The most popular cuisine of Jakarta is the Betawi cuisine which is known for its diversity and eclecticism. The diversity is based on the fact that the Betawi cuisine draws inspiration from wide ranging culinary cultures from Chinese, Sudanese, Malay to Indian Arab and European. Some of the most well- known dishes are nasi uduk which is basically coconut rice which is said to go along brilliantly with their sweet and sour vegetable soup (sayur asem). Also known for their salads, the asinan; consisting of assorted pickled vegetables and ketoprak; mixture of vegetables, rice cake and vermicelli in peanut sauce. Born from a creole or hybrid phenomena, the Betawi cuisine is quite similar to the Peranakan cuisine.
Most Popular Vegetarian Restaurants In Jakarta
1. Burgreens
Serves excellent burgers; with plenty veggies, without the meat. Vegetarians missing this hearty treat can now enjoy it with gluten-free buns, organic veggies and a delicious mushroom or bean patty. There’s also the protein-packed naked “hot dog” with no questionable farm-to-table origins. Finish with a scoop of their raw, gluten-free vegan ice cream or cakes. This restaurant provides great value for money.
2. The Loving Hut Restaurant
Connected to a beautiful earth-loving philosophy. With over 200 stores in more than 24 countries, Indonesia is not excluded from this brand’s global zeal to switch the paradigm of eating. In Loving Hut Jakarta, classic Indonesian fare accompanies the widely available Asian and Western menu. Thanks to their hearty, vegetarian rendition of traditional food, you can keep the healthy diet commitments and not deprive yourself of Indonesia’s tasty Bali rice or soto.
3. Salad Stop
This Singaporean restaurant brand is one of the first and largest healthy food chains in Asia, branching out as far as Japan, Korea, even Spain. The wide selection of ingredients and toppings presents an opportunity to create personalised salads to suit your every taste, meat or no meat. Otherwise, settle for their tried-and-tested signature salads, like the vegan ‘Go Geisha’ or vegetarian ‘Iron “Wo” Man’. More than just a place to get your portion of greens, SaladStop! is at the head of global environmental and animal welfare movements. At this one –stop for health, a couple of bowls of salad costs about Rs. 800 for two.
4. Dharma Kitchen
Small vegan restaurant in Chinatown on a crowded alley way. Menu changes, except for a few staples, such as mock pork, mock beef patty, satay, and local greens. Owner will explain what each dish is and how it is made. No gluten used in the making of the mock meats. Directions: From Glodok bus station, walk north on Jl Pintu Besar Selatan (toward Kota bus station), turn left at Jl Pancoran and walk down street for a couple of minutes, chinatown will be on your left, there are 2 alleyways that are part of Chinatown, turn left at the 2nd alleyway (the more narrow one), about halfway down the alley on the left. On the food display case at the front of the restaurant, it says vegetarian in big red letters. The main attraction here is the vegetable curry and jasmine rice which costs about 1500 for two people to devour.
5. Waytuki
Located in the legendary Pasar Baru neighbourhood, Waytuki caters to vegetarians craving Indian food. While the Indian cuisine is already veggie-generous in itself, this restaurant takes it up a notch with tasty faux meat and authentic recipes that even non-vegetarians applaud. Aside from the savoury curry and biryani dishes, Waytuki also serves non-Indian mains (also vegetarian-friendly). This is place is more expensive than its contemporaries on the list with about Rs. 2,500 required for satiating two stomachs.
6. Dharma Foodie
When you think about Chinese food, delicious (but calorie-loaded) pork dishes may come to mind. Say goodbye to that health vs taste dilemma, thanks to Dharma Foodie and its commitment to creating better, healthier versions of various Asian recipes (and some Western ones, too). At a glance, the menu shows classic fare like Peking duck or Chinese dumplings, but the meat is replaced with mushrooms or other mixes. This restaurant was established more than two decades ago, giving it time to perfect every recipe. Easy on the pocket, this restaurant will cost about 750 for two people.
7. The Betawi Salad
Salad isn’t exactly a groundbreaking invention to hip vegetarians, but when a bowl of salad features local flavours it gets much more intriguing. Betawi Salad offers its traditional recipe-inspired Bali Salad, Satay Salad, and much more. Some of these signature salads may not be totally vegetarian, but you can ask to customise them or even make your own – choosing from the wide range of local ingredients and dressings. The chef usually follows the local culture taking into account the preferences of customers to make the perfect salad.
8. Fedwell
Fedwell provides healthy and nutritious food to anyone, from the most devout level of veganism, and even carnivores. All you have to do is choose one of their signature bowls according to your diet and taste, or conveniently make your own. ‘The Browser and The Grazer’ is a vegetarian favourite, consisting of a variety of superfoods inspired by recipes around the world. Even the bowl featuring rib eye steak is handled very sensibly, paired with quinoa brown rice, edamame, and other healthy ingredients. This restaurant provides great value for money and a decent meal for two comes up to about Rs. 1000.
9. Fortunate Coffee
Fortunately for vegetarians in Jakarta, abstaining from meat doesn’t mean forgoing local cuisine you know and love for some trendy Western salad bar. LN Fortunate Coffee recreates popular dishes such as pasta and the Chinese Hainan rice for the health-conscious, skipping on ingredients like MSG. This restaurant-slash-café offers a wide range of vegetarian light bites and desserts that go excellently with their soy-based lattes.The restaurant is moderately priced, with the bill coming upto Rs 1200 for two.
So go ahead and eat your fill of some of the best and most healthy meals out here in Jakarta and let us know your favourites down in the comments below!