So Sweet, These are 4 Affordable Snacks and Beverages in Jakarta

By Felix Nathanael 

on November 24, 2025

What do you guys know or think about Jakarta? For me, Jakarta is not just my home, but the place that give so much hope for me. Jakarta has given me its 'mentality' that makes me grow as the though man in their lots of problem. Well, if we discuss about Jakarta, it is more than just a capital city of Indonesia. Do you think Jakarta is a best place for having education? You can find lots of international school or prestige school here. Or do you think Jakarta is the place with the worst traffic jam? Yeah, I admit as the person who has lived there, it is sucks. And do you guys know Jakarta is the most expensive city in Indonesia?

Unfortunately, yes. As a capital city and its GDP, Jakarta is the most expensive city in Indonesia. This statement would be making sense if you see Jakarta is crowded. There are so many activities held here such as economical, governmental, and medical. Because this article is talking about food, and I also here as a food enthusiastic, let's start with the statement that we still can easily find food, hospital, hotel, and stages. 

But one thing that you guys need to know about Jakarta is, not all people here are rich. It's totally incorrect! Jakarta is a diverse city, makes its diversity is not just measured with how many tribes that we have here, but here we also have to take a look for the diversity of citizens' economical level. Let us say, he rich will tend to buy the expensive one. They are quite rare to buy the cheap food, then vice versa.

This article will explain you that not all the local snacks are bad. Some of them are good, some of them has beaten the restaurant food's quality. Imagine with the lower price, you can get the joy and happiness of that kind of affordable snacks or even drinks. To fulfil your weekend or cherish your day during the examination or deadline day, here are the top 5 of the most affordable foods in Jakarta. 

Bakso Cuanki

Bakso Cuanki with rich of fillings. There are meatballs, cuanki, and tofu

Bakso in Indonesian means "meatball", meanwhile cuanki is a type of food in Bandung. Cuanki is a food that processed from fish-base, beef, tapioca, and stock. Shortly, cuanki literally is fried dimsum. You can find someone carry the box that written "Bakso Cuanki", and he will serve you a delightful soup with beef meatball and cuanki fillings combination.

Bakso Cuanki is really popular in West Java especially the origin place of this food, Bandung. But there are quite big population of Sundanese (tribe that lived in West Java) in Jakarta. In North Jakarta, I still easily find the seller who sold bakso cuanki. As I remembered, in this year I have eaten it for the first time and for each piece of cuanki costs 1000 (this cost could be different if you go to another area of Jakarta). If you want to buy the big portion, let us say you want to eat 10 pieces of cuanki, you just need to at least spend 10.000 rupiah. With only 10.000 rupiah, you can taste the fluffy texture and savory in a bite of cuanki. In different places, you can find the seller that sells another protein or carbo option such as tofu or noodle. I will recommend this food especially if the weather condition is raining.  

Mixue Ice Cream and Tea 

The moment when I ordered Mixue's Earl Grey Tea

 

Well, if I wrote this, this was written from my deepest heart. Actually, this is the Chinese brand that sell beverages such as tea, ice cream, and smoothies that you can find very very easy at the streetside of Jakarta. Even I am not endorsed by them, but this is the most affordable brand to have good quality beverages. Imagine the Jakarta's warm weather then you grab a cone or a spoon of sweet ice cream with starts from 6000 rupiah for the cone ice cream. If you choose the tea option, it would be start from 10000 rupiah. I actually forget the menu's name, but the most favorite of mine are chocolate cookies smoothie (costs 16000 rupiah) and Earl Grey Tea (10000 rupiah).

Roti Bakar 88

Jakarta's pancake by Roti Bakar 88

Roti Bakar 88 is an Indonesian hang-out spaces that sells toast, snacks, and main course in Jakarta and Tangerang with affordable prices and great taste. Even it sells several foods, but the specialties here are the toast. You can find lots of toast variances here such as chocolate, cheese, ovomaltine with only starts from 11000 Rupiah with medium portion. I have tried their ovomaltine, chocolate and cheese, and matcha toast. It served in several pieces, and I immediately fall in love in the first sight and taste. It tastes sweet but not that sweet, the bread wasn't burnt with savory and fluffy sensation in our tiny mouth. 

But for me, the specialties here are the pancakes. The pancake here is different from the western pancake. Here's pancake is thinner and using several fascinating toppings such as chocolate and cheese and using condensed milk dressing instead of honey sauce. Shortly, this kind of pancake is the 'Indonesian taste-adjusted' pancake. but with only around 11000 rupiah, you can get medium portion pancake with jam dressing. I will recommend you cheese and chocolate pancake, because I really like the combination of soft, sweet, and savory with creamy sensation. It just starts from 14000 rupiah, you will not regret and earn satisfaction. You should try by yourself.

Grilled Corn and Jasuke

The simpliest way to enjoy corn, grilled corn

Basically, you can find corn everywhere in the world. But I pretty sure each country or region have their own style to process corn. In Indonesia, especially in Jakarta, there are 2 popular ways to process corn, firstly grilled, secondly boiled. Grilled is the simplest and easiest way to cook and enjoy corn. But you need to try another way to enjoy this corn, it called "Jagung Susu Keju" or in Indonesian, it means corn with cheese and condensed milk.

You can find Jasuke easily especially if you go to the night market or culinary event. This street food is very popular among the school's students because of its affordable. It served by cup, and for a cup with small portion, it costs start from 5000 rupiah. The prices could be different depends in what place and area you buy Jasuke. Some of the Jasuke seller also offer you chocolate meses topping. Yes, Indonesians really like chocolate and cheese that much lol haha. Well, this corn is comforting, especially when you eat this at night. Sweet corn, salt from the cheese, and sweet creamy and savory combination from the mixture of cheese, condensed milk, and margarine. Give it a try from me.

So, these are my recommendation to have affordable snacks in Jakarta. Did you guys know about 4 snacks and beverages above? Or even do you know more? Let me know your impression in the comment section below. Don't forget to invite your friend to hang out together on the weekend! Have a good day.