A rare scene occurred during the first plenary Cabinet meeting of 2017 at Bogor Palace, West Java, as several street food vendors gathered in the palace backyard to serve lunch to those in attendance on Wednesday.

Let us begin 2017 with deep gratitude for how remarkable 2016 has been. Myriads of both imaginative restaurants and mouth-watering dining establishments have opened, scattered across this developing megacity: from the latest offspring of celebrated restaurant groups to newborn babies of fresh, new players in the Jakarta dining scene.  So what does 2017 have to offer to the dining scene in Jakarta and abroad?

A small, modest shop sits by the side of the road on Jl. Cipete, close to RM Pagi Sore. Its inviting, homely facade tempts all passersby to enter and check out its menu. From the outside, one can hear nostalgic 1980s tunes blaring from the speakers. Its name is Kedai Disto.

Using the right ingredient makes all the difference to make a dish great. Here's what the top chefs choose to set their food apart.

Kelapa Gading in North Jakarta is home to a smorgasbord of various delicacies, which includes Bubur Ayam Tangki 18 Wawah. It being located right by the roadside of a busy street—opposite Apotik Victory, not far from the shopping mall row on Jl. Boulevard Raya traffic circle—makes it very easy to reach.

“Wedangan” or hanging out at a warung hik (local coffee stalls) while enjoying wedang (a drink), which may be tea, coffee or ginger tea and is usually accompanied by snacks such as roasted jadah (sticky rice), tempeh, tofu cooked with spices, nasi kucing (a small rice portion wrapped in banana leaves), has been an old but maintained tradition in Surakarta, Central Java.

In this edition of Food Wars, we’re pitting two fried rice joints that are coincidentally located not far from one another on Jl. Panglima Polim in South Jakarta: Nasi Goreng Kebuli Apjay and Nasi Goreng Warna-Warni Thole. Which of them will come out on top?

Known as a city of diverse culture and genial citizens, Solo is also home to delicacies that will tempt your palate. The following are a number of eateries that will make you fall even more in love with Solo.

I still remember to this day the first moment I stepped foot in Kebon Kacang to take on its renowned nasi uduk (steamed rice cooked in coconut milk with side dishes). The nasi uduk options were multitudinous, leaving me with a pleasant dilemma. 

Satay is one of the country's most popular local dishes. However, over the past six months, a spicy kind of satay has caught the attention of pedestrians on Jl. Asia Afrika in Senayan, Central Jakarta.

Indonesians are all about trends. Here are the five most popular food trends in Indonesia in 2016, as reported by Antara news agency.

My recent culinary adventure in Makassar opened my eyes to the diversity of its food-scape. I didn’t expect to find restaurants that specialize in East Javanese cuisine here – including the prominent nasi rawon (beef soup with rice) – here in this city. Founded in the 1970s, RM Sidodadi is one such example.

A warm beef soup is even better when complemented with steamed rice – the ideal combination for Jakartans, myself included.

Here are five eateries offering Betawi food to visit with your family.

It is no secret that Tebet in South Jakarta is home to a slew of tempting culinary destinations. The following are a few choice names that we believe should be on your list if you plan on exploring the area.

A friend of mine recommended a place called Kedai Pempek Pak Jenggot at Pasar Minggu not far from the police station in the area.

For me, the deliciousness of a bowl of Soto Betawi (Betawi beef soup), and its dense broth is able to alleviate my exhausted body and soul after a spell on the congestion-stricken streets of Jakarta.

Known as “makan bedulang”, served on a dulang (large platter) is enough food for four individuals to eat together. Ruma Makan Timpo Duluk has been trying to reverse the decline in communal eating and promote this age-old tradition to the general public by offering a feast.

Australian-based coffee roaster Toby’s Estate has opened its first Indonesian store on PIK (Pantai Indah Kapuk) Avenue in North Jakarta on Saturday.

Cikini has long been a center for culinary tourism thanks to its noodle shops, Chinese restaurants and long-standing coffee shops that offer coffee and delicious food with an ambiance that evokes old Jakarta. Bakoel Koffie, which stands right across Menteng Huis, is one of them.

From organizing small-scale activities in Pasar Santa to producing successful graduates, ABCD has done wonders for coffee lovers. We had a chat with Ve Handojo to find out more about his educational venture.

If you’re ever in Tanjung Pandan, spare a little time to stop by Warung Mie Achoi and sample its delicious signature dish that has become the apple of locals’ eyes.

The sound of water splashing from the fishpond and the gentle gending (Javanese gamelan music) ditties wafting from the speakers made me feel like in a Balinese village – where people are still spoilt by nature, far from the bustling foreign tourist crowd. This was my first impression of Smarapura Traditional Resto.

Here are a few restaurants specializing in local delicacies where you can take your family or friends and have a great time.

In her books, Ika Natassa likes to include the names of real-life local dining establishments to arouse her readers’ curiosity and make them head over to their favorite character’s stamping ground to try the food. The following are the five establishments that are closest to her heart, and her tummy.

Although the Betawi people are the indigenous ethnic group of Jakarta, it is perhaps saddening and bizarre that there are more Padang restaurants in the Big Durian than those that serve authentic Betawi cuisine.

The moringa plant or drumstick tree, known in Indonesia as kelor, is one of the vegetables popular among the Kaili ethnic tribe in Central Sulawesi. They usually cook moringa in coconut milk along with banana or make it into a clear soup.

Japanese baked cheese tarts are currently trending in Jakarta. Every weekend, almost every outlet is packed with customers.

I encountered many interesting facets that make Tanjung Pandan in Belitung such a remarkable place – from the unique daily rituals of its people to the variety of its delicious local cuisine. One that has still haunted me since I returned from my recent trip there was soto Belitung (Belitung beef soup).

Warung Kopi Anui became my preferred port of call; an establishment that has been pampering its legion of customers with its selection of luscious coffee since 1982.