To order at an Indonesian warung (small family eatery), point at what you want and say "Saya mau ini, satu" (I want this one). Ask the price with "Berapa?" (how much?), say "Tidak pedas" if you don't want it spicy, and ask "Bungkus" to take it away or "Makan di sini" to eat in. To pay, say "Mbak/Mas, bayar" (Miss/Sir, the bill).
A warung is a small, often family-run eatery — the cheapest and most authentic way to eat in Indonesia. Most have no printed menu in English, so a handful of Indonesian words goes a long way and almost always earns a warm smile.
The simplest method is to point and count: "Ini satu, ini dua" (this one, that one — two). At a warung nasi campur (mixed-rice stall) you point at the dishes behind the glass and they pile them onto rice. Always ask "Berapa?" before you commit, because warungs rarely show prices.
Spice level matters: dishes can be very hot. Say "Tidak pedas" (not spicy) or "Sedikit pedas" (a little spicy). The chili paste sambal is usually served on the side — leave it if you can't handle heat.
When you're done, you don't go to a counter — you call the staff over ("Mbak" for a young woman, "Mas" for a young man) and say "bayar" (pay) or "berapa semua?" (how much for everything?).
Mbak, nasi goreng ayam satu, tidak pedas, ya.
Miss, one chicken fried rice, not spicy, please.
Ini apa? — Berapa?
What is this? — How much?
Es teh satu, air putih satu.
One iced tea, one plain water.
Bungkus, ya. Terima kasih.
To take away, please. Thank you.
Mas, bayar. Berapa semua?
Sir, the bill. How much for everything?
Warungs are cash-first — bring small notes (Rp 2,000–50,000). Many won't accept cards or e-wallets, though city warungs increasingly take QRIS (scan-to-pay).
You don't tip at a warung; rounding up is plenty. Eat with your right hand (or a spoon and fork — the fork pushes food onto the spoon, which goes in your mouth). And "nasi campur" pricing is by what you take — a modest plate is usually Rp 15,000–30,000.
Do I need to speak Indonesian to eat at a warung?+
No — pointing and counting works. But "Berapa?" (how much), "Tidak pedas" (not spicy) and "Bungkus" (take away) make everything smoother and are genuinely appreciated.
How do I ask for the bill?+
There's no counter. Call the staff — "Mbak" (young woman) or "Mas" (young man) — and say "bayar" (pay) or "berapa semua?" (how much for everything?).
How do I order vegetarian food?+
Say "Saya vegetarian" or "Tanpa daging" (without meat) and "tanpa ayam" (without chicken). Watch for fish/shrimp paste (terasi) in sambal and some sauces — add "tanpa terasi" to be safe.
Is warung food safe for tourists?+
Generally yes — busy warungs with high turnover are a good sign. Choose freshly cooked, hot dishes and bottled or "air putih" water rather than untreated tap water.
What does "warung" actually mean?+
A warung is a small, usually family-owned shop or eatery. A "warung makan" serves food; you'll also see "warkop" (warung kopi = coffee stall) and "warteg" (Tegal-style mixed-rice warung).
Order like a local everywhere in Indonesia
Practice food ordering, numbers and prices with IndoLingua's native audio and dictation — so you understand the answers and sound natural at the warung.
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