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Latest update: June 2026
Yogyakarta has some of our favourite food in Indonesia. Over several visits we have eaten our way through both the busy streets of central Yogyakarta and the quieter villages north of the city towards Mount Merapi.
From traditional Javanese restaurants and roadside satay stalls to modern coffee shops overlooking rice fields, there is no shortage of great places to eat. Some of our favourite discoveries were found completely by accident, while others became regular stops that we returned to again and again.
In this guide you’ll find our favourite restaurants, cafés and local food spots in Yogyakarta, organised by area to help you decide where to eat whether you’re staying in the city centre or exploring the countryside around Merapi.
One local speciality you should definitely try is Gudeg. This traditional Yogyakarta dish is made from young jackfruit slowly cooked in coconut milk and palm sugar. The result is a unique sweet and savoury stew that is unlike anything else in Indonesia. You’ll find Gudeg restaurants throughout the city, and whether you love it or not, it’s an essential part of the Yogyakarta food experience.
Travel Tip: Never walk past a long queue at a street food stall without stopping to investigate. If it smells good, looks good and dozens of locals are waiting for a plate, there’s a good chance you’ve just found one of the best meals in town.
Central Yogyakarta
Most visitors spend the majority of their time in central Yogyakarta, and for good reason. The area around Malioboro, Prawirotaman and the city’s main attractions is packed with restaurants, cafés and street food stalls.
Waroeng SS
Waroeng SS became one of our first food discoveries in Yogyakarta and remains one of our favourites. There are a couple of locations around Yogyakarta.
The restaurant specialises in sambal, Indonesia’s famous chilli condiment, and offers an incredible variety of different versions. The menu follows the traditional Indonesian style of ordering multiple dishes to share, allowing you to sample a wide range of flavours.
If you enjoy spicy food, this is a must-visit.
Bakso Pak Teguh
Bakso is one of Indonesia’s most popular comfort foods, and Bakso Pak Teguh is a great place to try it. I don’t know how many times we went here during our stay at Adhisthana Hotel, it was just next door and such good food.
The menu focuses on meatball soups and other Indonesian favourites. It may not look fancy, but the food is delicious and the restaurant is usually filled with locals.
Sate Taichan Senayan Yogya
We discovered this place completely by accident after noticing a large crowd of locals gathered around a row of grills.
The menu is simple, focusing mainly on chicken satay served with a spicy sambal. The satay was excellent and easily some of the best chicken satay we have eaten in Indonesia.
For more satay tips read our guide on the best satay in Yogyakarta.
Warung Heru
Warung Heru, near Via Via is also a traveler’s favorite. Good Indonesian food but made for foreigners and not locals. Still a great choice in the area.
Via Via Jogja
Via Via is one of Yogyakarta’s best-known restaurants and has been popular with travellers for years. The menu combines Indonesian dishes with international favourites, making it a good option if you’re travelling with a group that can’t agree on what to eat.
The relaxed atmosphere and friendly staff make it a great place to spend an evening after a day of exploring the city.
Tuang Jaka Coffee
Near Taman Sari you find Tuang Jaka Coffee, a great spot for escaping the heat and enjoying a good cup of coffee while watching daily life pass by outside.
Indonesia produces some of the world’s best coffee and Yogyakarta has a thriving café scene. This was one of our favourite spots in the city centre.
Northern Yogyakarta & Mount Merapi Area
If we could only recommend one restaurant in Yogyakarta, this would probably be it.
Located north of the city, Warung Sop & Sate Sapi Pak Bayu serves some of the best satay we have eaten anywhere in Indonesia. The speciality here is beef satay, cooked over charcoal and served with a rich, flavourful sauce. They are also known for their giant beef ribs, sometimes nicknamed “Dinosaur Ribs” by visitors.
Despite being a little outside the city centre, the restaurant is popular with both locals and visitors. The service is quick, the prices are reasonable and everything we have tried here has been excellent.
If you’re planning a trip to Yogyakarta, this is one place we would happily go out of our way to visit.
For more information, read our full guide to the best satay in Yogyakarta.While central Yogyakarta has plenty of excellent restaurants, many of our favourite food experiences happened north of the city towards Mount Merapi.
We stayed in this area for almost a month and absolutely fell in love with it. The atmosphere here is completely different. Rice fields replace busy streets, temperatures are slightly cooler and meals often come with views of the surrounding countryside.
Warung Sop & Sate Sapi Pak Bayu
If we could only recommend one restaurant in Yogyakarta, this would probably be it.
Located north of the city, Warung Sop & Sate Sapi Pak Bayu serves some of the best food we have eaten anywhere in Indonesia. The speciality here is beef satay, cooked over charcoal and served with a rich, flavourful sauce. They are also known for their giant beef ribs, also called “Dinosaur Ribs”.
Despite being a little outside the city centre, the restaurant is popular with both locals and visitors. The service is quick, the prices are reasonable and everything we have tried here has been excellent. We stayed near this restaurant for almost a month and went countless times.
If you’re planning a trip to Yogyakarta, this is one place we would happily go out of our way to visit.
For more information, read our full guide to the best satay in Yogyakarta.
Oppio
Oppio combines good coffee, food and beautiful views in the middle of a rice field, making it one of our favourite cafés in the area. The architecture reminded us of Greece, such a surprise in this part of Yogyakarta.
Kopi Brug Londo
This café sits in a beautiful location and is well worth visiting for both the scenery and the coffee. We visited this place multiple times. The rooftop has beautiful views over the rice fields as well as Merapi. The owners made us feel super welcome.
Kopi Gajah Tengklek
Another excellent local coffee stop that perfectly captures the slower pace of life north of Yogyakarta. It’s situated in garden with a lake in the middle with multiple seating areas.
Mato Kopi Jakal
Beautiful restaurant and cafe with excellent coffee and a relaxed atmosphere. It’s a great place to spend a few hours working, reading or simply enjoying the surroundings.
Further North Towards Merapi
Some of our favourite cafés were found even further north, where rice fields, villages and views of Mount Merapi dominate the landscape.
Soto & Sop Mas Poer Pasar Pakem
This became one of our favourite local restaurants north of Yogyakarta.
The restaurant specialises in traditional Indonesian soups and stews and offers an authentic local experience away from the city’s main tourist areas. The food is simple, comforting and full of flavour.
WARUNG MAKAN PAK JAN
Warung Makan Pak Jan is another fantastic local place, located towards Mount Merapi, they served amazing tongseng and satay. It’s just a small house where they cook and have a few tables. Our favorite kind of places in Indonesia.
We stopped here several times and always enjoyed the food. The relaxed atmosphere and consistently good cooking made it one of our regular lunch spots whenever we stayed in the area.
Warung Kopi Klotok
Lovely place surrounded by countryside serving traditional Indonesian dishes and great coffee. The restaurant is often busy with local families and visitors, which is usually a very good sign.
Amurwa Garden & Resto
Great relaxed place by the road towards Merapi. Friendly service and a mix of Indonesian and western cuisine.
Our Favourite Area for Food
While central Yogyakarta has plenty of excellent restaurants, we found ourselves returning again and again to the northern areas around Mount Merapi.
The combination of local restaurants, coffee shops, rice fields and mountain views created a completely different atmosphere from the city centre. Some of our most memorable meals in Yogyakarta were enjoyed here, often with a view of the surrounding countryside rather than busy city streets.
If you’re staying in Yogyakarta for more than a couple of days, we highly recommend spending some time exploring this part of the region. You may end up loving it as much as we did.