Jakarta Crowned Best Culinary City in Southeast Asia by TasteAtlas Awards 2024/2025

Exciting news has emerged from the global culinary scene. The TasteAtlas Awards 2024/2025 has released its list of the top 100 cities with the best cuisine worldwide, based on consumer review data from 17,000 cities. Jakarta proudly secured the top spot in Southeast Asia and ranked 16th globally with an impressive score of 4.69 out of 5.

This achievement highlights the diversity and richness of Indonesian cuisine, particularly in the capital city. Iconic dishes such as nasi uduk, gado-gado, bubur ayam, soto Betawi, and bakso stood out and earned high praise from food enthusiasts worldwide.

Jakarta: A Culinary Paradise

Jakarta is renowned as a city with an endless array of culinary delights, reflecting the cultural and traditional diversity of Indonesia. Nasi uduk, for instance, is a breakfast staple with a savory flavor from rice cooked in coconut milk, accompanied by side dishes like fried chicken, spicy eggs, and peanut sambal.

Meanwhile, gado-gado often dubbed the “Indonesian salad“ wins over fans of healthy eating with its mix of fresh vegetables, tofu, tempeh, and its signature peanut sauce. Other standout dishes include soto Betawi, a hearty coconut milk soup rich in spices, and bakso, savory meatballs served in a comforting broth.

Another crowd favorite, bubur ayam (chicken porridge), is celebrated for its simplicity and heartiness. Topped with crispy crackers, shredded chicken, and spicy sambal, it’s a perfect choice for breakfast or a light dinner.

Bandung, Surabaya, Padang, and Solo Shine Bright

In addition to Jakarta, other Indonesian cities also made it into the top 10 culinary cities in Southeast Asia. Bandung, Surabaya, Padang, and Surakarta (Solo) added vibrant flavors to the regional culinary map.

• Bandung is famous for its street food, including batagor, cireng, and mie kocok. The city is also a hub for modern culinary innovations inspired by traditional recipes.
• Surabaya brings the distinctive flavors of East Java to the table with dishes like rawon, rujak cingur, and lontong balap. The unique use of spices and herbs makes Surabaya’s cuisine highly sought after.
• Padang, of course, needs no introduction. Its legendary rendang, once named the world’s best dish, hails from this city. Other favorites like gulai tunjang and sate Padang further showcase its rich culinary heritage.
• Solo or Surakarta offers mouthwatering dishes such as nasi liwet, serabi, and timlo, delivering the distinct tastes of Central Java.

TasteAtlas: Celebrating Culinary Diversity

TasteAtlas is a global platform dedicated to exploring and documenting traditional dishes from around the world. Its top 100 cities list is based on consumer reviews that evaluate the quality of dishes, authenticity of recipes, and overall dining experience.

Jakarta and other Indonesian cities stood out thanks to the uniqueness and richness of their flavors. This international recognition solidifies Indonesia’s position as a world-class culinary destination.

Why Indonesian Cuisine Stands Out

The success of Indonesian cities in this ranking stems from the exceptional qualities of Indonesian cuisine, rich in spices and flavor. The use of fresh, local ingredients, traditional cooking techniques, and cultural influences from various regions create flavors that are hard to beat.

Additionally, the promotion of Indonesian cuisine through social media and the availability of authentic Indonesian restaurants abroad have played significant roles in introducing it to global audiences.

Opportunities for Growth

This recognition from TasteAtlas presents a golden opportunity for Indonesia to further promote its traditional cuisine on the global stage. Collaborations between the government, culinary industry players, and local communities can ensure that the delicious flavors of Indonesia gain even greater appreciation worldwide.

Culinary festivals, tourism campaigns, and support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the food sector are some of the ways to leverage this momentum. By doing so, Indonesia’s culinary heritage can be celebrated not only domestically but also internationally.

Jakarta Tops Southeast Asia’s Culinary Scene

With its high score and recognition as Southeast Asia’s best culinary city, Jakarta has proven itself as a must-visit destination for food lovers. Dishes like nasi uduk, gado-gado, and soto Betawi not only tantalize taste buds but also represent the richness of Indonesia’s cultural heritage.

This achievement serves as motivation to preserve and promote the nation’s culinary legacy, ensuring that its flavors can be enjoyed by more people around the globe.