Experience an unforgettable culinary adventure in Medan, with various legendary eateries and specialties that will pamper your tongue!
Medan, the capital of North Sumatra, is renowned as a city with incredible cultural and culinary diversity. Medan’s signature dishes combine rich local flavors with influences from various regions in Indonesia, making it the perfect place for foodies.
From meat-based dishes to mouth-watering sweet treats, Medan offers a variety of choices that make every visit an unforgettable culinary experience. Here are the 10 best culinary attractions in Medan that you must try when visiting.
1. Sate Memeng: Legendary Satay with Special Seasoning
Sate Memeng is one of Medan’s culinary icons that is already famous among locals and tourists. Located at Jalan Irian Barat No. 1, Gang Buntu, East Medan, Sate Memeng serves satay with a taste that is very different from satay in general. The main uniqueness of this satay is the seasoning used, which is made from selected spices that make it richer in taste.
You can choose various types of meat you want to eat, from beef, goat, to chicken. All types of meat are grilled to perfection, resulting in a tender texture and flavor that penetrates into the meat fibers.
The special seasoning poured over the satay provides a savory, spicy, and slightly sweet taste that is appetizing.
As part of Typical North Sumatra Food, Sate Memeng is a must-visit culinary destination for anyone visiting Medan.
2. Ucok Durian: Durian Heaven in the Middle of the City
For durian lovers, Ucok Durian is a must-visit place when in Medan. Located on Jalan KH. Wahid Hasyim No. 30-32, Ucok Durian is known for its fresh durian that is available all year round. Unlike most places that only sell durian during the season, at Ucok Durian you can enjoy durian anytime.
This place offers a variety of durian choices that can be chosen according to your taste. The durian served here is famous for its sweet taste and soft flesh texture.
In addition, Ucok Durian also offers various other durian dishes, such as fried durian and stuffed durian, which will further enrich your culinary experience in Medan.
3. Lontong Kak Lin: An Appetizing Typical Medan Breakfast
Lontong Kak Lin is a favorite breakfast place for many people in Medan. Located in front of SMA 1 Medan, Lontong Kak Lin offers Medan’s signature vegetable lontong that is different from the others.
Although it looks similar to regular vegetable lontong, Lontong Kak Lin has a richer and bolder taste.
The lontong is served with thick coconut milk sauce and savory peanut sauce. Added with fresh vegetables and boiled eggs, Lontong Kak Lin is the perfect choice for breakfast. In addition to lontong, here you can also try other menus, such as savory rice and pecel, which are no less delicious.
4. Kumango Asian Duck Vermicelli: Delicious Duck Vermicelli with Special Broth
Bihun Bebek Asie Kumango, located on Jalan Kumango, offers one of Medan’s most popular dishes: duck vermicelli.
This duck vermicelli is served with a rich duck broth, cooked with a variety of selected spices. The savory taste and the spices that are absorbed make this duck vermicelli very delicious.
Although the price of a portion of duck vermicelli at this shop is quite expensive, around IDR 60,000, the large portion and extraordinary taste make it very worth it.
Chewy rice noodles combined with tender duck meat and delicious broth will make you want to come back again and again.
5. Sipirok Restaurant: Tempting Beef Soup
Sipirok Restaurant, located on Jalan Gatot Subroto, Medan, is known for its mouth-watering beef soup dishes. The meat used is cooked with rich spices, so the taste of the broth is very savory and seeps into the meat. No wonder the meat soup here is one of the favorite menus of visitors.
The meat is very tender and easy to cut, while the rich broth makes every mouthful delicious. Rumah Makan Sipirok’s beef soup is perfect with warm rice. If you are a lover of traditional Medan cuisine, this place must be on your list of visits.
6. Tip-Top Restaurant: Legendary Cuisine with a Colonial Touch
Tip-Top Restaurant, located on Jalan Ahmad Yani, is one of the legendary culinary places in Medan. This restaurant has been around since the Dutch colonial era, and still maintains traditional recipes that have not changed until now. One of the mainstay menus here is homemade ice cream served with various classic flavors.
In addition to ice cream, Tip-Top Restaurant also serves a variety of mouth-watering Western and local dishes, from steaks, pasta, to Medan specialties.
The restaurant’s colonial-themed atmosphere makes it the perfect place to enjoy delicious dishes while reminiscing.
7. Mie Aceh Titi Bobrok: Aceh Noodles with a Tempting Spicy Sensation
For spicy food lovers, Mie Aceh Titi Bobrok is a must visit. Located on Jalan Setia Budi, Mie Aceh Titi Bobrok offers Acehnese noodles with thick curry sauce that is very spicy and appetizing. The noodles are chewy and have a strong spice flavor, making every mouthful delicious.
This dish is served with slices of beef, lamb, or seafood, providing a wonderful combination of flavors. Aceh noodles here are served with crispy crackers, adding to the enjoyment when eating them.
8. Martabak Yurich: Premium Martabak with Various Toppings
Martabak Yurich is a very popular place in Medan to enjoy sweet martabak and egg martabak with premium flavors.
Located in the Medan area, Martabak Yurich offers a variety of premium toppings, ranging from chocolate, cheese, nuts, to Oreos and fruits.
The martabak here is famous for using high-quality ingredients, which makes the taste of the martabak so special. The soft texture of the martabak skin and the rich toppings make it one of the best martabak in Medan.
9. Wajir Seafood: Enjoy Fresh Seafood
Medan is also known for its delicious seafood, and Wajir Seafood is the best place to enjoy fresh seafood. Located on Jalan Kolonel Sugiono, Wajir Seafood serves various seafood such as shrimp, squid, fish, and crab cooked with various selected spices.
This restaurant offers various ways of cooking seafood, from fried, grilled, to boiled, all served with strong spices and mouth-watering flavors. If you are a seafood lover, Wajir Seafood is a must-visit.
10. Tabona Restaurant: Legendary Vermicelli Curry
Tabona Restaurant is a place famous for its delicious and legendary vermicelli curry. Located on Jalan Mangkubumi, Medan, the vermicelli curry here has a thick and savory curry sauce, combined with vermicelli, tender beef, potatoes, and special spices.
Tabona vermicelli curry is a dish that has become an inseparable part of Medan cuisine. Many tourists and locals come back here to enjoy this unique and mouth-watering dish.
Medan is a culinary paradise that offers a variety of dishes that not only pamper the tongue but also tempt the taste buds with rich flavors.
From the legendary satay at Sate Memeng to fresh seafood at Wajir Seafood, every culinary place in Medan has its own charm that makes it unique.
So, if you are planning to visit Medan, don’t miss the chance to try all the best culinary tours mentioned above.
Enjoy an extraordinary culinary experience with Typical Medan Food and make your vacation in Medan full of unforgettable taste memories!
