Exploring the Plant-Based Food Scene in Jakarta, Indonesia
Disclaimer: These are solely my observations through my experience and may not be representative/accurate
It’s been almost 2 months since I came back home to Jakarta, Indonesia. And naturally, I have to explore the plant-based food options here, especially since I know I’ll be here only for the summer and my time is limited. Coming home this time felt different because, pandemic aside, it is the first time that I have come home since I became enthralled in the plant-based food industry. I know that I’d have to lower my expectations and it wouldn’t be possible to compare the plant-based food options here with the ones in the United States. However, I am genuinely surprised to find out that the plant-based food scene here is much more developed than I had expected. Below are my observations that I picked up while exploring the plant-based food scene in Jakarta, Indonesia.
- There is a plethora of traditionally vegan Indonesian foods
Indonesia is not a nation that traditionally consumes meat on a daily basis. Given how Indonesia is not a developed country, the majority of the population does not consume meat on a daily basis. This is not because they choose not to, but rather because it wouldn’t be possible for them economically to do so. Instead, they rely on vegetables to fuel them on a daily basis and only consume meat during special occasions. As a result, Indonesia has a lot of traditionally vegan foods. An example of this would be Ketoprak (a dish that is made up of tofu, rice cakes, vermicelli, and vegetables all doused in peanut sauce) — an Indonesian salad if you will.
2. The majority of plant-based restaurants are opened by individuals who are plant-based due to religious reasons
Around 1.7 million Indonesians consider themselves Buddhists. Although this makes up only about 0.8% of the total population, 1.7 million is still a large number. One of the main lessons of Buddhism revolves around compassion and this results in many Buddhists who choose not to consume meat and/or meat products. As a result, there are many restaurants in Indonesia that have been around for many years, some even over a decade, that cater to people in this ethnography.
These restaurants serve cuisines ranging from Indonesian cuisine to Chinese-Indonesian cuisine. And while the restaurants generally are unassuming, the foods are top-notch and very affordable! What more can you ask when you have a craving to satisfy, right? 😋
3. New-school plant-based restaurants are on the rise
While the majority of the plant-based restaurants here are considered “old-school”, there have been a lot of new plant-based restaurants popping up. These restaurants generally serve foods that are Instagrammable and many serve plant-based Western fares. It is interesting to point out that the majority of these restaurants are located in South Jakarta — an area known for its expatriate and affluent Indonesian community. While the foods are more expensive than the old-school plant-based restaurants, it is important to note that the target market of these restaurants is generally younger people who are concerned with their health and/or the sustainability and ethics of animal agriculture, and are willing to pay a premium to eat plant-based foods.
4. More and more chain restaurants are serving plant-based food options
Just a couple of years ago, it would unthinkable to purchase a plant-based burger from a fast-food chain here in Indonesia. Yet the unthinkable happened. Earlier this year, Burger King in Indonesia released a plant-based Whopper using patties made by The Vegetarian Butcher. While the Whopper still contains non-vegan mayonnaise and is cooked in the same equipment as the animal-based patties, it is still a huge win for the local plant-based community. The best part is, Burger King is not alone here.
Also earlier this year, Starbucks Indonesia partnered with Green Rebel Foods which is the sister company of Burgreens, a prominent Indonesian plant-based restaurant chain, to launch a series of plant-based sandwiches. They even launched a fully vegan BBQ meatball sandwich earlier this month, a feat that even Starbucks in the United States still couldn’t achieve. In addition, you can also now customize drinks using plant-based milk alternatives for their drinks.
These are only 2 examples out of the now-many chains in Indonesia serving plant-based food options. The best part is, this is only the beginning. I’m sure that as time passes, the demand will surge even higher.
5.) The plant-based retail scene is not as developed as the plant-based foodservice scene
I remembered back when I was still living in the US, I would often scour grocery stores to look for the newest plant-based product in the market. Unfortunately, I could not do the same here in Jakarta, Indonesia. The majority of the plant-based products I can find in retail are imported, and the options are also limited. While there are local options, they are generally made by SMEs that are not readily available in grocery stores. The most prominent local plant-based retail product is Green Rebel Foods (although they definitely still need improvement in packaging! 😅). Even then, their products are quite expensive for Indonesian standards and are also only available in select grocery stores.
Indonesia may not be close to the United States as of plant-based innovation as of now. But it is important to remember that most Indonesians are only beginning to become familiar with the terms “plant-based”, “vegan”, and “vegetarian”, and it is not surprising to find many getting confused over the terms. For a country that is only beginning to familiarize itself with this industry, it is impressive what is already achieved so far. The plant-based foods that I have tried so far have mostly been delicious and what they lack in texture, they make up in flavor. I genuinely can’t wait for what is in store for the Indonesian plant-based food industry, and don’t be surprised when it grows exponentially in the time to come! Onwards and upwards. 🌱🚀
