Chicken is a universally popular type of meat that can be transformed into countless delicious dishes – so every country has at least one chicken recipe that’s enjoyed by generations. In Indonesia, chicken is prepared in many different styles, and we’re always looking to try popular chicken dishes from abroad as well.
Whether you’re into fried chicken or chicken satay, you’re bound to find something on this list of signature chicken dishes at restaurants and stalls in Jakarta that you’ll want to try as soon as you can.
Image credit: @nengindra
Ayam Goreng Berkah might look like any other fried chicken, but once you take a bite out of it, you’ll know why it’s one of the most sought-out chicken dishes in South Jakarta. It’s perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
Its exclusive use of local free-range chicken, or ayam kampung, is crucial to making the fried chicken incredibly tasty. Free-range chickens are bred in a way that allows them to run around, which positively impacts the quality of the meat. Though they’re generally quite small, their meat has a distinctive sweetness when cooked, and the texture of the meat is tender but has a real bite to it. A whole chicken costs Rp. 68,000 (~USD4.84), and smaller groups can get half a chicken at half the price too.
Dip the chicken in some in-house sambal. It’s not too spicy, but it can give you enough of a chilli kick to further stimulate your appetite.
Address: Jalan Wijaya IX #4, Melawai, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta 12160
Opening hours: 11AM-11PM, Daily
Telephone: 081284457444
Image adapted from: traveloka.com
West Sumatran cuisine is loved in many parts of Indonesia, and one of the most popular dishes at rumah makan Padang, or Padang restaurants, is ayam pop. It’s boiled in coconut water and garlic before it’s flash fried, a method that gives the chicken a light color. This two-step process is also what makes ayam pop so flavorful and addictive.
Sabana Bundo Sati’s version of ayam pop (Rp. 20,000, or ~USD1.42) per piece is extra tender and fragrant, and it’s not overly greasy. You can add some Padang-style sambal, but the chicken itself already has a unique taste. It’s traditionally served with boiled cassava leaves on the side.
In true West Sumatran fashion, use your hands to eat this delicious chicken while you’re here.
Address: Jalan I.R. H. Juanda Raya #1, Kebon Kelapa, Gambir, Central Jakarta 10120
Opening hours: 8AM-9.30PM, Daily
Telephone: 0213842784
Image credit: @realjess
Ayam Goreng Nyonya Suharti is a legendary restaurant that specializes in ayam goreng kremes. Not only is the chicken delicious, but the kremes, or crispy fried batter, gives the chicken an extra crunch, as if it had a second layer of crispy skin. The kremes is so good that some can even eat it with rice and call it a meal.
This restaurant is great for gatherings because the chicken is huge – a whole chicken (Rp. 138,000, or ~USD9.82) is enough for three to four people. Half a chicken here goes for Rp. 70,000 (~USD4.98).
Address: Jalan Kapten Tendean #13, Kuningan Barat, Mampang Prapatan, South Jakarta 12710
Opening hours: 9AM-9PM, Daily
Telephone: 0215254595
Image credit: Ayam Penyet RDH Fatmawati
Ayam geprek is an extremely popular chicken dish because many places provide it and it’s affordable. It’s hard to find bad ayam geprek, but it’s not easy to find one that has fresh sambal like Warung Teteh RDH Berkah’s.
Ayam Geprek Komplit, a dish which comes with rice, veggies, tempe, tofu, special in-house sambal, and of course, a piece of ayam geprek, is just Rp. 22,000 (~USD1.56) here. Be cautious if your stomach can’t handle spicy things because this place does not play around with its sambal. There are 10 levels to pick from, so to be on the safe side, it’s best to not go beyond level 5.
Address: Jalan Teladan #1, Gandaria Selatan, Cilandak, South Jakarta 12420
Opening hours: 9:30AM-9:30PM, Daily
Telephone: 085772295418
Sweet Soy Sauce Chicken
Image credit: @patriciasari
Korean restaurants are all the rage in Jakarta, where many are avid fans of Korean popular culture, but not many places are solely dedicated to promote their variety of chicken. DaGo is one of the few that serves an assortment of mouthwatering Korean-style chicken dishes.
While DaGo sells other typical Korean dishes such as japchae, its Sweet Soy Sauce Chicken Wings (Rp. 119,000, or ~USD8.46) are hard to resist. A more spicy alternative would be the Dak Nalgae Bokkem (Rp. 149,000, or ~USD10.60) – and both can be a snack or a meal.
For those of you who are in the mood for a soupy chicken dish, try the Dak Gomtang (Rp. 85,000, or ~USD6.05). The chicken is boiled for a long time, resulting in tender meat and a rich broth that’ll make your tummy warm.
Address: Jalan Panglima Polim #61, Melawai, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta 12160
Opening hours: Mon – Sat 10AM-2AM | Sun 10AM-10PM
Telephone: 02127518589
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Image credit: @emados.shawarma
Roast chicken can be pretty tough to get right as it can sometimes be too dry. Even when it is done right, buying a whole chicken can get pricey. Luckily, there’s Emado’s Shawarma that offers tender and juicy roast chicken that’s good value for money.
You can choose from french fries, butter rice, or mandi – a rice dish with Yemeni roots – to go with your roast chicken. If you’re ordering for a group, it’s best to get a whole chicken set (Rp. 79,000 to Rp. 99,000, or ~USD5.62 to ~USD7.04). Smaller sets of half a chicken (Rp. 49,000 to Rp. 58,000, or ~USD3.49 to ~USD4.13) or a quarter of a chicken (Rp. 29,000 to Rp. 38,000, or ~USD2.06 to ~USD2.70) are also available.
The roast chicken sets come with vegetables and choice of Emado’s Shawarma’s very own mayo or chilli dip.
Click here for the full list of locations.
Image credit: @elyuslanin
Indonesians love satay, and there are so many places that serve tasty ones in Jakarta that it can be hard to pick. However, Sate Ayam RSPP is one of those legendary stalls that offer delicious food that’s friendly on your wallet. Though it now has multiple outlets across town, the original stall, which is across from Pertamina Central Hospital or RSPP in South Jakarta, has had people queuing for satay since the 1960s.
The perfectly grilled pieces of skewered chicken and the peanut sauce blend sweet and savory flavors, and the lontong, or rice cakes, add a chewy texture to the whole dish.
A portion costs Rp. 30,000 (~USD2.13), making it an affordable meal that’ll properly fill you up.
Address: Jalan Kyai Maja #21, Gunung, Kebayoran Baru, Kota Jakarta Selatan, South Jakarta 12130
Opening hours: 7AM-7PM, Daily
Telephone: 085710034765
Sate Ayam Daging
Image credit: @eatwithroy
Speaking of legends, the chicken satay restaurant chain Sate Khas Senayan has also had a steady flow of loyal customers for decades. What truly makes its satay stand out isn’t the chicken itself, but the peanut sauce.
While peanut sauce that has a rather dark color and visible chunks of peanuts in it is quite common at satay stalls, the one you’ll find here is light-colored, smooth, and creamy to complement the tenderness of the chicken.
There are two versions of chicken satay that are long-time bestsellers – the sate ayam daging or chicken meat satay and sate ayam kulit, or chicken skin satay, for Rp. 63,000 (~USD4.48) per portion. There’s also sate ayam campur (Rp. 66,000, or ~USD4.69), a dish combining chicken meat and skin satay, available in case you have trouble deciding which to try first.
Both go well with either rice (Rp. 11,000, or ~USD0.78) or rice cakes (Rp. 14,000, or ~USD1).
Click here for the full list of locations.
When you’re in the mood for wholesome chicken dishes in Jakarta, you should definitely swing by one of the places on this list.
If you’re too busy to go out, you could always turn to Gojek or GrabFood to have some ayam goreng, Korean fried chicken, or sate ayam doused in peanut sauce delivered to your doorstep.
Also check out:
Cover image adapted from @elyuslanin and @emados.shawarma
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