Surabaya Street Food

Surabaya Street Food


Surabaya Street Food is a portion of the overall Java / Javanese cuisine, a major ethnic group in Indonesia. It is noted for dishes that are sweet, as well as simple. Java / Javanese cuisine can be divided into 3 major groups, Central Javanese, East Javanese and Common Javanese. Food in Surabaya is predominantly East Javanese.

Food in Surabaya can be found along the streets, in small cafes or kiosks, in mid-range restaurants and fine-dining establishments. East Javanese cuisine is defined by the extensive use of fresh fish or seafood as ingredients, and dishes are typically spicer and less sweet as compared to other regions of Indonesia. Common ingredients used in many Surabaya dishes include beef, chicken, fish, rice, egg, corn, soy beans, lettuce, bean sprouts, cucumber, tomatoes, squid, clams, shrimp / prawns, peanuts, coconut, soy sauce, banana, chili and more.

East Javanese dishes can mostly trace their origins to the Madura region. Most dishes are meant for communal dining, especially those offered during lunch or dinner. The majority of one-dish meals are normally consumed during breakfast.


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Ayam Bakar Bumbu Rujak / Grilled Chicken In Spicy Rojak Sauce consists of lean grilled chicken, cooked with lemongrass, coconut milk, galangal, salt, onions, garlic, powdered turmeric, hazelnuts and chili. This results in a fragrant, spicy red colour chili paste coating the outside of the meat.

Ayam Bakar Bumbu Rujak / Grilled Chicken In Spicy Rojak Sauce 01

Ayam Bakar Bumbu Rujak / Grilled Chicken In Spicy Rojak Sauce 02

A sweet, slightly spicy medicinal drink that is said to aid digestion, relieve cough and sores, Beras Kencur / Galangal And Rice Medicinal Drink is made with water, galangal, mashed rice paste, ginger and sugar. The strong ginger essence adds that warm, spicy taste.

Beras Kencur / Galangal And Rice Medicinal Drink 01

Beras Kencur / Galangal And Rice Medicinal Drink 02

Chendol in Indonesia refers to the pandan flavoured, green, jelly-like rice flour / sago strips in this classic dessert drink of coconut milk, palm sugar and shaved ice. The version of Chendol in Indonesia contains the least ingredients of any version in Southeast Asia.

Chendol 01

Chendol 02

While Cumi-Cumi Goreng Tepung / Fried Calamari is a basic dish of squid rings battered in salt, pepper, lime juice, and bread crumbs / rice flour, it is the condiments which make this dish uniquely Indonesian. While the typical western condiments are a lemon wedge and mayonnaise, Surabaya locals like to consume this appetizer with tomato ketchup and spicy chili sauce instead.

Cumi-Cumi Goreng Tepung / Fried Calamari 01

Cumi-Cumi Goreng Tepung / Fried Calamari 02

A sort of dessert drink, Es Selasih / Iced Basil And Coconut Drink consists of a simple sugar syrup enhanced with crushed basil leaves, coconut flesh, and sago.

Es Selasih / Iced Basil And Coconut Drink 01

Es Selasih / Iced Basil And Coconut Drink 02

Goreng Bebek / Fried Duck is a typical Surabaya dish from the surrounding regions, consisting of duck that is pounded / flattended, then deep fried till crisp. It is often served along with vegetables such as cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, and fried soy bean cakes / Tempeh.

Goreng Bebek / Fried Duck 01

Goreng Bebek / Fried Duck 02

Gulai Kambing / Surabaya Mutton Gulai is a dish of mutton, braised in a thick, rich, spicy and succulent curry-like sauce called Gulai. The Gulai sauce is made with powdered turmeric, coconut milk, cinnamon, caraway seeds, lemongrass, garlic, fennel seeds, onions, jackfruit, ginger, galangal, coriander, salt, pepper and chili. Gulai Kambing / Surabaya Mutton Gulai is often served along with steamed white rice.

Gulai Kambing / Surabaya Mutton Gulai 01

Gulai Kambing / Surabaya Mutton Gulai 02

Gulai Kambing / Surabaya Mutton Gulai 03

Gurame Bakar / Grilled Gourami Fish uses a freshwater fish native to Indonesia called Gourami. The fish is grilled and basted in a kecap manis / sweet soy sauce, then served on a bed of pandan leaves along with several dipping sauces. Gurame Bakar / Grilled Gourami Fish has a clean, fresh taste, without any muddy aftertaste usually associated with freshwater fish, and has meaty flesh with few bones.

Gurame Bakar / Grilled Gourami Fish 01

Gurame Bakar / Grilled Gourami Fish 02

Iga Bakar / Grilled Beef Ribs is basically beef ribs, marinated in powdered turmeric, garlic, tomatoes, soy sauce, pepper, salt and onions, then grilled. This locks in the savoury flavour into the Iga Bakar / Grilled Beef Ribs. This is the most basic version of grilled beef ribs, and numerous other variations exist.

Iga Bakar / Grilled Beef Ribs 01

Iga Bakar / Grilled Beef Ribs 02

The Ikan Nila Pepes / Spiced Tilapia Fish Pepes consists of a whole fresh Tilapia fish, rubbed with lime juice, shallots, garlic, ginger, salt, powdered turmeric, chili, and basil leaves, then wrapped in banana leaves and steamed. This results in a fragrant aroma, and light fish meat with a hint of spice.

Ikan Nila Pepes / Spiced Tilapia Fish Pepes

Ikan Rica Rica / Mackerel Fish Rica Rica is a spicy fish dish, made with fresh mackerel fish, lime juice, lemongrass, ginger, pandan leaves, tomatoes, palm sugar, garlic, kaffir lime leaves, onions, pepper and chili. Ikan Rica Rica / Mackerel Fish Rica Rica is prepared using both sauteing and grilling.

Ikan Rica Rica / Mackerel Fish Rica Rica

Kueh Lapis Surabaya / Surabaya Layer Cake is an iconic cake of Surabaya, and contains eggs, sugar, butter, star anise, cinnamon, clove, strawberry jam / raspberry jam, raisins and nutmeg. Kueh Lapis Surabaya / Surabaya Layer Cake also includes the use of cocoa powder / chocolate, to create the center layer in the middle.

Kueh Lapis Surabaya / Surabaya Layer Cake 01

Kueh Lapis Surabaya / Surabaya Layer Cake 02

Kueh Talam Jagung / Corn Custard Cake is a type of Indonesia confectionery, made with rice flour, corn flour, coconut milk, cream corn, sugar and water. It is normally eaten as a dessert.

Kueh Talam Jagung / Corn Custard Cake 01

Kueh Talam Jagung / Corn Custard Cake 02

Unlike Singapore and Malaysia, Lontong / Indonesia Compressed Rice Cake is a component of a dish in Indonesia, rather than referring to the main dish itself. Lontong / Indonesia Compressed Rice Cake is used as the base staple of several Indonesian dishes.

Lontong / Indonesia Compressed Rice Cake

Lontong Balap / Racing Compressed Rice Cake is a dish of compressed rice cakes in a soup / thin sauce of soy sauce, garnised with cassava fritters, fried tofu, and a generous topping of bean sprouts. The name Lontong Balap / Racing Compressed Rice Cake actually means 'Racing', and legend says the name of the dish came about because vendors used to rush around selling this dish, as if they were in a race. Still others claim that this dish was first sold at racing events.

Lontong Balap / Racing Compressed Rice Cake 01

Lontong Balap / Racing Compressed Rice Cake 02

Mie Siram Sapi / Indonesia Wet Beef Noodles is a Surabaya dish of yellow egg noodles served in a semi-thick beef gravy made from onions, garlic, soy sauce, beef stock, salt, oyster sauce, water, pepper, corn starch, fish sauce and leeks. Mie Siram Sapi / Indonesia Wet Beef Noodles is garnished with sliced beef, beef meatballs, kai-lan / chinese broccoli, cabbage and mushrooms.

Mie Siram Sapi / Indonesia Wet Beef Noodles 01

Mie Siram Sapi / Indonesia Wet Beef Noodles 02

A dish unique to Javanese cuisine, Nasi Liwet / Coconut Milk And Chicken Broth Rice consists of white rice cooked in a combination of coconut milk and chicken stock, resulting in a smooth texture and fragrant aroma. Nasi Liwet / Coconut Milk And Chicken Broth Rice is traditionally cooked over a charcoal or wood fire, and served on a banana leaf along with other dishes.

Nasi Liwet / Coconut Milk And Chicken Broth Rice

Nasi Rames / Mixed Rice is a type of Indonesian sampler platter, a combination of white rice and the best of that particular vendor's dishes. A Nasi Rames / Mixed Rice usually includes several varieties of vegetables, meat, and complements, all in small portions. Good for large eaters, or the undecided.

Nasi Rames / Mixed Rice 01

Nasi Rames / Mixed Rice 02

Nasi Rames / Mixed Rice 03

Rujak Cingur / Beef Snout Rojak is an iconic Surabaya speciality, and it consists of several types of vegetables and fruits such as cucumbers, jicama, mango, pineapple, bean sprouts, kedondong / golden apple, long beans, kale, water spinach leaves (Kang Kong), lontong / compressed rice cake, fried soy beans / tempe, and beef snout. The entire dish is then doushed in a spicy gravy of peanuts, shrimp paste, sugar, salt, onions and chili. It is often served with crackers / keropok.

Rujak Cingur / Beef Snout Rojak 01

Rujak Cingur / Beef Snout Rojak 02

Rujak Cingur / Beef Snout Rojak 03

Sate Ayam Suroboyo, from Surabaya. The difference is the presentation and components of the sauce, as well as the meat being simply grilled without prior marinade.

Sate Ayam Suroboyo 01

Sate Ayam Suroboyo 02

Sayur Lodeh / Coconut Vegetable Curry is a popular dish throughout Southeast Asia, consisting of cabbge, long beans, carrots, eggplant, tofu, jackfruit, fried soy beans / tempeh, chayote, melinjo, chicken stock / beef stock and coconut milk. Sometimes, lontong / compressed rice cake are added.

Sayur Lodeh / Coconut Vegetable Curry 01

Sayur Lodeh / Coconut Vegetable Curry 02

A stew with a heavy Dutch influence, Semur Daging / Beef Stew With Potato consists of sliced beef braised or stewed together with potatoes, onions, garlic, ginger, kecap manis / sweet soy sauce, tomatoes, eggs, clove, nutmeg, bay leaves, salt, cinnamon, star anise, cumin seeds, candlenut, pepper and coriander.

Semur Daging / Beef Stew With Potato 01

Semur Daging / Beef Stew With Potato 0

A sweet and sour medicinal drink that is said to nourish the body, prevent heatiness, and reduce inflammation, Sinom / Turmeric And Tamarind Medicinal Drink is made with water, cinnamon, tamarind pulp, turmeric and sugar. The drink can be quite concentrated, and difficult to consume quickly.

Sinom / Turmeric And Tamarind Medicinal Drink 01

Sinom / Turmeric And Tamarind Medicinal Drink 02

Tahu Pong / Hollow Tofu Puffs are flash fried tofu puffs that are ball-shaped, leaving a small hollow within. Tahu Pong / Hollow Tofu Puffs is often eaten as a snack, along with condiments like kecap manis / sweet soy sauce, and chili.

Tahu Pong / Hollow Tofu Puffs 01

Tahu Pong / Hollow Tofu Puffs 02

The Tahu Telor Surabaya / Surabaya Egg Wrapped Tofu Salad differs from other parts of Indonesia, because it is flat instead of nest-shaped. Otherwise, the ingredients are similar.

Tahu Telor Surabaya / Surabaya Egg Wrapped Tofu Salad 01

Tahu Telor Surabaya / Surabaya Egg Wrapped Tofu Salad 02

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