12 Best and Most Famous Street Food Spots in Jakarta

By HellonolanEditors

From long-standing legends to current viral hits—plus tips for your visit

Jakarta is renowned for many street food areas, offering everything from authentic local snacks to the latest viral food trends. These spots boast a welcoming atmosphere and wallet-friendly prices. If you’re traveller who enjoys hunting for street food, here are 12 of the best and most famous street food spots in Jakarta—recommended by our local experts—for you to explore.

1. Sabang Street Food

Located: (Jl. Agus Salim, Central Jakarta). This street food area has been a Jakarta legend for generations. Located in Menteng district, Sabang culinary hub has existed since the 1960s. It began with the establishment of the Natrabu Padang restaurant in 1958, followed by the arrival of various food traders along Jalan Sabang—a presence that continues to this day. Authentic Indonesian dishes such as nasi goreng (fried rice), sate (satay), soto (traditional soup), and ayam goreng (fried chicken) are widely sold here. Notably, former US President Barack Obama had lived in Menteng area, Jakarta during his childhood and was fond of satay and nasi goreng. 😊

2. Gultik Blok M

Located: (Intersection of Jl. Bulungan & Jl. Mahakam, South Jakarta). “Gultik” is an abbreviation for Gulai Tikungan (“curry at the bend”), referring to a street food dish consisting of beef curry (gulai) prepared with a blend of spices. There are so many traders selling the curry along the street, so that the area has become known as “Gultik Blok M.” This legendary street food—currently a hit in Jakarta—was even visited by Jensen Huang (Nvidia). The visit took place on Thursday, November 14, 2024, while he was a speaker at Indonesia AI Day 2024. Dressed casually in a black t-shirt and jeans, Jensen was seen sitting on a plastic roadside stool, enjoy the “gultik” while sweating from the spiciness and praising the dish’s delicious aroma.

3. Pecenongan Cullinary

Located: (Jl. Pecenongan, Central Jakarta). This street food hub stands in Chinatown area. It has a long-standing history, offering a wide array of seafood, noodles, and local fried chicken. Located on the route to the Old Town (Kota Tua) of Batavia, Jl. Pecenongan is also close to the National Monument (Monas) and the State Palace. The area scene here comes alive from late afternoon until midnight, earning it a reputation as an authentic Jakarta culinary destination.

4. Blok M Hub Street Food

Located: (Blok M Bus Station, South Jakarta). Blok M Hub is a relatively new addition to Jakarta, inaugurated in 2025 following the revitalization of the old Blok M Mall and Terminal area. The site was developed based on Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) concept, integrating public transportation, public spaces, and hub for MSME activities. Interestingly, the basement corridor of Blok M Hub has evolved into a unique street food area, bustling with visitors eager to sample trendy culinary delights—ranging from ayam pop (Padang-style fried chicken) and nasi goreng bistik (steak fried rice) to cumi tong (squid dishes), Toko Kopi Djawa, bakmi Jawa (Javanese noodles), and soto Betawi (soup), as well as modern burgers and bakery products.

5. Korean Street Food Pasaraya Blok M

Located: Pasaraya Blok M (South Jakarta). For travelers who love Korean cuisine, this is the perfect spot. You can find a wide variety of Korean-style snacks here that are both authentic and reasonably priced. Dishes such as sotteok, tteokbokki, kimchi, ramyeon, dakbal (spicy chicken feet), kimbap, bibimbap, and even Korean BBQ are easily found here.

6. Cikini Cullinary Area

Located: (Jl. Cikini Raya & Jl. Cisadane, Central Jakarta). This street food area has been around since the 1980s to 1990s. For young people back then, it was a popular spot to grab a late-night snack after watching a movie at the Taman Ismail Marzuki cinema or simply to hang out with friends on Saturday nights. Today, the street food scene along these roads is bustling especially at night, offering local menu like sate (satay), nasi goreng (fried rice), and soto (traditional soup). There are two legendary culinary icons of the area that still exist ‘till today; Roti Tan Ek Tjoan and Bubur Ayam Cikini (Cikini Chicken Porridge).

7. Street Food Behind Grand Indonesia Mall

Located: (Jl.Kebon Kacang, between Grand Indonesia & Plaza Indonesia, Central Jakarta). Near the upscale Grand Indonesia Mall, there is a bustling comfortable “hidden gem” street food area located right behind the mall. The street food here offers a variety of local snacks—such as martabak, kerak telor, and es campur—as well as main courses like ayam penyet (smashed fried chicken) with green chili and pecel ayam/lele (fried chicken or catfish with spicy peanut sauce) in the Lamongan region style. These dishes are quintessential examples of Indonesian cuisine, renowned for its rich blend of spices.

8. Kelapa Gading Street Food

Located: (Jl. Boulevard Klp.Gading, North Jakarta). The Kelapa Gading street food area is lined with a wide array of food vendors, ranging from humble roadside stalls to shophouse-style restaurants along on Jl. Boulevard Kelapa Gading, even the street food spots inside the mall. You can easily find everything from satay, seafood, and Western cuisine to traditional Indonesian, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean dishes. The area is highly accessible to the LRT extension connecting Kelapa Gading to Manggarai Station, which serves as a hub linking to various other modes of transportation across Jakarta.

9. Japanese Little Tokyo Blok M

Located: (Jl. Melawai, South Jakarta). According to the name, this area features numerous resto serving authentic Japanese cuisine, ranging from budget-friendly to high-end options. The Legendary Japanese establishments that have long operated in the area such as Kira-kira Ginza (since 1985), Yuki Japanese Restaurant (since 1983), and Tori Hachi. If you’re a Japanese food fans traveler, this area is worth a visit to its authentic flavors, comfortable atmosphere, and easy accessibility.

10. Balai Pustaka Street Food

Located: (Jl. Balai Pustaka, Rawamangun, East Jakarta). The street food scene is bustling with traders selling local specialties lined up along Jalan Balai Pustaka. Signature local dishes offered here include Madura-style duck, pecel ayam (fried chicken with peanut sauce) and pecel lele (fried catfish) Lamongan-style, soto ayam Lamongan (chicken soup), Bakso Apotik Rini (meatball soup), bakwan Malang (meatball and dumpling soup), Tegal-style chicken porridge, Sate Padang Ajo, and Betawi-style fried chicken. The area feels quite pleasant and lively at night, and you can park your vehicle right next to the food stall you are heading to.

11. Blok S Street Food

Located: (Blok S Field, Jl. Senopati, South Jakarta). The street food spot is legendary and renowned in Jakarta, having existed since the 1980s. It’s situated right on the perimeter of the Blok S soccer field. In the past, this area was a prime destination for hunting down snacks—both day and night—at a time when few other street food locations offered a wide variety of Indonesian specialties in a setting that was neat and comfortable. The local menu such as: toast, fried noodles, fried rice, and dim-sum. The spot remains active until today and often serves as a place of nostalgic for those who have experienced the unique atmosphere.

12. Nasi Kapau Padang Senen

Location: (Jl. Senen Raya, Central Jakarta). There’s no other place in Jakarta quite as legendary for street-style Padang Nasi Kapau (West Sumatra) cuisine as this one. It is located right on the side of Jl. Senen Raya, on the route toward Jl. Kramat Raya in Central Jakarta. The Nasi Kapau Padang dishes served here are highly authentic, ranging from rendang (slow-cooked beef), gulai kepala kakap (red snapper head curry), and ayam pop (poached-then-fried chicken) to lemang—a Padang-Minangkabau specialty of sticky rice cooked in bamboo. The area becomes incredibly busy during the days leading up to Eid al-Fitr.

Conclusion & Tips

Visiting and enjoys street food offers a great alternative for travelers looking to break away from their usual routines. Amidst the lively atmosphere of the street food scene, you open yourself up to the possibility of discovering unique experiences and trying new things. Plan a visit to the spot near you—and be sure to arrive with an appetite ready for the feast and a heart full of excitement.

and Here are some tips for visiting street food in Jakarta:

1. Come during off-peak hours

Street food spots in Jakarta are usually bustling with visitors on weekends or during the rush hours right after work. If possible, try to visit outside of these peak times; however, if you can’t, simply come whenever you like and enjoy the atmosphere.

2. Bring cash & prepare Qris

Nowadays, almost all traders in Jakarta accept QRIS payments and bank transfers. Have your mobile phone and cashless payment card ready to make transactions easier. However, carrying some cash is still advisable.

3. Try a little bit of many things

Try to enjoying the diverse and delicious of street food by sampling small portions from a wide selection. You can embark on a culinary adventure, tasting flavors from a region that you may never have experienced before. Street food is all about sharing and sampling a wide variety of dishes.

Read also : 10 Best Restaurants in the Busy & Historical City of Jakarta