Enjoy The Sweet And Spicy Flavors: 10 Best Foods Of Yogyakarta

food in yogyakarta
Rofiq
Rofiq 
Updated
| 3 min read

There are plenty of reasons why globe trekkers include Yogyakarta on their list of Indonesian travel destinations, and one major draw is the city’s heavenly culinary scene. Don’t be surprised to find that sweet dishes dominate here. However, spicy, piquant dishes can’t be taken for granted either and will indulge your taste buds.

Here is an informative list of the delicacies in Yogyakarta, including all the dishes you need to have:

1. Gudeg

Gudeg, Yogyakarta
Source: Photo by user siska maria eviline used under CC BY 2.0

After stepping off the plane in Yogyakarta, the first thing you ought to do is to find the legendary dish, Gudeg. This phenomenal meal is made from “nangka muda”, or unripe jackfruit, stewed for a couple of hours with coconut milk, palm sugar, and various aromatic seasonings, like shallots, garlic, galangal, candlenut, and bay leaves. It gets its reddish-brown color from teak leaves, which are also added.

Gudeg Pawon

Address: Jl. Janturan UH/IV No. 36, Warungboto, Umbulharjo, Warungboto, Umbulharjo, Kota Yogyakarta

Opening Hours: 10 pm to 12 am

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2. Mangut Lele


Mangut Lele is another must-taste food and features fragrant, smoky catfish. This freshwater fish, commonly caught in traditional ponds, is marinated with lime juice, salt and coriander and fried in sizzling oil, for a while. Then, it is simmered with spices, like chilies, garlic, shallots, Javanese galangal, palm sugar, and coconut milk, then smoked.

Mangut Lele Mbah Marto

Address: Sewon, Panggungharjo, Bantul, Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta

Opening Hours: 11 am to 4 pm

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3. Sate Klathak

A post shared by Kelik desta (@kelikdesta) on Jun 26, 2017 at 11:03pm PDT


Eating Sate Klathak, while walking through bustling Malioboro Street, is obviously fantastic. This version of mutton satay is uniquely presented, as it’s skewered on a bicycle spoke. The mutton is greased with butter, garlic paste, ginger, and sweet soy sauce, then grilled over charcoal. It’s usually served with “gulai kambing”, a yellow colored gravy.

Sate Klatak Kambing Muda Pak Tong

Address: Jl. Wijilan No.14, Panembahan, Kraton, Kota Yogyakarta, Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta

Opening Hours: 10 am to 9 pm

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4. Mie Lethek


The English proverb “Don’t judge a book by its cover” must have been talking about Mie Lethek, which literally means “dirty noodle.” Despite its repugnant look, this typical dish, made from cassava flour, is flavorful and delicious. It’s usually cooked over smoldering coconut shells and served with shredded chicken and a boiled egg.

Mie Lethek Bantul Mbah Mendes

Address: Jl. Sarirejo, Maguwoharjo, Kec. Depok, Kabupaten Sleman, Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta

Opening Hours: 10 am to 10 pm

Website: Mie Lethek Bantul Mbah Mendes

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Yogyakarta Tour Guide

Emir Yamin

Emir Yamin

<p>When it comes to travel, the journey isn&#39;t just about reaching a destination; it&#39;s about the experiences you gather along the way. While big group tours might be the conventional choice, opting for a local guide can elevate your travel adventure to new heights. That&#39;s why I&#39;ve decided to become a tour guide.</p><p>During my tenure as the Chief of Media Relations, I had the opportunity to travel extensively and host numerous visitors from Indonesia. This experience not only fueled my passion for exploration but also equipped me with in-depth knowledge about Indonesia, inspiring me to contribute to the tourism sector.</p><p>My expertise in tourism is rooted in my genuine interests. I have a deep love for trying new foods, leading me to discover amazing places with incredible culinary delights. Beyond gastronomy, I am passionate about nightlife, exploring the unique offerings each city has after dark. Additionally, I find joy in driving around, immersing myself in new cultures, and savoring new culinary experiences.</p><p>These experiences have left an indelible mark on me, and I am eager to share the richness of each city&#39;s culture, food, and nightlife with all of you. Join me on a journey where every tour is not just a trip; it&#39;s a collection of unforgettable moments.</p>

Tours by Emir

Yogyakarta Tour Guide

Dori Januhari

Dori Januhari

I am a legal and licensed tourist guide from Indonesia. I have been guiding for 20 years. I live in Jakarta, Indonesia, but I have traveled to many places in the country. My guiding areas are Java, Bali, and Lombok Island. I obtained my license from the Indonesia Tourism Ministry. On days when there is no tour, I work as an English and German private teacher, teaching mathematics and science physics. I'll be happy to guide and ready to show you the magnificent places in Indonesia.

Tours by Dori

Yogyakarta Tour Guide

toni kenpachi

Toni Kenpachi

Hello my name is Toni and I live in Jakarta- Indonesia, I've been working as a Tour Guide since 2008, I have licensed from Jakarta City Government Tourism Office, I choose to be a Tourist guide due to my background education because I graduated from Tourism Academy, I'll be glad to assist your trip in Indonesia especially in Jakarta and surrounding areas also if you would like to do overland tour from Jakarta to Bali I'll be glad to assist your trip too, there will be more interesting places to visit and I'll glad taking you to see those places, please do not hesitate to contact me.

5. Oseng-Oseng Mercon


Are you a spicy food fanatic? If so, don’t skip out on the fiery dish Oseng-Oseng Mercon. Living up to its name, this dish literally means “exploding firecrackers” and is comprised of sauteed cow skin, fat, and cartilage and a lot of chili paste. It is one of the favorite foods among foodies in Yogyakarta and is often wolfed down with hot steamed rice and other dishes like fried catfish or chicken.

Oseng-oseng Mercon Mbok Sum

Address: Jl. KH. Ahmad Dahlan No.21, Ngupasan, Gondomanan, Kota Yogyakarta, Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta

Opening Hours: 8 am to 4 pm

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6. Bakmi Jawa

Bakmi Jawa (campur, mi bihun) Pak Pele Yogyakarta
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Midori used under CC BY 3.0

Bakmi Jawa is regarded as one of the best Indonesian noodle dishes, due to its delicate texture and savory-sweet taste. In this dish, egg noodles are sauteed with some basic Indonesian spices, such as shallots, garlic, pepper, candlenuts, chilies, and sweet soy sauce. Fresh veggies, such as chopped cabbage and spring onion are also added, as well as shredded chicken and fried egg.

Warung Bakmi Ketandan

Address: Jl. Bhayangkara No.17, Ngampilan, Kota Yogyakarta, Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta

Opening Hours: 5:45 am to 12 am

Website: Warung Bakmi Ketandan

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7. Angkringan Food

Angkringan
Source: Photo by Flickr user Adhi Anindyajati used under CC BY-ND 2.0

Angkringan refers to a place to chill out on the roadside, where you can savor a wide variety of traditional food and beverages, offered by local vendors and their “gerobaks” (a kind of food cart). You can opt for a variety of fritters, satays, skewered quail eggs, nasi kucing (a small portion of wrapped rice with tempeh) and much more – the dishes are all incredibly cheap.

Angkringan Gareng Petruk

Address: Jl. Margo Utomo No.30, Gowongan, Jetis, Kota Yogyakarta

Opening Hours: 5:30 pm to 1 am

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8. Entog Slenget


Enjoy the hot sensation of Entog Slenget. This meaty dish has basic ingredients and is comprised of Barbary duck. The diced fowl is cooked with “rica-rica” spice paste, which mostly uses a plentiful amount of red chilies. You will find it so tender and juicy, after its long process of simmering.

Entok Slenget Kang Tanir

Address: Jl. Pakem - Turi, Donokerto, Turi, Kabupaten Sleman, Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta

Opening Hours: 4 pm to 9 pm

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9. Ayam Goreng Mbah Cemplung

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

Unlike ordinary fried chicken, which is unhealthy, Ayam Goreng Mbah Cemplung doesn’t threaten your health, as it comes from organic chicken – additionally, it’s accompanied by fresh, raw veggies, like Thai basil and cucumber, both which are good for the digestive system. If you love spicy food, just add the hot sambal sauce.

Ayam Goreng Mbah Cemplung

Address: Sendang Semanggi, RT.05, Sembungan, Bangunjiwo, Kasihan, Bantul

Opening Hours: 8 am to 7 pm

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10. Brongkos Jogja


Brongkos Jogja is a great option if you’re looking to quench your craving for a soupy dish. The main ingredients include tofu, “kacang tolo”, or Javanese beans, egg, diced beef, chilies, and coconut milk. These ingredients are all simmered with lemongrass, bay leaves, galangal, and ground spices, including garlic, shallots, coriander, keluwak (a type of fermented fruit), and galangal. This reasonably priced dish can easily be found at Alun-Alun Kidul.

Warung Handayani

Address: JL Gading No. 2, Selatan Alun-Alun Kidul Keraton, Patehan, Kraton, Kota Yogyakarta

Opening Hours: 6:30 am to 4 pm

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Craving a culinary paradise? Hit Yogyakarta!

Yogyakarta is not only a mecca for cultural adventure but it’s where you can have the most delectable cuisine on your culinary journey. From the sweet Gudeg to the delightful traditional fried chicken, this city, in the middle of Java, has proven that its food should not be missed.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
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Rofiq, hailing from East Java, Indonesia, is a passionate explorer who thrives on discovering new places, encountering diverse people, and immersing himself in various languages and cultures. His...Read more

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