They say that in order to understand the culture one should have to taste it! And this is actually one of the things we totally enjoyed here in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The site seeing were enclosed by endless food and restaurant hopping making us understand and learn how life differs in this side of the country.
A usual scene at the village near Borobudur.
I’m not really the adventurous-kind of-type when it comes to food. I do usually say “NO” to weird looking stuff and food that they say to be “exotic”. I remember this conversation with Ate Lillian (www.wanderlass.com) in one of the restaurants we dined in. I was sharing that the most exotic dish I have tasted was an “Uok” or beetle larvae in Rizal, Philippines, while she was sharing that the most exotic dish she had tasted was a rodent. What!? A Rodent?
Shot at Milas Vegetarian Restaurant with Thanis from Brunie, Becky from Malaysia, Julius and Liliane from Philippines
She continually explained that it was boney and tasty and it was kind of a regular thing in the country she visited. Good thing there isn’t any beetle larva or rodent or exotic dish serve in our table in this trip. And the food that we tasted is something of a relative to the dishes you can find in the neighbouring country of Indonesia. Which I think Haley Dasovich (@HaleyDaso) truly love, remembering her line in every restaurant we visited “ Whoa this is really delicious!” Which is actually kind a true. (Kampay! Water for Haley!)
Trip of Wonders Influencers at Milas Vegetarian Restaurant
But there are a few things I discovered in this trip through food though my experiences. I realize that Indonesian cuisines (specifically in Yogyakarta) mostly revolve to different spices and vegetables. They love using ingredients like turmeric, chilies, ginger and candlenuts. They mostly ate chicken or beef because of their belief that pork meat is unclean. They also serve fish but mostly the likes of catfish that are grown in freshwaters or ponds. And because farming is one of the most famous ways of living in this country, most of the restaurants are vegetarian or offer vegetarian cuisines. Which I truly L-O-V-E! And because Indonesia was a former Dutch colony, some of the foods or restaurants here got a strong Dutch influence.
Seph and Trice at Beukenhof Restaurant
I was on a pescatarian mode when we visited Indonesia and its good to say that most of the dishes you can find here are healthy stuff. Maybe that’s one of the reasons why they get to live more than the usual age.
Anyway, if your planning to visit Yogyakarta, Indonesia, here are some of the best restaurants you should visit if your looking for an amazing food adventure.
P.S. I’m no food blogger or a foodie but if your pallet is somehow relatively the same to how I like food, you will definitely enjoy my suggestions. Also most of the food here are HALAL.
6 Must-Visit Restaurants in Yogyakarta, Indonesia
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Gudeg Yu Djum
If you are really looking for a staple authentic food here in Yogyakarta you should not missed visiting Gudeg Yu Djum located in JI. Laksga Adisucipto Km. 8, 7 Yogyakarta. It’s a small street style dining experience where most of the locals either dine or take out the food. There is also entertainment or a band playing local music outside the restaurant, which I think is a regular thing here in this country.
What to try here:
Try the Nasi Gudeg, which contains of Gudeg, Kerecek and Boiled Egg. You can upgrade it by adding chicken feet and/or chicken neck with head. I haven’t tasted it by my friends who tried it says it’s a sweet dish. By the way, just to understand things, Nasi is rice and Gudeg is made from cooked jackfruit.
What I did love is the Kerupuk Aci, which is a cracker that is set as an appetizer. It is free and is usually available in most of the restaurants. It’s counterpart here in the Philippines are the famous Kropek. I was telling the locals that Kerupuk would be best eaten with spicy vinegar but unfortunately they only serve soya sauce or sambal in most of the restaurants.
Gudeg Yu Djum is located in JI. Laksga Adisucipto Km. 8, 7 Yogyakarta
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Epic Coffee
It’s a hands down, if you are looking for an instagramable location and amazing coffee – Epic Coffee is definitely a place you should visit to enjoy coffee, good food and shop interesting furniture. It’s a big open-space, that are mostly colored in darker shades and white. There is also a garden area were long table are set up perfect for larger groups of people.
Epic Coffee is located at Palagan, Tentara Pelajar Street No.29, Sleman, Yogyakarta 55581,Indonesia
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Stupa by Plataran
A buffet restaurant that is hidden deep inside the countryside, Stupa by Plataran is a perfect place to enjoy your breakfast, lunch or dinner right after visiting Borobudur temple (Check out Borobudur Sunrise). It is a quite, peaceful place fronting the lush greeneries of the fields. If you’re having garden wedding or intimate parties, I think Stupa by Plataran could be one of the best places to do it.
Stupa by Plataran is located at Dusun Kretek, Karangrejo, Borobudur, Magelang 56553, Indonesia
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Beukenhof Restaurant
This was (I think) the first non-Indonesian restaurant we visited on this trip. Beukenhof Restaurant is an international restaurant serving European and French cuisines. This place is best for romantic dinner or business meetings and even families on a trip after visiting Ullen Sentalu Musuem which is were you can find the restaurant. Beukenhof Restaurant is a fine dining by reservation restaurant and is usually open at 11 am serving lunch, brunch and dinner.
Beukenhof Restaurant is located at Ullen Sentalu Museum (Jl. Boyong Kaliurang Km 28), Sleman, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
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Milas Vegetarian Restaurant
This restaurant is a vegetarian-haven! Milas Vegetarian Restaurant has already become an institution in Yogya for serving Indonesian, Vegetarian Friendly, and Gluten free foods. It got that hidden garden feels! Bigger groups are best to dine sitting on pillows at the bamboo shacks. While small groups or intimate dinner is best to dine on the normal tables on the other side.
Milas Vegetarian Restaurant is mostly open at 3pm on weekdays and 12 nn on weekends and closes at 9 in the evening. It is best to dine here at night where you can enjoy the zen garden view in the middle.
With Jia Qin, Shasya, Kama, Ruth, Longdi and Leya at the back.
Milas Vegetarian Restaurant is located at Jln. Prawiritaman No. 127B | Parangtritis, Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta 55153, Indonesia
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Omah Dhuwur Restaurant
Omah Dhuwur means High house thus this amazing restaurant was a former big house converted into a restaurant. This is the best place to visit after your silver or batik shopping for its location is just a few walks away from the shops. Located in Kotagede, you can enjoy your dining at Omah Dhuwur either at the indoor air-conditioned area, outdoors alfresco or gazebo in the garden. They serve lunch and dinner and open from 11:00am to 10:00 pm.
Omah Dhuwur is located at Jln. Mondorakan, Yogyakarta 55172, Indonesia
Sometimes you would not need to go around to learn about the culture, all you have to do is sit down, relax and taste the food they offer.
There are other restaurants and food exploration we did on this trip. The Royal Tea Ceremony at Royal Ambarruko for example is something new to try that could break the usual tea party you do in the afternoon. One thing that you can also try is to explore the malls, supermarket or convenience store. You could probably discover some food finds that differs from your hometown. Just like this instant favorite of ours that my friend, Seph, even brought a few pieces back home, Tehbotol Green Tea by Sosro.
Up next: Other things to do in Yogyakarta
#NognoginIndonesia is a trip sponsored by Ministry of Tourism. Check out the tags #TripofWonders & #WonderfulIndonesia to find out the destinations we visited.
More travel stories here.
Until our next discovery in the City!
またね Mata ne!
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