Glodok after dark: how to eat well in Jakarta's Chinatown
Noodles, dim sum and sweet soups in the alleys of Glodok. What to order, what to skip and how to walk it safely.
Glodok is Jakarta's Chinatown and one of the densest food districts in the city. Many stalls have run for decades, and the menus reflect Hokkien, Hakka and local Betawi cooking side by side.
Go in the early evening, when the lanes are busy but still easy to walk. Start with a bowl of noodle soup or a plate of mie, then try a dessert stall for a warm sweet soup. Order one dish at a time and share, so you can taste more of the neighbourhood without getting full too early.
Keep your bag in front of you in crowded alleys and leave expensive jewellery at the hotel. A guided food walk takes care of ordering and timing for you, and it is the easiest way to try places that have no English menu.