10 Extreme Indonesian Foods You Should Try

1. Lawar

Lawar, a ubiquitous traditional specialty, is very popular in Bali. In this dish, you will find an abundance of fresh pig blood blended with minced meat and shredded coconut which is garnished with Balinese herbs.

There are several types of lawar you can opt for such as lawar babi, made of pork, lawar nangka, made of unripe jackfruit, and much more. It’s often eaten with steamed rice and roasted suckling pork.

Where to eat lawar

Warung Lawar Kodi / Nyemplo

Address: Sanur, Denpasar Selatan, Denpasar City, Bali 80228, Indonesia

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 8pm - 4am; Sun: 8pm - 12am

Price: 30,000 IDR (1.88 USD)

2. Paniki

What are your thoughts on your Batman superhero becoming a ready-to-eat main course? Believe it or not, people in North Sulawesi turn a wild bat into a delightful dish called paniki. It’s often cooked with coconut milk, chilies, and some strong spices to clear out the mammal’s tangy smell. The fried and skewered ones are also the locals’ favorite.

This animal’s meat is said to be a cure for allergies and asthma.

Where to eat paniki

ROA Manadonese Food

Address: Komplek Ruko Apartement Grand Icon, No. B5, Jl. Caman Raya, RT.008/RW.001, Jatibening Baru, Kec. Pd. Gede, Kota Bks, Jawa Barat 17412, Indonesia

Opening hours: 10am - 8pm (daily)

3. Belalang goreng

Belalang goreng literally means “deep-fried grasshopper,” and I’m sure you’ll love it if you have a thing for crispy treats. It is commonly sold by roadside vendors in Gunung Kidul, Yogyakarta.

Before the cooking process, the animal’s legs and wings are removed. The locals usually marinate the grasshoppers with garlic, salt, kaffir leaves, and coriander then fry them to a crisp.

Where to eat belalang goreng

Belalang goreng

Website: Belalang Goreng

4. Ulat sagu

When you’re journeying to East Indonesia like Maluku or Papua, be sure to snack on the Ulat sagu. It’s actually a typical dish made of sago worms. The locals usually hunt the creatures in the sago or coconut trees and eat them raw.

If you don’t like to swallow them alive, I’d suggest you try either the grilled or boiled ones. Spicy sambal is a good companion to enjoy the savory and juicy insects.

Where to find ulat sagu

Ulat sagu

Regions: Maluku and Papua

5. Tikus panggang

Another jaw-dropping, uncommon dish from North Sulawesi would be the tikus panggang or grilled rat. The burnt meaty animal sounds so weird, yet worth tasting. You will find it luscious and tender, and the creature tastes like chicken.

Don’t get perturbed whilst taking a bite of it! The locals use wood rodent for the dish, which is more hygienic than the regular variety.

Where to eat tikus panggang

Traditional Market Tomohon

Address: Tomohon City, North Sulawesi, Indonesia

Price: 20,000 IDR (1.25 USD)

6. Keripik ceker

Keripik ceker might sound attractive, but wait, do you know the meaning of the words? Keripik ceker literally means chicken foot chips. The crispy snack can be easily found on the islands of Bali and Java.

Before being deep-fried into a crisp, poultry feet are marinated with salt, pepper, and some spices (garlic, coriander, and lime leaves). I’d suggest you eat it with hot steamed rice and spicy sambal!

Price of keripik ceker

Keripik ceker

Price: 180,000 IDR per kilogram (11.2 USD)

7. Sate susu

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Satay is one of the things Indonesia is famous for, but this one is a little different. Sate susu is a sort of satay made of cow udder and commonly consumed by Javanese Muslims during the Ramadan month.

The chewy texture along with the mix of savory and spicy flavors is so appetizing. You probably regard it as a bizarre food due to its weird look but the locals present the skewered cow’s body part as a must-eat specialty to break the fast.

Price of sate susu

Sate susu

Price: 2,000 IDR (0.13 USD)

8. Sate ular

Sate ular or snake satay should be on your culinary-to-try list while strolling down the busy streets of Jakarta. Vendors often use cobra meat to make the grilled dish. It’s usually served with sliced shallot, soy sauce, and spicy peanut sauce.

Don’t forget to sip the reptile’s fresh blood mixed with arak (traditional Indonesian liquor) and honey. The local men believe that the food is good to boost libido.

Where to eat sate ular

Kedai Kobra

Address: Jl. Mandor Demong, RT.3/RW.05, Mustikasari, Kec. Mustika Jaya, Kota Bks, Jawa Barat 17157, Indonesia

Website: Kedai Cobra Bekasi Timur

Opening hours: 10am - 10pm (daily)

9. Sate kelinci

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Dare you witness a sweet bunny slaughtered and turned into a delicious meal? It’s pretty common to see people dine on sate kelinci or rabbit satay in Indonesia. Rabbit meat is diced into small parts, skewered, and grilled over the charcoal.

It’s often served with compressed rice, spicy peanut sauce, and sliced shallot. I’d suggest adding in some soy sauce and chili paste to enhance the flavor.

Where to eat sate kelinci

Rabbit Satay Restaurant

Address: Jl. Patimura No.126, Temas, Kec. Batu, Kota Batu, Jawa Timur 65315, Indonesia

Opening hours: Sun - Fri: 8am - 9pm; Sat: 8am - 10pm

Price: 30,000 IDR (1.88 USD)

10. Sate biawak

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

“Monitor lizard! Are you kidding me?” Yes, some of the Javanese residents love munching on sate biawak, the delicious monitor lizard satay. The meat is skewered and grilled until it’s tender. Then, the luscious smokey dish is smothered in spicy peanut sauce. It’s believed that the reptile is a cure for numerous diseases such as skin rashes and asthma.

Challenge your taste buds with the unfamiliar Indonesian cuisine

Instead of delighting in a plate of gado-gado, wolfing on the barbecued bat, seared sago worm and cobra meat will surely make your food adventures more worthwhile. Go make some memorable moments in this tropical paradise filled with beautiful beaches by trying these unique dishes!