Useful Indonesian Food Terms
Ayam - chicken
Daging sapi - beef
Daging babi - pork
Ikan - fish
Cumi Cumi - squid
Tahu - tofu
Kacang Tanah - peanut
Nasi - rice
Mie - noodles
Bakso - popular meatball soup
Telur - egg
Roti - bread
Air - water
Teh - Indonesian tea
Goreng - fried
Bakar - baked
Each area in Indonesia has its own traditional food and custom. Here is a list of some of them.
Sundanese ("orang Sunda") in West Java likes to eat fresh vegetables and sambal. There is a joke that says you can leave them in the garden and they will be fine. Sundanese like to drink tea without sugar. So don't be surprised when they offer you tea but not sweat. Ask for sugar.
Javanese likes to eat sweet. Tea will be sweet.
Padang (West Sumatra) likes to eat hot/spicy food. They are famous for their spicy food and fast delivery. The waiter can bring dozens of plates with various dishes with his two hands (like juggling) in one trip. You'll eat whatever you like and at the end of meal the waiter will calculate the price. You'll find "Rumah Makan Padang" (Padang restaurant) everywhere in Indonesia.
Many restaurants in Indonesia serve main meals with kerupuk, light crackers made from prawns, and a fried egg (telur). Vegans should be aware that even dishes advertised as not containing meat are commonly prepared with eggs.
Food in Indonesia is commonly cooked ahead of time and then served at room temperature throughout the day to accommodate the irregular eating schedules of most people.
Outside of Chinese food stalls, chopsticks are rarely used as utensils in Indonesia. More commonly, meals are eaten with a spoon in the right hand and a fork in the left. Restaurants away from tourist areas and signed simply as "Rumah Makan" (eating house) may expect you to eat with your hands as many locals do. Begin by dipping only your right hand in the bowl of water with lime found on the table and keep your left hand - associated with toilet functions - in your lap to be polite.
Unless specified, food in Indonesia is rarely spicy. Chili condiments known as sambal are provided in small dishes or bottles so that you can spice your own food to taste. Some sambal is made from fermented shrimp or fish; smell it first if you are not sure!
