Surabaya Indonesia – Best Places to Eat and Dishes to Taste

Flavoursome, plentiful and absolutely delicious – the city of Surabaya is the ultimate definition of a foodie paradise. Bring pants with elasticized waistlines and an adventurous appetite.

From restaurants, to street food, to coffee house, to ice cream parlours, to swanky rooftop bars; there’s something for everyone here in Surabaya and in our personal experience, its impossible to leave without a new favourite meal.

Dishes to try in Surabaya

It’s tricky to narrow down Surabaya’s must-try, local dishes simply because there are so very many and each one seems to be superior to the one you tried only moments prior! Our advice to you is to try as many as you can and just keep saying a hearty ‘Yes!’ when anyone offers you something new. Eating bak pao whist strolling through Old Chinatown should be at the top of any foodie’s list. Bak pao are delicious steamed buns that are filled with everything from chicken to chocolate. These treats are excellent for eating on the go and exploring the hidden gems of the old city on foot.

Lontong balap, which is probably Surabaya’s staple dish, is also a local dish that you cannot leave without trying. This hearty soup is made with longtong (Japanese rice cakes), tofu, bean sprouts, mung bean cake and topped off with fried shallots.

A wonderful option for vegetarians in Surabaya is gado-gado, an Indonesian-style salad comprised of steamed vegetables, boiled potatoes, boiled eggs, fried tempeh (tofu), peanut sauce and lontong (rice wrapped in banana leaves).

Some of our personal favourite Surabaya dishes include bakso (Indonesian meatballs), Soto ayam (a spicy, turmeric, chicken soup), Tahu Telor (an egg omelette made with tofu and peanut gravy), and Sayur Asem (Indonesian-style sour vegetables soup).

For those with a sweet-tooth, you’re in luck. Surabaya is home to an array of almost sickly sweet, delightful desserts that your dentist most certainly wouldn’t approve of. We simply could not get enough of the delicious, Es Puter. Es Puter directly translates to stirred ice cream with the primary ingredient being coconut and topped with a range of interesting, colourful and scrumptious toppings.

Es cendol should also be on the must-try list for those with a love of sugar. This sweet, iced dessert is made up of thin strips of green rice flour jelly, palm syrup and lashings of coconut milk. Added on toppings are usually local fruits or sweetened red beans.

Cheap eats and local restaurants

For those with big appetites but thin wallets, Surabaya is home to an array of cheap and delicious street food where even the budget-conscious can eat to their heart’s content.

Fortunately, the food culture here in Surabaya takes on an enchanting and flavoursome life force of its own; and its easy for all culinary preferences, budgets and appetites to be well-catered for.

Located in The Square Ballroom in the ICBC Centre in Surabaya, Eat and Eat Food Market Busuki Rahmat is a vibrant, colourful food market that is comparable to a charming and picturesque open-air street market but is hosted indoors. The colourful string of lanterns adorning the ceilings, the bustling stalls with delicious smells luring you further into the heart of the central eating area, and the abundance of different dishes are all reasons to return time and again. And again.

Another highly recommended spot for those craving affordable street food is Warung Bu Kris, a local restaurant that sells traditional Surabaya street food in a clean, simple environment. With a strong focus on the dishes and ingredients rather than the décor; the steady stream of customers, the raving reviews and the frequent queue out the door, is testament enough to the excellent food that is served generously inside. Located at Jl. Abdul Wahab no. 1 Siamin, Warung Bu Kris was one of our favourite dining experiences while in Surabaya. Be sure to sample the sambal, a spicy condiment of crushed chillies, garlic, lime juice and ginger. The varied and liberal meals range from around IDR 25,000 to IDR 100,000.

Famous for its spicy, traditional fried chicken and sambal, Ayam Goreng Sriwijaya is a local eatery that has been satisfying hunger pangs in Surabaya since the seventies. Great service, excellent food and a reputation that says it all, this spot is the perfect dining experience for visitors looking for authentic and traditional fare. Another local restaurant that we thoroughly enjoyed was Indragiri Seafood and Resto on Jl. Indragiri 10. This restaurant is ideal for those wanting to try various Surabaya dishes such as semur lidah (thick, beef stew), tofu omelettes with peanut sauce, and grilled, succulent fish to name but a few.

Pondok Mie Mangga Dua is another local eatery that is perfect for munching traditional cuisine in a lively and bubbly environment. Top menu recommendations would have to be the crispy spring rolls, rice noodles and a generous portion of nasi goreng (fried rice with prawns).

Western and international food

For travellers craving a taste of home, international food is relatively easy to come by here in Surabaya too. Fast-food chains such as McDonalds, KFC and A & W are also options for those wanting a quick, familiar meal and many of the shopping malls in Surabaya have a food court that will undoubtedly have several Western food options amongst the local cuisine.

For sit-down Western meals in Surabaya, Sizzler’s American Grill in Tunjungan Plaza 3 (Lower Ground Floor) offers patrons an all-you-can-eat buffet of salads, sides, steaks, seafood, chicken, soup and dessert.

Angus House and Platinum Grill are other Western dining options for travellers wanting to trade in their Rujak cingur (beef-lip salad) for a regular steak for the night.

Alternatively, there is also the option for sushi and Japanese fusion-inspired dishes at Sushi Hana, in Surabaya Town Square (1st floor) or Surabaya Suki (Jl Raya Gubeng 34) for scrumptious Chinese, Thai and Hong Kong dishes.

Dining with a view

For those craving an elegant meal with a view and perhaps even a swim, head to Café Bromo at the Sheraton Surabaya Hotel and Towers (Jl. Embong Malang 25-31). Serving delicious meals all day in an excellent location, this restaurant comes highly recommend. As an added bonus, all patrons are allowed access to the gorgeous pool afterwards where you may enjoy lounging in a sunchair after a lunchtime glass of wine and a slice of cake.

Cafes and coffee houses

For those looking to wake up rather than wind down, Surabaya is home to several coffee houses and cafes where travellers can get their standard caffeine pick-me-up before venturing out for a day of exploring.

While there’s even a Starbucks, our personal favourites of the coffee haunts include the ultra-chic and trendy Monopole Coffee Lab (Jln. Darmo Permai Timur Raya 1/38) with its superb coffee roasts and excellent cake selection; and Calibre Coffee Roasters. Calibre Coffee Roasters (Jln. Walikota Mustajab 67-69) with its sun-dappled light filtering through the trees above the glass sky-light roof and excellent menu, is the ideal spot to grab a steaming cup of joe and greet the morning. Redback Speciality Coffee is also a decent spot for a meal and a perfectly-brewed coffee. Be sure to ask for a table with a view of the golf course. Sunset here is also a delightful experience.

Bars and other drinking venues

Lastly, for those longing for a slice of Surabaya nightlife, Citilites Skyclub and Bistro, located on the 21st floor in the iconic Java Paragon Hotel, is the first and only rooftop restaurant in the city. Enjoy a cocktail and a snack or meal off the renowned menu while looking down at the twinkling lights of the city from a dizzy height.

The D Club is another night time location in Surabaya that aims to fuse both business networking opportunities and a relaxed post-work lifestyle. With the fine wine selection, premium cigars on offer and Surabaya’s elite, you’ll feel as if you’re on set of the latest James Bond movie.