Deadlines, long meetings, and traffic are just some of the things that make most adults living in a city like Jakarta too tired to even think about preparing a simple meal. It’s no surprise that people rely on apps such as Gojek and Grab for their food delivery service.
But scrolling down the long lists of restaurants, cafes, and stalls can quickly turn into a pretty time-consuming activity. So to save you some precious time and energy, here’s a list of wholesome Jakarta boxed meals that can get delivered straight to your office or kost.
Image credit: @anekajkt
Fans of spicy Southeast Asian flavours should look up Aneka Hidangan Asia that serves up six hearty Indonesian, Vietnamese, and Thai dishes such as Ayam Kapraw and Beef Luc Lac from Rp. 35,000 (~USD2.51). Whether you’re itching for fish, beef, or chicken, there’s a dish with your preferred protein in a handy box.
For an extra chilli kick to power yourself through the rest of your day, add on Sambal Matah for an additional Rp. 3,000 (~USD0.21).
Image credit: @tujuhrasa
If you’re looking for something that reminds you of home-cooked meals, try Tujuh Rasa. It offers a variety of flavorful and aromatic homestyle chicken, beef, and fish dishes such as Orange Chicken and Ayam Cabe Rempah, each starting from Rp. 25,000 (~USD1.79).
Most of the meals are just the right size, and you can choose between Small and Large for several items on the chicken menu.
To wash down your food, you can also add on their Teh Bandulan, a jasmine green tea drink, for only Rp. 5,000 (~USD0.36).
Noodle snobs should give this underrated bakmi joint a try, especially if you’re picky about your bakmi. Bakmi Asoooy knows how to make bakmi karet. Karet means rubber, which is the perfect word to describe the noodles’ chewy texture.
The noodles are thicker than most bakmi, so if you like to chew on your noodles a little longer, Bakmi Asoooy will make you happy.
Apart from the bestseller, Bakmi Karet Ayam Kampung, which comes with a generous topping of shredded chicken and two meatballs, the shop also offers Bakmi Flower and Yamin Manis (manis means “sweet”). Prices range from Rp. 20,000 (~USD1.43) to Rp. 30,000 (~USD2.15).
Image credit: @julianadotulong
This ketoprak stall has enjoyed a cult status due to its longstanding popularity. Though Ketoprak Ciragil offers a relatively simple dish that consists of tofu, sticky rice, bean sprouts, vermicelli, and a whole lot of its special peanut sauce, its taste is known to be consistent. Plus, this is a light meal option for those who don’t like to feel too full in the middle of the day.
A basic Ketropak meal costs Rp. 25,500 (~USD1.82). If you want to add some egg, it would cost Rp. 31,500 (~USD2.25).
Image credit: steggo.id
Steggo is short for “Steak and Egg On the Go,” and this stall’s specialty is rice served with diced wagyu beef and egg. You can have either shoyu, creamy sauce, or black pepper and garlic sauce drizzled on your Steggo dish.
The most popular item on the menu is Steggo Beef Wagyu, which costs Rp. 48,000 (~USD3.44). It’s great for people on a protein-rich diet, and will definitely keep you energized.
For dessert, you can also order a Moody Milk Bananananana for Rp. 19,000 (~USD1.36) – a banana milk drink that also happens to go well with cereal.
Image credit: @eatlahjkt
Eatlah is easily Jakarta’s salted egg #bae since it’s one of the first of its kind, and is also among the most frequently sought-out joints on rideshare apps.
The ultimate favorite is Salted Egg Chicken Rice. The regular size is Rp. 43,500 (~USD3.11) and the jumbo portion is Rp. 75,000 (~USD5.37). If you want a different chicken dish, you can choose between Brown Butter Chicken Rice and Sambal Chicken Rice if you want a quintessentially Indonesian chili boost.
If it’s your first time ordering and you want to try more than one flavor, you can order any of the Duo Jumbo sets. They let you choose a combination of two flavors, starting from Rp. 75,000 (~USD5.37) a set, but since it’s pretty huge, you might want to share it with a lunch buddy.
Image credit: @bansanjkt
You can’t really go wrong with chicken and Bansan really delivers. This Japanese-inspired resto specializes in rice and fried chicken glazed with sweet and sour sauce. The OG Chicken Namban, which costs Rp. 43,000 (~USD3.08), is also served with homemade tartar sauce and tobiko.
Those more attuned to spicy flavors can also try the Fire Nanban, which costs Rp. 46,000 (~USD3.29).
If you’re a fan of chicken bites and want a bit more than the standard portion, you can get extra pieces for an additional Rp. 13,000 (~USD0.93).
Image credit: @nasikentjana
Nasi kuning, or yellow rice is a staple at formal and informal celebrations, but you don’t have to wait for the next one to indulge in it since you can have your own little party during a regular lunch hour by ordering Nasi Kuning Spesial Widodo. This bento-style meal from Nasi Kentjana comes with fried chicken, tempe, noodles, sambal goreng, and balado potatoes. It costs Rp. 32,400 (~USD2.32).
There’s also a smaller and more simplified nasi kuning set that costs Rp. 15,000 (~USD1.07), which is only available until 10AM. So if you’re in a rush to beat the morning traffic, it’s a good breakfast option you can try.
Other rice sets on offer include Nasi Bogana, Nasi Campur Ayam Betutu, and Nasi Pantura, starting from Rp. 29,700 (~USD2.13).
Image credit: @byanind
Japanese-influenced salmon-based food doesn’t always have to be sushi. Salmon mentai goes well with the local palate because of its naturally rich flavor.
Available from By Anind in sets served with either rice or jelly-like shirataki noodles, the goodness of baked salmon and crab sticks with a hearty blanket of melted cheese will delight you when you need ample strength to get through the day. Salmon Kani Mentai Rice Cheese costs Rp. 52,000 (~USD3.72) while its shirataki alternative costs Rp. 59,000 (~USD4.22).
For a stronger fusion flavor, you can also try the Shirataki Tektek for Rp. 40,000 (~USD2.86), which is fried shirataki noodles with chicken, veggies, eggs, and some kerupuk, or crackers, to make you nostalgic for jajanan.
Image credit: @yanesthi
People often say there’s no such thing as bad pizza, but if you think you’ve settled for OK pizza for too long, then it’s time for you to order something from Pizza Place.
Inspired by the gigantic slices of New York pizza, Pizza Place’s pizzas are bound to make you full and satisfied. There’s the simple yet timeless Cheese Pizza, which goes for Rp. 30,000 (~USD2.14) a slice. Other bestsellers are the Pepperoni Beef and Bacon Beef Black Olive, which both cost Rp. 35,000 (~USD2.50) a slice.
If you’re planning on sharing with colleagues or roommates, you can get a whole pie for Rp. 270,000 (~USD19.25). You can request for two different toppings on one single pie.
You don’t always need to stress about looking for the right restaurant in Jakarta, or stick to the same few places near your office if you don’t have time to cook. Boxed meals can also be pretty, affordable, and most importantly, super delicious.
Still hungry in Jakarta? Check out:
Cover image adapted from: @anekajkt, steggo.id, @bansanjkt, and @nasikentjana
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