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 of the South East, and there’s no better way to do that than with a roundup of the top Indonesian restaurants in Melbourne.
Whether you’re reminiscing on your Bali trip or just craving some mouth-watering Rendang, keep reading to find out what the best Indonesian restaurants for 2023 are:
Yoi
CBD
Before there was Kata Kita there was Yoi, a hawker-style restaurant in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD. Translating to ‘Yes!’, Yoi dishes out Indonesian fusion delicacies. As it is run by the Sanusi family, brothers Dion and Michael serve up their traditional family recipes with a modern twist, as well as house-made spice mixes.
Fav dishes include their Mie Goreng salted egg chicken, the chilli crab noodles, and if you can handle the heat, Mee Gledek aka thunder noodles. Don’t say we didn’t warn you, it definitely packs a punch. Pro tip: Go the Martabak here, a thick Indonesian pancake which the team do to perfection with Pandan, Biscoff and more.
Dale La Pau
CAMBERWELL
These guys are also known as the Rendang Specialists, so it’s safe to assume you’re in good hands. Utilising their Grandma's secret traditional recipes from Minang in West Sumatra, Dale La Pau cook it low and slow alongside spice, herbs, chilli and coconut cream, for up to six hours every day in-house, until you have succulent meat that is dark and dry and heady.
With five different types of Rendang on the menu, you’ve got plenty to choose from, whether it’s shredded beef, chicken, or even a vegan jackfruit version. Definitely one of the best Indonesian restaurants in Melbourne.
Pondok Rempah
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.
Top menu offerings include Asam Pedas, a spicy fish stew, Ayam Penyet, fried chicken with sambal, and beef rib soup. If you’re looking for one of the best Indonesian restaurants in Melbourne, you’re in the right place.
Yuni’s Kitchen
NORTHCOTE
If you’re after for some good ol’ fashioned authentic Indonesian cuisine, look no further than Yuni’s Kitchen. Tucked behind a church on High Street, with family recipes straight outta Jakarta, Yogya and Bali, this hidden gem is home to some truly spectacular food.
The standouts are Ikan Pepes, a steamed barramundi wrapped in banana leaf, as is the chicken Satay, and the Lumpia. It’s cosy on the inside, so don’t come in a big group, but an intimate dinner between friends is definitely on the table.
Kata Kita
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 the best flavours of Indonesia and serves it up with style.
Expect zesty lemongrass, fiery chilli, piquant sambal, and honey-sweet palm sugar, all expertly blended into an umami bomb. Our pick is the Babi Guling, an Indonesian pork belly dish, and the squid ink Nasi Goreng. Don’t forget to try out their cocktails from their in-house mixologist too.
Warung Agus
WEST MELBOURNE
Warung Agus is a West Melbourne institution—it’s been around since the 90s and hasn’t faltered. This is surely one of the best Indonesian restaurants in Melbourne, there’s no doubt about it.
This also has a ton of vegan options for those who lean towards a plant-based diet, so everyone is sorted. Their famous avocado dish is literally called ‘That Avocado Dish’, so expectations are sure to be exceeded. This Balinese restaurant is as authentic as the ones you’ll find on the archipelago itself, so go in with an empty stomach.
Makan
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.
Make sure to try their Kepiting Soka (soft-shelled crab buns), Iga Bakar (beef ribs), and Bebek Goreng (fried duck with Sambal Terasi). If you’re not too full from dinner, their dessert options aren’t to be missed, especially their Kopi Susu Creme Caramel, a condensed milk creme caramel with Balinese coffee sauce and coffee Feuilletine.
Kenangan
CBD
Kenagan not only delivered some of the best Indonesian food in Melbourne, but it also has a truly extensive menu with plenty of options to choose from.
Right next to the Queen Victoria Market, they’ve got some solid options to peruse, from 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), so there’s definitely something for everyone here.
Warkop
RICHMOND & CBD
Warkop from Barry Susanto (ex-Navi and Hellenic Republic) and Erwin Chandra (Duke's Coffe) are leaning on their Indonesian heritage and serving up several offerings the city hasn’t seen before. Kicking off the menu alongside a coffee is Chandra’s Kaya toast—a coconut butter on toasted brioche which is best described as a nod to the snacks of his youth.
More familiar Indonesian flavours can be found in the likes of the beef pastrami sandwich which is infused with a rendang sauce. Susanto also shares his culinary heritage with a chicken Taliwang sandwich, a recipe he’s been making regularly since he discovered it in Lombok many years ago.
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Image credit:
Kata Kita (Griffin Simm)
Kenangan, Kimberly Wen Qi Liew (supplied)