A Tasteful Morning in Glodok, Jakarta’s Chinatown

Last Sunday, my boyfriend and I went to explore Jakarta's Chinatown in Glodok, Pancoran. It was our first time there—and our first time visiting a real Chinatown, too. Like true tourists, we didn't really know what to expect—but it felt like stepping into a completely different realm.

And we really enjoyed the experience.

We started our morning by getting dropped off in front of Glodok's famous food court, Petak Enam. Located on one of Glodok’s busy streets, the exterior might fool you—it looks small from the outside but is actually huge inside. I’ve heard there's even a badminton court somewhere in there.

Upon entering, we were greeted by the familiar vibe of a hawker center-style eatery. Rows of vendors selling regional specialties lined both our right and left. How appealing! 

You have no idea how much I wanted to buy all the dishes there. Thankfully, my boyfriend and I managed to resist the temptation. For breakfast, we only bought:

Left - Two pieces of fried meatballs from Bakso Goreng Goki (IDR 32,000)

Upper right - One burning puff from Power Puff - Taiwanese Burning Puff (IDR 22,000)

Lower right - Five pieces of baked kuo-tie from Kuo-Tie Shantung Ling (IDR 37,000)

Everything tasted wonderful—the kuo-tie was great, the meatballs were meaty and delicious, and the burning puff was oh-so-amazing! What a delightful breakfast!

Since we were already quite full, we decided to wander around Glodok a little. We didn’t feel like exploring the deeper alleys, so there wasn’t much to visit—but there was something about strolling down the busy morning street that just felt… fulfilling. Glodok just had that vibe, I guess, and we were both so into it.

After our little walk, we returned to Petak Enam and bought fried cempedak from Cempedak Goreng Special Cik Lina (IDR 25,000). I loved it SO MUCH! My boyfriend? Of course not. He’s so picky about fruit (you’re welcome to kindly roast him here).

Well, that wrapped up our foodie adventure in Glodok. We didn’t stay for lunch because we had to go to church afterward, but we would love to come back someday.

Glodok’s food? We love you.

If you like this post, you might also enjoy Four Days, Two Stomachs: A Culinary Endeavor in Thailand and A Glamping Place Recommendation (With a Hidden Zipper to Watch Out!).