Jl. Sabang: (JP/Sita W. Dewi)Jl. Jaksa & Jl. Sabang, Central Jakarta

Almost every foreign tourist arriving in Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport taxi area will hear taxi drivers shouting “Jaksa! Jaksa!” The street has been long known as a tourist area in the spirit of Poppies in Kuta, Bali, where tourists can easily find budget hotels and affordable bars. Jl. Sabang runs parallel to Jl. Jaksa, just one block to the west.

As popular tourist areas, both streets almost never sleep. Along Jl. Jaksa, you can find various Indonesian food such as satay, soto Betawi soup, fried lele (catfish) and fried rice.

If you just need to hang out without spending too much money, you can find relatively cheap drinks at the bars on the street.

On Jl. Sabang, various types of food are available, ranging from street-style vendors to permanent restaurants operating 24/7, offering everything from seafood to Lebanese dishes from one corner to
another.

Jl. Bendungan Hilir, Central Jakarta

The street, also popularly known as Benhil, offers abundant choices for food, particularly Indonesian food from across the archipelago.

The most famous Acehnese restaurants in the capital, Seulawah and Meutia, are located on the street.

During the Ramadhan fasting month, the number of food vendors in the area multiplies dramatically, adding to the merriment.

Jl. Melawai and Blok M, South Jakarta

Once famous as an “it” hang-out place for Jakarta’s youngsters, the street has apparently been able to retain its status.

Street food vendors and established restaurants operating after post midnight can be easily spotted along the street.

Among the popular dishes on offer are ayam bakar (grilled chicken) Ganthari and gulai (beef curry), which is popularly called gultik. Gultik is actually the abbreviation of gulai tikungan (corner) due to the location of the vendors, but locals usually make fun of it by saying that “tik” is actually for tikus (rat). Please ignore the joke and just enjoy the warm gravy.

In Blok M not far from Melawai, the sidewalk around Blok M Square becomes as lesehan-style food center, with diners sitting on the sidewalks on mats. Vendors offer various Javanese dishes after the shopping center closes at around 8 p.m.

Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta

As the area is densely inhabited by Chinese-Indonesians, you can find the best seafood and Chinese food in the city in Kelapa Gading.

Besides seafood and Chinese food, you can also find various international dishes from sushi to pasta. For innumerable choices of dish, the area is simply a food heaven.

Jl. Pecenongan: (JP/Sita W. Dewi)Jl. Pecenongan, Central Jakarta

Jl. Pecenongan and several streets nearby such as Jl. Juanda, Jl. Hayam Wuruk and Jl. Gajah Mada are definitely a one-stop spot for food enthusiasts with an appetite after dark.

Jl. Pecenongan, which was officially designed as a nighttime culinary spot, attracts hundreds of locals and foreigners every night.Among famous dishes available on the street are pork satay with bakut (salted cabbage soup), Kwang Tung restaurant’s rice porridge and martabak. — JP