What to Eat in Yogyakarta According to Local Food Tour Guide

It has been a practice for us to go on a food tour every time we visit a country. It's the best way to find the hidden gems and learn the culture through a local.  We booked the 4 hour food tour with Backstreet Academy and it cost USD21 per person including food. Our guide's name was Maya, she was friendly, accommodating and spoke English well. Just knowing what to eat is not enough, a guide will be able to tell you the story behind the food and the food. Here are the 5 places we went.

1. Gudeg at Gudeg Yu Djum 

Gudeg is a Javanese staple. It consist of rice, tempe, egg, cow skin, jackfruit. We went to Gudeg Yu Djum which is one the oldest Gudeg shops in Wijilan street which is sort of Gudeg capital of Yogyakarta. We didnt quite like Gudeg because its sweet. 

2. Bakmi at Pak Pele

Bakmi is a Chinese influenced noodle dish. We went to Pak Pele's stall which is located right beside the Sultan's Palace, walking distance from Malioboro street. It opens at 5.30pm and expect a long line even before it opens.

The cooks use charcoal to prepare the dishes

Fried Bakmi

Godok - Soup Bakmi

Fermented drink

People are eating by the roadside

Pak Pele's stall is located beside the Sultan's palace

3. Javanese Traditional Snacks

There are different types of snacks sold along the street in Yogyakarta. We were tempted to try them but were afraid of the cleanliness. For the food tour we went to a snack stall right opposite Hamzah Batek. They only had 6 types of snacks, just order one of everything and try.

Puthu - Normal flavour (white) and Pandan flavour (Green)

Left - Lumpia Ayam (chicken and vegetables fried)
Right - Ball shaped snack is called Onde Onde

4. Pempek at Nyonya Kamto

A savoury fish cake delicacy from Palembang. Pempek Kamto is located near Malioboro street.

5. Kopi Joss at Lik Man

Coffee with charcoal. After mixing coffee, they actually put burning charcoal in it. Kopi Joss got its name from the sound the charcoal makes when its dipped in coffee. You have to remove the charcoal before drinking. Kopi Joss is near Malioboro Street.

                                                     How Kopi Koss is made