Breakfast in Indonesia is more than just a daily routine. It is a rich cultural experience. With diverse flavours, spices, and unique textures, breakfast Indonesia represents the nation’s culinary identity.
Breakfast Indonesia: A Delicious Morning Tradition
From street side vendors to family homes, the variety of morning meals across the archipelago offers something for every palate, often surprising foreign visitors with their heartiness and boldness.
For many foreigners, the idea of a heavy and savoury dish for breakfast may seem unusual. However, Indonesian favourites such as nasi uduk, soto, or bubur ayam are proof that a satisfying morning meal can set the tone for an energetic day.
A Foreigner Falls in Love with Nasi Uduk
Breakfast is very important, because breakfast can increase concentration so that we can do activities optimally. Sometimes the breakfast menu also illustrates the characteristics of the country, including some typical Indonesian breakfast menus.
Many foreign tourists and expats think that the typical Indonesian breakfast menu is too heavy and filling. However, the video uploaded by @gudbjorglara shows that the foreigner really likes Indonesian breakfast, especially Nasi Uduk.
@gudbjorglara Breakfast Nasi Uduk is the best breakfast in the world, I hereby crown it king of all breakfasts. #breakfastclub #nasiuduk #indonesianfood #buleindo ♬ original sound – LARA FROM ICELAND
“Breakfast Nasi Uduk is the best breakfast in the world, I hereby crown it king of all breakfasts.” he wrote in his video caption.
The video shows the foreigner, Lara eating nasi uduk wrapped in brown rice paper. She also mentioned that nasi uduk is the best breakfast in the world. She also really liked the crackers that accompanied the breakfast.
The video was watched by many people and received hundreds of comments, most of which agreed that nasi uduk is very delicious.
“guilty pleasure breakfast 🙏,” wrote one netizen. While other netizens commented, “nasi uduk really the best ❤️.”
10 Popular Breakfast Indonesia
Nasi Uduk
Nasi uduk is the next Indonesian breakfast menu that is quite easy to find in the morning.
The uniqueness of this menu is that the rice is processed with coconut milk and pandan leaves, so it tastes savoury.
In addition, this Betawi breakfast menu has a variety of side dishes such as vermicelli, tempeh orek, balado eggs, serundeng, sambal and fried foods that can make your stomach full.
Bubur Ayam
Bubur ayam is one of the most popular and easily found breakfast menus in Indonesia. From street vendors to restaurants, it’s common to find chicken porridge as a delicious breakfast dish.
The soft texture of the porridge combined with chicken pieces and various other toppings is very delicious to eat in the morning. Sweet, savoury, and spicy flavours with the addition of chilli sauce can be felt when eating this one dish.
Bakmi Ayam (Chicken Noodle)
If you’re a foreigner living in Jakarta, you’ll realise that Jakartans have a habit of eating Bakmi Ayam for breakfast. Not only is it quite unique for foreigners, but for people outside of Jakarta, the habit of eating Bakmi Ayam for breakfast can also cause culture shock.
Basically, Bakmi Ayam are spread in various regions with all their characteristics. In Jakarta, we can see bakmi topped with chicken, Bangka chicken noodles topped with crab, or Bandung chicken noodles, better known as yamin noodles, which tend to have a sweet and savoury taste.
Although it’s not unusual anymore, the bakmi ayam menu can actually be eaten at any time without a certain time limit. Starting from morning to night.
Gado-Gado
Gado-gado is one of the most popular vegetable concoctions in Indonesia for breakfast.
The abundant vegetable filling is doused with savoury peanut sauce. Not only is it delicious, but it also fulfils your daily fibre intake. Usually it topped with crispy tempeh. It is a traditional Indonesian salad that everyone love.
A portion of hodgepodge contains about 400 kcal of calories. Gado-gado also contains protein from tempeh, tofu and peanuts for the seasoning. Per portion contains about 19 grams of protein. If you do not want to be too full, you should not add rice or rice cake. Because there are already potatoes that are one of the fillings.
Nasi Kuning (Yellow Rice)
Another popular Indonesian breakfast menu item is Nasi Kuning, or yellow rice.
In addition to its attractive colour, this food is processed with a mixture of typical spices so that it has a delicious taste.
Not much different from nasi uduk, this breakfast menu is usually also served with orek tempe, sliced omelette, serundeng, vermicelli, and other side dish options.
Besides being used as a breakfast menu, Nasi Kuning is also often served during special events such as Thanksgiving or birthday parties.
Soto
Soto is a typical Indonesian breakfast menu in the form of broth with yellow sauce derived from turmeric and eaten with rice or lontong. This menu is a typical Indonesian breakfast menu, especially in the islands of Java.
There are several types of soto that are often found in Indonesia, such as chicken soto, meat soto, tripe soto, and others. Like almost every Indonesian food, you can find this common dish everywhere, from street vendors to 5-star hotels.
In addition to the meat or chicken filling, soto is usually served with potato slices, boiled eggs, vermicelli, celery leaves, chilli sauce, lime juice, koya, and fried onions.
Kupat Tahu
Kupat tahu is an Indonesian culinary speciality that has various types. Starting from Magelang’s kupat tofu to Singaparna’s kupat tofu. Generally, kupat tofu contains ketupat, tofu, bean sprouts and cabbage served with special sauce or seasoning.
This special sauce or seasoning is what distinguishes between types of kupat tahu in each region. The taste also varies, ranging from savoury, spicy to slightly sour. Even so, this cuisine can be found easily in the morning and is suitable for breakfast.
Lontong Sayur
Lontong sayur is a common dish found on the morning as a breakfast menu. It is a vegetable soup with steamed shaped rice. Usually, this lontong contains pieces of rice cake served with yellow vegetable soup with stuffed chayote and long beans.
In addition, the types of vegetable cake are also very varied, ranging from Lontong Sayur Betawi, Lontong Sayur Medan, to Lontong Sayur Padang. Each type of lontong sayur has its own characteristics. The flavours are also delicious and interesting to try.
Bubur Kacang Hijau (Mung Bean Porridge)
Mung bean porridge is another porridge option that can be eaten as a breakfast menu. Made from mung beans and a mixture of other ingredients such as coconut milk and sugar, this porridge has a delicious sweet taste.
Mung bean porridge is often served with black sticky rice, which adds to its deliciousness. With the right portion, mung bean porridge can be a delicious breakfast menu before your activities.
Gudeg
If you are visiting the city of Yogyakarta, then consuming gudeg is one of the activities that should be done, because gudeg is a speciality of Yogyakarta. Well, usually gudeg becomes a typical breakfast for those in Yogyakarta.
Gudeg has a sweet taste, reddish-brown colour, and a creamy texture. This food is usually served with rice and side dishes such as chicken, eggs, tofu, or tempeh that have been boiled with certain spices.
That’s the list of typical Indonesian breakfasts, which one have you tried while in Indonesia?
Cover: Photo by Rafly Alfaridzy on Unsplash
