Top Local Dishes & Where to Try Them in Palembang, Indonesia
1. Nasi Kapau Palembang
A rich and flavorful rice dish with a variety of side dishes, including fried chicken, fish curry, and hard-boiled egg. Try it at Warung Kapau Ketan Laut on Jalan Baru.
- Unique Ingredients: Uses local spices like kaffir lime leaves and galangal, giving it a distinctive flavor.
- Variety of Side Dishes: Offers a unique combination of side dishes that complement the rice perfectly.
- Popular Local Choice: A favorite dish among locals, offering an authentic taste of Palembang cuisine.
2. Gulai Palembang
A creamy and flavorful curry made with coconut milk and various meats or vegetables. Visit Warung Aji Jaya on Jalan Diponegoro for a taste.
- Rich Coconut Milk: Creamy texture and rich flavor from the use of coconut milk.
- Variety of Ingredients: Comes in various versions, such as gulai kambing (goat curry) and gulai telor (egg curry).
- Local Spices: Features local spices like turmeric, ginger, and galangal.
3. Ketan Kacang Panjang
A dessert made with glutinous rice flour, coconut milk, and long beans. Enjoy it at Warung Ketan Kacang Panjang on Jalan Surosarjo.
- Glutinous Rice Flour: Made from a special type of rice flour, giving it a unique texture.
- Long Beans: Features long beans that add a subtle crunch and flavor to the dessert.
- Coconut Milk: Creamy and rich, coconut milk is a key ingredient in this traditional dessert.
4. Sate Palembang
A unique satay dish made with minced meat and peanut sauce. Try it at Pasar Tanjung Emas.
- Minced Meat: Uses ground meat instead of skewered meat pieces, giving it a different texture.
- Peanut Sauce: Features a sweet and creamy peanut sauce that sets it apart from other satay dishes.
- Local Ingredients: Uses locally sourced ingredients, reflecting the flavors of Palembang.
5. Lumpia Semarang
A traditional spring roll filled with vegetables and ground meat. Try it at Warung Lumpia Semarang on Jalan Kemujan.
- Fresh Ingredients: Made with fresh vegetables and high-quality ground meat.
- Crispy Wrappers: Uses crispy, thin wrappers that hold the filling together without compromising on texture.
- Dipping Sauce: Served with a sweet and tangy dipping sauce.
6. Es Pengantin
A refreshing shaved ice dessert made with coconut milk, palm sugar syrup, and various toppings. Visit Es Pengantin Tjipta on Jalan Pemuda for a taste.
- Shaved Ice: Made with finely shaved ice, giving it a smooth and refreshing texture.
- Coconut Milk: Infused with rich and creamy coconut milk.
- Variety of Toppings: Offers a variety of toppings such as red beans, corn, and sweetened cassava.
7. Martabak Palembang
A type of pancake filled with various ingredients like cheese, peanuts, and sugar. Try it at Warung Martabak Ketan on Jalan Diponegoro.
- Unique Filling: Features a unique combination of ingredients like cheese and peanuts.
- Thin Pancake: Made with a thin pancake that is easy to fold and eat.
- Sweet and Savory: Offers both sweet and savory versions, catering to various preferences.
8. Nasi Dagang Palembang
A rice dish served with fish curry, coconut milk, and a variety of side dishes. Visit Warung Nasi Dagang on Jalan Kemujan for a taste.
- Coconut Milk: Features rich and creamy coconut milk, giving it a distinct flavor.
- Variety of Side Dishes: Comes with various side dishes like fried fish, vegetables, and boiled egg.
- Local Spices: Incorporates local spices like turmeric and galangal, reflecting the flavors of Palembang.
9. Kue Lompang
A traditional dessert made with glutinous rice flour, coconut milk, and palm sugar. Try it at Warung Kue Lompang on Jalan Surosarjo.
- Glutinous Rice Flour: Made with a special type of rice flour, giving it a unique texture.
- Coconut Milk: Infused with rich and creamy coconut milk.
- Palm Sugar: Sweetened with palm sugar, adding a distinctive flavor to the dessert.
10. Lontong Palembang
A rice cake dish served with peanut sauce and various side dishes. Try it at Warung Lontong Palembang on Jalan Pemuda.
- Rice Cake: Made from compressed rice that is cut into cubes.
- Peanut Sauce: Features a sweet and creamy peanut sauce.
- Variety of Side Dishes: Comes with various side dishes such as fried tofu, tempeh, and vegetables.
11. Pempek Palembang
A traditional fish cake made with ground fish, tapioca flour, and various spices. Try it at Warung Pempek Buwono on Jalan Kebun Sewu.
- Ground Fish: Made with ground fish, giving it a unique texture.
- Tapioca Flour: Uses tapioca flour instead of wheat flour, which gives it a chewy texture.
- Local Spices: Incorporates local spices like turmeric and galangal, reflecting the flavors of Palembang.
12. Es Teler
A refreshing shaved ice dessert made with pandan-flavored milk, avocado, and sweetened corn. Visit Es Teler Kemaro on Jalan Laksamana Abdurachman for a taste.
- Shaved Ice: Made with finely shaved ice, giving it a smooth and refreshing texture.
- Pandan-Flavored Milk: Infused with the aromatic flavor of pandan leaves.
- Unique Toppings: Features unique toppings like avocado and sweetened corn.
13. Sate Ketan
A type of satay made with glutinous rice flour instead of meat. Try it at Pasar Tanjung Emas.
- Glutinous Rice Flour: Made with a special type of rice flour, giving it a unique texture.
- Unique Ingredients: Uses local ingredients like coconut milk and palm sugar in the skewers.
- Peanut Sauce: Served with a rich and flavorful peanut sauce.
14. Asem-Asem Palembang
A sour and spicy soup made with fish, tamarind, and various vegetables. Visit Warung Asem-Asem on Jalan Kemujan for a taste.
- Sour and Spicy: Features a sour and spicy flavor from tamarind and chilies.
- Variety of Ingredients: Comes with various ingredients like fish, vegetables, and tofu.
- Local Spices: Incorporates local spices like lemongrass and galangal, reflecting the flavors of Palembang.
15. Kue Batak
A traditional cake made with glutinous rice flour, coconut milk, and palm sugar. Try it at Warung Kue Batak on Jalan Surosarjo.
- Glutinous Rice Flour: Made with a special type of rice flour, giving it a unique texture.
- Coconut Milk: Infused with rich and creamy coconut milk.
- Palm Sugar: Sweetened with palm sugar, adding a distinctive flavor to the dessert.