Street food in Batam, Indonesia
When going to Batam, their affordable spas, massages and water activities are on most people’s to-do list. But in addition to these, Batam also has a strong food landscape made up of hawker stalls and roadside eateries which offer a variety of local dishes like bakso as well as seafood like stir-fried chilli egg yolk crab. Here are some we’d recommend.
For more ideas on things to do in Batam, read these guides here:
- Things to do in Batam
- Things to do away from the crowds in Batam’s city centre
- Kepri Coral – Batam’s new private island
- Street food stalls
- Cheap seafood restaurants
- Sense Coffee & Pool – cafe with swimming pool and $3 smoothie bowls
1. Baso Priangan – live band playing daily
No experience to Batam is complete without trying their bakso, a type of Indonesian meatball made from minced beef. And there’s no place more authentic to get it from than Baso Priangan, a roadside stall that’s just a 20-minute drive away from Batam’s Harbour Ferry Bay.
There’s only one menu copy in the restaurant and it’s stuck on the wall
We tried their Mie Ayam Cekar (IDR26000, ~S$2.49) (noodles with chicken feet), Indo Ayam Bakso Noodles (IDR 27000, ~S$2.58) (meatball noodles) and Indo Mie Bakso Ceker IDR 28000 (~S$2.68) (with both chicken feet and meatballs). All come with the same broth, with the only difference being the ingredients.
Their meatballs were twice the size of the ones we find at Singapore’s mee pok stalls and the noodles were springy. The broth had a peppery taste to it, but was rather salty so we’d recommend drinking lots of water after.
There’s also a lively duo of musicians playing traditional Indonesian songs daily to keep you entertained as you eat.
Address: Jl. Imam Bonjol No.21, Sungai Jodoh, Batu Ampar, Kota Batam, Kepulauan Riau 29444, Indonesia
Opening hours: Daily, 5PM-10PM
2. Golden Fish Seafood – stunning sunset views of Barelang Bridge
Golden Fish Seafood restaurant is located on the top of a hill that overlooks Barelang Bridge, which bears a striking resemblance to the Golden Gate Bridge from afar.
The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating but we recommend the latter as that’s where you can snap a shot of the bridge and sun in the backdrop.
Ranjungan – chilli egg yolk crab
The restaurant serves seafood in generous portions, with a speciality being their Ranjungan – aka chilli egg yolk crab, which costs IDR 150000/kg (~S$14.35/kg). The spice wasn’t overwhelming and we could taste the freshness and juiciness of the crab with oozing with every bite.
Be sure to also try their speciality dish, Ayam Lokal (IDR 65000, ~S$6.22), which is chicken stir-fried with garlic. While this dish was a little dry, it tasted delicious when dipped into the crab’s chilli egg yolk gravy.
Note: Bring mosquito repellent as there are lots of merciless mozzies here
Address: Jalan Trans Barelang, Pulau Setokok, Bulang, Kota Batam, Kepulauan Riau, Indonesia
Opening hours: Daily, 10AM-9.30PM
Telephone: +62 811-7760-688
3. Cafe RM Danau Toba – BBQ fish and melt-in-your-mouth pork ribs
The dishes at Cafe RM Danau Toba are served zi char style. The plates are also pretty small – similar to the oval saucers that hold chee cheong fun. But because most of the dishes here cost below $3, you can order multiple rounds without worrying about burning a hole in your wallet.
We’d recommend their Babi Kecap (IDR 20000, ~S$1.91), which are soya sauce baby pork ribs, and Mujai Tombur Jmbo (IDR 24000, ~S$2.30), barbequed fish.
Babi Kecap – soy sauce pork
The pork had a melt-in-your-mouth texture while the fish was barbequed with onion, garlic and chilli.
A drink that we found interesting here was the Martabe Murni (IDR 6000, ~S$0.57) – eggplant juice. I personally dislike eggplant but decided to try something new, and was pleasantly surprised by how sweet it was. It tasted just like carrot juice. The portion for this drink was pretty large too and for its price, I’d say it’s worth a shot.
Address: Jl Kelurahan No 8 Orchid Park, Kepulauan Riau 29444
Opening hours: Daily, 9.30AM-6PM
Telephone: +62 813-7278-5052
4. Eatern Food Court – $2 laksa and prawn noodles
Eatern Food Court has been recommended by numerous locals online and offline and since it’s just 15 minutes away from Batam’s ferry terminal, Harbour Bay, we decided to give it a shot. Like the food courts in Singapore, this one comprises of multiple stalls – 8, to be exact – with a variety of dishes like seafood porridge, bakso and wanton noodles.
We tried the laksa and he mie IDR 22000 (~S$2) (prawn noodles) from A Nia Sate Mie. The spiciness of the laksa wasn’t intimidating, the broth was a little sweet, and the dish came with a generous amount of cockles and prawns.
The prawn noodles also contained succulent slices of pork, something you don’t always get in the version we have in Singapore. For the amount given, you’d probably get the same in Singapore at double the price, so the food here is really a steal.
The food court opens till 5AM daily, so whether you’re looking for late-night suppers or an early breakfast spot, you’ll always have mouth-watering options to keep you satisfied.
Address: Batu Selicin, Kec. Lubuk Baja, Kota Batam, Kepulauan Riau 29444
Opening hours: Daily, 7AM-5AM
Telephone: +62 812-7707-0710
5. Bakso Wonogiri – ayam penyet below $2
Located within BCM mall, Bakso Wonogiri is a small eatery about the size of 4 office cubicles which serves up local Indonesian dishes below $3. It’s the most popular bakso store in BCM mall. We recommend checking out their Ayam Penyet With Rice (IDR 19000, ~S$1.82) and their Ayam Bakso (IDR 15000, ~S$1.44).
The chicken thigh from the ayam penyet was extremely tender and juicy, and the chilli by the side of the dish added an extra kick with every bite. Steamed cucumber and white cabbage are also served alongside the meat.
You can choose between three types of noodles for your bakso – yellow egg noodles, thick bee hoon and thin bee hoon. In general, the bakso had strong hints of ikan billis, and shredded chicken slices added some sweetness to the broth.
Address: BCS Mall, Jl. Bunga Raya, Batu Selicin, Kec. Lubuk Baja, Kota Batam, Kepulauan Riau 29422, Indonesia
Opening hours: Daily, 10AM-10PM
Telephone: +62 857-6521-5312
Things to eat in Batam
Frolicking by the beach is fun, but make your experience in Batam even more memorable with these local eats. From fresh seafood to bakso in generous portions, these dishes at extra pocket-friendly prices will leave you feeling satisfied.
For ideas on places to stay in Batam, check out these articles: