Eating in Indonesian warungs | Tips from our local partners

There’s nothing better than getting insider tips from our partners across the world. After all, our local partners are the people that experience and know their country like the backs of their hands. So we invited our friends in Indonesia to share some of their own insights & tips about life in their country. Here’s the first insider scoop, written by Tahlita and Hemy about dining in local warungs….

Feeling hungry?

Indonesia is a big country to explore, therefore food is a must when you’re walking around. When visiting Indonesian cities, you might notice small houses which are sometimes made to look like a ruin or made out of plaited bamboo mats. They are often full up with men or women sitting and munching down food.

These places are called Warung Makans and they’re small family-owned culinary businesses which are essential to Indonesian life. The term is used for a wide variety of small businesses; either small shops or restaurants. Nonetheless, Warung is very important in Indonesia.

Authentic food, local atmosphere…

Their simplicity and authentic feel will make it seem like you’re eating in an Indonesian home. Warung Makan have two types of seating; plastic chairs or long wooden benches, or a simple mat which is spread out on the pavement.

Here, you’ll find authentic dishes from around the country which tend to be a lot cheaper than most restaurants. Don’t expect them to have a fixed opening time though, because although they open at a same time, the owner will usually close their warung as soon as the food is gone!

Get ready for some spice!

The demand for authentic Indonesian food is quite high, even for Indonesians. That’s why most warung sell a wide variety of food which is usually safe and fresh. If you’re conscious about food hygiene and are worried about what kind of warung is safe to visit, take a closer look before choosing your food.

Remember that Indonesian food is mostly spicy, so if you don’t want so much heat on your plate, you can ask your server to add less chili (cabai) or sambal (chili paste) in your food.

Feeling hungry yet? Why not begin your own tasty warung adventure in Indonesia!