They say that to taste every dish in Jakarta, one would have to live in the city for at least forty years. After all, being the fourth-largest country in the world and the third-largest democracy,the entirety of Indonesia is highly diverse. It’s utterly fitting that the diversity of food that can be found in its capital can only be described as “mind-boggling.”

Jakarta is a city of over 9.6 million people from all over the country. Here, the culture and cuisinehave been influenced by people of Arab, Chinese, Indian, Javanese, Malay and even European descent. A culinary heritage-focused Jakarta tour package should easily guide first-time visitors through some of the city’s hallmark dishes and restaurants. Meanwhile, thosewith more intrepid spirits can head to the warungs and street food carts, where one can eat like royalty at a great bargain. Read on for a list of Jakarta’s most fantastic food and where to find them:

Padang-style sate at Sate Padang Ajo Ramon

Padang is a province on the western coast of Sumatra that’s famous for having some of the best food Indonesia has to offer. In particular, it’s known for the delicious beef sate (or satay).But you don’t have to go out of your way to have a taste thanks to Sate Padang Ajo Ramon. This place has been sharing skewers of tasty beef sate to the people of Jakartafrom their original warung in Pasar Santa since the 1980s. Throughout the years, they’ve served faithful locals withbeef, ox tongue, and intestines grilled over hot coals. What sets them apart is the marinade and gravy they use in their dishes—a savory red and peppery liquid that’ll have you smacking your lips and wanting more. These meat sticks are so good thatthe family managing the eatery has opened eight branches spread all across the city, so you can choose from multiple places to get your fix.

Mutton fried rice at NasiGorengKambingKebonSirih

Nasi goreng or fried rice isn’t just ubiquitous in Jakarta. You can have a taste of it all over Indonesia, where it is a favorite quick meal and comfort food. Fried rice is simple and easy to cook with whatever ingredients you happen to have in the fridge, so everyone knows how to make it for themselves. There are, however, variations on the dish that help it stand out from the rest. This humble food stall known as NasiGorengKambingKebonSirihhas a truly unique way of doing it that sets it apart from the rest. Considered as one of the city’s best-kept secrets, its “legendary” nasigorengkambing or mutton fried rice is made using goat meat and some delicious spices. Specifically, the generous yet tender chunks of goat meat are fried with rice in a wok and seasoned with a blend of spices and cumin oil. The result is something that’s tasty with a slight Middle Eastern flavor—making for a great reason to seek out their street-side kitchen in the Menteng area.

Betawi mixed rice at NasiUdukKebonKacangPuasHatiIbu Tati

Malaysians shouldn’t have any problems recognizing nasiuduwhile in Indonesia. After all, it’s similar to their own national dish:nasilemak or steamed rice cooked in coconut milk. But in Jakarta, they add their own twist by soaking the rice in lemongrass, clove, and cassia bark—as well as pandan leaves to give it a distinctive aroma. It’s often served with a variety of sides: your choice of chicken, beef tripe, and other innards which can include lungs, liver and gizzard, tofu, and tempeh. The versionserved at NasiUdukKebonKacangPuasHatiIbu Tati elevates itself above the competition by using free-range chicken in their ayamgoreng,andby having the option of getting your food fried or grilled. If you’re interested, you’ll find them at No. 63 on JalanKebonKacang in central Jakarta.

Soto Betawi at Soto Betawi Haji Husein

Most of the great food that can be found in Jakarta usually come from other regions of Indonesia, such as Padang or Makassar. However, sotobetawitraces its roots to the Betawi people native to Jakarta, making it a dish that Jakartans can proudly claim as their own. It’s a beef and offal soup with a broth made with a mix of fresh cow’s milk and coconut milk. It’s thensimmered with a variety of flavorful herbs and spices such as garlic, shallots, kaffir lime leaves, galangal, and candlenut, which is an ingredient that’s prevalent in Indonesian and Malay cuisine. If you’re looking to try some in Jakarta, then Soto Betawi Haji Huseinis a good place to start because it serves a lot of Betawi staples. But they are best known for their soto—and it’s so good that they put it in their name. What sets theirs apart is the freshly ground spices, kept rough enough that they end up settling at the bottom of the bowl. The offal toppings come soft and tender, balancing out the richness of the broth. Visit them if you’re ever in Jalan Padang Panjang in south Jakarta.

Jakarta’s gateway to the world is Soekarno Hatta International Airport, and direct flights are available via budget or regular airlines. To get around, use Grab, the popular ride-sharing app and service that offers motorcycles and cars as modes of transportation. Keep in mind that Jakarta is huge and is divided into districts named Central Jakarta, West Jakarta, South Jakarta, East Jakarta, North Jakarta and the Thousand Islands, respectively. While it’s worth your time seeking out every stall on this list, those with a limited amount of time may also wish to keep within their chosen district and savor the available local delights there.