Discover a variety of traditional Jogja foods rich in flavor, culture, and history, making it an unforgettable culinary experience.
Yogyakarta, or often called Jogja, is not only famous for its natural beauty, cultural heritage, and rich history, but also for its delicious culinary riches. Traditional Jogja food not only offers delicious flavors, but also illustrates the long journey of culture and traditions of its people.
These various specialties use natural ingredients that are full of flavor, as well as cooking techniques that have been passed down from generation to generation.
If you visit Jogja, it won’t be complete without tasting the typical and authentic traditional foods. Here are 10 Traditional Jogja Foods that you must try.
1. Gudeg
Gudeg is the most famous typical food of Jogja, even considered as the national food of Indonesia. Made from young jackfruit cooked with coconut milk, spices, and brown sugar, Gudeg has a very distinctive sweet and savory taste.
Usually, Gudeg is served with rice, shredded chicken, pindang egg, krecek fried chili sauce, and bajawa chili sauce.
Gudeg has variations depending on the region, but the most famous is Gudeg Jogja which has a sweeter taste compared to other versions. This food is often enjoyed for breakfast, but you can find it all day long in various stalls and restaurants in Jogja.
2. Klatak Satay
Sate Klatak is a variant of Jogja’s special satay that is different from satay in general. This satay is made from goat meat that is cut into large pieces and skewered using iron bars, not bamboo skewers.
Its uniqueness lies in the spices used, namely salt and pepper only, so that the taste of the goat meat is truly natural.
Sate Klatak is usually cooked over large coals , giving it a distinctive grilled taste. This satay is perfect enjoyed with savory goat curry sauce, white rice, and chili sauce as a complement.
The most famous place to enjoy Sate Klatak is in the Pleret area, about 15 km from the center of Jogja City.
3. Stir-fried Firecrackers
For spicy food lovers, Oseng-oseng Mercon is a must-try dish. This food is made from beef or chicken cut into small pieces and cooked with very spicy spices, especially cayenne pepper.
“Mercon” in Javanese means “firecracker” or firecracker, which refers to the spicy taste that burns the tongue.
This food is served with warm white rice and is perfect for those who like the challenge of spicy flavors. Oseng-oseng Mercon is one of the most popular dishes in Jogja, and can be found in many food stalls that serve culinary specialties from this region.
4. Goat Tongseng
Tongseng Kambing is a typical Jogja dish that uses goat meat as its main ingredient. The goat meat that has been cut into small pieces is cooked in a savory coconut milk sauce, given special spices such as lemongrass, lime leaves, chili, and sweet soy sauce . Tongseng Kambing is served with warm white rice and is very delicious to eat in cold weather.
Tongseng Kambing has a sweet , spicy, and savory taste that blends perfectly. This food is often the choice for those who like goat-based dishes, with coconut milk sauce that is rich in spices.
5. Bakpia
Bakpia is a typical Jogja dry cake that has a sweet and chewy taste. Bakpia is made from wheat flour dough filled with sweet green bean paste inside.
The process of making Bakpia involves baking which gives a crispy outer skin texture, while the sweet green bean filling gives a soft taste inside.
Bakpia Jogja is famous for its various flavors, such as green beans, chocolate, durian, and others. This food is a must-buy souvenir for tourists visiting Jogja, because it is easy to take home and has a distinctive taste.
6. Cat Rice
Nasi Kucing is a simple dish that is very popular in Jogja, especially among students and office workers. Nasi Kucing consists of white rice wrapped in small portions, with side dishes such as chili sauce, tempeh , anchovies, or chicken.
All of these ingredients are wrapped in banana leaves or plastic, making it easy to carry and eat anywhere.
Even though the portion is small, Nasi Kucing has a very appetizing taste. This food is very cheap and can be found in many food stalls in Jogja. Nasi Kucing is the right choice for a snack or light lunch.
7. Mbok Berek’s Fried Chicken
Mbok Berek Fried Chicken is a very famous Jogja specialty dish. The fried chicken used in this dish is cooked with special spices and fried until golden brown and crispy.
What makes Ayam Goreng Mbok Berek different is the shrimp paste chili sauce served with the fried chicken. This spicy shrimp paste chili sauce provides a distinctive savory taste and is very appetizing.
In Jogja, there are many restaurants that serve Ayam Goreng Mbok Berek, and the chili sauce is always the main attraction that makes anyone want to try it again.
8. Fried Krecek Chili Sauce
Sambal Goreng Krecek is an inseparable side dish of Gudeg. Krecek is beef skin cooked with sweet and spicy spices , resulting in a very distinctive taste.
Usually, sambal goreng krecek is served in small pieces that complement Gudeg, providing a different texture with the soft young jackfruit.
This Krecek Fried Sambal provides a spicy and savory taste that matches the sweet taste of Gudeg, making it the perfect partner for this Jogja specialty.
9. Rice with Pecel
Sego Pecel is a simple dish consisting of rice served with peanut sauce and fresh vegetables such as kale, bean sprouts, and long beans. The peanut sauce used has a sweet and spicy taste, with the base ingredient being finely ground peanuts.
This food is very fresh and perfect to enjoy during hot weather. Sego Pecel is often found in small food stalls that offer traditional dishes at very affordable prices.
10. Joss Coffee
Joss Coffee is a legendary Jogja drink that you shouldn’t miss. Joss Coffee is made from hot black coffee with the addition of burning charcoal.
The unique sensation that results from charcoal being added to coffee is a distinctive bitter and slightly smokey taste. Even though it sounds strange, Kopi Joss is very popular in Jogja, and is often served as a drink while enjoying dinner.
Kopi Joss can be found in many coffee shops in Jogja, especially those around the Malioboro area.
Jogja not only offers natural beauty and culture, but also has an extraordinary culinary wealth. Traditional Jogja food is an important part of the experience of traveling in this city .
From the sweet Gudeg, the savory Sate Klatak, to the delicious Bakpia, every typical Jogja dish has a mouth-watering taste and is full of tradition.
For those of you who visit Jogja, make sure to taste these 10 traditional foods and feel the pleasure. Don’t forget to bring home Typical Jogja Souvenirs to share these delightful flavors with family and friends!
