Indulging the Diverse and Legendary Culinary Delights of Yogyakarta

"When returning to your city, a sense of longing always tugs at your heartstrings," as popularized by Kla Project's lyrics.

Yogyakarta, known as the city of culture, has long been a magnet for tourists with its beauty. But, just like its nickname "City of Gudeg," Yogyakarta's culinary tourism is an inseparable part of its identity, reflecting the locals' passion and love for their cuisine.

Yogyakarta offers a plethora of culinary delights that are worth sampling during each visit. TRAC has handpicked a selection of "all-time" favorites that are beloved by both tourists and locals, and we've compiled them here for your convenience.

5 Must Taste Legendary Culinary of Yogyakarta

Gudeg

Gudeg is the quintessential food that defines Yogyakarta's culinary identity. Essentially, it's young jackfruit cooked for hours with coconut milk, palm sugar, and a blend of spices, including teak leaves as a natural coloring agent.

Gudeg is typically served with several side dishes, such as stir-fried krecek, chicken, eggs and tofu, and tempeh bacem.

Finding gudeg sellers in Yogyakarta is a breeze, with home-based vendors and established brands scattered throughout the city.

Some highly recommended options include Gudeg Yu Djum, which boasts numerous locations throughout the city, Gudeg Permata, a perfect choice for night-time hunger pangs, and Gudeg Mbah Lindu, ideal for a morning meal.

And, don't miss out on Gudeg Pawon, which offers a traditional kitchen ambience reminiscent of an old house.

Javanese Bakmi

While not unique to Yogyakarta, it's common for tourists to feel as though their trip is incomplete without sampling the local Javanese Bakmi.

Known for its simple yet delectable taste, some of the most popular destinations among tourists include Bakmi Pele, Bakmi Mbah Gito, Bakmi Jawa Pak Rebo, and Bakmi Jawa Pak Geno.

For those who prefer shorter lines, don't miss the chance to try Bakmi Mbah Hadi, located discreetly at the Terban gas station.

Klathak Satay

The Klathak satay is immediately distinguishable from the typical goat satay by its unique appearance. Rather than the typical wooden skewers, the meat is pierced through metal skewers, often repurposed from bike spokes, and served with a side of curry sauce.

To sample this delicious delicacy, one must travel to Bantul, where Sate Klathak Pak Bari is a popular evening spot at the Wonokromo Market, and Sate Pak Pong is a must-try daytime option.

Angkringan

With its wooden cart and assortment of snacks and hot beverages, Angkringan has become a ubiquitous sight across Indonesia. Despite its popularity, however, it's not truly complete without visiting the Angkringan in Yogyakarta.

Angkringan typically offers a variety of skewered meats and side dishes cooked in the bacem style, such as satay, including unique options like intestine, skin, clam, and quail egg satay.

Be sure to also try the mini nasi kucing or cat rice and a glass of jos coffee which is coffee with added chunks of charcoal. 

You can easily find Angkringans along Jalan Mangkubumi or the walkways of Malioboro. For legendary options, visit Angkringan Lik Man, located around the Tugu Station.

Palace Dishes That Have Become Popular

Located near the Yogyakarta Palace, Bale Raos Restaurant offers a taste of the favorite food of the sultans in the 19th century.

From starters to desserts, visitors can enjoy dishes that were once exclusive to nobles and sultans, such as Huzar Salad, Suwar-shredded Duck with kedondong sauce, beef steak, Timlo soup, and Liwet rice.

For dessert, the unique manuk nom or mud bird pudding is a must-try, with melinjo chips serving as wings.

There are numerous other Yogyakarta culinary delights that are equally worth trying besides the 5 above. Some examples include catfish mangut, spicy mercon, slenget entok, geprek chicken (currently popular), and Mbok Berek fried chicken, which has been served since the 1830s.

Explore Yogyakarta's Culinary Tour with a Car Rental

During peak season, Yogyakarta can become very crowded, making getting around a stressful experience. When going on a culinary tour in the city, it's best to consider using a car rental service.

With a rental car, you can relax and enjoy the food without worrying about navigating the route, especially since every region in Yogyakarta has its own legendary culinary delights.

Additionally, the limited parking spaces available can also be a distraction, so renting a car in Yogyakarta can be the perfect solution to your transportation needs. Consider TRAC for your car rental service Yogyakarta.

For ease of booking, TRAC pals can do it through the TRACtoGo application. Immediately install the TRACtoGo application on Google Play Store or Apple App Store. And get various interesting promos in it.

Oh yes, for the latest information, don't forget to follow TRAC's social media via Instagram @trac_astra, Facebook TRAC-Astra Rent a Car and Twitter @TRACastra.

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