48 Best Restaurants in Indonesia

Freshly made noodles are the specialty in Medan, and the best noodle joint is hotly contested. This casual restaurant, specializing in egg noodles made daily, is widely regarded as one of the top choices. Noodle choices range from the original soy minced chicken with sautéed garlic to spiced beef to dan dan noodles, which you dip into a sauce on the side. Don't miss the tasty prawn balls to start—fried dough chock-full of tender crustaceans. Though it's only open 6:30 am to 3 pm, there's a second location inside Lim's Café, at the intersection of Jl. Sumatra and Jl. Borneo, open 2:30–9:30 pm.

Calling itself Ubud's "first restaurant," Murni's Warung has introduced Balinese food to the likes of Richard Gere, Mick Jagger, Richard Branson, Jean-Claude Van Damme, and David Copperfield. Since opening as a warung (roadside stall) in 1974, Murni's has grown to four levels running down the river's edge. (Book a table at the bottom for the best views.) The menu has also grown, adding Indonesian and Western choices, but the foundation remains Balinese, with local standards like ayam betutu (spicy roast chicken), babi guling (roast pork), and black rice pudding, plus rarer specialties such as smoked curry duck. It's great for lunch; at dinner, don't forget mosquito repellant.

A trip to Indonesia wouldn't be complete without sampling one of the country's most cherished traditions: street food. If the term gives you pause, consider that street carts have been around since there were streets, and this is the best way to sample the most authentic, tastiest, and least expensive food in town. Hugely popular among the locals, Nasi Ayam Bu Wido is the place for scrumptious nasi ayam, a classic dish of shredded chicken and coconut rice served in a folded banana leaf and accompanied by spicy sambal and coconut milk soup. Around for 20 years, this vendor is a sure bet among hundreds.

Barbecued ribs, shaken-not-stirred martinis, and frosty draft beers made Naughty Nuri's legendary. But other Indonesian and American stars abound: towering burgers sizzling from the gas grill in front, nasi campur (rice with dollops of meat and veggies), and Bali's onioniest garden salad. Thursday's Tuna Night adds sashimi, satay, and steaks to the mix. Finish with fried bananas and ice cream. Squeeze into a big wooden table and make new friends in this casual, open-air joint. If the crowds become too much, try Nacho Mama about 200 yards away—the menu is identical but with the addition of margaritas and Mexican standards.

In Freddies hotel on Sumur Tiga Beach, chef and owner Freddie Rousseau cooks up a mean Indonesian fusion menu every night and serves it buffet style for a reasonable 65,000 Rp ($5). Dishes change daily depending on what's fresh, and a large selection of vegetarian options are available. Guests and non-guests are advised to make a reservation for the dinner, which begins at 7:30 pm. Unlike most other restaurants on the largely Muslim island, Freddie serves alcoholic drinks.

Sanur is Bali's top spot for seaside relaxation, and Sanur Beach Market makes a comfortable beachhead, especially if you're staying somewhere inland. The restaurant has table seating in the sand, where you can enjoy a beverage or share a respectable pizza before or after a dip in the gentle, reef-sheltered surf. The lengthy menu mixes Western and Indonesian fare, including rarely found Balinese favorite ikan bakar sambal mentah (grilled fish with raw spices). The restaurant provides transportation for diners staying in Sanur, and its bar along the village's 5-km (3-mile) beachwalk provides a respite for parched strollers. Proceeds support Sanur Village Foundation community programs.

Within the lovely Hotel Majapahit, Sarkies serves up gourmet versions of classic Chinese dishes in a formal 1930's-style atmosphere. The restaurant's signature plates, including bi feng tang prawns, abalone pau hi, beef Vietnam, and Peking duck, earn rave reviews. For lighter fare, there's a tasty dim sum menu. Though locals tend to shy away from this pretty restaurant, it's worth a visit both for the setting and the food.

Unique in Bali's burgeoning fine-dining scene, Sarong spotlights authentic Asian food. Indian, Thai, and Indonesia cooking anchor the menu, and Chef Will Meyrick regularly introduces new tastes from his travels across the region. It's not fusion, but flavors from Asia's streets, exquisitely cooked and served with cool original cocktails and well-chosen wine selections in an elegant, open-air setting. Romantics should request garden seating. A favorite starter is the grilled scallops with green mango, peanuts, and Indonesian salty fish. Nearby, the cheekier, loungier, air-conditioned sister, Mama San—at Jalan Raya Kerobokan 135—focuses on China and Indochina, is slightly cheaper, and serves from lunch till late.

A cut above what you usually find in Lovina, the Spice Beach Club delivers ambitious cuisine and lovely views of the ocean. Amid the aqua-and white-décor on its breezy beachside terrace, the place serves sandwiches and salads for lunch, plus an all-day dinner menu of seafood, steaks, and international dishes, including Greek specialties ranging from souvlaki to stuffed grape leaves. The beach club, open to all diners, has lounge chairs and umbrellas, and a pool where you can soak up the sun. With a DJ or band five nights a week, Spice Beach Club aims to raise the dining and nightlife game in Lovina.

Though it's located on a busy street rather than the beach, this upscale modern eatery draws in the crowds for its range of well-prepared Western dishes like Australian beef tenderloin and scallop and salmon ravioli, as well as Indonesian dishes including nasi goreng and wok-tossed calamari. Prices are a little higher than other restaurants in Senggigi, but for the extra you get high-quality meals and an extensive wine and cocktail list; try the five-course tasting menu (250,000 Rp) for the best deal. A nice touch: the restaurant offers a free shuttle service to and from local hotels.

A stalwart survivor since the colonial days (some of the waiters still speak Dutch), this atmospheric restaurant is a big local draw not only for its status as the oldest restaurant in Semarang (open since 1936, well before independence) but because the food really is good. A self-described "restaurant, ice cream palace, and patisserie," the menu is a fascinating mash-up of European, Indonesian, and Chinese cuisines, featuring dishes like chicken satay and peanut sauce, fried tofu and veggies with fermented shrimp paste, and wienerschnitzel. Homemade cookies are kept in large jars on the restaurant counters and can be bought to go, but it's the ice cream, freshly made on the premises, that keeps everyone coming back.

Founded back in 1947, Trio keeps earning major cred for its huge array of Chinese-Indonesian dishes. Must-tries include spring rolls, asparagus soup, scrumptious noodle dishes, and fried rice. At crowded meal times, find yourself sharing a Formica table with a gaggle of the city's socialites, a bunch of clubbers preparing for a night on the town, or an elderly couple heading down culinary memory lane. Owned by a founder's son, Trio has an old-school feel that extends to its simple, un– air-conditioned dining room and soberly dressed, dour-faced waiters still serving what fans say is the best Chinese food in town.

European-style brasserie–cum–bar Union shows staying power with the capital's fickle upscale diners and lounge hounds. Iconic white tiles, vintage finishing and photos, glass roof, and open windows overlooking Plaza Senayan's courtyard lend an elegant yet casual ambience. The food? Start with escargot in garlic butter, then Indonesian favorite bakmie ayan (chicken noodle) served with foie grass or a juicy cut seared on the grill, followed by velvet cake fresh from the bakery, and you'll understand why Union is always packed. The lycheetini isn't too bad either.

Well hidden from the main road, Bodag Maliah combines local produce with serene rice field views. Spend the afternoon on the open-air upper level, enjoying cool breezes and lavish scenery over a Balinese crepe with local fruit and a glass of homemade wine. Generous portions of international dishes for both herbivores and carnivores feature vegetables freshly harvested from the organic garden (Bodag Maliah means "overflowing basket" in Balinese). Standouts at this place, also known as Sari Organik, include gado-gado (Indonesian steamed vegetables with spicy peanut sauce) and the restaurant's own feta cheese made with tofu.

Indonesians view rice as the center of any meal, so Warung Kolega offers three varieties—yellow, red and white—to accompany its cafeteria-style Javanese cooking. First pick a rice, then point through the glass to choose accompaniments from a selection that changes daily. Look for sweet marinated tempe (whole bean curd), steamed vegetables with shredded coconut, grilled chicken, and creamy fish curry with fresh herbs; the more items you select, the higher the bill. Most dishes are mild, but if you're nervous you can always ask whether an item is pedas (spicy). After filling your plate, find a place at a long teak table among the locals.

Sample Balinese specialty ayam betutu—chicken stuffed with spices—on the cheap at Warung Liku. A Rp12,000 portion of nasi Bali (Balinese rice) here includes succulent slices of chicken, peanuts, vegetables, and another island favorite, sambal matah, a mild mix of raw shallots, lemongrass, and chili. Babi kecap (pork in soy sauce) is another tasty meat option. To-go portions can be expertly wrapped in a banana leaf. They open at 9 am and close whenever the food runs out, which can be as early as 1 pm.

For inexpensive local fare with a view, you can't do much better than this family-run eatery located near the Qunci and Sudamala hotels, where you can dine with your toes in the sand. Join the other tourists and expats for the Warung's much-discussed banana pancakes or nasi goreng, as well as fresher-than-fresh fish and shellfish delivered straight from the boat. Most diners try to arrive in time for the fabulous sunsets, so either arrive early or plan to dine later when the crowds have died down.

For a taste of authentic Indonesian cuisine in a casual, café setting, this local favorite situated beachfront of Lagoi Bay is popular for traditional Javanese dishes such as smoke-kissed ayam bakar (grilled chicken) and signature nasi goreng Yeah (Indonesian-style fried rice).