delicacies that it can offer. Betawi as a native in Jakarta, also have some popular specialty dishes. They are gado-gado, soto Betawi, kerak telor, and nasi goreng Jakarta. All of them are made with different kinds of ingredient, with different flavors, and by different techniques. From sweet, sour, salty, and spicy, you name it. Seasoned by variety of unique spices that can only be found in Indonesia, a taste that of the country that you can always remember.

A mouthwatering experience that you can imagine. So, are you ready to join us exploring nook and cranny of Jakarta to find the best culinary experience? Say less, don’t hesitate anymore! Book a Jakarta Food Tour with us, and Happy Walker Agents will be ready to guide you.

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Jakarta Walking Tour reviewed as “The Best Play” in Jakarta on Guides by Lonely Planet App.

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Sunday activity idea: Car Free Day

car free day in jakarta

Jakarta is the busiest city in Indonesia. Motorbikes, cars, buses, they hit the road every single day. What if…all the cars, motorbikes, pollution suddenly disappear? In CAR FREE DAY, those dreams are possible. 

Every Sunday morning, from 6 to 11 AM, the police officers will close the main street of Jakarta for everyone who wants to exercise or just hang around to refresh their mind. It is from Bundaran Senayan (near Gelora Bung Karno football stadion) to MH Thamrin Street (could up to Monas Park). It approximately has 6,5 kilometer for each way, and the police will close two ways street in Car Free Day. Total 13 kilometer just for people!

Most Jakartans will gather around Bundaran Hotel Indonesia (in front of Grand Indonesia Mall) since there is a lot of booths and music live show will setting up on Thamrin Street until Bendungan Hilir Street. These area could provide parking service for Jakartans who come to enjoy Car Free Day. We as a local, do not have exercise habit. Yes, we should admit that fact. However we still come for exploring, hanging out with friends/family, or gathering with our local community.

Then, what you could do in Jakarta’s Car Free Day as a tourist?

Car Free Day Idea #1: Sit on the street and post it on instagram

This might sounds silly. But in fact, you can not sit on the busy street of Jakarta everyday. It is not small street or ‘regular back alley’ that looks like similiar anywhere in Asian countries. On Car Free Day, you could sleep, sit, whatever you want in main street of Jakarta. MAIN STREETS, near business district with all those sky scrappers as your background. 

sunday activity car free day

Car Free Day Idea #2: Try street foods

The crowded street and food sellers. It is trying to answer old question,”Chicken or Egg, which one comes first?” Hahaha. Whatever the answer might be, try street foods on Car Free Day is never be wrong idea. Another tricky question, which street food that I should buy? How do I know that one is tastier than the other one? Nah, you never know. Also, everyone has their own preferable flavor. Just try to find clean stalls then buy it. My mom always told me to look on street seller feet before buy anything on the street. If they can not keep their feet clean, how could they manage to have our food safe? Logic. 

Car Free Day Idea #3: Strolling around by foot

Just go with the flow. Join local activity on Car Free Day. Talk to Jakartans. Eat ice cream. Sit somewhere then pay attention for anything happens in front of your eyes. Slowing down, walking, and enjoying the vibe. If you like photography, you definitely would love Car Free Day. It is a good chance to understand more about melting pot city like Jakarta. Hear stories, capture moments when every body feel relax. 

Car Free Day Idea #4: Rent bike

Of course, we don’t recommend you to bike in normal day but in Car Free Day? Definitely a YES. It is safer. You could go far with wheels. However, there is no rent bike place on the street (read: Car Free Day). You need to go rent bike shop by your own before you hit the road. Based on our experience, you need to book it couple day before Sunday morning. No go show. Small effort like email or phone call will worth a try. 

So, are you ready to get up early on Sunday? See you there, on Car Free Day!


Do you want to experience Car Free Day with us? Walking or biking? Just drop your email here

 

Soto

soto in jakarta

Soto is one dish that is found throughout the archipelago but have their own specific regional variation. There are dozens of varieties of soto, but this soup dish is mainly composed of broth, meat, and vegetables. Soto spices include the shallot, garlic, turmeric, root, galangal, ginger, coriander, salt and pepper.

Black Soto Rawon

Soto Rawon – East Java. Black broth come from Kluwek spice (Pangium edule -red)

Soto is usually garnished with sohun (rice vermicelli), bean sprouts, sliced boiled eggs, chopped spring onions and Chinese celery. The soup is usually accompanied by rice or rice cakes (ketupat or lontong) and eaten with potato cakes (perkedel), shrimp crackers (kerupuk udang) or gnetum seed crips (emping).


Source                  : “The Ultimate Destination of INDONESIA”
Copyright            : Indonesia Culture and Tourism Ministry (2011)
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Do you want to taste delicious Soto in Jakarta? Let’s join our all-you-can-eat Jakarta Food TourWe will bring you to the best soto restarurant in town. Contact us here

 

Jakarta Food Tour Experience with CTB Global

jakarta

My motto is to travel efficient; this includes tasting local delicacies in a smart way. That’s why I often look for a local food tour, especially in Asia, to taste as much different dishes as possible during a night. During my trip through Indonesia together with my daughter I wanted to do a food tour in Jakarta. I booked a Jakarta food tour with Jakarta Walking Tours which is managed by Vera.

 

This was a great choice as she knew the places to go eat very well and explained each dish into detail. Hungry yet? Join me on a Jakarta food tour!

Before you start with your Jakarta Food Tour make sure you don’t eat too much during the day. You will be eating four hours and you do want to taste as much as possible. If you worry about getting sick of street food: please don’t. Everything is fresh and cooked on the spot so the risk is very low.

Continue reading here: Jakarta Food Tour with CTB Global

Jakarta Food Tour Experience when Fasting Month

jakarta

It is Ramadan. Indonesia is home to the largest population of Muslims in the world. Over 12{9e84ad3adf7f6649419c3d34c511cc75d18ba3101b1ac61299241cdd2f2cd7ab} of the world’s Muslims live here, and about 100 of them are sitting to my left and to my right on short, green plastic chairs, in a street-side restaurant with a roof made of stretched-tarp. They stare at their food, waiting for the clock to strike 6:00 p.m. Many awoke early to eat breakfast at 4:00 a.m., and then went without food and water for the last 14 hours. It is oppressively hot and humid, especially with all of these hungry bodies packed into a room that traps heat, testing everyone in their last few minutes of fasting.

Everyone but me. I am on a food tour. During Ramadan.

 

So I begin with the soup, and I move onto the Tempe Bacem. All but one person eyes me with contempt. It doesn’t matter that I’m the infidel. What matters is that everyone is hungry. And I’m eating. (There was one other person, a Muslim man who seemed in his early 60s, who kept sneaking little pinches of white rice into his mouth, refusing to chew so that his secret might be safe.) I’m a fan of sacrifice, but in a world where few ever remove their mask, I love that guy.
Continue reading here: Jakarta Food Tour