Best places in Jakarta to eat 'gudeg'

It's nearly impossible to talk about the world of Indonesian cuisine without mentioning gudeg. Yogyakarta's most famous dish, it has a character fairly different from any other Indonesian food. The sweet taste of gudeg combined with several other savory side dishes on one plate certainly presents its own charm.

Gudeg has been around for a long time now, yet still exists among the culinary market despite the invasion of Western cuisine. Sold alongside warteg ( sidewalk food stall ) and other Indonesian's choices of affordable delicious food, gudeg is still a favorite.

In Jakarta, there are a lot of places to enjoy this dish. Here's the list of some of the best ones.

Gudeg Pak Atmo

Gudeg Pak Atmo deserves a try for one reason: the legend of Pak Atmo himself.

Pak Atmo was the former head chef of Mangkunegaran Palace in Surakarta, Central Java, almost a century ago, who decided to resign and start his own business. After a while, he became famous and very successful. You can see for yourself how busy Gudeg Pak Atmo is, which is located in Gandaria.

Gudeg Bu Dibyo

If you live around the Bintaro area, Gudeg Bu Dibyo should be familiar to you.

Run by ibu Dibyo herself, this gudeg place will give you just the right amount of satisfaction since here it is served with ayam kampung ( village chickens ) complete with krecek areh ( thick coconut milk ) and sambal ( chili sauce ). To make your gudeg experience even greater, try ordering the traditional and fresh es beras kencur ( mixed rice and herbal ice tea ).

( Read also: 5 bakeries to try along Transjakarta's culinary bus route )

Gudeg Kandjeng

Originally from Yogyakarta, ibu Yani opened two gudeg places in Jakarta: Gudeg Kandjeng and Gudeg Prabu.

One thing that makes Gudeg Kandjeng different is the  taste, which is not as sweet as other gudeg. Loved for its affordable price, Gudeg Kandjeng also serves home-cooked traditional meals like nasi liwet ( rice boiled in coconut milk and served with various side dishes ) or pecel lele ( fried catfish and rice with a side of sambal ).

Gudeg Pejompongan

One of the most authentic gudeg places in Jakarta, without a doubt, is Gudeg Pejompongan.

First opened in 1964, Gudeg Pejompongan has been serving the sweet taste of gudeg made with a traditional recipe and is keeping it that way. You can easily choose your side dishes displayed in the display window from ayam opor ( chicken coconut milk stew ) to the delicious krecek.

( Read also: 5 Indonesian restaurants to impress your foreign friends )

Gudeg Batutulis

It takes a while for Gudeg Batutulis to make some of its dishes, but you just know that it's a sign of perfection.

Back in the day, this business used to serve meals for the State Palace. What makes Gudeg Batutulis lovable is the texture of its gudeg's taste: not too sweet, just the right amount of savory with a hint of crispiness. A dish very suitable for the taste buds of Jakartans.

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Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.

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