Semarang — Culinaries

Signature dishes

• Lumpia SemarangRp18k–22k
  Lunpia

  Semarang's signature spring roll: bamboo shoot, egg and shrimp or chicken in a thin wrapper, eaten fried or fresh (basah) with thick sweet sauce.

  Try it at: Lunpia Gang Lombok, Lunpia Mbak Lien
• Bandeng PrestoRp35k
  Bandeng duri lunak

  Milkfish pressure-cooked until even its fine bones turn soft; Semarang's best-known edible souvenir, sold fresh or vacuum-packed.

  Try it at: Bandeng Juwana Elrina
• Tahu GimbalRp20k–25k

  Fried tofu and crisp shrimp fritters (gimbal) with rice cake, bean sprouts and cabbage under a peanut sauce sharpened with petis.

  Try it at: Tahu Gimbal Pak Man
• Soto SemarangRp9k–17k

  A small bowl of clear, slightly brown chicken broth with rice vermicelli and bean sprouts, eaten with skewers of satay and fritters on the side.

  Try it at: Soto Bangkong
• Nasi Ayam SemarangRp12k

  Savoury rice with shredded chicken, spicy chayote, krecek and a braised egg, served on a banana-leaf cone (pincuk).

  Try it at: Nasi Ayam Bu Wido
• Tahu PongRp40k

  Hollow tofu fried until puffed and crisp, dipped in dark sweet petis sauce and eaten with pickled radish.

  Try it at: Tahu Pong Karangsaru
• Mie KopyokRp10k–20k

  Yellow noodles with rice cake, bean sprouts, tahu pong and gendar crackers in a light, savoury broth; stirred ('kopyok') before eating.

  Try it at: Mie Kopyok Pak Dhuwur
• Es PuterRp20k–40k

  Semarang's old-fashioned ice cream in durian, coconut, avocado and chocolate, topped with young coconut, pacar cina jelly or bread.

  Try it at: Es Puter Cong Lik
• Gule Kambing BustamanRp15k

  A spice-heavy goat curry made without coconut milk, from Kampung Bustaman in old Semarang; named national intangible heritage in 2026.

  Try it at: Pasar Semawis

Where to eat