Restaurants in Jakarta

Lara Djonggrang

Entering Lara Djonggrang leaves behind smoggy Jakarta for an entirely different world - the royal home of a 9th century Javanese King. On atmosphere and exotic décor, it makes for a unique dining experience, something the Tugu group of restaurants and bars have done successfully with their other establishments. More antique museum than eatery, the menu still covers a wide range of delectable dishes from all over Indonesia. Its dim lighting is a bit too dark and the mosquitoes can be a bother, but overall this is a smart eating option.

The Duck King

An upscale establishment mostly found in shopping malls, The Duck King has forged a reputation for not only being the most successful Chinese restaurant in Indonesia but also for having one of the largest menus with over 100 dishes. On any given day, you’ll find a diverse clientele, from expats and tourists to local business people. Its spacious interior attracts large gatherings, so romantic trysts are not recommended. Roasted duck is its signature dish but it also has an impressive dim sum menu a la Hong Kong. Reservations at weekends are a must.

Holy Crab

Crab legs and lobsters; crawfish and spicy Cajun, Holy Crab is a heaven for seafood aficionados in Jakarta. Southern hospitality is served up Jakarta-style with crustaceans snacked upon using a mallet, a bib and your own teeth. Local varieties such as blue and mud crab are available. However pricey the menu, and strange your meal’s delivery (served in a plastic bag), Holy Crab is a funky diner where its mouth-watering seafood makes for a fun-filled evening.

Mamma Rosy

Mamma Rosy is an award-winning restaurant run by an Italian family three generations deep in Mediterranean gastronomy. The pastas and noodles are homemade and the atmosphere is raw Roma in the centre of a beguiling Jakarta. Rosy, the matriarch in the kitchen, is known for her minestrone soups and homemade pestos, and while the menu may be overwhelming in selection, guests are often encouraged to customize their own dishes. The terrace bar is calm-inducing, a real home away from home.

Café Batavia

A blast from the past, this historic colonial building has a lot of the ol’ Dutch in mien with a hint of Hollywood in its golden years. A mixed menu is offered, which includes authentic Indonesian, plus a Western selection that’s a little too ordinary in taste and appearance. As it sits on Taman Fatahillah square in Kota, it is an ideal stop to break up the old town, especially for a cocktail or two.

VOC Gedong Galangan

Once a 17th century warehouse, VOC Galangan is now a restaurant perfecting meals on its simple menu. Dark red curtains, teakwood furniture and antique lanterns give it an Old World feel, heavily influenced by China and Java. Located in Kota, on the edge of the canal system, it serves Betawi, Chinese and European fare. Meals can be served inside, at one of its six gazebos, or in the garden. Its signature dishes are Peking duck and Cap Cay soup.

Rumah Makan Betawi Soto H. Ma’ruf

Located inside Taman Ismail Marzuki arts and cultural centre, this native Betawi eatery has been selling its tasty and tender brand of soto Betawi (beef and coconut milk soup) since the days of Soekarno. Sate Daging (meat skewers) drenched in a savoury peanut sauce is a gustatory excursion of novel flavours. After a most scrumptious lunch, rather than be overcome by your food coma, continue visiting TIM’s various attractions such as cinema, exhibitions and even a planetarium.

Ketan Susu Kemayoran

Open 24 hours a day, hordes of local street eaters gather in Ketan Susu Kemayoran to eat light, especially at night and weekends. Not so much a place to get stuffed, this milk bar offers sticky rice and a truly authentic Indonesian experience. What is merely stop-and-go for the average Jakartan can be a great opportunity for a foreign visitor to experience the city from the ground up, starting with typical street food. Try ketan (steamed glutinous rice) with coconut on top and tempe goreng (fried soybean cake).

Marco Padang Grill

The food of the Minangkabau people has arrived in Jakarta, bistro style. Serving authentic Padang-Peranakan fare, this grill applies a unique concept to traditional Padang cuisine. Though mostly associated with inexpensive street grub, Marco Padang Grill offers Padang that can be eaten indoors without sweating and feeling like your mouth is on fire. Beef Rendang (beef simmered in coconut) and Nasi Goreng (fried rice) are specialties and justifiably pricey compared to the street warung (street shop) alternative. There are now five locations around the city.