Enjoying yourself Indonesia
Timetable Indonesia
Navigating the schedules of restaurants and warungs in Indonesia can be confusing, with time slots that seem to follow their own calendar. Closing days can be a real headache. Add to this the fluctuating crowds, which can turn a quiet dinner into a lively evening, or vice versa. Mealtimes generally follow a routine, with breakfast between 6am and 8am, lunch around 11am to 1pm, an afternoon snack around 3pm to 5pm, and dinner between 6pm and 8pm.
During Ramadan, Muslims change their eating habits. They often have breakfast between 3.30am (or even 3am) and 5am, depending on location and time of morning prayer. Dinner is served between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m., depending on the region and the time of evening prayer. It should be noted that at this time, many restaurants may be closed due to fasting practices.
Budget & Tips Indonesia
There are all kinds of dining options, from warungs to international restaurants.
Warungs are small, informal and inexpensive restaurants serving a variety of Indonesian dishes, including rice and noodle dishes, soups and snacks. They consist of a few tables and benches bounded by hanging canvas, planks or bamboo. The cuisine can be insipid or sublime. It is served on a plate with cutlery (fork and spoon). The warung is a meeting place, where you eat, nibble, drink hot coffee or tea, chat, speculate, tell stories - in short, the warung is an inimitable social place. Prices are very reasonable.
The kaki lima ("five feet") are street vendors who pass through the streets of the kampungs. They each have their own distinctive music (gong, horn), song or shout, so you can recognize them from home. Don't hesitate to stop them! They offer delicious culinary specialties. The best: putus (a steamed dessert made with rice paste and grated coconut) and bapaos (soft, light steamed buns stuffed with various ingredients such as pork, chicken, beef and vegetables).
Rumah makan are hard-built warungs with real walls, or small, generally unpretentious restaurants. You'll recognize them by the front displaying the different animals cooked: duck, fish, chicken, shrimp, with their names... You point to or try to pronounce the one you think is the most delicious, and the price is calculated (usually under Rp 20,000, even if you've got a big appetite). This will be the most convenient way for you to eat, unless you're part of a package tour where meals in (usually international) restaurants are scheduled in advance.
In Jakarta, home to a large number of expatriates working in international business, restaurants offer a gastronomic range similar to that of any major capital. Traditional Indonesian, Indian, Thai, sometimes French and Japanese cuisine - in short, expertise from all over the world. American fast-food is also well established: Mac Do and Kentucky Fried Chicken are fashionable and a must for young Indonesians, while trendy Westerners of course settle down at the warung. International hotels offer sumptuous buffets at reasonable prices.
Every tourist destination has its share of Western or Westernized restaurants, with a generally very classic menu: from pizza to sushi to hamburgers. Near the ocean, don't resist the excellent seafood specialties; generally, you can choose your fish or lobster, as well as the way it's cooked: fried, grilled, in soup. The Dutch left behind pastries, bread and confectionery. Warungs and small street stalls offer affordable meals, often between 10,000 and 30,000 Rp. For mid-range restaurants, prices generally oscillate between Rp 50,000 and Rp 200,000 per person. Upscale establishments, especially in tourist areas, can charge in excess of Rp 200,000. In hotels and seaside resorts, meals can be more expensive, sometimes reaching over Rp 300,000 per person.
What costs extra Indonesia
In Indonesia, tipping is not a common practice, except in certain restaurants which automatically include a 10% service charge. If you appreciate the service, don't hesitate to leave a 10-15% tip. Just remember to give this little bonus directly to the waiter to avoid it being shared with others if it's left on the table.
The local way Indonesia
The diversity of Indonesian dishes varies according to region of origin and ethnicity. Obviously, if you don't venture off the beaten track, you may be stuck with nasi goreng/mie goreng (fried rice/noodles), the Indonesian staple. Otherwise, the choice is quite vast. Indonesian cuisine is relatively sweet and spicy, but again, it's hard to generalize. A lot of herbs and spices are used, but without the dishes becoming ultra-spicy, except in the case of padang cuisine. Coconut milk is also widely used, and soups are plentiful. The basic accompaniment is rice. Alongside this, you'll usually be offered shrimp chips(krupuk), skewers(sate) and a few sauces: sambal (spicy sauce), saus tomat (ketchup), ketchup (in this case, a sweet soy sauce). The most famous Indonesian cuisine is Padang, from Sumatra. Generally very spicy, it features a variety of curries and other preparations. There are all kinds of cooking methods: boiled, fried, grilled, roasted and some typically Indonesian, such as steamed in a banana leaf called " pepes ". In chic restaurants, a dozen different dishes are brought to you and placed on the table in front of you; choose what you like, eat to your heart's content.
In Bali, the diversity of dishes also reflects religious differences, with pork predominating. Babi guling, delicately cooked on a spit, is a must. Duck is also frequently used, with bebek betutu, a duck stewed for at least 24 hours (usually ordered in advance). Manado's lesser-known but equally delicious cuisine features gurame, freshwater fish grilled and accompanied by sautéed vegetables. Ask locals for reliable restaurant recommendations. Locals are often in the best position to know the best places to eat.
To be avoided Indonesia
Indonesians eat with the fingers of their right hand or with a fork and spoon. Knives are never used! Meat is cut in advance. Perhaps you'll be lucky enough to be invited into an Indonesian home. That's where you'll probably eat best.
Kids Indonesia
It's generally perfectly acceptable to bring children to restaurants. Restaurants, especially those located in tourist or urban areas, are used to welcoming families.
Smokers Indonesia
In some places, smoking is allowed outside in restaurants, on terraces or in open areas. However, more and more places, especially in cities, have stricter anti-smoking rules. That said, these rules are not always followed to the letter, and you may see people smoking right next to your table while you're eating.
Tourist traps Indonesia
Before paying, be sure to check the bill carefully to make sure it matches what you ordered. Report any errors or discrepancies.
Take a break Indonesia
Timetable Indonesia
These days, we're seeing a growing number of specialty cafés in tourist locations. These establishments, often open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., offer a relaxed, co-working environment. As for bars and breweries, a veritable beer culture is flourishing in the heart of major metropolises. Here, you can discover craft breweries offering unique and original beers. The famous "Beer gardens", meanwhile, unveil extensive alcohol menus, featuring a cutting-edge selection of spirits. These places can stay open late into the night, often past midnight, especially at weekends. On tourist islands, beach bars may also have late closing times, especially during the high tourist season.
Budget & Tips Indonesia
The average cost of a cup of coffee can vary according to location and type of establishment. In major cities such as Jakarta, Yogyakarta and Surabaya, the price of a cup of coffee in a café or restaurant can range from 20,000 to 30,000 Rp. From a street vendor or small café, the price can drop to as little as 10,000.
As for beer, prices vary depending on the brand. Local beer is generally the cheapest, ranging from Rp20,000 to Rp30,000 per bottle or can, while local microbrews tend to be a little more expensive. On the beach or in a restaurant, prices can vary between 45,000 and 80,000 Rp. If you opt for imported beer, the cost is around Rp 95,000 per bottle. It's worth noting that cans are often more expensive than bottles, and restaurants don't usually offer cask beer at a more affordable rate.
As for spirits, Bali seems to offer better prices than Jakarta, thanks to the presence of local distilleries. Cocktails can cost between 80,000 and 150,000 Rp. As for spirits, prices range from 100,000 to 250,000 Rp per glass, depending on brand and variety. Spirits and wine are not sold in grocery stores because a more expensive license is required. The cheapest local vodka or whisky in Bali costs around Rp 65,000 for 350 ml (or Rp 90,000 for 500 ml). Good wine costs from Rp 250,000 a bottle. Local arak is probably the cheapest alcohol, provided you visit one of the villages where it is traditionally made.
Age restrictions Indonesia
You have to be 21 to drink alcohol in Indonesia. Tourists must respect local rules. Minors risk legal sanctions, such as fines and even imprisonment, if they consume alcohol. You won't automatically be asked for your ID card in bars, unless you look younger than your age.
What's very local Indonesia
Arak, the emblematic alcoholic elixir, has its roots in Indonesian tradition, mainly forged through the distillation of fermented palm juice. This beverage, which is also made from glutinous rice or coconut palms, was initially dedicated to age-old rituals and ceremonies, but has since become part of the culture, establishing its status as a prized beverage in specific regions of the country, notably Bali and Java. The alcohol content of arak can vary, but is generally quite high, ranging from 30% to 50% or more. Brem, customarily associated with Balinese ceremonies, is sometimes used as a substitute for blood in these rituals. Its tantalizing red hue derives from the ketan hitam, also known as "black glutinous rice", which permeates the fermentation process. With an alcohol content of between 3% and 10%, brem is more subtle and delicate than arak. Next, ballo, another exquisite variation on fermented sugar palm sap, popular in South Sulawesi, is traditionally presented in a bamboo container. Secondly, sopi, forged through a meticulous process of distillation and fermentation, takes its origin from the Dutch " zoopje ", meaning liquid alcohol. Popular in Flores, the Moluccas and other parts of eastern Indonesia, this drink is a celebration of tradition, carefully crafted from the precious sap of coconuts.
As for coffee, on the bucket list, Carter Chambers, the character played by Morgan Freeman in The Bucket List, notes drinking luwak coffee. But why is luwak coffee on this list? Quite simply because it's considered one of the best coffees in the world, rare and, above all, very expensive. Harvested from the excrement of an Indonesian civet, the luwak, the seeds are then cleaned and roasted. The coffee is generally appreciated for its lack of bitterness. A cup of this coffee in Indonesia sells for 80,000 Rp. In London, the same cup can fetch £50!
Kids Indonesia
In many regions, particularly in more traditional or conservative areas, it may be considered inappropriate to bring children into a bar. If in doubt, ask local residents or staff for advice.
Smokers Indonesia
In general, most bars have dedicated smoking areas. This varies according to district regulations.
Tourist traps Indonesia
Some tourist sites will lead you to enjoy a luwak coffee, but all too often it will be an inferior imitation. It's advisable to decline politely, unless you're certain of the product's provenance (which is virtually impossible to verify in most cases).
