Batam Food Guide: 10 Food Spots and Cafes That You Should Visit in the Largest City of Riau Archipelago, Indonesia (And 1 That You Can Skip)

When people travel to Indonesia, they usually go to Bali, Jakarta, and Yogyakarta. But have you heard of Batam?

Batam is a city and island located in the Riau Archipelago of west Indonesia. It’s just a one-hour ferry ride away from Singapore. Since it’s near the Lion City, Singaporeans go to Batam for a weekend getaway, as the prices there are way lower than in their home country.

Honestly, there’s really nothing much to do in Batam but eat. So I’m making this simple Batam Food Guide to list down all the food spots I recommend. I’m dividing this guide into three sections:

Local Food
Cafes
Overrated Spots

If you want to learn more about the food spot, I’ve included the links to my review, when applicable.

Local Food

Kedai Kopi Harum Manis (Breakfast)

If you want to have a local breakfast in Batam, then head over to Kedai Kopi Harum Manis. Established in 1989, this breakfast institution is a kopitiam (local coffee shop) that has a few hawker stalls selling morning staples.

We tried their Mie Lendir (“slimy” noodles) and Nasi Kari (curry rice).

Left: *Mie Lendir*; Upper Right: *Nasi Kari*; Lower Right: *Teh Tarik* (Pulled Milk Tea) and *Es Kopi* (Iced Coffee)

Address: Jl. Komp. Bumi Indah, Lubuk Baja Kota, Kec. Lubuk Baja, Kota Batam, Kepulauan Riau, Indonesia | Operating Hours: Monday-Saturday, 7AM-1PM; Sunday, 6AM-1PM

Lapisa (Kek Lapis or Layer Cake)

Literally “layer cake”, Kek Lapis is a buttery and spiced multi-layered cake. Its origins can be traced all the way back to Jakarta, Indonesia, and is influenced by Dutch spit cakes (Indonesia used to be a Dutch colony). In Batam, one of the stores where you can buy this sweet treat is Lapisa, a fairly new chain established only in 2022.

We tried their sampler, which has six flavors (Original, Cheese, Chocolate, Nutella, Pandan [screwpine], and Prune). They’re all moist, buttery, and rightly dense.

For Lapisa branches and operating hours, check out their Facebook and Instagram pages, as well as their Website.

Love Seafood

Love Seafood is a chain of seafood restaurants in Batam. It serves the freshest seafood since some of it comes from the aquarium.

Our favorites here are their Ikan Goreng (fried fish) and Salted Egg Squid (Dry).

For Love Seafood branches and operating hours, visit their Website. (Each branch has its own Facebook and Instagram page.)

Martabak 818 (Martabak Manis or Sweet Indonesian Pancake)

Literally “sweet martabak”, Martabak Manis is an Indonesian sweet pancake that’s a popular street snack. It’s a thick pancake cooked in a lot of butter, folded in half, and stuffed with various ingredients in between, most commonly cheese, chocolate, and even Nutella. No wonder it’s considered one most “sinful” desserts in the world!

In Batam, one of the best stalls for this is Martabak 818. Founded in 1987, this stall boasts of being Batam’s number one Indonesian pancake.

Martabak 818 offers thick and crispy pancakes, with fillings ranging from traditional ingredients (like cheese, chocolate, and peanut) to premium ones (like Cadbury, Nutella, and Skippy). You have the options to choose thick (butter or margarine) or crispy.

Address: Ruko Nagoya Paradise Centre Blok H No. 2, Batu Selicin, Kec. Lubuk Baja, Kota Batam, Kepulauan Riau, Indonesia | Operating Hours: Daily, 1-10PM | Contact No.: +62 811-7568-188 | Facebook | Instagram

RM Sederhana (Nasi Padang)

Literally “rice from the city of Padang”, Nasi Padang is a gastronomic experience originating from the Minagkabau people of West Sumatra, Indonesia. It’s a meal composed of white rice and a plethora of Indonesian dishes.

There are two ways of serving nasi padang. The first is that the dishes of the diner’s choosing are scooped into a plate with white rice. The second is that all the dishes are served to the diners all at once. But the diners will only be paying for the ones they ate. You can experience the latter at RM Sederhana.

Founded in 1972 at Jakarta, RM Sederhana (also called Restoran Sederhana) is a chain of Padang restaurants with 100 branches across Indonesia (I think the “RM” stands for “rumah makan” which means “dining/eating house”). It has also expanded abroad, with a few branches in Malaysia and one that recently opened in Singapore.

The *Nasi Padang* Dishes at RM Sederhana

Check out all the dishes we tried at RM Sederhana by clicking the link below.

For RM Sederhana branches in Batam, you can find them at Google Maps. LOL.

Sup Ikan 96 (Yam Fish Soup and Chinese Food)

As its name suggests, Sup Ikan 96 specializes on fish (“ikan”) soup (“sup”), specifically Sup Ikan Keladi or Yam Fish Soup, and other Chinese dishes. It’s located in Good Taste, a kopitiam (local coffee shop) with a few food stalls.

All the dishes we tried are top-notch. In fact, it’s my favorite meal during our entire Batam trip. To know what we ordered, check out the link below.

Address: Jl. Komp. Penuin Centre, Batu Selicin, Kec. Lubuk Baja, Kota Batam, Kepulauan Riau, Indonesia | Operating Hours: Wednesday-Monday, 7AM-5PM | Facebook

Warung Guling Pak Made (Babi Guling or Balinese Roast Suckling Pig)

Warung Guling Pak Made is a food spot from Bali specializing in Babi Guling (Balinese roast suckling pig). It has expanded to Jakarta and (thankfully!) in Batam.

They boast of having the best Samcan Guling, which is the Indonesian version of roast pork belly like the Italian porchetta. It’s served Balinese-style, with a lot of side dishes.

Address: Nagoya Newtown Blok B 6-7, Lubuk Baja Kota, Kec. Lubuk Baja, Kota Batam, Kepulauan Riau, Indonesia | Operating Hours: Daily, 10:30AM-10PM | Contact No.: +62 813-7333-9335 | Instagram

Cafes

itsumō TART (Japanese-Inspired Cafe)

itsumō TART is one of the most popular cafes in all of Batam. It’s known for its Japanese-style tarts and soft serve.

Left: Inside itsumō TART; Upper Right: Earl Grey Tart; Lower Right: Camembert & Honey Soft Serve and *Momijigari* Cold Brew Tea

But aside from Japanese-inspired desserts, itsumō TART is also known for its minimalistic architecture, both inside and out. It gives a peaceful and calm vibe, at least to me.

Address: Jl. Komp. Penuin Centre Blk. C No.1, RW.6, Batu Selicin, Kec. Lubuk Baja, Kota Batam, Kepulauan Riau, Indonesia | Operating Hours: Daily, 9AM-10PM | Contact No.: +62 822-6465-2563 I Instagram

Joyi Bakes/Cafe (Korean-Inspired Cafe)

Joyi Bakes/Cafe is a Korean-inspired cafe, serving bingsu (Korean shaved ice dessert), cheesecakes, cheese tarts, and tiramisu. They have two branches in Batam: Joyi Bakes in Mitra 2 complex and Joyi Cafe in Penuin complex.

Joyi Bakes Mitra 2 Address: Jl. Mitra Raya 2 No.1 & Blok B, Teluk Tering, Kota Batam, Kepulauan Riau, Indonesia | Operating Hours: Daily, 9AM-10PM | Contact No.: +62 811-7010-988

Joyi Cafe Penuin Address: Blk. B, Ruko Sinar Lestari No. 3&4, Batu Selicin, Kec. Lubuk Baja, Kota Batam, Kepulauan Riau, Indonesia | Operating Hours: Daily, 9AM-10PM

Social Media: Facebook | Instagram

Tearoom by aralee (Cafe with Children’s Boutique)

Tearoom by aralee is a cute cafe that specializes in Japanese matcha drinks and French pastries, among many others.

It also has a boutique selling children’s clothes, particularly dresses for girls. I’m not sure if the boutique is the “aralee” part.

Everything we tried at Tearoom by aralee is good. In fact, this is our favorite cafe in Batam.

The French Pastries at Tearoom by aralee

Address: Ruko Anggrek Mas Centre Blok A-18, Taman Baloi, Kec. Batam Kota, Kota Batam, Kepulauan Riau, Indonesia | Operating Hours: Daily, 9AM-9PM | Contact No.: +62 881-0121-69350 | Instagram

Overrated Spots

A2 Food Court

A2 Food Court is one of the top food destinations in Batam. As of the time of this writing, it has 4.4 stars and more than 5.8 thousand reviews in Google Maps. Almost all food vloggers and food guides include it in their must-visit lists.

I’ll say it straight: A2 Food Court is overrated. The place is overcrowded, dirty, and filled with smoke, while the food is underwhelming and pricey. So don’t waste your time and stomach space here. And if I haven’t communicated enough, let me say this: Skip this one!

Note: Because I don’t recommend this place, I won’t even put the food court’s address and operating hours here. LOL.

What Batam food spot did I miss and should visit next? Comment below!