48 Best Restaurants in Indonesia

Get what one satisfied diner from overseas called "the whole package"—exceptional food, presentation, and service—at Bridges. The menu features modern international dishes served with French flair. Several favorites, notably the chevre-beetroot brûlée, feature flavorful cheeses. Pumpkin-crusted salmon with cauliflower cannoli and fennel showcases the kitchen's skill and creativity, and the complimentary canapés and sorbet underscore the attention to detail. Wines figure prominently, and during the late-afternoon "Devine Hour," sample four for a very reasonable Rp115,000. Alongside Campuhan Bridge, the restaurant has a multi-level terrace built into a lush hillside overlooking the Wos River, making it soothing by day and dramatic at night.

Managed by Sakinah, originally from Germany, Asmara features an odd but interesting mixture of German, European, and local Indonesian food, with a multicourse rijstaffel menu that includes chicken satay and spicy vegetables with grated coconut. The restaurant is lit up at night, giving it a romantic appeal. A unique touch: in addition to the children's menu, they also have a babies' menu. As with some other restaurants in the area, they offer a free shuttle service to and from your Senggigi hotel.

People from all over the island make the pilgrimmage to Ibu Oka's for Bali's signature dish of babi guling, or spit roasted pig—though many swear the pork in their home village tastes better. You judge after ordering nasi babi (pork rice) served with dollops of pork, sausage, and vegetables. When the day's roast pig is finished, Ibu Oka's closes. The restaurant is located just north of Ubud Palace.

Simple, uncomplicated, top quality: that's the winning formula at this welcoming café bakery where everything is homebaked with care. Centrally located near the Labuan Bajo post office, it is popular for breakfast and lunch (though it's open until 7 pm). You can eat in or take out a variety of breads, cookies, cakes, fresh fruit and granola, inventive sandwiches, or a yummy hot quiche. Good fresh-brewed coffee is a big plus.

At the water's edge, the Beach Café aims for the cutting edge of contemporary cooking. The meats are imported and the pork ribs win plaudits, but seafood is the true star. Tuna tartare with wasabi mayonnaise, devil's calamari with chili and basil, and tropical crème brûlée blended with coconut exemplify the kitchen's knack for producing flavors that are subtle but never dull. Watch your meal take shape in the open kitchen, if you can turn away from the boats bobbing along the crescent coastline. The Beach Café is about savoring the scene, supported by service that leans toward leisurely.

Come to this no-frills joint for one thing only: the delicious duck vermicelli, topped with vegetables and fried garlic, in a rich broth. Rise and shine to catch this traditional Indonesian dish, since it's typically eaten at breakfast and the restaurant closes at 11 am. Take a seat and watch your food being prepared before slurping it down with the local foodies who mainly frequent this unprepossessing little treasure.

Inside a 150-year-old Javanese teak house laden with antiques, Biku is a restaurant, cocktail lounge, and bookstore catering to Seminyak's upscale expat community. Sink into a comfortable chair with a cocktail or one of Biku's 20 or more varieties of tea while coming to grips with its lengthy, eclectic menu. Breakfast leans American and is served all day. Lunch tilts Australian with meat pies for carnivores and quiches for vegetarians. Besides Indonesian fare, dinner includes grilled steaks and chops. There's even a kid's menu. Somehow, the kitchen manages to keep it all straight.

The only Italian restaurant on Pulau Weh, Bixio is located in Long Beach, about a five-minute drive or half-hour walk from Iboih Beach. Run by a friendly Italian and his Indonesian wife, the food is cheap, tasty, and authentic. Choose any of the homemade pastas, especially the seafood tagliatelle and the gnocchi, and finish with the decadent tiramisu. Best of all, you can enjoy your meal while gazing out at the flour-white sand and crystal clear waters of this secluded beach.

Chef Heinz von Holzen wrote the book on Balinese cuisine—three, actually—and shares his love at Bumbu Bali (Bali Spice). A family compound setting with open pavilions in a garden sets the homey atmosphere. The menu offers classic kitchen favorites sate lilit (minced seafood skewers) and superbly grilled fish, alongside island specialties ayam betutu (roast chicken in banana leaf) and bebek betutu (the duck version; order 24 hours ahead), and innovations like tamillo ice cream, crafted from a bitter local strawberry variant. Book well ahead for a class at the renowned cooking school, which includes market visits and preparing 20-odd recipes for lunch.

Enjoy Japanese, Indonesian, or Western dishes at Café Teras Lempuna, a versatile restaurant that meticulously prepares every dish to showcase vegetables grown in the nearby hills. The chicken salad has the usual greens, tomatoes, and broiled chunks of chicken, then mixes it up with carrots, string beans, cauliflower, and anything else that happens to be in season. Eat in the cozy dining room with a European bistro feel or on the terrace overlooking the precisely trimmed garden with a lempuna palm tree at the center. Café Teras Lempuna makes a memorable lunch stop for Bedugul day trips, or stay over and come back for dinner.

In the spicy cauldron of Jakarta cuisine, you'll find added zest in no-frills but comfortable Dapoer Melayu, which serves food of Aceh and North Sumatra. Choose from a smorgasbord of savory chicken and mutton curries, culinary show-stopping rendang (West Sumatran–style beef simmered for days in coconut milk and spices), assorted potato and corn cakes, aromatic soups—such as gulai kepala ikan (curried fish head), and vegetable stews. The high point for some may be sambal ganja, a traditional Aceh condiment of the little green leaf mashed with garlic and chili: heady stuff.

For a Californian meets Indonesian meal, this cheap and cheerful beach shack serves fresh, tasty food with a casual vibe. Vegetarians are well catered to with tempeh burgers, veggie kebabs, and vegetable curry, while meat eaters will also find a lot to love, especially the chicken or fish curry and the chicken coconut soup. Wash it all down with a fresh banana, coconut, or mixed fruit shake before heading back to the sand, just a few steps away.

Masakan Padang is Indonesia's fast food, and Dewata Minang ranks among Bali's leading purveyors. To order you point to plates of precooked grub stacked in the front window, and it's served 24 hour a day with hot rice. The specialty here is rendang, a thick brown sauce for chicken or beef that also shines over daun ubi (cassava leaves). Vegetarians beware: apparently meatless dishes like sayur nanka (stewed jackfruit) often contain animal stock. Condiments include tasty acar (pickled cucumber and carrot). Eat your meal here or take it away in a banana leaf. Either way, spending Rp20,000 a meal is virtually impossible.

Sumptuously decorated with antiques and an elegant red-and-gold color scheme, this Java- and Chinese-themed restaurant is highly regarded for its traditional Indonesian specialties. You can't go wrong by ordering any of the dishes with fish or prawns. Enjoy your meal indoors or out, near the koi ponds—though you may want to bring mosquito repellent if you sit outside. Strolling musicians in traditional dress add to the romantic ambiance.

Creeping shrubbery shields this discreet bastion of the finest French food in Jakarta. Elegant and light-filled, two-story Emilie draws a cross-section of diners—European expats, business and political hotshots, plus those who simply love good Gallic grub. The kitchen focuses on meticulously prepared basic French food, accompanied by attentive, never haughty service. The à la carte menu includes recommended crab-and-bulgur salad with tomato gazpacho and succulent porc de Iberico. For a tour de France à la Emilie, splurge for the eight-course Discovery Menu, available with wine pairings.

With an Indonesian name but sporting an American accent, Kalimantan has a menu that spans the globe. The kitchen cooks Indonesian and Western standards, Mexican dishes spiked with jalapenos from its own garden, and jaffles (grilled sandwiches), a legacy of Indonesia's Dutch colonial heritage. Favorites include owner Haji Saidah's recipe for squid in spicy tomato sauce, as well as her cheesecake with homegrown strawberries. Watch the news over breakfast—Indonesian, Western or Mexican—or stop in for a cold beer in the afternoon. By the time the check comes, you'll feel like a regular.

Gourmet meals don't come cheaper than at Kayu Manis. The dishes are beautifully presented, and some succeed spectacularly, notably the spinach and gorgonzola risotto. Sliced duck breast arrives rare and succulent, allowing its rich flavor to blossom. Several other dishes could better use the balsamic vinegar sauce accompanying the duck, or a touch of kayu manis (cinnamon). The wine list is limited, but reasonably priced. The bright, minimalist décor is a nice backdrop for your meal. Request a table inside—overlooking the rock garden or in the air-conditioned rear section—removed from the street noise and kitchen chatter.

A hearty meal is not to be underestimated after a day of diving, snorkeling, hiking, or hanging out on the beach, especially when sit-down dining options on the island are limited to precisely one. The resort's two formidable chefs, one Italian and the other Indonesian, highlight their respective national cuisines in hearty dishes, like homemade pasta, whole roasted fish, chicken satay, or split lobster, served with freshly baked bread and desserts. Much of the produce served is grown at the resort and fish is brought in by local fishermen. Accompanied by an ice-cold beer or a crisp glass of wine, and a glorious sunset...what could be better?

With a brightly painted two-level wood terrace overlooking the surf, La Plancha seamlessly combines restaurant and casual beach lounge. Open all day, La Plancha's comfortable beanbags and colorful umbrellas in the sand provide an ideal base for lazy days on the beach. As the sun goes down, floodlights and music come up, and the relaxed party spills onto Double Six Beach. Simple Spanish offerings dominate the menu—the name means "grill" in Spanish—including tapas and other small dishes perfect for sharing over drinks.

An elegant treasury of Indonesiana, Lara Djonggrang celebrates the nation's culinary and cultural heritage. Authentic period decor leans toward antiques and brooding lighting in a rabbit warren of dining rooms within a historic Menteng district mansion. Lara Djonggrang's dizzyingly diverse menu also befits Tugu Group, homegrown operators of eclectic hotels and eateries, featuring tastes of the archipelago with a focus on Java. Some contend Lara Djonggrang favors style over spice; begin your deliberations with nasi rames platters, offering bites of Indonesia's many splendored tastes. Eat family-style and consider ordering extra, as main portions run small.

Widely considered one of the top seafood places in Surabaya, it's worth making a reservation to ensure you get a table—this casual eatery is popular with the locals. Though there's not much atmosphere to speak of, you're here for the food. Savor freshly prepared specialties like salted egg soft-shell crab, black pepper prawns, clams with black bean sauce, and steamed fresh fish, which you select from a tank at the entrance to the restaurant. There is also a second location at Jalan Raya Bukit Mas 109.

For a taste of some of Semarang's best lunpia—also known as the Semarang spring roll, a regional delicacy—this is where the locals go to eat them fresh on the premises or take a bag back home to the family. Made fresh to order throughout the day, these delicate, lightly fried rolls filled with chicken or pork and bamboo shoots, shrimp, egg, mushroom, and served with a spicy sauce, are made to be eaten right away.

Savor beach breezes and superbly cooked international cuisine at Ma Joly. On the edge of a broad swathe of sand, open air pavilions decorated with Balinese art and crafts provide spectacular sea views, especially at dusk. Elegant platform tents on the beach are reserved for indulging in the romantic set dinners. The lunch menu combines Indonesian and Western choices, including pastas and sandwiches. Dinner is focused on seafood, and the selections change regularly. Complimenting first-rate preparation and presentation, Ma Jolly finds little ways to charm its guests, from the signature tropical sangria to the olive tapenade for its homemade breads.

In 1969, Made opened a pioneering warung (roadside stall) in Kuta. The Seminyak branch opened in 1987, continuing the tradition in an open-air space where you can see Balinese dance performances five nights a week. (Reserve a table near the stage for the best view.) This beloved institution boasts a voluminous menu, ranging from Indonesian standards to the chef's take on dishes from Italy or Japan. It's a good place to try nasi campur, a bed of rice surrounded with chicken, vegetables, and tofu, as wellas rujak kuah pindang, a fruit salad in a tart broth.

The lively atmosphere, scenic views of the harbor, and reliably good Italian fare assure a steady stream of diners at this popular restaurant on Labuan Bajo's main drag, which is open all day. Dishes run the gamut from hearty pastas, like pumpkin ravioli and spaghetti carbonara, to more delicate dishes like fried fish and carpacio. The upstairs café's casual atmosphere, comfy beanbag chairs, and Wi-Fi access make it a great place to catch up on email while sipping a coffee or indulging in a sinfully good chocolate cake or creamy tiramisu, and the outdoor terrace is a popular place for drinks at sunset.

Fight the mountain chill at Meme Surung, which serves a savory house soup that combines vegetables, noodles and tofu in a clear broth. Main dishes are Indonesian and Balinese favorites. Meme Surung's ayam sambal matah (chicken with onions, shallots, and chili) produces the fresh flavor the dish is meant to have. Finish with Indonesia's favorite sweet snack of fried bananas or Balinese black rice pudding and a pot of local coffee. Meme Surung also has 11 simple guest rooms with private bath—either way it's a real taste of Bali.

Barbecued seafood at sunset on Jimbaran Bay is a Bali tradition, and Menega is the grill of your dreams. Pick raw seafood from tanks or trays of ice, have them weighed (you pay by gram), and watch them heat up on the coconut-husk inferno. Menega stands out for barbecue sauce that puts the snap in snapper, clams grilled on the half-shell, and cumi (squid, pronounced "chew-me") cut into strips and skewered. Meals include a basket of rice, stir-fry kangkung (water spinach), and four sauces—sweet to moderately spicy—served at tables on the sand. Come early to swim and build an appetite.

After strolling through the antique and jewelry galleries, head to the refined dining room of this celebrated French restaurant overlooking expansive lotus ponds. The straightforward menu leans toward grilled meats and fish: rack of lamb served with baked garlic cloves, tomato, and olives elevates the glories of the flesh. Conversely, the so-called "legendary" hot foie gras masks the subtle flavor with fruity accompaniments. The soufflés are extraordinarily fluffy but, like the homemade frozen desserts, excessively sugary. Quibbles aside, everything is perfectly cooked, presented, and served, supported by a Bali-to-Bordeaux wine list.

Freshly made noodles are the specialty in Medan, and the best noodle joint is hotly contested. This casual restaurant, specializing in egg noodles made daily, is widely regarded as one of the top choices. Noodle choices range from the original soy minced chicken with sautéed garlic to spiced beef to dan dan noodles, which you dip into a sauce on the side. Don't miss the tasty prawn balls to start—fried dough chock-full of tender crustaceans. Though it's only open 6:30 am to 3 pm, there's a second location inside Lim's Café, at the intersection of Jl. Sumatra and Jl. Borneo, open 2:30–9:30 pm.

Calling itself Ubud's "first restaurant," Murni's Warung has introduced Balinese food to the likes of Richard Gere, Mick Jagger, Richard Branson, Jean-Claude Van Damme, and David Copperfield. Since opening as a warung (roadside stall) in 1974, Murni's has grown to four levels running down the river's edge. (Book a table at the bottom for the best views.) The menu has also grown, adding Indonesian and Western choices, but the foundation remains Balinese, with local standards like ayam betutu (spicy roast chicken), babi guling (roast pork), and black rice pudding, plus rarer specialties such as smoked curry duck. It's great for lunch; at dinner, don't forget mosquito repellant.