Introducing 5 Towns in Indonesia Where Ngapak Is Spoken and Their Signature Dishes

It is no secret that ngapak (a dialect of Javanese) is becoming more and more recognized by Indonesian people these days. Ngapak is literally a Javanese language, but its pronunciation is slightly different.

Unlike most areas in Central Java and East Java which use dialect with the ending "o", ngapak uses the ending "a". Moreover, the pronunciation of the letter "k" is heavier and clearer.

So, which towns use this dialect? And what are their signature dishes? Here are 5 towns in Indonesia where ngapak is spoken, along with their signature dishes, that can be the perfect holiday destination for the beginning of this year.

Cilacap with Brekecek Pathak Jahan

Cilacap is a district in Central Java which is famous for its beautiful beaches. Apart from that, its signature dish is a must-try.

One of Cilacap's signature dishes that TRAC Friends should try is Brekecek Pathak Jahan. It is a dish of jahan fish seasoned with various herbs and spices, including red chili, turmeric, garlic, shallot, ginger, galangal, bay leaves, palm sugar, lemongrass, and candlenut.

Before eating it, do not forget to add kemangi (Indonesian basil) and lime juice to reduce the fishy smell of pathak jahan. Paired with warm rice and the beauty of the beach with the sound of waves lapping is exceptional.

Banyumas with Sate Bebek

TRAC Friends who like duck meat should definitely try this dish. In Jakarta and other big cities, duck meat is usually served with sambal (Indonesian chilli sauce) from Madura or fried until it is crispy and ready to be eaten with sambal bawang (Indonesian chilli sauce with shallots).

However, it is different in Banyumas. People there use duck meat to make satay, a dish which is commonly made from chicken or goat meat. The combination of sweet satay sauce with tender duck meat will definitely make TRAC Friends want to go there again.

TRAC Friends can taste this signature dish from Banyumas with just 25,000 IDR. One serving includes 10 duck meat skewers as well as a bowl of rice and duck meat curry. The price is indeed reasonable for a dish like this.

It is also served with two types of sauce that TRAC Friends can try, namely peanut sauce and sweet soy sauce. We recommend choosing peanut sauce because it is more popular among duck satay lovers.

Purwokerto with Getuk Goreng Sokaraja

Purwokerto is the capital of Banyumas District which is known for its natural attractions, such as Baturaden, Bukit Batu Meja, Pancuran Pitu, and Sunflower Garden. However, Purwokerto has another thing which is quite famous. It is Getuk Goreng Sokaraja. TRAC Friends should try it!

It is a sweet and savory food with cassava as its main ingredient. The process of making Getuk Goreng Sokaraja is the same as making ordinary getuk (a dish made from cassava).

The cassava is boiled after being peeled and washed. After that, the cassava is mashed, and selected palm sugar is added to make high quality getuk. The sweet taste makes it perfect to be eaten as a snack or dessert.

Gombong with Lanting

TRAC Friends, have you ever eaten a snack which is crunchy, sometimes hard to chew, and shaped like the number 8? It is called lanting. There are many people who do not know that lanting is a traditional food from Gombong, Kebumen. Lanting is also popular in Banyumas, but its form is thicker there. 

Made from mashed cassava, lanting has a wide variety of flavors now, including grilled corn, cheese, sweet and spicy, garlic, as well as beef. 

TRAC Friends, do you want to try it? Come to Gombong to buy lanting and bring it home as food souvenir!

Banjarnegara with Dawet Ayu

Many people sell this drink on the side of the road, so it may be widely known. Dawet Ayu is a drink from Banjarnegara which combines palm sugar, coconut milk, rice flour jelly, and added ice cubes to make it refreshing.

Dawet Ayu is not only delicious, but it is also legendary. Many people even said that this legendary drink is the "forerunner" of boba, a kind of drink that is currently very popular.

This refreshing drink is perfect for quenching our thirst during the day. It will become even more special if enjoyed with your loved ones at the edge of the rice field in Banjarnegara, where the wind blows gently. Ah, it must be so memorable!

So, those are 5 towns where ngapak is mainly spoken and their signature dishes that are worth to try. There is actually one more signature dish which is popular in these areas, namely Mendoan. However, there is no clear information about the origin of that soybean-based food.

To visit these 5 towns where ngapak is spoken and try their signature dishes, TRAC Friends can use a private vehicle and it will take around 8 to 10 hours to get there (from Jakarta).

Nonetheless, there is one best option to go to these towns, which is by train or plane and transit in Yogyakarta. From Yogyakarta, TRAC Friends can rent a car from TRAC to explore these ngapak towns in Central Java.

TRAC offers car rental service with or without a driver in Yogyakarta. There are so many choices of vehicle! TRAC Friends can choose a spacious 2-seater MPV or a tough SUV. TRAC also offers bus rental service in Malang and some other cities.

Experience all the conveniences of renting a car from TRAC, like the simple booking process and supporting services across Indonesia. TRAC also makes it easy to book a car daily in Yogyakarta and other cities.

TRAC Friends only need to download TRACtoGo on Google Play Store or Apple App Store to book TRAC service.

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