Everyone you know in Melbourne has their favourite Thai restaurant or Vietnamese restaurant or Malaysian restaurant, but a South East Asian cuisine that falls a little more under the wayside is Indonesian.
Now, we want to celebrate this unsung hero, and there’s no better way to do that than with a roundup of each belly-filling, heart-warmingly good Indonesian restaurant Melbourne locals and visitors alike need to try.
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Whether you’re reminiscing on your last Indo trip or craving some mouth-watering Rendang, keep reading to find out the best Indonesian restaurants for 2025, according to Urban List.
Warung Agus
305 Victoria Street, West Melbourne
Warung Agus is a Melbourne institution—it’s been around since 1989 and hasn’t faltered. This Balinese restaurant is as authentic as the ones you’ll find on the archipelago itself, so go in with an empty stomach. There’s a good chance you’ll find three generations working together to create and serve truly phenomenal food. Think babi guling (Bali’s famous ceremonial dish), tempe goreng, and black rice pudding, to name a few stunners. They have a ton of vegan options for those who lean towards a plant-based diet and plenty of gluten free options as well, so everyone is sorted.
INSIDER INTEL
- Their takeaway feast boxes are the perfect night in.
- The team hand pick ingredients from Queen Vic Market multiple times a week. You know it’s fresh.
- Check out their feed me menus for $60 per person.
Yoi
1/155 Franklin Street, Melbourne CBD
Image: Yoi | Supplied
Yoi is a hawker-style Indonesian restaurant in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD. Translating to ‘yes!’, Yoi dishes out Indonesian fusion delicacies. Run by the Sanusi family, brothers Dion and Michael serve up their traditional family recipes with a modern twist.
Fav dishes include their Mie Goreng salted egg chicken and the chilli crab noodles. Pro tip: Go the Martabak here, a thick Indonesian pancake made to perfection with creamy pandan, biscoff and more.
INSIDER INTEL
- We never say no to the one litre cup of lychee tea.
- If you can handle the heat, get Mee Gledek aka thunder noodles.
- Check out the Yoi Variety menu — you can get tapas style plates from $4 each.
Pondok Rempah
487 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne CBD
Just around the corner from Queen Vic Market, Pondok Rempah is the place to go to get your fix of Indonesian cuisine. Meaning ‘House of Spices’, boy do they live up to their name. With chefs from all over Indonesia, you’re getting the best of every part of their varied and rich cuisine. The menu is long, so unless you’ve got a particular craving, factor in some time to browse through their impressive offerings. If you’re looking for one of the best Indonesian restaurants in Melbourne, you’re in the right place.
INSIDER INTEL
- Their signature Tumpeng Mini includes yellow rice, fried chicken, beef rendang, egg, mie goreng and sambal penyet for $22.80.
- Get the ES Cendol to drink: green jelly, palm sugar and coconut milk.
- Love their sambal? Spice up your life and get a jar to take home.
Check out more of the best:
Yuni’s Kitchen
251 High Street, Northcote
Image: Yuni's Kitchen | Supplied
Tucked behind a church on High Street, with family recipes straight out of Jakarta, Yogya and Bali, Yuni’s Kitchen serves up some of the freshest and most authentic Indonesian cuisine in town. Run by husband and wife Yuni and Matthew Kenwrick, you feel the love as soon as you walk through the bright red door. It’s warm and cosy inside, with only room for one table of six at a time and a smattering of smaller tables. Save this one for an intimate dinner rather than a big group gathering.
INSIDER INTEL
- Yuni’s chicken sate (perfectly peanuty sauce on charcoal chicken) sells out. Don’t miss it.
- It’s BYO, so make a pitstop at one of High Street’s many booze shops pre-dinner.
- Vegetarians will not go hungry here.
Kata Kita
266 La Trobe Street, Melbourne CBD
Great food, great presentation, great ambience. You can’t really ask for much more from Kata Kita, but they’ll dish it up for you regardless. Arguably the best Indonesian restaurant Melbourne has on offer, Kata Kita combines all the best flavours of Indonesia. Expect zesty lemongrass, fiery chilli, piquant sambal, and honey-sweet palm sugar, all expertly blended into an umami bomb. There’s plenty to choose from the menu, but we’re ordering the squid ink fried rice dish every time.
INSIDER INTEL
- We’re obsessed with their Banana Pudding Matcha.
- All their matcha is made to order at the new matcha bar, so you can’t go wrong.
- Try the Indonesian inspired cocktails from their in-house mixologist.
Makan
Collins Way, Melbourne CBD
If the name sounds familiar, it’s because the owners are Tasia and Gracia from My Kitchen Rules circa 2016. Their debut restaurant Makan has punchy flavours, and an elevated spin on traditional recipes. They say the proper way to eat Indonesian food is with a fried egg on top and crackers on the side — then eat slowly and mix everything. We’re big fans. Make sure to try their Kepiting Soka (soft-shelled crab buns), Iga Bakar (beef ribs), and Bebek Goreng (fried duck with Sambal Terasi).
INSIDER INTEL
- The cocktail list is banging, same with the wines.
- Room for dessert? Get the teh-ramisu, an Indonesian jasmine tea tiramisu.
- They have three sambal variations, for every type of spice level.
Kenangan
507 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne CBD
Kenagan started as a passion project during Covid, bringing ready-to-eat Indonesian food to the doors of Melbournians. And it was a hit, because when lockdowns eased the family-run team opened up a brick and mortar store right next to Queen Victoria Market.
It also has a seriously extensive menu with some of the best Indonesian food in Melbourne. Think Ayam Tangkap Aceh (Indonesian fried chicken with herbs and sambal), Bebek Betutu (duck soup served with rice and chicken skin) and Terong Balado (fried eggplant with chilli). There’s definitely something for everyone here.
P.S. Timing your visit to Kenangan with a market trip? See our complete Queen Vic Market guide here.
INSIDER INTEL
- It gets busy. Expect a short wait during peak times.
- The tempe mendoan with sweet soy chilli is the perfect deep fried treat.
- Get their signature buttered toast for dessert.
Warkop
Various Locations
Barry Susanto (ex-Navi sous chef) and Erwin Chandra (Duke's Coffee) are leaning on their Indonesian heritage and serving up Indonesian sandwiches that will knock your socks off at Warkop. Think a goat rendang sandwich, slow cooked lamb satay sandwich or a sambal ijo chicken salad sandwich. It’s ridiculously good.
There’s sweet, sweet goodness on the menu too like Chandra’s Kaya Toast—a coconut jam on toasted brioche which is best described as a nod to the snacks of his youth. The palm sugar basque cheesecake is another must-try.
INSIDER INTEL
- Follow their Insta for weekly specials.
- Stores in Richmond and Melbourne CBD, take your pick.
- The coffee is unreal with insane creations like coconut cold brew with raspberry cheese foam.
The Daily Angkringan
4/471-474 Sydney Road, Coburg
The Daily Angkringan will transport you straight to an Indonesian warung. There’s big Indonesian village vibes — you’re encouraged to hangout with family and friends and maybe even enjoy a jam sesh. It’s mostly Javanese style street food with skewers, a few mains and a bain marie full of piping hot dishes.
INSIDER INTEL
- It’s wallet friendly: five skewers for $15, one meat and one veg dish for $12.
- The hot milo with torched cheese sounds wild, but it works.
- Pick up some snacks at the cute little Indonesian grocery store.
Image credit:
Kata Kita (Griffin Simm)
Kenangan, Kimberly Wen Qi Liew (supplied)
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