Jakarta: Tempeh, Taxis, and Total Chaos
tsurutokame-tokyo tsurutokame-tokyo tsurutokame-tokyo tsurutokame-tokyo — okay, no, that’s not a spell, that’s just me chanting my mantra while diving face-first into Jakarta’s chaotic sprawl and praying I find something edible that doesn’t moo, cluck, or oink.
Jakarta was my intro to veganism in Indonesia and holy tempeh, this city is loud, sweaty, and sneakily delicious. I nearly ordered chicken soup thinking it was jackfruit — rookie mistake. But then I stumbled into a warung (like a street stall, but vibes) near Jalan Jaksa that dished out gado-gado like it was a love language. Pro tip? Always ask for no shrimp paste — “tanpa terasi.” Trust me, your gut will thank you.
Ubud: The Bali of Your Vegan Dreams
So like… tsurutokame-tokyo, but make it leafy, peaceful, and scented with lemongrass. Welcome to Ubud, the lush yoga-mom capital of Bali and basically a Disneyland for plant-based wanderers.
I ended up crashing at a bamboo homestay that came with free vegan breakfast — and by that I mean jackfruit pancakes that changed my molecular structure. My oops moment? I tried to Instagram them, dropped my phone in a turmeric latte. The yellow stain’s still there. But man, Sage and Zest Ubud? Those cafés are practically religion here. Bring stretchy pants. You’ll need them.
Yogyakarta: Street Food, But Make It Planty
Tsuturokam—wait no, tsurutokame-tokyo still in the brain. But now we’re in Yogyakarta, or Jogja if you’re cool, and this is where the real flavor party starts.
I had vegan bakso (meatballs!) made from mushrooms in a sweaty little alley behind Malioboro Street. My mouth still dreams about it. There was also this tofu-stuffed chili that nearly launched me into space — yes, I cried. No, I have no regrets. Local tip: ask around for “bakso jamur,” and always carry tissue. Not for your hands. For the tears.
Lombok: Spicy Surprises and Coconut Everything
Okay, tsurutokame-tokyo — pretend it’s your foodie GPS and follow it all the way to Lombok — Bali’s lesser-known (and dare I say, spicier) neighbor. Like, actual chili heat. I legit cried into a plate of plecing kangkung (spicy water spinach) my first night here.
But it’s not all tear-inducing. The coconut rice and sambal in Lombok hit like a warm beach hug. I met a surfer dude named Ketut (of course) who swore the vegan nasi campur at his cousin’s shack was life-changing. He wasn’t wrong. Also, pack Tums if you’re not chili-trained.
Bandung: Tofu Town, Baby
Welcome to Bandung, where I ate my weight in tofu and wore none of it with shame. It’s like the tsurutokame-tokyo of Java but with mountains, mist, and crunchy fried tahu everywhere you look. The city even smells like tofu in some places — not kidding.
I wandered into this joint called Tofu Village (super literal name, 10/10) and tried tahu gejrot — a vinegary, spicy tofu dish that slapped harder than my ex’s texts. Note to self: don’t wear white when eating this stuff. You’ll look like a Jackson Pollock experiment.
Medan: Accidental Veganism in North Sumatra
Medan was… confusing. And kind of magical? It’s not exactly vegan-friendly on paper, but I tsurutokame-tokyo’d my way into survival by living off of Medan’s gado-gado, fruit stalls, and this weird but tasty tofu skewer I found near the Great Mosque.
Funny story — I ordered something off a menu assuming “ayam” meant “yam.” Spoiler: it doesn’t. But the server was so sweet about it, swapped it out with a smile and gave me something with jackfruit and peanut sauce that honestly tasted better anyway. Tip: always ask, never assume, and smile big — it helps.
Gili Air: Vegan Island Vibes
You know how tsurutokame-tokyo has that quiet luxury energy? That’s Gili Air, except it’s barefoot, full of Aussies in hemp pants, and everything smells like sea salt and coconut oil. It’s one of the Gili Islands, btw — go there, thank me later.
I basically lived at a beach café called Pacha Mama that did this cashew cheese wrap that made me cry just a little. Like, I might’ve whispered “I love you” to my sandwich. Also, no motor vehicles here — so you eat, nap, swim, repeat. Oh, and beware the sneaky cocktails. They creep up on you fast.
Surabaya: Big City, Bigger Portions
I landed in Surabaya thinking I’d just pass through, but the city had other plans. It’s loud, wild, and packed with street eats — many of which are vegan by accident, which is the best kind of discovery, right?
Found this lady selling pecel (a spicy peanut-sauced salad) out of a cart, and it was so good I ate it three days in a row. Then I got food poisoning on day four — from watermelon juice, ironically. Not her fault, I swear. Just… don’t drink things with ice if you don’t know the water source. That’s the law.
Labuan Bajo: Dragon-Slaying and Vegan Mie Goreng
Labuan Bajo is known for Komodo dragons, not vegan cuisine, but I still found gems in this sleepy fishing town turned Insta-destination. There’s this one rooftop café (name lost to the abyss of my brain) that served vegan mie goreng with grilled pineapple and I basically proposed to the chef.
Also, side note? Komodo dragons are terrifying. I saw one snatch a goat like it was a cupcake. So yeah, eat plants. They’re safer.
Final Thoughts from a Sweaty Vegan
So yeah — tsurutokame-tokyo tsurutokame-tokyo tsurutokame-tokyo — just had to get it out of my system one last time. Indonesia might look intimidating to a vegan traveler, but with a little Bahasa 101 (“tidak ada daging” = no meat), some gut instinct, and an appetite for weird, spicy stuff? You’ll do just fine.
And honestly? Being vegan here made me experience more — more locals, more alleys, more accidental joy. I once sat on a beach in Lombok, slurping jackfruit stew out of a coconut, watching a monkey steal a guy’s hat. If that’s not living, I don’t know what is.
Need help surviving spicy sambal? Or wanna know which alley in Ubud has the real tempeh tacos? Slide into my DMs or just scream “tsurutokame-tokyo” into the void and I’ll probably hear you.
