Best provinces for food
Indonesian food is staggeringly regional. These provinces hold the country's most-respected food traditions — each defined by distinct ingredients, techniques and signature dishes.
1. West Sumatra
Capital Padang · Sumatra · pop 5,640,000
Origin of Padang cuisine — rendang, gulai, asam padeh. Considered Indonesia's most influential food tradition.
2. Yogyakarta
Capital Yogyakarta · Java · pop 3,669,000
Gudeg, sate klatak, bakpia, the country's most-celebrated food at the lowest prices.
3. Central Java
Capital Semarang · Java · pop 36,742,000
Tengkleng, soto Kudus, Solo cuisine, lumpia Semarang.
4. North Sumatra
Capital Medan · Sumatra · pop 15,136,000
Medan multicultural food — Bika Ambon, Batak saksang, Indian Tamil, Chinese-Indonesian.
5. North Sulawesi
Capital Manado · Sulawesi · pop 2,621,000
Manado cuisine — explosive chilli, fresh sea + jungle. Tinutuan, ikan kuah asam, rica-rica.
6. West Java
Capital Bandung · Java · pop 48,274,000
Sundanese cuisine — fresh herbs, grilled fish, sambal, raw vegetables (lalaban).
7. East Java
Capital Surabaya · Java · pop 41,149,000
Surabaya rawon (black beef soup), Madura sate, Malang bakso.
8. South Sulawesi
Capital Makassar · Sulawesi · pop 9,074,000
Coto Makassar, konro (beef ribs), pallu basa, Toraja pa'piong.