If you reside in the buzzing Jakarta, you may stay at home during the weekends and wait for travelling street food carts to come by so that you can order lunch.

The Mie Bakso sellers approach the neighbourhoods with a stick and a wooden hollow shell to produce a string of hard knocks to create an echo satisfactory to cut through the chattering, residential neighbourhood.

WHAT IS MIE BAKSO?

Mie Bakso is very well loved among Indonesians. Why does this particular street food seem to be at the centre of attention the minute the clocks chime during lunch time?

‘Mie’ simply translates to noodles.

‘Bakso’ refers to meat paste moulded into huge balls or what we otherwise call meatballs, and they are usually made from ground beef but there are also chicken and seafood alternatives available.

Photo Credit: tripadvisor

HOW IS IT PREPARED?

The meat paste is blended with flavoured tapioca flour and starch to keep the paste together. The balls of paste are hand-moulded and boiled in high temperature. After assessing the texture of the floating meatballs with a stick, the pre-cooked meatballs are taken out and set aside for preparation as soon as a customer makes an order.

The texture of bakso is firm on the outside but soft inside. You will still get to taste the seasoned meat melting in your mouth.

The term Mie Bakso is used when meatballs and noodles are added into a broth. Other ingredients may include fried shallots, spring onions, vegetables and boiled mushrooms.

WHERE CAN YOU FIND IT AND HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

Mie Bakso vendors are usually located outside schools and streets that are easy to spot. A bowl of this street dish is also affordable for everyone, going at an average of RP 10,000. A well-liked dish, the Mie Bakso is a satisfying and pleasant choice that never fails to leave our stomachs in delight.

The congested traffic along the roads of Indonesia’s bustling capital may be daunting at first glance but we have to admit we are still very much drawn to Jakarta by the wafting aroma and tastiness of their local street food.

Sukun Goreng, Gado-gado and the Pisang Coklat are some personal favourites among the local street selections.

Here is a list of popular street delicacies and snacks to fill your rumbling stomach after a delightful day of meandering through Jakarta’s hustle and bustle.

Photo Credit: visitingjava

#1 GADO-GADO

The Indonesian Gado-gado is akin to a salad but with a local twist. It comprises vegetables tossed with fried tofu, fried fermented beans, crackers, boiled eggs and lastly, a drizzle of spicy peanut sauce that is blended with extra spicy chilli padi.

Photo Credit: flickr

#2 SIOMAY

Siomay is a type of steamed fish dumpling moulded from fish paste and vegetables. Other common varieties of Siomay are made from tuna, mackerel and prawn. The snack is prepared upon order and sellers usually cut this light treat into bite-size pieces before topping them with spicy peanut sauce and sweet soy sauce.

Photo Credit: iradiofm

#3 KETOPRAK

Readily available the minute you step into the jam-packed streets of Jakarta, Ketoprak is a great dish for a hearty, local meal. The dish consists of fried tofu, steamed rice cake, vegetables and rice vermicelli.

#4 KUE PANCONG

This is one of Indonesia’s sweetest gems and is the locals’ go-to for a quick afternoon snack. These coconut cakes are crispy, light and served with just the right amount of syrup to satisfy any sweet tooth.

Photo Credit: martabakcahayakestari

#5 MARTABAK TELUR

If you think this is merely a folded egg omelette, you’re wrong. Martabak Telur is a pan-fried egg omelette mixed with vegetables and ground meat—usually chicken or beef. Trust us when we say one serving is often not enough.

Photo Credit: delicious

#6 SATE

The aroma of Sates is always so tantalising and it doesn’t help when Sate stalls are everywhere in Jakarta. Though these sticks of marinated skewered meat are common, it is something we must eat when we return to the Indonesian city!

Photo Credit: tripadvisor

#7 MIE SOTO

If you’re looking for a heavier meal, how about a bowl of Mie Soto? There are a few variations of the Mie Soto and the ones with chicken broth is our pick. The fragrance of peppered broth, wheat noodles and chopped meat in a bowl is enough to make our mouths water.

#8 NASI UDUK

The rice in Nasi Uduk is usually prepared with an array of accompaniments and sauces to complement the dish. Fried eggs, tofu, meat, crackers and vegetables are the most common ones. This mixed-rice dish is a definite must-try!

Photo Credit: kulinersehat

#9 LONTONG SAYUR

Fall in love with Lontong Sayur’s aromatic, coconut milk curry. The dish comprises steamed rice cake, vegetables and curry broth. The wafting smell of curry was so good that no one can resist ordering a bowl.

Photo Credit:astaga

#10 GORENGAN

Basically deep-fried goodness. Banana and cauliflowers fritters are two of our favourites and also the most popular types you’ll find.

Photo Credit:zonamakan

#11 RUJAK BUAH

Rujak Buah is similar to our local rojak. The sourness of the fruits used in this dish balances out the sweet and spicy Gula Jawa sauce.

Photo Credit:resepkoki

#12 PISANG COKLAT

A piece of Pisang Coklat is always a sinful treat. The experience of having a bite of these chocolate bananas rolled in pancakes cannot be missed when you drop by this city!

Photo Credit:anindiaulia

#13 BUBUR AYAM

There are many travelling street food carts with ‘Bubur Ayam’ written on them. This bowl of flavourful chicken congee isn’t anything special but it remains a popular breakfast dish in Jakarta if you require a quick carb fix.

Photo Credit: jepratjepret

#14 SUKUN GORENG

By far one of the best snacks in Jakarta, Sukun Goreng is breadfruit fritters that are lightly salted and crunchy.

#15 MARTABAK MANIS

The last on this list but definitely not the least. In fact, it is our favourite! Martabak Manis is not just your typical pancake or sweet crepe; it is thicker and made using thick pancake batter. These pancakes are usually topped off with sprinkles of sugar, sweet corn and peanuts. THE BOMB DOT COM. Bye, skinny jeans.

Read our guide on how to travel to Jakarta for 3D2N with under S$300 (all-inclusive).