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Join me on a Yogyakarta food tour as I list some of my favorite traditional cuisine that I had on my trip to Yogyakarta.
In this guide, I will list the top 10 foods in Yogyakarta, as well as some information and tips for visiting Yogyakarta.
Table of Contents
Where is Yogyakarta?
Yogyakarta, also referred to as Jogya, is located in the central part of the island of Java, Indonesia. It is on the same island as Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia.
Yogyakarta vs Jakarta
Despite being located on the same island of Java, Jakarta and Yogyakarta have distinct cultures. Jakarta is one of the biggest cities in the world, and the people there mainly speak Bahasa Indonesia. Meanwhile, Yogyakarta is a smaller city and the people mainly speak Javanese.
These cultural differences have also influenced the cuisine in each of these cities. If you are visiting Jakarta, it is worth traveling to Yogyakarta to indulge in its distinct foods!
Check out my guide for traveling between Jakarta and Yogyakarta via train!
Yogyakarta Food Tour
Here are my top 11 foods to try in Yogyakarta. These are foods that I have tried personally, as well as the top recommendations from a local.
1. Lemet (Cassava Cake)
Lemet is a traditional Indonesian food that is basically a steamed cake that is wrapped in banana leaves. It can be made of either cassava or bananas, and is often mixed with grated coconut and sugar to make it sweeter.
Lemet is often eaten during celebrations such as weddings, family gatherings, and religious events.
2. Arem Arem Ayam (Chicken Rice Cake)
Arem arem is a traditional Javanese dish that refers to rice cake compressed in banana leaves. It is often filled with different vegetables.
Arem arem ayam is filled with chicken instead of vegetables. It’s an inexpensive and filling meal.
3. Sate Ati (Liver Kebab)
I’m a big fan of liver, so when I found a street stall serving sate ati, or liver kebabs, I had to order one. These kebabs were made of chicken liver.
This street stall had a wide assortment of meats to choose from, and they were at a very affordable price! One sate ati cost me 5,000 INR ($0.30 USD).
4. Sate Usus (Intestine Kebab)
If you could imagine yourself eating sate ati, then maybe you can take another step and try sate usus. This is a chicken intestine kebab.
Personally, I preferred the liver to the intestine, but it was worth a try!
I paid 5000 INR ($0.30 USD) for a single sate usus.
5. Kepala (Chicken Head)
Ok, hear me out. This wasn’t that bad!
Kepala, which refers to the head of a chicken, can be served either goreng (fried) or bacem (boiled). It doesn’t have much meat, but it has a lot of flavor.
Indonesians don’t like to waste their food, and I respect them for eating as much from each animal that they slaughter as possible. While it may gross you out, I recommend having an open mind when coming across food like this in Yogyakarta.
One kepala cost me 5,000 INR ($0.30 USD).
6. Ceker (Chicken Feet)
Ceker, or chicken feet, may or may not be more appealing to you than kepala. I had eaten chicken feet before, so this was nothing new to me. They don’t have much meat on them and almost have a gelatinous consistency.
Make sure to get additional food, because ceker will not fill you up!
I bought a few ceker because they were only 3,000 INR ($0.18 USD) each!
7. Sambal (Spicy Sauce)
Sambal is a spicy chili paste that is popular around Southeast Asia, especially in Malaysian and Bruneian cuisine.
There are countless variations to this dish, with some types including eel, shrimp, mango, pineapple, and tomato.
I always consulted the advice of locals when choosing the sambal flavor, but I don’t think you can go wrong!
8. Udang Goreng Tepung (Fried Shrimp)
Udang goreng tepung is a common dish in Yogyakarta. This is fried shrimp, and can be served as either an appetizer or as the main dish.
It is very popular to eat udang goreng tepung with sambal.
9. Ca Jamur (Oyster Mushroom)
Ca Jamur is a type of mushroom that is served as a stir-fry. This dish is cooked with garlic and herbs and is a great addition to a meal with a lot of meats.
Even if you are not a huge fan of mushrooms, I recommend trying this dish out, as it became one of my favorite foods in Yogyakarta.
10. Soto Ayam (Chicken Soup)
I tried this soto ayam, or chicken soup, near the entrance to Taman Sari in Yogyakarta. Most people would be turned off to the idea of eating hot soup in such hot weather, but I thought it was delicious!
Most soto ayam contains noodles, herbs, and vegetables.
Where to Try These Foods in Yogyakarta
There are plenty of places in Yogyakarta serving both traditional and international foods. If you are planning on visiting Borobudur Temple, I recommend stopping by Waroeng Spesial Sambal SS. At this restaurant, your food is served on banana leaves and you will eat with your hands.
There are plenty of street stalls to check out in Yogyakarta as well. I often went to Angkringan Grage on Sosrowijayan St.
Where to Stay in Yogyakarta
If you are staying in Yogyakarta on a budget, I highly recommend staying at The Bladok Hotel & Restaurant. This is centrally located and just a 3-minute walk from Tugu Station. There are also tons of restaurants nearby to try the cuisine of Yogyakarta!
If you are looking for something more luxurious, check out Yogyakarta Marriott Hotel. This is one of the highest rated hotel in Yogyakarta. It is located further from the center of town, so it guarantees a more relaxing and peaceful experience.
Check out the map below to see available accommodations.
