Job Discussion Forums

Kanga · Joined: 07 Apr 2010 Posts: 7 Location: Indonesia

The local rag, The Jakarta Post published an article this week describing Indonesia as 'A true haven for vegans'(http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2010/04/04/a-true-haven-vegans.html). Actually that's probably a bit rich. Still, speaking as a twenty year veteran of trans-national vegetarianism, Indonesia is not too bad for us vegos. Soy based tofu and tempeh dishes are available pretty much everywhere in Java, although less so in Sumatra. Vegetable and fruits are not only "in abundance", but of excellent quality, and cheap as well. A couple of my personal favourites are ketupat tahu (tofu, bean sprouts and 'real' peanut sauce) and gudeg (a jackfruit curry). Always served, of course, with lashings of chilli sambal!

Henry_Cowell · Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 3352 Location: Berkeley

If you're a true vegan, you'll always want to make sure that your "vegetarian" tofu and tempe and peanut-sauce dishes contain no terasi (shrimp paste) or other fish/shellfish products. It's not always a given that your so-called vegetarian dishes in Indonesia will be completely plant based unless you guarantee it with the cook. Wink

malu · Joined: 22 Apr 2007 Posts: 1344 Location: Sunny Java

Indeed, prawns and their derivatives seem to be considered an honorary vegetable by most chefs here. It is a bit like Germany in times past where salads and veg dishes invariably came adorned with 'Speck' (flakes of smokey bacon).

bule_boy69 · Joined: 05 Mar 2007 Posts: 158 Location: Jakarta

Chris Patton · Joined: 19 Sep 2006 Posts: 15 Location: Bumi Serpong Damai

I'm not a vegetarian, but I have worked with many over the years. There is a place in BSD simply called "vegetarian restaurant" that has always got good reviews from teachers here.

I've been there myself a few times and found it quite good (aside from the lack of meat) and very clean.

It's on "Golden Road" the main stretch running through BSD and is near the Melati Mas development. It's quite cheap and have some English speaking staff.

I'm afraid I have no idea about the oil used and what difference that makes.

bule_boy69 · Joined: 05 Mar 2007 Posts: 158 Location: Jakarta

Thanks Chris,

To clarify, I was referring to the oil used by indonesian food vendors in general and not in vegetarian restaurants.

If anyone else has got any info or recommendations, don't be shy!

father Mackenzie · Joined: 10 Oct 2008 Posts: 105 Location: Jakarta Barat

Some cooking oils depending on grading can hold the smell and taste of fried meats which can make vegetarian food taste pretty bad.
The problem with cooking oil and restaurants is that whilst vegetarian food is prepared and kept separate from meat, when it is cooked it is normally cooked in the oil that is being used at the time.
Cooking oil can be reused for awhile until it becomes dirty and then it needs to be replaced. When I say dirty I mean full of food crumbs, darker in colour etc.
I guess it depends how much of a vegetarian someone is. When I was working in cafes and coffee shops there was always someone asking if the vegetarian products were cooked in separate oil from the meat and we always lied and said yes, except when they complained the vegetarian sausages tasted like chicken nuggets. Then we changed the oil, lied and said yes as oil was expensive.

bule_boy69 · Joined: 05 Mar 2007 Posts: 158 Location: Jakarta

bananaf · Joined: 18 May 2010 Posts: 6

I'm not vegetarian, but I sure love vegetarian/vegan restaurants!

Don't think Jakarta's got plenty, but there's this place called The Loving Hut in Kemang, right next to 7/11, that I always go to at weekends. It's heavenly good! Plus the price ain't bad. Totally recommended!

Any other vegetarian restaurant recommendation in/around Jakarta?

bananaf · Joined: 18 May 2010 Posts: 6

bule_boy69 · Joined: 05 Mar 2007 Posts: 158 Location: Jakarta

Loving Hut is on the 3rd Floor.

Branch in Jatinegara (of all places) coming soon apparently!

http://lovinghut.co.id/kontak.shtml

Having just returned from more veggie friendly asian places, forking out 35000+ a visit seems a little extravagant to me, so I'm lookin around for cheaper. I don't mind cooking at home, but starting to get sick of HAVING to.

Stumbled across a little veggie warung in Cipinang (if you happen to be anywhere near there) with a good selection of dishes Rp10-20, which is more like it. They also sell a lot of frozen/dried products to use at home.

bananaf · Joined: 18 May 2010 Posts: 6

bule_boy69 · Joined: 05 Mar 2007 Posts: 158 Location: Jakarta

It's an all veggie warung...quite a small place, no frills, the likes of which I am seeking in other areas.

Where are you then?

Yeah well, Cipinang isn't really a place you find foreigners aside from those in the prison busted for drugs n what have ya.

Ate in a place called Te He in Mangga Dua Square yesterday. Very nice and good selection - Jap/indo/western - similar prices to Lovin Hut. This could be another (hopefully) expanding empire coz the original branch is near PRJ Kemayoran.

Eva_madison · Joined: 19 May 2010 Posts: 5 Location: Canada

Hi All,

I'm a vegeatrian and thinking about heading to Indonesia to teach for a year and was wondering if people could give me more details on what it is really like to be a veg over there/ the kinds of things that are avaiable to eat...ect...

I spent a year in South Korea so I know that culturally things are goinbg to be different as such my stands are different. While I would love to have everything 100% free of meat, fish and seafood as I do here when I am abroad I am okay with broths and sauces being used that have traced amounts of these things as long as I am not directly consuming meat, fish or seafood.

I have found list of veg restuarnts online but as user have alrready said I am guessing they are too expensive to eat at everyday, so what is the local food like at non-veg restrurants for those of us who don't eat meat?

Is one area of Jakara better accomendating to vegetarians?

Thanks for all your help!!