Surabaya — Culinaries

Signature dishes

• RawonRp22k–36k

  East Java's black beef soup, coloured and flavoured by fermented keluwak nuts, served with rice, salted egg and raw bean sprouts.

  Try it at: Rawon Setan, Rawon Kalkulator
• Lontong BalapRp12k–16k

  Surabaya's 'racing' rice-cake bowl: lontong, bean sprouts, fried tofu and lentho in light broth with petis, eaten with clam satay.

  Try it at: Lontong Balap Pak Budi Garuda
• Rujak CingurRp20k–35k

  Surabaya's signature salad of boiled beef snout, vegetables, tofu, tempeh and sometimes fruit, tossed in thick black petis sauce.

  Try it at: Rujak Cingur Ahmad Jais, Rujak Cingur Genteng Durasim
• Sate KlopoRp44k
  Sate Kelapa

  Beef or chicken satay coated in spiced grated coconut before grilling, giving a crisp, sweet and smoky crust.

  Try it at: Sate Klopo Ondomohen Bu Asih
• Lontong KupangRp10k–18k

  A coastal favourite of tiny kupang clams cooked with petis and served over rice cakes with lentho fritters and clam satay.

  Try it at: Lontong Kupang Bu Wito
• Sate KerangRp13k

  Sweet-savoury skewers of small clams braised in soy and spices, the standard side for lontong balap and lontong kupang.

  Try it at: Lontong Balap Pak Budi Garuda, Lontong Kupang Bu Wito
• Tahu TekRp19k–21k

  Fried tofu, lontong, potato and bean sprouts snipped with scissors and drenched in a peanut sauce with black petis.

• Nasi BabatRp15k

  Madurese-style rice with tender spiced beef tripe and fiery sambal, served with white or corn rice from dawn stalls to late-night ones.

  Try it at: Nasi Babat Pegirian
• Sego SambelRp15k
  Nasi Sambal

  Plain rice with a big scoop of raw chilli sambal and simple sides like smoked stingray, egg or tempeh, a Surabaya late-night ritual.

  Try it at: Sego Sambel Mak Yeye
• Bebek GorengRp14k–25k

  Spice-marinated duck fried until the skin crackles, served with rice and punchy sambal at warungs across the city.

  Try it at: Bebek Galaxy Cak Mat Pandegiling
• Zangrandi-style Ice CreamRp33k
  Es Krim Zangrandi

  Old-fashioned Italian-style ice cream that Surabaya has enjoyed since the 1930s, still made to the original recipes.

  Try it at: Zangrandi Ice Cream

Where to eat