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What to eat in Java? Top 17 Javanese Meat Dishes

Last update: Thu Mar 20 2025
Top 17 Javanese Meat Dishes
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01

Street Food

MADURA ISLAND, Indonesia
4.6
Sate Madura
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Sate Madura is a traditional dish and a type of sate originating from the island of Madura, hence the name. The dish is prepared with chicken or mutton pieces that are placed onto skewers and grilled. This type of sate is different from most other types since the meat is cut into thinner chunks than usual.


The skewers are accompanied by a dark sauce made with a combination of kecap manis (sweetened soy sauce), palm sugar, fried shallots, shrimp paste, peanut paste, candlenuts, salt, and garlic. If made with chicken, the dish is served in peanut sauce, while the mutton version often comes served in kecap manis. 

MOST ICONIC Sate Madura

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02

Chicken Dish

PONOROGO, Indonesia
4.5
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Sate Ponorogo is a traditional type of satay originating from Ponorogo in East Java. This type of satay is made with chicken that's marinated in a combination of shallots, garlic, candlenuts, coriander, turmeric, cumin, galangal, salt, and palm sugar.


The chicken is then cut into pieces and threaded onto bamboo skewers before it's coated with a mixture of kecap manis (sweet soy sauce), shallots, brown sugar, and oil. The skewers are grilled on both sides until the chicken is fully cooked and tender. 
03

Meat Dish

JAVA, Indonesia
4.4
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Satay is a traditional dish consisting of skewered meat that's served with a sauce on the side. All types of meat can be used to make satay, even some exotic varieties such as crocodile or snake meat. In most cases, the meat is marinated before grilling.


Marinades vary, but typically include dark soy sauce, sugar, garlic, lime juice, and other seasonings. It is believed that satay originated in the Indonesian region of Java and that it was developed under the influence of Muslim traders who migrated from India. 

MOST ICONIC Satay

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04

Fried Chicken Dish

EAST JAVA, Indonesia
4.3
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This Indonesian dish consists of pieces of fried chicken that are served coated in sambal, a popular chili paste. The word penyet from the name of this dish means to press or push, referring to the preparation method in which the chicken is pressed by a pestle in order to make the meat more tender.


Some versions tenderize the chicken after frying, at the same time coating it with sambal. The dish is served with extra sambal on the side, usually accompanied by fresh vegetables, tempeh, tofu, and rice. Although it hails from East Java, ayam penyet is found throughout the country and is also popular in Singapore.

MOST ICONIC Ayam penyet

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05

Stew

JAVA, Indonesia
4.2
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Indonesian chicken stew is based on an aromatic combination of coconut milk and numerous spices such as lemongrass, tamarind, cinnamon, galangal, palm sugar, coriander, garlic, and shallots. The dish is typically prepared with bone-in pieces such as thighs or drumsticks, or sometimes even a whole chicken that is cut into pieces.


The dish is usually associated with Java and it belongs to a wider group of opor dishes that employ the coconut milk braising technique. Opor ayam is typically enjoyed at Eid al-Fitrat – a religious festival that celebrates the end of Ramadan. 
06

Stew

CENTRAL JAVA, Indonesia
4.2
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Predominantly sweet, slightly robust, and deliciously spicy, tongseng is an authentic Indonesian meat stew, typically goat, cooked with kecap manis (sweet soy sauce), shredded cabbage, tomatoes, and coconut milk. It is commonly regarded as a combination of satay, meat skewers, and gulai, Indonesian curry.


This Javanese delicacy is replete with exotic herbs and spices that give it an exquisite flavor, while the coconut milk gives it a smooth, creamy texture. Beef, mutton, and even chicken are alternatives to the goat meat. Also, it is not uncommon to leave the bones and offal of the meat while cooking the dish for a richer flavor. 
07
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Sate kelinci is a traditional dish originating from Java. The dish consists of rabbit meat that's usually marinated, then placed on bamboo skewers and grilled to perfection. The marinade is often made with a combination of shallots, garlic, ginger, coriander, chili peppers, brown sugar, soy sauce, and lemongrass.


Once marinated, the rabbit meat is skewered and grilled, and the dish is then served with soy sauce on the side.

08
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Ayam geprek is a traditional chicken dish originating from Yogyakarta in Java. The dish is similar to American fried chicken, and it's usually made with a combination of chicken, eggs, flour, paprika, salt, pepper, oil, and sambal. The chicken is sliced, seasoned with salt and pepper, dredged in flour, dipped in beaten eggs, and fried in oil until golden and crispy.


Once done, the crispy chicken is placed on top of sambal chili paste, and it's then crushed with a rolling pin or a pestle. The dish is typically served with steamed rice and vegetables on the side. There are also new variations on the dish, with added mozzarella cheese or fried cabbage.

09

Meatballs

SURAKARTA, Indonesia
4.1
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As the name suggests, this bakso variety hails from Solo (Surakarta). It is prepared with firm, but tender beef meatballs that are served in beef broth. The dish is usually accompanied by yellow or vermicelli noodles and various garnishes such as fried onions, greens, or fried wontons.


A bowl of bakso Solo is served with fresh chili sauce and lime wedges on the side.

MOST ICONIC Bakso solo

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10

Stew

SURAKARTA, Indonesia
3.7
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This Indonesian goat stew originated in Surakarta, Java. It is believed that the dish appeared during the Dutch rule when the best goat cuts were usually distributed among the rich, and what was left for the poor were goat bones which still had some meat attached to them.


The bones are cooked in a thin, coconut-milk-based broth that is enriched with various herbs and spices such as turmeric, galangal, lemongrass, cumin, coriander, garlic, and onions, while some establishments also may include the addition of goat innards. 

MOST ICONIC Tengkleng

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11
Stew
JAVA, Indonesia
3.7
12
Beef Dish
SURAKARTA, Indonesia
3.7
13
Stir-fry
SURABAYA, Indonesia
3.7
14
Chicken Dish
JAVA, Indonesia
3.4
15
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17
Beef Dish
SURABAYA, Indonesia
n/a

TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.

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Javanese Meat Dishes