When you’re learning a new language to travel in a country, you’ll want to study a lot of vocabulary related to food and drinks. After all, you have to eat multiple times a day! Rather than rely on English menus and tourist-friendly restaurants, it’s best to learn how to order in Indonesian so you can eat and shop where the locals do. Here’s a ton of Indonesian food and drink vocabulary that will help you do just that! There are even videos you can follow along with to practice your pronunciation.

Fruit

Lots of fruit used in offerings on Hindu Bali.

• alpukat = avocado

• anggur = grapes

• apel = apple

• aprikot = apricot

• asam jawa = tamarind

• belimbing = starfruit

• blewah = cantaloupe

• bluberi = blueberry

• buah naga = dragonfruit

• delima = pomegranate

• durian = durian

• jambu air = water apple/rose apple

• jambu biji = guava

• jeruk = orange

• kedondong = ambarella

• kelapa = coconut

• lici/leci = lychee

• mangga = mango

• manggis = mangosteen

• markisa = passionfruit

• nanas = pineapple

• nangka = jackfruit

• pepaya = papaya

• persik = peach

• pir = pear

• pisang = banana

• salak = snakefruit

• semangka = watermelon

• stroberi = strawberry

• tomat = tomato

Vegetables

Gado-gado – an Indonesian dish full of vegetables.

• bawang = onion

• bawang putih = garlic

• bayam = spinach

• brokoli = broccoli

• buncis = beans

• bunga kol = cauliflower

• cabe = chili pepper

• daun bawang = green onion

• jagung = corn

• jamur = mushroom

• kangkung = water spinach

• kentang = potato

• ketimun = cucumber

• kol = cabbage

• labu = pumpkin

• paprika = peppers

• sayur = vegetable

• selada = lettuce

• tahu = tofu

• terong = eggplant

• tempeh = tempeh

• tomat = tomato

• ubi = sweet potato

• wortel = carrot

• zaitun = olives

Meat & Seafood

Indonesian meat & seafood.

• daging = meat

• ayam = chicken

• dada ayam = chicken breast

• sayap ayam = chicken wing

• sapi = beef

• babi = pork

• iga babi = pork ribs

• babi guling = roast suckling pig

• kambing = lamb/goat

• bebek = duck

• sosis = sausage

• bakso = meatball

• makanan laut = seafood

• ikan = fish

• ikan tuna = tuna

• lele = catfish

• udang = shrimp

• kepiting = crab

• gurita = octopus

• cumi-cumi = squid

• tiram = oyster

Drinks

Learn drink vocabulary and more.

• air putih = water

• air soda = soda

• kopi = coffee

• kopi luwak = civet coffee

• kopi susu = coffee w/ milk

• es kopi = ice coffee

• teh = tea

• Teh Botol = sweet iced tea

• es teh = ice tea

• teh hijau = green tea

• teh hitam = black tea

• teh manis = sweet tea

• teh tanpa gula = tea without sugar

• jus = juice

• jus alpukat = avocado juice

• jus apel = apple juice

• jus jeruk = orange juice

• jus kelapa muda = young coconut juice

• jus nanas = pineapple juice

• susu = milk

• susu coklat = chocolate milk

• susu kocok = milkshake

• anggur = wine

• anggur merah = red wine

• anggur putih = white wine

• arak = Indonesian liquor

• bir = beer

• bir Bintang = Bintang beer

• brem = sweet alcoholic beverage (Bali)

• koktil = cocktail

• tuak = palm wine

• wiski = whiskey

Common Indonesian Dishes

Lots of tasty stuff in Indonesia!

• nasi goreng = fried rice

• nasi campur = mixed rice

• mie goreng = fried noodles

• sambal = chili sauce

• bakso = meatballs

• soto = meat soup

• mie ayam = chicken noodles

• gado-gado = vegetables with peanut sauce

• cap cay = stir-fried vegetables

• sate = meat skewers

• bubur ayam = chicken porridge

• bakpao = steamed stuffed bun

• siomay = dim sum/dumplings

• martabak = fried crepe

• ayam goreng = fried chicken

• bebek goreng = fried duck

• rawon = beef stew

• gudeg = jackfruit stew

• gulai = Indonesian curry

• pepes ikan = fish steamed in banana leaf

• ikan bakar = grilled fish

• pecel lele = fried catfish

• rendang = rendang (curry)

• babi guling = roast suckling pig

• gorengan = fried snacks

You can read more about nasi campur and gado-gado, and you can also check out our great nasi goreng recipe in Indonesian!

With all that, you’re ready to travel in Indonesian and eat where the locals do. Why stop there, though? Make sure to learn a new Indonesian word every day while you’re at it!