The Ultimate Indonesian Food Hunt

We woke up at two in the morning, did sunrise watching at dawn, had a bike tour around Borobudur and batik-making on a café. The day was packed that it felt like it’s already five in the afternoon but it was just high noon. We went to a restaurant cum cultural show and I went straight to the lunch area. The buffet table was loaded with Indonesian versions of laing, tokwa, pansit canton, chopsuey, pritong galunggong, sarsiado, tinola and kropek. After a week, I suddenly missed home.

Yogyakarta ✈ Bali ✈ Lombok 😀 #WonderfulIndonesia #TripofWonders

A photo posted by blissfulguro (@blissfulguro) on Sep 12, 2016 at 9:26pm PDT

A month ago, I was blessed to get invited to Trip of Wonders 2016, a twelve-day exploration on different key destinations in Indonesia by the Ministry of Tourism. We explored Jakarta (for a quick overnight stop), Bandung, Yogyakarta, Lombok, Komodo National Park and Bali with 40+ souls from different Southeast Asian countries. It was altogether a different experience as I got to discover the gems of the country with my newfound friends which made everything more meaningful.

From Bandung to Bali, from restaurants to traditional gerobak food carts, and from good to best food around Indonesia; I was there to try and associate it to my homegrown meals. And as we went around the country, I realized how similar the Indonesians and Filipinos were in so many ways including food.  So join me as I give you a rundown of my ultimate Indonesian food trippin’.

Bandung

Lunch plate at Cafe Burangrang on Dusun Bambu Park
Chicken tinola-like and sarsiado-like dishes
Not my favorite meal

Bebek goreng (fried duck)
Nyoman NuArt Cafe
Crispy goodness!

Pisang goreng (fried bananas with sauce)
Nyoman NuArt Cafe
This is yummy!

Durian eskrim (durian ice cream) Rp20,000
Random gerobak food cart in Bandung
I didn't like it

Es Campur (shaved ice with mixed fruits) - Rp35,000
Random gerobak food cart in Bandung
Philippines' halo-halo is much better

Bintang beer tower (Rp200,000)
Verde  Resto and Lounge
Nice chill-out place

Bintang/Kuda Putih (Rp20,000)
Erla's Mexican Cafe

Yogyakarta

Telur dadar (omelette), ayam goreng (fried chicken), mie goreng (fried noodles)
Manohara Hotel
So-so breakfast

Fried rice with coconut milk and dried fish
Pendopo Onthel Tingal, Desa Wanurejo
This is really good!

Mangut Lele
Pendopo Onthel Tingal, Desa Wanurejo
Super spicy!

Tempe goreng (deep-fried tempe/soybeans), tahu (fried tofu)
Pendopo Onthel Tingal, DesaWanurejo
Loved the tofu more than tempe

Tahu goreng (fried tofu), tempe goreng (deep-fried tempe/soybeans)
Ayam Goreng Suharti
Super crispy

Gudeg (young unripe jack fruit, palm sugar, coconut milk, hard-boiled egg)
Ayam Goreng Suharti
Totally forgot about this because of the very delicious fried chicken

Ayam goreng (fried chicken)
Ayam Goreng Suharti
The best fried chicken in the world!

Lombok

Mezze platter (rosemary pita bread with hummus, babaghanouch, checkchouka,sauteed spinach, taboule,
cumin potato, feta cheese, mix olives, carrots with honey and mustard dressing) - Rp75,000
El Bazar Cafe and Restaurant

Beef kebab skewer with warm pita bread, chekchouka paste, rosemary french fries and garlic mustard mayo - Rp70,000
Saffron and lemon chicken tagine with olives served with warm pita bread - Rp85,000
Mezze platter - Rp75,000
El Bazar Cafe and RestaurantI super love the kebab!

Labuan Bajo

Ayam bakar (grilled chicken)
Lunch at Pink Beach in Komodo National Park
There will always be some keropok!

Lunch plate at Tree Top Restaurant
Everything was just okay

Nachos (Rp20,000)
Bajo Taco
So-so ('coz I make the best nachos! Haha)

Tostada salad (Rp75,000 - Large)
Bajo Taco
I didn't like it :(

Burritos (Rp55,000)
Bajo Taco
Not a fan

Bali

Empal (fried sliced thin beef cut), Bebek Goreng (crispy duck),
nasi putih (white rice), urap-urap (mixed vegetable roe), sambal (chili sauce), lalapan (raw vegetables)
Warung Eropa
I super love this meal!!!

Indonesian food is truly reminiscent of Filipino food. The typical meal of rice and viand was very evident on almost all of the islands which made me miss Filipino food. I love how they make good fried chicken and tofu. I'll try and make it my own, making a Filipino version of my Indonesian food favorites.

Cafe Burangrang at Dusun Bambu Family Leisure Park
Kolonel Masturi KM11, Cisarua,
Bandung Barat, Indonesia

Nyoman NuArt Cafe
Jalan Setra Duta Kencana No.11,
Bandung
Contact Number: (+62) 811.224.749

Ayam Goreng Suharti
Jalan Adi Sucipto 208, Yogyakarta
Contact Number: (+62) 274.484.522

El Bazar Cafe and Restaurant
Jalan Raya Kuta No. 5, Kuta, Pujut, 
Kabupaten Lombok Tengah 83573
Contact Number: (+62) 819.9911.3026
Open Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily

Bajo Taco
Jalan Soekarno Hatta, Labuan Bajo
Contact Number: (+62) 621.473.26697

Warung Eropa
Jalan Petitenget No.9, Kerobokan Kelod, 
Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361
Contact Number: (+62) 361.473.6901
Open Hours: 11:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. daily

Check here for discounted hotels in Indonesia

Special thanks to Indonesia's Ministry of Tourism for making this trip possible. 

As always, opinions and opinions are all mine.

Website: www.indonesia.travel

Facebook: /indonesia.travel

IG: @indtravel

Twitter: @indtravel

#WonderfulIndonesia

#TripofWonders