🍽️ The Ultimate Indonesian Dining Guide: Eat Like a Local!

✋ Essential Dining Etiquette

👉 Right Hand Rule:
• Always eat with your right hand (left is considered unclean)
• Exception: Fine dining with cutlery is acceptable

🧼 Hygiene First:
• Wash hands before meals (most warungs provide a washbasin)
• Never use personal utensils for shared dishes – always use the serving spoon!

🍴 Utensil Culture:
• Restaurants: Spoon (main utensil) + fork (to push food) – knives are rare!
• Warungs: Often spoon-only – ask for a fork if needed (“Bisa minta garpu?”)

💡 Pro Tip: Observe locals – if they eat with hands, dig in! (Wash up after!)

💰 Tipping in Indonesia: Do’s & Don’ts

✅ When to Tip:
• Tourist restaurants: 5-10% (if no service charge)
• Drivers/guides: IDR 20,000–50,000/day
• Hotel staff: IDR 10,000–20,000 per bag

❌ When Not to Tip:
• Warungs & street food: Rounding up is polite (e.g., IDR 27,000 → IDR 30,000)

⚠️ Key Notes:
• Check bills – upscale places often include 5-10% service charge
• Small bills (IDR 10k–50k) are king – vendors rarely have change!

🌶️ Must-Try Indonesian Dishes (By Region!)

🏝️ Sumatra – Bold & Spicy

• Rendang – The world’s “best meat dish” (slow-cooked coconut beef)
• Sate Padang – Turmeric-spiced skewers with thick yellow sauce

🌋 Java – Sweet & Savory

• Gudeg – Jackfruit stew (Yogyakarta’s signature sweet dish)
• Rawon – Black nut soup with beef (East Java’s comfort food)

🕉️ Bali – Unique Flavors

• Babi Guling – Suckling pig with crispy skin (a must-try!)
• Sate Lilit – Minced seafood satay wrapped around lemongrass

🐚 Sulawesi & Beyond

• Coto Makassar – Peanut-broth beef soup (Sulawesi’s pride)
• Papeda – Sago porridge with fish (Papua/Maluku’s staple)

🍚 Staple Alert: Nasi (rice) is served with nearly every meal!

🌟 Foodie Pro Tips

✅ Spice Levels:
• “Pedas” = Spicy | “Tidak pedas” = Mild
• “Sedikit pedas” = A little spicy

✅ Vegetarian? Ask:
• “Tanpa daging” (No meat)
• “Sayur saja” (Vegetables only)

✅ Street Food Rule: Pick busy stalls – high turnover = fresher food!

📱 Helpful Phrases:
• “Enak sekali!” = “So delicious!” (Makes warung owners smile!)
• “Bungkus” = “To go” (For leftovers)

😋 Final Advice

Indonesian food is best enjoyed adventurously!
• Try that mysterious street snack
• Accept free tastes from market vendors
• Embrace messy, hands-on meals (extra napkins are a must!)

⚠️ P.S. Carry stomach medicine – new spices can surprise your system!