7 Delicious and Affordable Meals You HAVE to Try in Batam!
Photo Source : @UiHua Cheah
Whether you’re a foodie or a traveller on a budget, you’re in for a treat in Batam. Beyond beaches, culture, and shopping, Batam is a food haven that offers both affordable local dishes and upscale international cafes.
If you’re planning to eat like a local, these are 7 must-try dishes that locals swear by (and you will love):
1. Nasi campur (mixed rice) - variety is everything
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Just like in Malaysia, nasi campur is the ultimate pick-and-mix meal that starts with a generous heap of steaming white rice.
Dishes vary by stall - some lean towards regional specialties like Nasi Padang or Nasi Jawa, while others offer more general fare.
Either way, you can’t go wrong with local favourites like ampela ati sambal (chicken liver and gizzard in sambal), tumis kacang tempe (stir-fried tempeh and long beans), telur balado (spicy eggs), and different styles of chicken, beef, fish, and curries. The list is endless!
Don’t forget to elevate your meal with sambal! Most nasi campur places have at least two sambals. Red sambal balado and green sambal ijo are must-haves on every plate.
Price:
Rp15,000 - Rp30,000 (RM3.90 - RM7.80) on average
2. Pecel lele (Fried catfish with sambal) - delicious no-frills meals
Photo Source : @UiHua Cheah
Pecel lele is an Indonesian “everyman” meal that’s both delicious and affordable.
The dish consists of a deep-fried catfish, fresh vegetables, fried tempeh and/or tofu, rice, and sambal. The lele (catfish) itself is crispy on the outside while retaining the characteristic firmness of catfish meat on the inside. Eaten with sambal terasi (shrimp paste sambal), it’s a dance of flavours in your mouth!
If you’re not a fan of catfish, most stalls also have pecel ayam, which substitutes catfish for chicken.
Traveller tip: Don’t confuse this dish with pecel, which is a peanut sauce salad!
Price:
Rp10,000 - 20,000 (RM2.60 - RM5.20).
3. Mie goreng - A Malaysian favourite, but better in Indonesia
Photo Source : @UiHua Cheah
Mie goreng is that simple, tasty fried noodle dish that we’re all familiar with. They’re typically made with yellow noodles or instant noodles, and cooked with egg, dark soy sauce, seasoning, meat, and vegetables. Of course, you can also get additional add-on proteins such as beef and seafood.
Batam has their own mie goreng specialty called mie goreng kerang. It includes cockles, which adds a briny umami taste to the noodles. It’s a must try!
Price:
Rp15,000 - Rp25,000 (RM3.90 - RM6.50)
4. Live Seafood - Not as expensive as you think!
Photo Source : @UiHua Cheah
Yes, Batam is famous for seafood and, yes, you can enjoy it on a budget.
Most restaurants offer fresh seafood cooked to order. If you’re feeling homesick, Malaysian and Singaporean cooking styles like chilli crab and kam heong are usually available!
Prices for live seafood is seasonal, but still affordable. For example, you can get:
- 500g of live prawns for Rp77,000 - RP96,000 (RM20 - RM25)
- One-person serving of scallops for Rp54,000 (RM14)
- Plate of clams (lala) for Rp32,500(RM8.50)
- Plate of fried squid for Rp46,000 (RM12)
If you’re eating alone, it’s very possible to have a seafood meal for under RM30. Many restaurants also serve seafood-based meals like seafood fried rice for less.
Price:
Seasonal, but affordable
5. Ayam Penyet (Squeezed chicken) - Squeezing every ounce of flavour
Photo Source : @UiHua Cheah
Named after the process of squeezing fried chicken against mortar to tenderize it, ayam penyet is a popular dish in both Indonesia and Malaysia.
The chicken is marinated in yellow bumbu (spice paste) before frying, and is both crispy and aromatic. It’s served with white rice, fried tempeh and tofu, and fresh vegetables.
The most important element of any ayam penyet dish is the sambal. Ayam penyet sambal is usually tomato based and extra spicy, though some stalls offer sambal ijo, which is more tart.
Other variations of ayam penyet include beef, squid, fish, and even vegetables - all marinated in that signature yellow bumbu.
Price
Rp20,000 - Rp30,000 (RM5.20 - RM7.80)
6. Mie bakso (Meatball noodles) - Not your regular meatballs
Photo Source : @UiHua Cheah
Bakso are meatballs typically made from beef and/or chicken. They’re usually served in the form of mie bakso, with noodles in a hot, tasty broth.
While it sounds simple, there are enough creative variations of mie bakso that you’ll never be able to try them all in a single trip. For example, theres:
- Bakso selimut (egg-wrapped bakso)
- Bakso mercon (bakso filled with extra spicy sambal)
- Bakso urat (made from tendon)
- Bakso bola tenis (giant bakso filled with a hard-boiled egg or different meats
But perhaps the most interesting of all is bakso beranak, which is a giant bakso filled with smaller bakso!
Mie bakso is best eaten with condiments such as fried shallots, kechap manis (sweet sauce), vinegar, and sambal for that extra kick.
Price:
Rp8,000 - Rp13,000 (RM2.10 - RM3.40 for regular bakso, Rp20,000 (RM5.20) and above for special bakso
7. Nasi goreng
Photo Source : @UiHua Cheah
The unofficial national dish of Indonesia, nasi goreng here is as good as it gets.
The dish itself is simple, often flavoured with sweet soy sauce and a spice mix; and served with a sunny-side up egg. But don’t let its simplicity fool you though - there’s a lot of flavour packed in each bite!
The secret behind Indonesian nasi goreng’s deliciousness lies in the bumbu. Whether freshly prepared, from a packet, or a mixture of both - the Indonesian version just hits different compared to its Malaysian cousin.
Just like Malaysia though, you can get varieties such as nasi goreng kampung, nasi goreng merah, and nasi goreng sosis.
Price:
Rp15,000 - Rp30,000 (RM3.90 - RM7.80)
Batam locals will happily share their favourite food spots!
Photo Source : @UiHua Cheah
Don’t be afraid to talk to the locals. Indonesians are very hospitable, especially when it comes to food. They’ll know the main tourist favourites like Love Seafood, but dig a little deeper and they’ll recommend stalls and warungs that they frequent.
Here’s a little talking tip if you’re shy: Talk to your e-hailing driver - it’s a perfect time to strike up a conversation! Otherwise, you can also hire a car and driver, which isn’t too expensive. Better yet, your driver can also double-up as an unofficial tour guide. Click here to read our Batam transportation guide.
One thing’s for sure though, your food journey can only begin with a ferry trip to Batam. In this case, there’s no better place than Berjaya Waterfront. With spacious, air-conditioned high-speed ferries to get you there in under 2 hours, you’ll barely have time to build up an appetite!