Yogyakarta offers a variety of mouth-watering local dishes, from gudeg to angkringan, providing an authentic culinary experience in this culturally rich city.
Yogyakarta, better known as the City of Gudeg, is not only rich in tradition and culture, but also has unparalleled cuisine. Each typical Yogyakarta dish offers a rich taste, and holds a long story and history that is connected to the identity of this city.
As a city with a deep culture and history, Yogyakarta introduces various types of food that have become icons and favorites for tourists and local people.
From traditional dishes that have been passed down from generation to generation to snacks that are now popular among the younger generation, each dish has its own appeal.
If you visit Yogyakarta, here are ten typical foods that you must try to experience the culinary uniqueness of this Gudeg City.
1. Yogyakarta Gudeg
As the most iconic food in Yogyakarta, Gudeg is a dish that you should not miss. Made from young jackfruit cooked with coconut milk, brown sugar, and various spices, gudeg has a sweet, savory, and slightly spicy taste.
This dish is usually served with white rice, chicken opor, pindang egg, and sambal krecek (tempeh cooked with coconut milk and chili).
Gudeg can be found in many places in Yogyakarta, but two very famous places are Gudeg Yu Djum and Gudeg Pawon. Both are known for the authentic taste of their gudeg, which has become a culinary heritage of Yogyakarta.
As one of the Jogja Specialties, gudeg is usually a popular breakfast or dinner menu in Yogyakarta and is a typical souvenir that tourists often take home.
2. Klathak Satay
Unlike most satays, Sate Klathak offers a unique taste. This satay uses goat meat that is cut into large pieces, skewered with iron bars, not bamboo skewers like most satays. The meat that is grilled using large coals produces a more savory and distinctive taste.
Sate Klathak is often served with thick curry sauce that blends with satay spices, and lontong or white rice as a complement.
Sate Klathak is most famous in the Imogiri area, about 15 minutes from the center of Yogyakarta. Sate Klathak Pak Pong is one of the most popular places to taste this sate klathak.
3. Bakpia Pathok
Bakpia Pathok is a round sweet snack that has become a must-buy souvenir for everyone who visits Yogyakarta. Made from wheat flour skin filled with sweet green beans, bakpia has a soft texture with a tempting taste.
Although bakpia is a Chinese heritage, it has assimilated into the local taste of Yogyakarta and become an integral part of the city’s culinary specialty.
In Yogyakarta, you can find many bakpia shops, but Bakpia Pathok 25 is one of the most famous. There, you can choose various variants of bakpia fillings, from green beans, chocolate, to durian, all of which have their own distinctive flavors.
4. Cat Rice
Nasi Kucing is a typical Yogyakarta food that is very popular among local people, especially for those who want to enjoy snacks while hanging out.
This food consists of rice wrapped in banana leaves or plastic in small portions, served with simple side dishes, such as anchovy chili sauce, stir-fried tempeh, or shredded chicken. Nasi kucing is often sold at angkringan, a simple food place that opens until late at night.
Angkringan is one of the characteristics of Yogyakarta, where you can enjoy nasi kucing while having a casual chat or enjoying the typical evening atmosphere. Nasi kucing is a popular dish because of its affordable price and delicious taste.
5. Braised Tofu and Tempeh
Tahu Tempe Bacem is one of the traditional dishes that is often served as a side dish in various typical Yogyakarta dishes, especially when eating gudeg.
Tofu and tempeh are cooked with spices and brown sugar, then boiled until the sweet and savory flavors are absorbed into it. After cooking, the tofu and tempeh are fried briefly, giving a crispy texture on the outside but remaining soft on the inside.
Tahu tempeh bacem is usually served with white rice or as a complement to various other dishes. This food is very popular because of its savory, sweet taste, and goes well with various other dishes. It is also often found in traditional food stalls and restaurants in Yogyakarta.
6. Rustling
Kerisik is an ingredient used in traditional Yogyakarta cuisine, made from grated coconut that is roasted and finely ground. Kerisik is usually used as an additional ingredient in dishes such as fried chili sauce or other cooking spices to add a savory taste and rich spices.
Kerisik is not only found in restaurants or food stalls, but is also often used by housewives in Yogyakarta as the main ingredient in cooking everyday dishes.
The existence of kerisik shows how important coconut is in traditional Yogyakarta cuisine, as an ingredient that provides a distinctive taste.
7. Yogyakarta Tumpeng
Tumpeng is a cone-shaped yellow rice dish decorated with various side dishes, such as fried chicken, eggs, tempeh, chili sauce, and urap vegetables.
Tumpeng is often served at thanksgiving events, celebrations, or as a symbol of gratitude in the Yogyakarta community. Tumpeng is also often used as food in traditional ceremonies and family traditions.
In Yogyakarta, tumpeng is usually served in smaller sizes, and can be found in many restaurants or traditional food stalls. This food is not only delicious but also full of meaning, making it an important part of Yogyakarta’s social and cultural life.
8. Stir-fried Firecrackers
Oseng-oseng Mercon is a spicy dish that is famous in Yogyakarta because of its very strong chili flavor. Made from beef or goat meat cooked with chili and other spices, oseng-oseng mercon provides an extraordinary spicy sensation. For spicy food lovers, oseng-oseng mercon is a must-try dish.
This dish is served with warm white rice to add to the delicious spicy and savory taste. You can find oseng-oseng mercon in various food stalls in Yogyakarta, which are usually open until late at night.
9. Jadah Tempeh
Jadah Tempe is a typical Yogyakarta food made from sticky rice cooked with coconut milk and combined with braised tempeh.
Its sweet, savory, and chewy taste makes it a snack that is loved by many people. Jadah tempe is often found in traditional markets or small food stalls in Yogyakarta.
This food can be eaten as is or served with other side dishes, such as fried chicken or chili sauce. Jadah tempe is a simple but very delicious dish, and is a favorite snack choice for the people of Yogyakarta.
10. Rice with Pecel
Sego Pecel is rice served with pecel sauce made from peanuts, chilies, and other spices. This dish is usually served with fresh vegetables such as cassava leaves, bean sprouts, and papaya leaves, which give it a fresh and spicy taste. Sego Pecel is a very popular food in Yogyakarta and is a delicious breakfast or lunch option.
Sego pecel can be found in many eateries, from street food stalls to big restaurants in Yogyakarta. Its fresh and spicy taste makes it a perfect choice for those who want to enjoy healthy and appetizing Indonesian cuisine.
Yogyakarta is not only known for its rich cultural heritage, but also as a culinary paradise that offers an unmatched taste experience. Each dish reflects the rich culture and tradition that exists in this city.
When visiting Yogyakarta, there is nothing more satisfying than enjoying a variety of typical dishes that have long been part of the history and life of the local people.
Many of these culinary delights also make perfect Typical Jogja Souvenirs, allowing visitors to bring home a piece of Yogyakarta’s rich culinary tradition. Don’t forget to taste all these dishes and take home unforgettable culinary memories.