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Best Food in Medan (2026)
Medan is famous for its bold, spicy, and coconut-rich cuisine. You cannot leave without trying Mie Aceh, a thick noodle dish stir-fried with seafood and curry spices, or Saksang… 🍜 Must-Try Dishes
Medan is famous for its bold, spicy, and coconut-rich cuisine. You cannot leave without trying Mie Aceh, a thick noodle dish stir-fried with seafood and curry spices, or Saksang, a pork dish cooked in blood and coconut milk. For a sweet treat, seek out Durian Pancake or the creamy Es Campur dessert.
🏪 Top Street Food Spots
Head to Jalan Selat Panjang (also known as Jalan Semarang) for an evening food walk with dozens of stalls. Try the legendary Mie Aceh at Mie Aceh Seulawah, located at Jalan Selat Panjang No. 12, open from 6 PM to midnight. Another must-visit is the Sate Padang stall at Jalan Karya Wisata, where skewers cost around IDR 20,000 per portion.
🍽️ Iconic Restaurants
For a sit-down meal, visit Garuda Restaurant at Jalan Pemuda No. 6, known for its authentic Padang food served in the classic nasi kapau style. Another institution is Tip Top Restaurant at Jalan Ahmad Yani No. 92, a colonial-era spot serving Indonesian and Western dishes since 1934. Expect to spend around IDR 50,000, 100,000 per person.
🥟 Where to Find Bakmi
Bakmi (noodles) is a Medan staple. Bakmi Aloi at Jalan K.H. Zainul Arifin No. 8 serves springy noodles with char siu and wontons for about IDR 35,000. For a legendary bowl, try Bakmi Hock Seng at Jalan Sisingamangaraja No. 45, open from 7 AM to 2 PM, where the queue often stretches down the block.
🍨 Best Desserts and Drinks
Cool down with Es Campur Sari at Jalan Hindu No. 12, a shaved ice dessert with coconut, jackfruit, and condensed milk for IDR 15,000. For a unique drink, order Teh Susu Jahe (ginger milk tea) from a street vendor near Lapangan Merdeka. Durian lovers should visit Durian House at Jalan Setia Budi No. 88 for fresh durian and durian pancakes.
📍 Neighborhood Food Tours
Explore the Kesawan area around Jalan Ahmad Yani for a mix of Chinese and Malay food stalls. The area around Merdeka Square is great for evening street food, especially the grilled fish and satay. For a more local experience, visit the Pasar Petisah market in the morning to sample fresh soto and lontong.
💵 Price Guide and Tips
Street food portions typically cost IDR 10,000, 30,000, while restaurant meals range from IDR 40,000, 100,000. Bring cash as many stalls do not accept cards. Most street food vendors operate from late afternoon until midnight, so plan your food crawl accordingly.
I've been to that Mie Aceh Seulawah spot a few times and can confirm it's worth the wait. The curry broth there is thicker than most places in Medan, almost like a gravy, and they don't skimp on the crab or shrimp. If you go on a Friday night, get there by 7 PM or you'll be standing in line for 40 minutes.
One thing the guide doesn't mention is the nasi goreng kambing at the stalls near Lapangan Merdeka around midnight. There's a guy with a blue cart who fries the rice with goat meat and a heavy dose of cumin, costs about IDR 25,000. It's a different beast from the usual nasi goreng, much more aromatic and greasy in the best way.
For durian, I'd skip Durian House and walk to the corner of Jalan Setia Budi and Jalan Kapten Maulana Lubis instead. There's a guy with a pickup truck who sells Medan durian for half the price, around IDR 40,000 per fruit, and he'll crack it open for you right there. The quality varies but when it's good, it's better than anything in the air-conditioned shops.
Best day trips from Medan?
honestly i'd skip lake toba for a day trip, it's way too rushed. berastagi is solid but consider going a bit further to sipoholon near tarutung instead. there's a hot spring there called air panas that's less crowded than the ones near berastagi, plus the drive through the mountains is gorgeous with all the pine trees. you can grab a sate padang from a roadside warung on the way back, way better than the touristy stuff in town.
if you want something totally different, head to pematang siantar about 2 hours away. the pasar horas market is huge and chaotic but you'll find legit batak snacks like naniura (raw fish with herbs) and the old dutch-colonial buildings around jalan merdeka are cool for photos. not many tourists go there so it feels more authentic.
Lake Toba is technically doable in a day but you'll spend about 4-5 hours on the road each way, so I'd save that for a longer trip. For a proper day out, head to Berastagi early morning around 7am, grab some jagung bakar or fresh strawberry juice from the market, then hike Gunung Sibayak. The trail takes about 2 hours up and the crater views are worth it, plus there are hot springs near the base to soak your feet after. If you want something closer to Medan, the Tjong A Fie Mansion and Maimun Palace in the city center can be done in half a day with a batik workshop included.