While Batam is primarily known for being a core urban and industrial zone in the Riau Islands, it also boasts a diverse culinary scene that's sure to pique the interest of tourists.

Food courts and food markets can be found on nearly every corner of Batam City, making it easy to sample the local cuisine. Here are some must-try foods in Batam and the best restaurants in Batam for you to enjoy.

Restaurant name: Nasi Lemak Mak Ngah Tanjung Riau

Address: Tanjung Riau, Sekapung District

Open Hours: Daily, 07:00 am – 09:00 pm

One of the must-try foods in Batam is Nasi Lemak. Not only in Malaysia, Batam also has a distinctive Nasi Lemak. This food has a fairly savory taste, slightly oily, and spicy. In addition, there is a mixture of coconut milk in this food.

One serving of Nasi Lemak consists of finely ground ikan bilis, omelet, cucumber slices, fried chicken, chili sauce, and fried peanuts. The price of a serving of this nasi lemak is around SGD 5 to SGD 6. Enjoy a serving of Nasi Lemak with a cup of signature cold screwdriver tea.

Restaurant name: Mie Tarempa Sei Panas

Address: Graha Mas Regency J 10-11, Sei Panas, Sungai Panas

Open Hours: Daily, 07:00 am – 06:00 pm

Mie Tarempa is one of the best foods you must-try in Batam. This is one of Batam's specialties that is in great demand by locals and tourists. Mie Tarempa is made from egg dough, wheat flour, and various spices that make the noodles thicker and chewier. Tarempa noodles are usually served with beef or fish meat, both cob and skipjack fish.

In addition, Mie Tarempa can be served with gravy or without soup – it can be adjusted to your taste. You can also add chili sauce to make it more spicy. The best restaurant in Batam that serves Mie Tarempa is Mie Tarempa Sei Panas. A serving of Mie Tarempa costs around SGD 8 to SGD 10.

Restaurant name: Rumah Makan Yong Kee

Address: Nagoya City Center Regency E 8-9, Nagoya

Open Hours: Daily, 07:30 am – 09:00 pm

Want to try seafood in Batam? You should try Sop Ikan Batam. Generally, in Indonesia, you will taste chicken soup, but in Batam, you will taste Fish Soup. This is one of the most typical seafood in Batam. One serving of Sop Ikan Batam contains shrimp, squid, fish, fried onions, cayenne pepper, and green tomatoes. The soup is quite savory and slightly spicy. However, the level of sensitivity can be adjusted according to your taste.

Before eating Sop Ikan Batam, add a little sesame oil, soy sauce, and salted mustard greens – according to taste – as a flavor enhancer. You can eat this Sop Ikan Batam with vermicelli, warm rice, or yellow noodles. One of the best seafood restaurants in Batam that provides Sop Ikan Batam is Yong Kee Restaurant. One serving of Sop Ikan Batam is around SGD 18 to SGD 20.

Restaurant name: Mie Lendir Kasan Ciblek

Address: Batu Selicin, Lubuk Baja District

Open Hours: Daily, 08:00 am – 10:00 pm

We also recommend you to try the Slime Noodle. Mie Lendir is a typical Batam food that is quite unique. Mie Lendir is made from a mixture of bean sprouts, boiled eggs, yellow noodles, green chili pieces, celery, and fried onions. One serving of Mie Lendir will be served with a warm thick soup made from starch and selected spices.

You will taste sweet, savory, and spicy flavors in one bite. Mie Lendir is perfect for eating during the day or when the weather is cloudy. Try a serving of Mie Lendir at Mie Lendir Kasan Cibek restaurant. You will only pay around SGD 10 to get a serving of Mie Lendir.

Restaurant name: Kue Bingka Nayadam

Address: Puri Legenda D1 No. 3, Batam Center

Open Hours: Daily, 07:30 am – 09:00 pm

Looking for a sweet treat? Try Bingka Bakar Batam. This is the best-selling sweet snack in Batam. This cake is made from a mixture of sugar, coconut milk, eggs, and wheat flour which is then baked in the oven until cooked. The texture is quite dense yet soft – especially after the first bite. Usually, locals eat this cake at breakfast and in the afternoon with coffee, tea, or milk.

In addition, this cake has a variety of flavors ranging from pandanus, chocolate, sesame, dragon fruit, cheese, strawberry, and other flavors. For one box of this cake, you can buy it for SGD 25.

Restaurant name: Restoran Jawa-Melayu

Address: Kampung Tua Tanjung Piayu Riau

Open Hours: Daily, 09:00 am – 09:00 pm

The next must-try food in Batam is Tapis. Tapis is one of the top 3 must-try foods in Batam. This is a seafood dish made from processed sea shells. One serving of Tapis is usually served using a small plate with cayenne pepper sauce. With chili sauce, Tapis will taste savory and spicy after one bite.

As the name implies, the clams used are Tapis which are then given herbs and other spices and boiled until cooked. One of the restaurants that provides the most delicious Tapis is Javanese-Malay Restaurant. A serving of Tapis at this restaurant costs around SGD 10.

Restaurant name: Mie Selat Panjang Ciau Kilat

Address: Anggrek Permai St, Baloi Indah, Lubuk Baja District

Open Hours: Daily, 09:00 am – 09:00 pm

Selat Panjang Bean Noodle is one of the processed noodles that you must try while in Batam. Long Strait Bean Noodles are usually served with shrimp soup or peanut sauce. The soup is made from a mixture of nuts, coconut milk, shrimp, and other seasonings. These noodles will be served with boiled eggs, green chili slices, and fried onion slices.

Restaurant name: Golden Prawn 933

Address: Bangkok Laut St

Open Hours: Daily, 09:30 am – 11:00 pm

Another typical Batam food that you must try is Gonggong. Gonggong is a marine life that lives in Riau with a size of about 7 cm and is chewy when cooked. The shape of Gonggong is similar to a conch with a savory taste after cooking.

Usually, Gonggong is boiled with salt water and ginger to remove the fishy aroma. Before eating this food, separate the legs because they have a sharp and jagged texture. One serving of barking is about SGD 15.

Restaurant name: Otak-otak Batam Center

Address: Teluk Tering, Batam Kota District

Open Hours: Daily, 09:00 am – 09:00 pm

Otak-otak is one of the typical snacks in Batam. Although almost all over Indonesia has this food, in Batam otak-otak is processed with different spices. This food is made from fish that is processed using selected herbs and spices. In Batam, otak-otak is also savory and spicy and is usually eaten with peanut spices or cayenne sauce.

Restaurant name: Morning Bakery

Address: Tanah Mas Regency, Riau.

Open Hours: Daily, 09:00 am – 10:00 pm

Sago Noodles are a typical Batam food that is slightly different from Tarempa Noodles. This noodle has a chewy texture, large size, and distinctive aroma. Usually, these noodles are served with boiled eggs, bean sprouts, fish balls, pieces of fish meat, and shrimp.

Restaurant name: Kedai Teh Tarik Raja

Address: Batam City Center Area

Open Hours: Daily, 08:00 am – 10:00 pm

Are you confused about what to eat in Batam? You should try Nasi Dagong Batam. This food is processed rice served with barking meat and spices, then wrapped using banana leaves. Usually, this food is eaten at breakfast with warm teh tarik.

Restaurant name: Ikan Bakar Pak Ndut

Address: Batam City Center Area

Open Hours: Daily, 10:00 am – 09:00 pm

While in Batam, don't miss Ikan Bakar. This food is the main and most sought-after food by locals and tourists. One of the restaurants with the most delicious grilled fish that you must try is Ikan Bakar Pak Ndut. In this restaurant, there are various types of grilled fish. There are pomfret fish, carp, baronage fish, tilapia, and other types of fish.

In addition, the fish served is fresh fish that comes directly from the sea. Two people can eat one portion of grilled fish in this restaurant. You will pay around SGD 25 to SGD 35 to eat a portion of grilled fish at Ikan Bakar Pak Ndut restaurant.

Those are some must-try foods in Batam that you can choose for your next trip. This way, you will no longer be confused about what foods are the most popular, and you must try. Ask your family, friends, and partner to join and try these foods. To avoid running out of places, visit early or make reservations in advance.

You can book ferry tickets in advance using the Traveloka application. For easier trips, plan your vacation starting with hotel reservations, attractions, flight ticket reservations, to train ticket reservations at Traveloka.

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