Danau Toba
Overlooking the lake, Maruba is well worth seeking out for its peerless Batak dishes cooked by the talented proprietor. Barbecue fish, freshwater lobster,…
Must-see restaurants in North Sumatra
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Danau Toba
Jenny’s has long been a standout on the northern edge of Tuk Tuk, with all kinds of breakfasts, noodles, curries and rice dishes. But the one dish that…
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North Sumatra
A good place to sample local Karo cuisine is this shack restaurant with wood-crate-panelled walls decorated in murals. The speciality here is BPK (babi…
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Medan
If you haven't tried durian, then stop by this 'aromatic' open-air eating establishment dedicated to the world's smelliest fruit. It's not just some…
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Medan
No more food envy from vegetarians who miss out on those famous Padang dishes – here you'll get the full array of delicious mock beef rendang, satay…
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Bukit Lawang
This stylish restaurant sits directly on a dramatic bend of the river and features a mishmash of designer furniture and industrial light fittings. While…
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Medan
At this colonial-era relic, perfect for nostalgia buffs, only the prices have changed. Medan's oldest restaurant dates to 1934 and is great for a taste of…
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Medan
With its polished concrete floors, low-hanging light bulbs and vertical garden, this is one of Medan's more stylish hang-outs. It does the likes of white…
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Danau Toba
This little wooden shack has a laid-back vibe that's in keeping with Tuk Tuk life. It’s run by a couple of friendly ladies who whip up some fabulous and…
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Medan
If you haven't had the chance to sample babi panggang Karo then head here to try this Karo Batak specialty. Comprising barbecue pork and an assortment of…
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Medan
Inspired by Singapore’s al fresco dining, this contemporary collection of outdoor eating establishments in Lapangan Merdeka offers everything from…
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Danau Toba
The Buddhist shrines scattered about set the mood at this waterfront cafe that specialises in vegan cuisine. Expect the likes of potato rendang, tofu…
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Bukit Lawang
Lawang Inn is located in the heart of the Bukit Lawang village, with a menu that comprises large portions of curries and sambal dishes, including good…
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Medan
Plush Traders is very much an old fashioned, smoky, high-society kind of place. It’s the perfect spot to blow your dining budget on lobster dishes or…
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Danau Toba
An old-school traveller hang-out, Poppy's has fantastic lake views that make it the perfect place to enjoy a cold beer. It has a classic Toba menu of…
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Medan
On a little street packed with night-time food stalls, this bustling canteen is locally (and justifiably) famous for its mie tiong sim (soft, handmade…
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North Sumatra
Next to Losmen Sibayak Guesthouse, this bright, modern, open-fronted place is where a youthful crowd meets for pizza and smoothies or ice-cold Bintangs…
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Medan
A local institution that's been around for some 60 years, this hole-in-the-wall joint is always busy with folk digging into soto kesawan – coconut milk…
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Medan
Among the sari shops and tailors, Cahaya Baru is one of the better eating choices in Medan's gritty Little India. Choose from masala dosas, thalis, North…
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Danau Toba
This cosy lakefront family restaurant and garden does Batak and other Indonesian dishes extremely well. It also holds cooking classes here.
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North Sumatra
Feast on pork-belly soup, pork with green chilli, sweet and sour fish, fresh vegetables or a host of noodle and rice dishes at this welcoming Chinese…
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Medan
This casual but classy bistro does an interesting menu of meatless, dairy- and gluten-free dishes. Expect the likes of nori beancurd with green chilli,…
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North Sumatra
Berastagi's tourist-oriented fruit and veg market features souvenir stalls and horse rides along with the produce stalls. Passionfruit is a local…
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Danau Toba
Run by friendly owner Anna, this humble street-side-shack restaurant specialises in local lobster from Danau Toba. It's pricey, but you get three lobster,…
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Medan
The saving grace at the Pondok Wisata Angel guesthouse, this bamboo-lined cafe on one of Medan's busiest streets is worth popping into for a plate of gado…
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North Sumatra
Berastagi’s local bohemians hang out at tiny Café Raymond, which serves fruit juices, beer and a mix of Indonesian and Western food (including steaks),…
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Medan
This boutique little cafe with mosaic flooring and colourful booth seating has Melbourne-style breakfast items of avocado on toast and poached eggs to go…
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Medan
A venerable Medan institution for nearly 40 years, Restoran Garuda specialises in West Sumatran Padang food, so you'll get to sample a variety of small,…
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Danau Toba
Rumba is still holding on as the best of the pizza restaurants in Tuk Tuk, with the option of the pick-your-own-ingredients pizza (start at the margherita…
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Bukit Lawang
This chilled-out, family-run spot overlooking the river is good for chowing down on curry, rendang and sambal dishes, as well as pizza and other Western…
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Medan
Medan's main fruit market is a profusion of colours and smells, and has an impressive selection of local and imported tropical fruit. It’s next to Thamrin…
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North Sumatra
At night this semi-pedestrianised street fills with food hawkers and tempting aromas from the dozens of different stalls.
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Bukit Lawang
Located in town, this is a good place to chill out away from Bukit Lawang's tourist hub. The menu runs from coconut curry to tacos and cold Bintang. There…
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Medan
This celebrated chain serves some of Medan’s best sushi as well as an extensive array of tonkatsu, tempura, yakitori, sashimi platters and bowls of udon.
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Medan
More like someone’s front room, with a family atmosphere to match, this restaurant serves authentic North Indian cuisine.
