Surabaya’s status as the second largest city in Indonesia, after Jakarta, makes it one of the busiest tourist destinations, so the high level of activity also contributes to pollution and waste. The Surabaya government has implemented the “Cashless Society” initiative. The “Go Cashless” movement has become even more popular since the pandemic, although the “Cashless Society” initiative in Indonesia started in 2014. I think that this initiative allows for a cleaner environment, plus it’s great not to have to withdraw cash!
Even restaurants and cafes from other cities, such as Jakarta and Bali, have introduced cashless payment methods in Surabaya. Nomu Cafe & Bistro in Surabaya is one of my favorite cafes. Another cashless restaurant in the area is Hunk Over Pizza in Pasar Tunjungan. Plus, these places feature artistic decorations and customizable menus. They also frequently participate in pop-up markets.
Keep reading to learn more about the cashless restaurants and cafes in Surabaya, Indonesia!
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Unique small and midsize enterprises (SMEs) in Surabaya
1. Roti Jerapah
A few years ago, I discovered Roti Jerapah when I passed by the PTC area of Pakuwon Mall. Roti Jerapah has continued to expand by regularly participating in pop-up markets. Now, Roti Jerapah has a presence in the luxurious-looking food court area of West Surabaya’s Pakuwon Mall. They also have a branch in Pakuwon City Mall (PCM), another phenomenal shopping mall from the Pakuwon Group.
The ham and cheese variants have been Roti Jerapah’s best-selling options since then. Since I don’t consume pork, I always go for the chocolate cheese variant. A single piece of Roti Jerapah only costs 15,000 IDR (0.93 USD)!
2. Silly Scoop
The blue-colored and Elmo-like “Cookie Monster” ice cream is Silly Scoop’s signature product. “Groot,” “Pink Panther,” and “Captain America” are some other themed ice creams I notice in this cashless parlor.
They have stayed in the Pakuwon Mall food court since 2017. Today, one can also visit their modernized and artistic cafe market full of hungry tourists in Tunjungan, the heart of Surabaya city. The billboard design and the seating in the Pasar Tunjungan branch differentiate it from Pakuwon Mall’s Silly Scoop.
3. Easy Pizza
I’ve always loved Easy Pizza’s cone-shaped and somewhat mini-sized pizza dishes. These days, the establishment is in two of the most popular tourist destinations in West Surabaya—Pakuwon Mall’s PTC and G-Walk Citraland.
The PTC branch is on the UG Floor, where you can find the best local food sellers. It operates similarly to festivals and pop-up market cafe booths. Meanwhile, the G-Walk branch not only sells the signature cone-shaped pizza, but it also has Indomie (Indonesia’s fried noodle) and fried rice on the menu. The location inside the food court area also makes Easy Pizza G-Walk resemble modern restaurants and cafes more closely.
4. NOMU Cafe and Bistro
Is your hotel or accommodation in the West Surabaya area, but you still want to dine in a cashless cafe with a Central Surabaya-like ambiance?
I recommend visiting NOMU Cafe and Bistro! When I step into this two-story cafe building, coffee brands from Central Surabaya’s Pasar and Jalan Tunjungan, such as fisixty.id and Zerogram, immediately come to mind. NOMU Cafe and Bistro stands out from other similar cafes with the help of their mascot, Shiopan-chan.
They offer new dishes every week, and I always crave their pastry products whenever I’m here! Their light and hearty meals also taste amazing, as they don’t use any flavor enhancers.
NOMU Cafe and Bistro
Address: Ruko Plaza Graha Famili B9, Pradahkalikendal, Dukuhpakis, Surabaya, East Java 60213
Opening hours: 8am - 10pm (daily)
5. Coolagen
As the name suggests, Coolagen’s primary products are collagen-infused beverages. These substances are considered super ingredients for maintaining a youthful appearance. Recently, this authentic Surabaya SME has also developed a healthy ready-to-drink brand called Geellyn, which they claim can cure eczema.
I never tire of visiting Coolagen. Their average price of around 30,000 IDR (1.85 USD) is affordable for me, especially considering the health benefits they offer. I was delighted to discover that my favorite drink, matcha latte, is now mixed with phyto-collagen! The product is called Collagen Matcha Latte.
I’m sure the recently launched matcha variants are also great as meal replacements!
Coolagen Tunjungan Plaza 3
Address: Tunjungan Plaza 3, Jl. Basuki Rahmat No.8-12, Kedungdoro, Kec. Tegalsari, Surabaya, Jawa Timur 60261
Opening hours: 10am - 10pm (daily)
6. Aren Cakery
Nobody can beat the sponginess and fluffiness of chiffon cakes. The trendy flavor combinations in the cake, when executed by West Surabaya’s Aren Cakery, are truly unmatched. The cafe refers to this cake as “Aren Bites.”
The West Surabaya area is a haven for modern dessert and coffee creations, and Aren Cakery in the Plaza Graha Famili area, conveniently located near the Graha Famili bus stop, is no exception. I highly recommend trying their Aren Bites, as they are incredibly delicious and have a longer shelf life compared to other cakes. Even if your hotel or accommodation doesn’t provide a refrigerator, these bites can last for up to two days.
P.S.: I also love singing along to the lyrics on the karaoke screen while waiting for my order!
Aren cakery
Address: Plaza Graha Famili, Ruko, Jl. Mayjend. Jonosewojo No.11 Blok B, Pradahkalikendal, Kec. Dukuhpakis, Surabaya, Jawa Timur 60227
Opening hours: Mon - Thur: 9am - 8pm; Fri - Sun: 9am - 9pm
7. Yoohoo Dessert
“Land of International Tourists” is a nickname that I love to associate with Graha Famili and the majority of the West Surabaya area. This is because I often see tourists enjoying their staycations here, especially now that Wirawiri Suroboyo feeder cars have reached the western part of Surabaya.
Plaza Graha Famili also offers a variety of cashless restaurants and cafes, and one of them is Yoohoo Dessert. I particularly love the modern Taiwanese vibe of this restaurant, as well as their low-calorie, small-portion snacks and fried foods that aren’t too oily.
I recently tried their Oreo Ball Tang Yuan and I was impressed by how well the flavors of Taiwanese milk and Oreo balls blended together, especially when served in a polished wooden bowl.
Yoohoo Dessert
Address: Plaza Graha Famili, Kompleks Ruko, C-25, Pradahkalikendal, Dukuhpakis, Surabaya, East Java 60226
Opening hours: Mon - Thur: 11am - 10pm; Fri - Sun: 11am - 11pm
8. Fu Xi Dimsum House
As the home to various popular tourist attractions, such as Cak Durasim (traditional dance and art theater) and Hotel Majapahit (5-star hotel where Surabaya youths fought back against colonialism), the government has recently paid attention to the Tunjungan area. They have even allowed merchants to introduce cashless restaurants.
That’s superb news for me, especially since I discovered Fu Xi Dimsum House at Genteng Besar. Nobody can beat the establishments’s Hong Kong ambiance. I love their authentic decorations, such as the red lucky lamps and the old television. The 100-percent halal dim sum options and the exceptionally cheap price, starting from 25,000 IDR (1.55 USD) before tax per portion, are the two biggest reasons for recommending Fu Xi Dimsum House!
Fu Xi Dimsum House
Address: Jl. Genteng Besar No.85, Genteng, Kec. Genteng, Surabaya, Jawa Timur 60275
Opening hours: Sun - Thur: 7am - 9pm; Fri - Sat: 7am - 10pm
9. 7 STARS Restaurant
I’ve been missing Cafe Metro since it closed a few months ago. Luckily, I found a similar cashless restaurant with a vintage flair that resembles Cafe Metro. 7 STARS Restaurant is also located on the heavily touristy Tunjungan Street (Jalan Tunjungan).
Chinese dishes, such as fried rice, char kway teow (“Mie Lebar” in the menu book), La Mian (“Mie Karet”), and wontons are specialties at 7 STARS Restaurant. When dining in or ordering takeaway here, expect to spend around 25,000 to 50,000 IDR (1.54 to 3.09 USD) per portion before tax and service charges.
7 STARS Restaurant
Address: Jl. Tunjungan No.56, Genteng, Kec. Genteng, Surabaya, Jawa Timur 60275
Opening hours: Sun - Thur: 11am - 9.50pm; Fri - Sat: 11am - 10.45pm
10. Hunk Over Pizza
I thought I could only enjoy a few bites of open-faced pizzas until I visited Hunk Over Pizza at Pasar Tunjungan recently. This was my first time seeing Pizza Sando. Unlike the typical pizza that you eat without flipping, the servers at Hunk Over Pizza serve Pizza Sando by flipping it and cutting it. This way, it will resemble a sandwich, also known as a “sando.”
In addition to having their own standalone store in Pasar Tunjungan, you can also find some of their pizza products at Drama Roastery, another cafe in Pasar Tunjungan.
Hunk Over Pizza - Tunjungan
Address: Ps. Tunjungan, Jl. Tunjungan No.88, Genteng, Kec. Genteng, Surabaya, Jawa Timur 60275
Opening hours: Sun - Thur: 11am - 3pm, 6pm - 10pm; Fri - Sat: 11am - 3pm, 6pm - 11pm (closed on Mon)
Indonesian brands with branches in Surabaya
11. Dapur Cokelat
Dapur Cokelat’s success story began two decades ago when the chocolate-loving owner started this now cashless chocolate cafe.
I’ve known Dapur Cokelat since it was just a small chocolate store. Now, it has expanded to six major cities in Indonesia, including Surabaya. The flagship store in Surabaya is located in Biliton, Gubeng, which is directly across from Igor’s Pastry, a 5-star gift shop in the heart of Surabaya city. You can also reach the main branch in Central Surabaya by walking 1.5 km (0.93 mi) from Surabaya Gubeng Train Station.
I love their pralines, not only because the bittersweet chocolate flavor is perfectly balanced, but also because I can exercise my math skills by counting the price of each piece and ensuring I choose the most innovative-looking pralines each time I select them.
12. Expat. Roasters
Expat. Roasters (yes, the name has a period in the middle) may be from North Denpasar, Bali, but they have expanded their cafes to Jakarta and Surabaya. In Surabaya, their branch is located only a 5-minute drive from the luxurious 5-star Vasa Hotel Surabaya.
My favorite time to visit this cashless cafe in Surabaya is around 3pm - 5pm every day. That way, I can enjoy their brownies (or any of their displayed puff pastry products) and some cups of Americano with their customizable blends of coffee beans. Recently, I discovered that they also offer detox juices and tomato confit on their menu. So, I tried those healthy snacks.
Expat. Roasters Surabaya
Address: Soho Graha Famili, Jl. Raya Graha Famili Tim. No.15 PS 15, Pradahkalikendal, Kec. Dukuhpakis, Surabaya, Jawa Timur 60225
Opening hours: 6am - 9pm (daily)
13. Djournal and The People's Cafe (TPC)
Djournal and The People’s Cafe (TPC) are both part of Ismaya Group, a Jakarta-based food and beverage company. I always see these two cashless outlets located next to each other, including at the Pakuwon Mall branch in Surabaya. What I love about this is that I can sit on TPC’s bench while ordering some cups of contemporary iced coffee or artisanal tea products from Djournal. I have done this many times before. However, it is not possible to order Djournal’s pastry products while sitting in TPC’s area.
Another example can be found at Tunjungan Plaza. Although TPC was recently replaced by Jakarta’s Haraku Ramen (also part of Ismaya Group) on June 28, 2024, we can still find TPC products in Djournal’s menu.
14. K3Mart
Medan’s K3Mart doesn’t just sell Korean snacks, such as Nongshim Cuttlefish. They also sell photo cards and other merchandise featuring K-pop boyband and girlband members. The store’s all-pastel walls, self-cooking noodle station, and K-pop postcards create a vibrant atmosphere that embodies the K-pop lifestyle. These elements are what make me love K3MART the most. Now, it is one of the most popular cashless eating places in Surabaya!
DBL Arena, the pioneer of youth basketball training in Surabaya, is home to the first K3Mart branch in the city. It is followed by other branches located next to Hotel Majapahit on Jalan Tunjungan and the Citraland branch.
The slogan for the DBL branch is “Panggon Paling Sae” (which means “The Best Place” in Javanese). At the entrance of the Tunjungan branch, you can also see colorful LED versions of the iconic Suro and Boyo statues.
But the K3Mart experience isn’t just about the K-drama-like noodles. You can also try their lower-calorie options such as Oden or Onigiri products.
Enjoy convenience and yummy food at Surabaya's cashless restaurants
Almost all of the cashless restaurants and cafes in Surabaya that I know of have contemporary designs, unique dishes, and a cozy ambiance. They also tend to have longer opening hours on weekends, especially the cafes on Jalan Tunjungan.
So, don’t wait any longer. Spend your weekend nights at any of these cashless restaurants and cafes in Surabaya, Indonesia.
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