Indonesian food is one of the best things about Indonesia and is easily one of the best things in my Universe. I could endlessly talk about it until the cows came home and left again the following day—case in point: Nasi Jinggo, Prawn Tacos, Martabak Manis, Nasi Goreng and many more.
When visiting Indonesia, I recommend trying everything except one category that may take some time to appreciate: Indonesian street food, especially the ones on the spicy side. Indonesian spiciness is for a brave heart and an even stronger stomach, but once you get used to it, it’s like unlocking another level of flavour.
Here are some of my favourite Indonesian street food — the spicy category:
Lidi
This is a long, thin snack coated in chilli and salt. It’s my go-to after-school snack, though I had to hide it from my mom because I wasn’t allowed to eat it. Why? None is sure what it’s made of—some even say plastic. It’s also spicy enough to burn through anything, but for less than 5 cents, it’s worth it. I have many memories of sharing a packet with my school friends while we discussed the Harvest Moon game, waiting for our ride home. It’s fiery street food but a nostalgic favourite.
Macaroni
Macaroni is another beloved childhood choice of Indonesian street food. It’s even spicier than Lidi. My cousin used to sneak macaroni into the house without Amma’s knowledge, and she’d always share some with me.
This snack went mainstream long before Lidi and can now be found in Asian supermarkets, even in Melbourne. This might be your best bet if you want to try a spicy Indonesian street food that’s a bit safer (and plastic-free).
Seblak
Unlike the first two in this list, I didn’t grow up eating seblak. I learned about it when Fafa brought it over from an Indonesian store and asked me to cook it for him. When I did, I thought I had done something wrong—it was gooey, slimy, and absurdly spicy. I threw it out, thinking I’d failed. But months later, I went back to Indonesia, saw seblak being sold, ordered it, and realized it was supposed to be that way! The texture was exactly as I had made it, and it was just as spicy. One bite and I was sweating profusely. Seblak is not for the faint-hearted.
Tahu Hot Jelotot
I’ve written about this tahu before, and it’s still my go-to spicy Indonesian street food. I eat it regularly when I visit home. If you like spicy food but are still cautious, this is an excellent dish since you can control the level of spiciness.
Gorengan
Gorengan (fried snacks) aren’t inherently spicy—they’re just deep-fried snacks such as tempeh, tofu, mungbean, and banana. But we Indonesians enjoy them with a side of fresh bird’s eye chilli. This combination is not for beginners; once you get used to it, there’s no substitute for tea time.
Rujak
Rujak is a mix of freshly cut tropical fruits served with a spicy peanut sauce made of peanuts, brown sugar, and chilli. You can even use thick peanut butter for the sauce. It’s one of my favourite dishes, and I’m trying to make it popular in Melbourne, too. There are variations of rujak, including the one that uses fermented fish, but the consensus is that the spicy version is better. This spicy Indonesian street food is savoury, sweet, and a pure dopamine hit.
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