Yogyakarta is well-known for its temples and beaches. Still, there is another aspect of the region tourists never say no to ‒ food! The special region has its corner filled with distinctive delectable delights you can never experience in another country. Here is some local food in Yogyakarta you can try out:
Gudeg
Ask any local what you should eat, and they will say the same thing: Gudeeg. Gudeg is the local staple food in Yogyakarta and sweet in taste. The local delicacy is made out of raw jackfruit cooked with coconut milk and teak leaves (hence its brown color). If you’re not full enough with gudeg, don’t worry. Gudeg usually has eggs, chickens, tofu, and krecek (cooked beef rinds) as its side dish most of the time.
There are two kinds of gudeg; they are wet gudeg and dry gudeg. Dry gudeg lasts longer than its counterpart.
Krecek
Krecek is gudeg’s side dish that is as famous as gudeg. It’s so renowned now to the point where people tend to eat krecek by itself.
Don’t be surprised by krecek’s unique and slippery texture. After all, the food is made of cooked beef rinds. To make krecek, you must prepare the fried skin with some chili. Some people add the liver to enrich its taste. You might not get accustomed to the food’s texture and flavor, but hey! New adventure, new experience, right?
Since krecek is cooked with chili, it tends to be spicy and savory. Krecek’s flavor balances out with gudeg’s sweet taste, hence why people prefer to consume gudeg with krecek.
Bakpia Pathuk
If you want to bring souvenirs but do not like the taste of gudeg, you can opt for Bakpia Pathuk. Bakpia Pathuk is an authentic Yogyakarta dessert known for its sweet taste and dense texture.
The dessert is made by mixing green beans with sugar, wrapping the bean with flour, and baking it until it becomes brownish. Traditionally, Bakpia Pathuk has a filling made of green beans. Now, you can find any mixture inside it, whether it is chocolate or cheese. It might be a little on the sweet side, but at least the dogs won’t sniff on your sweet souvenirs at the airport!
Sate Klatak
Are you a meat lover? If you are, stop all your activities and start hunting for sate klatak! Sate klatak is one of many kinds of sate available in Indonesia. In this case, sate klatak can be commonly seen in Central Java, including Yogyakarta.
Sate klatak’s uniqueness lies in its seasoning and skewer. Unlike common satay, sate klatak’s skewer is made of steel. When the meat is grilled, it is poured with gulai sauce (curry sauce).
You can order chicken or mutton sate, but sate klatak is mostly known for its tasty mutton meat. You can feel the meat’s tender texture and savory seasoning as you chew the sate in your mouth.
Nasi Tiwul
Bored with the bland taste of white rice? Is brown rice too healthy for you? If you want to experience extraordinary rice, it’s time for you to eat nasi tiwul (tiwul rice).
Nasi tiwul is special not without reason. The local delicacy from Gunung Kidul (Kidul mountain) is made of tepung gaplek, which is flour made of dried cassava. Due to its raw material, nasi tiwul tastes sweeter than other rice.
Of course, there are also savory nasi tiwul that can be consumed with side dishes. However, due to its sweet nature, nasi tiwul is mostly used for cakes. You can find them having a variety of taste; chocolate, strawberry, vanilla ‒ you ask for it, and nasi tiwul sellers will definitely have it.
Belalang Goreng
Do you truly want to experience a genuinely new taste? Search no more, as belalang goreng, or fried grasshopper, can be your gate to a unique adventure in Yogyakarta. Belalang goreng can be found at the side of the street in Wonosari. Its lightweight and easy consumption make it the perfect snack for your trip to Wonosari’s beaches.
Don’t be scared of its appearance, because belalang goreng is crispy and savory. Besides, the snack is full of protein, making it one of the healthiest local “snacks” in Yogyakarta.
The price of belalang goreng is pretty inexpensive. However, make sure you purchase the correct belalang goreng. Check if the bottom of the jar has any extra layer whatsoever. You don’t want to pay extra for something you won’t get.
Jadah Tempe
Jadah tempe is one of the oldest Yogyakarta cuisines. The local delicacy has a unique combination of sweet and savory flavor. The delicious flavor comes from jadah, which is glutinous rice that has been pounded. As for the sweet taste, it comes from tempe bacem (marinated soy bean cake). The tempe (soy bean cake) has been cooked in such a way that it becomes soft and chewy.
The way you eat it is pretty unique too. You can stack the jadah and tempe like a patty and eat it together. If the first option is too challenging for you, you can eat either one first and then consume the second one. No matter the way, you’ll get the unusual combination of sweetness and savory taste all in one bite.
Yangko
If you need a one-bite snack to accompany your Yogyakarta adventure, yangko is the perfect choice for you. The square meal is made of fillings such as green beans wrapped with glutinous rice flour. Besides green beans, you can get other flavors such as fruits and chocolates. Its sweetness will definitely keep your mouth busy during your walk in the city.
The local foods in Yogyakarta mentioned above are not the only local delicacies in the region. These are some of the foods to start your Yogyakarta culinary adventure. What about the rest? Check them out yourself, after all, what could be better than finding new surprises in your culinary adventure?
