Essential Indonesian Phrasebook & Dictionary. Iskandar Nugraha

       4.1 At a restaurant

       4.2 Ordering

       4.3 The bill

       4.4 Complaints

       4.5 Paying a compliment

       4.6 The menu

       4.7 Drinks and dishes

      Eating out in Indonesia is an enjoyable experience, especially if you are interested in trying some of the local dishes. In major cities and tourist destinations, European, Japanese, Korean and American food are also available in restaurants and hotels.

      Rice (nasi) is the staple throughout Indonesia and is eaten with nearly every meal. Breakfast (sarapan) generally consists of coffee (kopi) and nasi goreng (fried rice) or bubur ayam (chicken and rice porridge). Lunch (makan siang) is eaten between noon and 2:00 pm and is often a rice plate with mixed side dishes (nasi campur) or a bowl of noodles (bakmi). Lunch and dinner usually consist of three dishes: rice, a main dish of meat or fish, and a vegetable or salad dish and fruit.

      Meat and vegetables are cut into small pieces before cooking, and may be served in a spicy sauce on plates or bowls placed on the table or, in humbler dwellings, on a mat on the floor. A large bowl or basket of steamed rice is served separately and you start by placing a few spoonfuls of rice on your plate first before adding other things on top. Visitors should try Indonesian specialties such as sate (grilled meat skewers with spicy peanut sauce), rendang (spicy coconut beef) and gado gado (steamed vegetables with peanut sauce). The prices of food differ greatly from cheap local outlets called rumah makan (eating houses) to restoran, which are generally more up-market.

4.1 At a restaurant