Jogja (Special Region of Yogyakarta) is the former capital of Indonesia, located on the island of Java.
While Jakarta is the center of economy and politics, Yogyakarta is the center of culture and history.
Three Major Characteristics of Yogyakarta
Characteristic 1: A historical center with many pre-Islamic ruins, such as Buddhist and Hindu temples.
Characteristic 2: A student city with many universities.
Characteristic 3: A cultural center where Javanese culture, including batik, Javanese dance, and shadow puppetry, is preserved.
Here are three recommended local dishes that originated in Yogyakarta or nearby Central Java.
Yogyakarta’s Local Cuisine
Gudeg
Sate Klatak
Bakmi Jawa
Let’s introduce each one in detail!
What is Gudeg?
Gudeg is a traditional dish widely loved in the central part of Java Island, including the Special Region of Yogyakarta and Central Java.
Gudeg Yogyakarta local foods | Gudeg Sagan
The ingredients for Gudeg are young jackfruit (Nangka) stewed for a long time with coconut milk, palm sugar (Gula Merah), teak leaves (daun jati), and sweet-smelling spices, along with chicken, eggs, and tofu. You can find Gudeg made with young jackfruit at street stalls and restaurants throughout Yogyakarta.
Recommended Restaurants & Stalls
Gudeg Sagan
This is my personal most recommended place. I love the Gudeg here the most. Eating Gudeg with Bubur (porridge) is especially delicious.
Gudeg Bromo Bu Tekluk
Gudeg Bromo Bu Tekluk is a long-established Gudeg stall founded in 1984. The characteristic of the Gudeg here is that it’s served with more sauce than usual. This sauce is also incredibly delicious.
The Gudeg here is a sweet and spicy dish with a spicy seasoning added to the sweet Gudeg, making for an addictive flavor.
What is Sate Klatak (Sate Klathak)?
Sate Klatak is a satay (skewered meat) made from goat meat.
Features of Sate Klatak
Simple seasoning with only salt
Goat meat cooked thoroughly to the core using bicycle spokes
What makes this satay different from others is the seasoning used to prepare it. Unlike others that use soy sauce or peanut sauce, Sate Klatak is characterized by being seasoned with only salt and is eaten with a Gulai soup (a dish similar to a spicy curry).
Recommended Restaurant
Sate Klathak Pak Pong Pusat
Although it is a bit far from the city center of Yogyakarta, about a 30-minute drive, it is located in its birthplace, “Bantul,” and is the most famous shop.
Incidentally, it has over 25,000 reviews on Google Maps, so if you’re looking for delicious Sate Klatak, you can’t go wrong here.
Source: Google MapsSource: Google Maps
What is Bakmi Jawa?
Slightly different from Chinese noodles, this dish uses soft Javanese noodles. There are two types: Bakmi Jawa Goreng, a fried noodle dish, and Bakmi Jawa Godog/Rebus, a noodle soup dish similar to champon.
bakmi jawa rebus Bakmi Jawa Local cuisine in Yogyakarta
Recommended Restaurant
Bakmi Jowo Mbah Gito
Bakmi Jawa Mbah Gito is a very famous shop among locals and tourists alike.
The Bakmi Jawa at Bakmi Jawa Mbah Gito is characterized by its rich and savory sauce, generous amounts of shredded chicken, egg, and the aroma of shallots (Bawang Merah).
The shop itself is housed in a building that expresses Javanese culture, making it an especially recommended spot for tourists.
Bonus: The Delicious Local Snack “Tahu Walik”
Tahu Walik is a snack originating from Banyuwangi, East Java.
It’s similar to tahu bakso goreng, but the main difference is that the tofu (Tahu) skin is turned inside out before being stuffed with the meatball (Bakso) filling.
By flipping the tofu skin inside out and frying it, it becomes extra crispy and crunchy, resulting in a very delicious finish.
Finally
Thank you for reading to the end. What did you think of the introduction to Yogyakarta’s recommended local cuisine?
I definitely want to conquer all of Yogyakarta’s local dishes now!
Thank you. Please do give them a try. This blog also provides information on life in Indonesia, focusing on tourism in Yogyakarta.
