Oleh-oleh is how Indonesians refer to gifts they can bring home. It translates to souvenirs. I will focus on food gifts in this article because I personally love telling stories of what I ate, whether from my hometown or during my travels in other parts of the world!
The unbeatable sambal udang (or prawn sambal in English) made Bu Rudy famous outside Indonesia. But did you know that Bu Rudy isn’t the only food gift brand you can buy (and finally, bring home) when you visit Surabaya?
There are now many mouthwatering authentic Surabaya culinary products in West Surabaya that you can bring home, such as Coolagen. If you’re wondering what other kinds of oleh-oleh, or top gifts you can bring home from Surabaya, scroll through this article for a yummy list!
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1. Bogajaya products
Visiting restaurants such as Bakso Pak Djo, the 24-hour Soto Madura Pak Wawan, or Bangi Kopi (2 km, or 1.24 mi, from Purabaya Bus Terminal)?
All of these brands belong to Surabaya’s Bogajaya! Right now, you can find Bogajaya’s oleh-oleh stores in the Indragiri and Genteng Besar regions. If you’re in a rush, you can find their products at the airport!
Another name for them is Boyya. They also have sambal setopan (a sambal with three colors like traffic lights), which is just like Bu Rudy’s but with more variations.
Bogajaya
Website: Bogajaya
2. Ready-to-cook Semanggi
Semanggi is a unique vegetarian dish with peanut sauce that you can find in the City of Heroes (another name for Surabaya). Eating semanggi while you’re in Surabaya will make your culinary journey unforgettable!
One of the places where you can eat semanggi is in a stall in ITC’s food court. ITC itself is an old-school mall opposite Pasar Atom Mall. The 15,000-IDR (0.95-USD) semanggi here is delicious. Does it also appeal to your taste buds? If so, I would recommend you bring their ready-to-cook semanggi home!
3. Bakpao products
The photos featured above are from when I was in Bakpao Ming, one of the bakpao stands in Pasar Atom Mall, Surabaya. Since I don’t eat pork, I typically look for the sweeter variation, such as those with chocolate or cheese. The same also goes for other Surabaya bakpao products, such as Bakpao Hongkong or Bakpao Surabaya.
Other bakpao products I know include Chik Yen. If you look for it in apps such as Grab or Gojek, you might find something named “Chikyen.” It refers to the same brand. I can guarantee Chik Yen is 100% halal. I love their fried bakpao with chicken filling! Unfortunately, when I went, I couldn’t find any open Chik Yen stores due to the Eid Al-Fitr celebrations in Indonesia.
4. Ayam Besek Bu Tutiek
“Besekan” is an Indonesian term with the same meaning as “Bancakan"—a large dish with complete and mixed condiments inside a woven basket.
Surabaya locals usually eat besekan or bancakan in traditional celebrations, such as at a relative’s wedding, thanksgiving rituals, or when remembering relatives who have passed away. But what if you could enjoy your very own besekan at home with Ayam Besek Bu Tutiek?
I find that their condiments blend well with the chicken! Plus, you’ll thoroughly enjoy eating it with two to four other traveler friends.
Ayam Besek Bu Tutiek
Website: Ayam Besek Bu Tutiek
5. Products from Finna Gift Shop
When you hop down from the Wirawiri Angkot or Suroboyo Bus at Pandegiling Bus Stop in front of BCA Darmo, you can walk 190 m (623.36 ft) to the right to reach Finna Gift Shop.
I was amazed by the old-school sewing machine, which was the first thing I saw when I entered the gift shop for the first time. As I walked around, I also found the traditional wayang and the iconic and majestic bronze statue of Suro and Boyo.
The ready-to-cook keropok is their masterpiece here! Ensure you buy at least one of them before you leave Surabaya.
Finna Gift Shop
Address: Jl. Raya Darmo No.23 - 25, Keputran, Kec. Tegalsari, Surabaya, Jawa Timur 60265
Website: Finna Gift Shop
6. Almond crispy cheese
2014 was the first time I enjoyed almond crispy cheese. And Wisata Rasa Basuki Rahmat was where I found out about it. I remember my uni mates brought me the original!
Note: The blue-colored package is the original. It has been that way until now.
Since I am a chocolate lover, I was eager to try their chocolate variants. That’s why I tried the chocolate cheese flavor!
P.S.: Today, they also have a store that directly connects with Wirawiri Suroboyo Transport’s Basra 2 Bus Stop. You can find almond crispy wisata basuki rahmat in GoJek or Grab orders. The store in the photos is in Genteng Besar, a road that connects to the legendary Hotel Majapahit.
Wisata Rasa Basuki Rahmat
Address: Jl. Genteng Besar 83A Surabaya, Jawa Timur
Website: Wisata Rasa Basuki Rahmat
7. Libby Brownies
Here’s to one of my childhood favorites! I have known this brand since I was a senior high school student around 2009 - 2010.
You must try their original rum. It has existed since I have known about Libby, and the rum flavors are unique! It is also less sweet than other variants, such as the vanilla marble. So, I would recommend the original rum brownie to everyone undergoing a sugar-free diet!
Libby in Sukomanunggal (West Surabaya) was the first outlet I came across. But a few years ago, I came to know that this legendary store had opened another outlet in Gubeng. The Gubeng branch is only 650 m (2,132.55 ft) from Surabaya Gubeng Station. So, it could be the best option for you!
Libby Brownies
Address: Jl. Raya Gubeng No.4, Gubeng, Kec. Gubeng, Surabaya, Jawa Timur 60293, Indonesia
8. Laritta Bakery goods
Another delicious bakery product you can only find in Surabaya is Laritta Bakery. I was a university student from 2012 - 2016, and back then, my university would get Laritta Bakery’s products as refreshments for seminars, workshops, and other events.
Laritta Bakery emphasizes economical prices while not compromising the highlights of each ingredient in its products. That’s why it has grown so quickly. And today, we can find Laritta’s outlets in West and East Surabaya regions. They even exist in Surabaya Pasar Turi and Gubeng train stations!
Its tahu isi (fried tofu with cabbage and carrot filling) product is the best. Lately, they have started making cromolyn too. You should try them while strolling around Surabaya!
Laritta Bakery
Website: Laritta Bakery
9. Coolagen
I have known Coolagen since 2022 when the PTC outlet still existed. It was a brand-new collagen-based beverage product in West Surabaya. Sometimes, I would visit their Tunjungan Plaza store, which still exists now.
The pink Phyto Collagen drink, their signature product, is a heavenly must-buy! Sometimes, Coolagen also sells powdered brew-at-home products which they call “Gellyn.”
I have also tried their chocolate meal replacement product. The taste was heavenly and unforgettable at the same time!
Coolagen Tunjungan Plaza 3
Address: Tunjungan Plaza 3, Jl. Basuki Rahmat No.8-12, Kedungdoro, Kec. Tegalsari, Surabaya, Jawa Timur 60261, Indonesia
10. Renjana Nuts
A pop-up market was the first place I found out about Renjana Nuts (or simply Renjana). Indeed, Renjana is a West-Surabaya-based oleh-oleh product that is always present in Kepo Market, Hi Market, or any other Surabaya pop-up markets.
Today, they have expanded their presence and sell their products in Ciputra World Mall’s Mooi Ondomohen food court.
They recommend the honey variant for women. I also find their cheese flavors delicious! If you wish for a more mouth-burning challenge, you should try their fiery red and spicy products!
11. Lapis products with spiku and legit variations
“Lapis Surabaya” is an alternative name for spiku products in Surabaya. It is a three-layer cake, and the middle layer is chocolate. Sellers often use berry jams to glue the layers together.
Such baking methods differentiate Lapis Surabaya from lapis legit, Surabaya’s version of a mille-feuille crepe. We can trace both lapis products’ ingredients and recipes back to the colonial era.
Today, many SMEs are selling their best lapis products. Malica and PSI Spiku are some of the biggest names. Even Wisata Rasa Basuki Rahmat sells an improvised version of the spiku!
12. Lapis Kukus Pahlawan
As the name might suggest, these food gift products are closer to kue bolu. Both Lapis Surabaya (spiku) and kue bolu have fluffy textures and can be bar-shaped. However, spiku always has distinguishable yellow and brown parts. Lapis Kukus Pahlawan’s colors are different from spiku.
Lapis Kukus Pahlawan has four best-selling variations: black forest, cocopandan, cheesecake, and original. Now that they have even more flavors, I’m eager to try their shredded chocolate bar toppings!
Lapis Kukus Pahlawan’s brands all over Surabaya also sell classic chiffon cakes and some oleh-oleh products in other East Javanese regions. For instance, I found many crackers when I visited their Genteng branch!
Lapis Kukus Pahlawan
Website: Lapis Kukus Pahlawan
13. Frolic
Visiting Igor’s one day before Eid opened my eyes to Frolic, another West Surabaya-based food oleh-oleh. Like Renjana, this Darmo Permai-based brand is usually seen at pop-up markets, introducing customers to its products.
The banana cake is Frolic’s signature dish. Unfortunately, Frolic was closed when I visited it one day before Eid. The good news is that I found another masterpiece: sugar-free peanut butter. I’ve also tried its chocolate spread with another multigrain toast, and it tasted delicious!
14. Gourmet popcorn
I was surprised when I found out that the company behind Popperazzi, a Surabaya-based gourmet popcorn brand in K3Mart, is the same as Overdozze’s producer. The company is PT Trinovasi Gourmeta Adidaya, and its office is in the western part of Surabaya.
Overdozze is more well known in pop-up markets. Both brands sell Surabaya’s one-of-a-kind popcorn. I especially like their yummy and crunchy chocolate popcorn!
Popperazzi’s offerings are even crunchier than Overdozze’s, even though the same company produces them. So, I highly recommend this brand!
PT Trinovasi Gourmeta Adidaya
Website: PT Trinovasi Gourmeta Adidaya
Treat yourself and your loved ones to yummy oleh-oleh
Surabaya’s massive variety of culinary gift products means that Bu Rudy is not the only available take-home food brand for tourists. Central Surabaya is packed with Pusat oleh-oleh, aka, gift shop centers. After all, tourists almost always stop at the area! But this doesn’t mean that other areas such as West Surabaya lack decent food gifts.
If you crave authentic gourmet popcorn, ready-to-drink phyto-collagen, almond crackers, the innovatively flavored lapis, or any savory keropok, just stop by any of the shops I mentioned above!
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