Soto Betawi is a hearty beef soup consisting of chunks of meat and offal that are slowly simmered in a coconut milk broth, which is usually enriched with various spices such as lemongrass, turmeric, galangal, kefir lime leaves, and coriander. When served, the soup is accompanied by different condiments that typically include tomatoes, scallions, sweet soy sauce, and emping crackers.

Because of its name, it is believed that the dish originated in Jakarta among the Betawi people, and today it is one of the most popular dishes in the city, usually sold at various street stalls, restaurants, or hawker-style establishments. Soto Betawi is traditionally enjoyed with steamed rice and pickled acar on the side.

One of the most famous snacks in Indonesia is batagor, a fried fish dumpling served in a traditional spicy sauce. It has roots in the Chinese culinary tradition, which has left a trace on many Indonesian dishes. Although this famous snack is reminiscent of the more famous Chinese dumpling, its distinguishable characteristic is that it is fried, not steamed.

The most common fish used to make the dish is wahoo, but tuna, mackerel, and even prawns can also be used. Potatoes, tofu, or cabbage are also occasionally added to the dish. Batagor is the perfect snack because of the way it is served. When fried, the dumplings are cut into small bite-sized pieces and covered in peanut, soy, and chili sauce with a splash of lime juice. 

Sate Madura is a popular Indonesian skewered meat dish that originates from the island of Madura, located just northeast of Java. It is one of the most widely recognized regional variations of sate in Indonesia, known for its distinctively rich, sweet-savory peanut sauce and smoky, charcoal-grilled aroma.

Typically made with small cuts of chicken or beef, the meat is marinated, skewered onto bamboo sticks, and grilled over hot coals while being brushed with a glaze that often includes sweet soy sauce, garlic, and shallots. What sets sate Madura apart from other styles is the generous use of thick, dark kecap manis and the robust, slightly caramelized peanut sauce that is poured over the cooked skewers just before serving, often accompanied by fried shallots and rice cakes called lontong. 

Rawon is a unique Indonesian dish with origins in East Java. This flavorful soup is usually made with slow-braised beef and other traditional Indonesian ingredients such as lime leaves, lemongrass, ginger, and chili. However, the key element is buah kluwek, the Indonesian black nut.

This unusual Indonesian spice is highly toxic when raw, and always needs to be fermented before consumption. It is ground with other ingredients and spices, giving the dish its earthy and sour taste and the unique dark black color. The origin of the dish is believed to be the city of Surabaya, the capital of East Java. 

Nasi uduk is one of numerous Indonesian rice-based dishes. The rice in nasi uduk is cooked in coconut milk together with lemongrass, cloves, pandan leaves, and cinnamon. The process results in wonderfully fluffy, fragrant rice, and right before it is served, each portion is usually topped with fried shallots.

It is a dish rarely eaten on its own, but rather served with a variety of side dishes and condiments. Most commonly a variety of stewed and fried meat, rice noodles, eggs, tempeh, tofu, fried anchovies, and rice crackers are served alongside rice.

Regular sambal, the spicy Indonesian hot sauce, or peanut sambal are the most common condiments served with nasi uduk. 

This traditional Indonesian dish consists of rice cooked in coconut milk that is usually seasoned with turmeric, lemongrass, and kaffir lime leaves. Even though yellow rice is the star of nasi kuning, the dish is assembled out of other Indonesian dishes and complements, such as fried chicken, potato fritters, sliced omelet, fried anchovies, shrimps, or fried tempeh.

Sambal, the traditional Indonesian chili sauce, and serundeng (spicy fried coconut flakes) are often served as condiments. Nasi kuning is always served neatly organized on the plate, and the rice should always be placed in the middle. It is traditionally associated with the island of Java, which is considered to be the place of origin of this authentic Indonesian dish.

These Indonesian rice balls are prepared with glutinous rice flour shell that is wrapped around a palm sugar filling. The outer shell is usually colored green, traditionally with the help of pandan or dracaena leaves, while the whole cake is coated with desiccated coconut.

The origin of klepon is typically associated with Java, while the same treat is better known as onde-onde or buah melaka in some parts of Sulawesi, Sumatra, and Malaysia. It should be noted than on Java, the term onde-onde typically refers to Chinese jin deui rice balls. 

Sambal terasi is an Indonesian chili paste made primarily from fresh red chilies and fermented shrimp paste known as terasi. It is one of the most common and widely used sambals across Indonesia and serves as a versatile condiment that accompanies a variety of dishes, from fried fish and vegetables to rice and tofu.

The key ingredient, terasi, is made from ground, salted, and fermented small shrimp that is sun-dried and either formed into blocks or sold loose. Before being used in sambal, terasi is typically toasted or fried to reduce its strong odor and enhance its umami flavor. 

Tempeh mendoan is a variety of fried tempeh that hails from Purwokerto. Thin slices of tempeh—fermented soybean product—are dipped in batter that is enriched with ground coriander, sliced scallions, and garlic before they are deep-fried.

This tempeh variety is only shortly fried, creating a crispy outer layer, while the tempeh remains soft and juicy. The name of the dish stems from Banyumasan language in which mendo roughly translates as half-cooked. This tempeh is best served with sambal, other types of chili-based dips, or kecap manis—Indonesian sweet soy sauce.