Jakarta's best bites

Tuck into customised instant noodles, nasi goreng and more in the unexpected foodie destination

- Leyla Rose

Indonesia's capital is better known for being an economic hub with traffic congestion than a destination for foodies. But for those in the know, its food scene remains underrated compared with other South-east Asian cities such as Singapore or Bangkok.

In March, Jakarta took 10th place in online publication Time Out's 2025 list of 20 Best Cities For Food.

Other Asian cities that made the list include Bangkok, Shanghai and Mumbai.

Jakarta also took 16th place in a ranking of the world's 100 best food cities by online travel guide Taste Atlas in its 2024/2025 Awards, beating contenders such as Kyoto in 17th place and Singapore in 22nd.

From street food stalls to high-end restaurants, new establishments regularly open in Jakarta, many run by locals who are showcasing regional cuisine from around the country, as well as elevating Indonesian ingredients and dishes with Western cooking techniques.

Here are five to check out.

UPSCALE INDONESIAN CUISINE

Kaum (kaum.com/jakarta) is the best place for an introduction to Indonesian cuisine. Tucked in a quiet street in central Jakarta, the property was a former Dutch colonial house. It was transformed into a restaurant in 2017, with a bright and spacious dining hall and an open kitchen and a bar at either end.

Indonesian cuisine traditionally features simple, home-style cooking.

At Kaum, familiar dishes have been elevated through high-quality ingredients sourced from small-scale producers around the country. Many dishes use indigenous cooking methods such as manual grinding, pickling and acid denaturation (cooking meat or fish in acidic substances).