Yogyakarta guide · Where to eat
Places to eat in Yogyakarta, with what to order and how comfortable each is for families and older travellers.
Updated
Javanese food in Yogyakarta is sweet, slow-cooked and coconut-based. The signature dish is gudeg, young jackfruit stewed for hours in coconut milk and palm sugar, usually served with rice, egg, chicken, tofu or tempeh, and a spicy beef-skin stew called krecek. Served on its own the jackfruit is vegetarian, but the usual plate is not, so ask for tofu and tempeh in place of egg and chicken and check the sauce.
For travellers from India who eat vegetarian, vegan or Jain food, Yogyakarta needs care. Tempeh, tofu, vegetable dishes such as gado-gado and rice with vegetables are easy to find, but meat stock, shrimp paste, fish sauce and egg are common, so say plainly that you eat no meat, fish or egg. We did not find a Jain or Indian restaurant we could verify, but guides we opened describe several fully plant-based vegan places (Simple Plant, Loving Hut Express, Veganissimo and Fortunate Coffee), which carry diet tags. Ask your hotel to check the kitchen, look for vegetarian places on a current directory, and carry some dry snacks on day trips.
Menus and kitchens change. If you follow a strict diet or have an allergy, confirm with the restaurant before you order.
Jl. Wongso Dirjan, north of Tugu railway station
A night-time angkringan on Jl. Wongso Dirjan, north of Tugu station, known for small packets of rice and strong kopi joss coffee.
Just off Jl. Prawirotaman II, south of the Kraton
A stall serving bakmi Jawa, Javanese fried noodles, just off Jl. Prawirotaman II, which Wikivoyage warns can have long waits.
Alun-Alun Utara (northern square), beside the Kraton
A noodle stall on the northern square (Alun-Alun Utara) by the Kraton, known for bakmi Jawa cooked over charcoal and for nasi goreng. It gets busy once it opens in the evening.
Jl. Dewi Sartika No.17, Yogyakarta
A vegetarian cafe on Jl. Dewi Sartika serving kale and mushroom quiche, jackfruit rendang, veggie pizzas and smoothie bowls, with many dishes marked vegan.
Jl. Jogonegaran No.49E, Pringgokusuman, Gedong Tengen
A plant-based cafe on Jl. Jogonegaran serving curry ramen, vegan bibimbap, tempeh burgers and vegan pizza alongside speciality coffee.
Jl. Kaliurang No. 2, Caturtunggal, north of the city centre
A gudeg seller on Jl. Kaliurang, north of the city near the university, serving the sweet jackfruit stew with krecek and side dishes. A useful alternative to the Wijilan gudeg street.
Jalan Wijilan 31, near the Kraton's north gate
A well-known gudeg restaurant on Jalan Wijilan, the street associated with Yogyakarta's signature young-jackfruit dish.
Sleman regency, north of Yogyakarta city (confirm exact address)
A mushroom-focused restaurant in Sleman serving Indonesian favourites such as mushroom satay, rendang jamur and tongseng jamur in a meat-free format.
Jl. Sartono No.829, Mantrijeron
A reservation-only restaurant on Jl. Sartono in Mantrijeron serving home-style Javanese cooking for lunch and dinner from Monday to Saturday.
Jl. Moses Gatotkaca A18-A19
An outpost of the Loving Hut plant-based chain on Jl. Moses Gatotkaca, serving soy- and mushroom-based dishes with no egg or dairy.
Jl. Beskalan, a short ride from Malioboro
A small eatery on Jl. Beskalan serving pempek, the fried fish cakes of Palembang, with a spicy-sweet dipping sauce. A Sumatran dish, not a Javanese one.
Jl. Plataran No.8, Sembungan, Bangunjiwo, Kasihan, Bantul
A vegan restaurant and art space in Kasihan, south-west of the city, serving plant-based Indonesian dishes, burgers and steaks made from tempeh and mushroom.
Jl. Wiratama, Tegalrejo, near the Diponegoro Museum
A beef soto stall in Tegalrejo, near the Diponegoro Museum, serving Yogyakarta-style soto sapi. It is a local breakfast and lunch stop, away from the tourist streets.
Jl. Faridan Muridan Noto 7, Kotabaru
A Javanese restaurant in Kotabaru serving Javanese food and herbal jamu, listed by Wikivoyage on Jl. Faridan Muridan Noto, next to Mirota Bakery.
Jl. Wisata, Condongcatur, Depok, Sleman, north of the city
A vegan restaurant in the Condongcatur area of Sleman serving Indonesian, Chinese and western dishes in plant-based form, including curries and salads.
Jl. Prawirotaman No.30, south of the Kraton
A long-standing travellers' cafe on Jl. Prawirotaman with Indonesian and international dishes, where about half the menu is vegetarian and many dishes are vegan.
Jl. Jambon No.10
A vegetarian-friendly warung on Jl. Jambon serving Indonesian staples such as vegetarian nasi goreng and rendang jamur, on a buffet and a la carte menu.
