Javanese Culinary Scene: “Joglo” Restaurants
Yogyakarta is a haven for culinary tourism. It offers a wide variety of culinary choices catering to different culinary and dining preferences and what you feel like eating at that time. For a local staple like Gudeg (stewed jackfruit, a local staple dish), there are choices to enjoy it in the local lesehan style (floor seating arrangement around a low table), or at a restaurant or hotel. Similarly, for popular food like soto (chicken soup) or ingkung ayam(chicken stewed in spices and coconut milk), there are plenty of places that you can choose from.
If you’re thinking more than just the menu and the taste quality of the food, but also the comfort and ambiance of the eatery, then perhaps dining at a Joglo-styled restaurant can be the perfect choice. Joglo is a type of vernacular-Javanese architecture, characterized by its unique roof design.
Especially if you are in Jogja for business purposes, your business discussions be held over a delicious meal in a comfortable Joglo restaurant.
Here are some recommended restaurants housed in a Joglo:
Ingkung Joglo
Just like its name, ingkung is one of the signature menu dish for this restaurant. Ingkung is whole chicken stewed in coconut milk, spices and herbs. Ingkung Joglo mixes its own spices and uses only locally bred free-range chicken.
Other worthy dishes they offer are: gudeg manggar, gulai nile, fried or grilled nile, fried catfish, stir-fry kangkung (water spinach), sitr-fry papaya leaf, etc.
Address: Jl. Pajangan Kalakijo, Guwosari, Pajangan, Bantul.
Joglo Resto
Joglo Resto is a restaurant with a food court concept with 12 food stalls offering dishes from all over Indonesia. There is ,for example, ayam kampung (free range chicken), oxtail soup, Acehnese food, seafood, Lombok food, and Makasar food. Joglo Resto also provides services for business events, such as product launch.
Address: Jl. Colombo No. 9A
Joglo Mak Uyut
Even though they are housed in a Joglo, Joglo Mak Uyut serves Padang food (a major city in West Sumatra that is famous for its strongly-flavored food). You can order their signature dish, Mak Uyut’s Rendang Rice (Padang beef stew). While the rendang spices used is typical, the highlight of Mak Uyut’s rendang rice is the addition of red beans, anchovies, sambal brandan (house-special chili sauce), and lalapan (fresh vegetables side dish). They also have other dishes such as Mak Uyut’s Empal Rice, capcay (stir-fry vegetables seafood/chicken), fried squid, among other choices on the menu.
Address: Jl. Palem Raya, Sinduharjo, Ngaglik, Sleman
Joglo Mlati Traditional Restaurant
The restaurant has 4 Joglo buildings. One of them was built in Jepara in 1934, the center of wood carving in Central Java. There is also Joglo Satru that was built in Kudus in 1899, Central Java. As for Negosari and Rejoso, both of them were built in 1954.
Joglo Mlati offers you with various special food packages. While savoring your meal, you can enjoy the Sendratari Ramayanaperformance accompanied by Traditional Gamelan music and “tembang” (songs) by a sinden (traditional Javanese female singer). The food is served on a tampah, which is a wheat winnowing pot.
Address: Jl. Palem Raya, Sinduharjo, Ngaglik, Sleman
Bale Raos
You can say this is the real Javanese restaurant. Other than being located inside Yogyakarta’s Royal Palace, they also serve the royal menu served to Yogakarta’s prepared by the Palace’s kitchen.
The restaurant includes the favorite menus of some kings, including King Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono VIII (1921-1939), and King Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X. Created by the Queen of Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X, Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Hemas, she meant for the Restaurant to preserve the heritage of the royal cuisine.
One popular choice is kapiratu, a palace specialty appetizer that looks like wet spring rolls, a favorite food of Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono VIII. It is made with minced beef rolled in an omelet sheet and served with cucumber and carrot pickles.
Address: Jl. Magangan Kulon No. 1
