Indonesian · A2 (Elementary)
Food in Indonesian: Words & Phrases
Quick answer: The most useful Indonesian words for food are restoran (restaurant), memesan (to order) and daftar menu (menu). The full Indonesian food phrase list with example sentences is below.
The essential Indonesian vocabulary for food, with example sentences and English translations. This is A2 (Elementary) material — exactly the kind of practical language you need when you're learning Indonesian to live, work, or settle abroad.
Source: Language Lab's Indonesian curriculum (vocabulary & example sentences). · Join the beta →
Key food vocabulary
| Indonesian | English |
|---|---|
| restoran | restaurant |
| memesan | to order |
| daftar menu | menu |
| vegetarian | vegetarian |
| tagihan | bill |
| tip / uang tips | tip |
| menu hari ini | dish of the day |
| hidangan utama | main course |
| hidangan pembuka | starter |
| makanan penutup | dessert |
Example sentences
Malam ini kami makan di restoran.
Tonight we are eating at the restaurant.
Saya ingin memesan, tolong.
I would like to order, please.
Apakah ada hidangan vegetarian?
Are there vegetarian dishes?
Minta tagihan, tolong!
The bill, please!
Apa menu hari ini?
What is the dish of the day?
Saya meninggalkan tip.
I leave a tip.
How to actually learn these
Reading a vocabulary list is not the same as being able to use the words when it counts. Research on adult language acquisition consistently shows that vocabulary retained through contextual use — hearing a word, producing it under mild pressure, and being corrected when you get it wrong — transfers to real speech far more effectively than passive list review. The fastest way to make vocabulary like this stick is to practise it in the actual conversations where it comes up: not drills, but a real back-and-forth where you have to retrieve the word and say it aloud. Language Lab turns vocabulary like this into voiced, real-life scenarios with Sonia, a live AI language tutor who holds real conversations, corrects you in context, and remembers the specific words you keep getting wrong across sessions. The vocabulary stops being something you read and becomes something you say — automatically, under pressure, when you actually need it.
Practice Indonesian that actually sticks.
Language Lab teaches the Indonesian you need to live abroad — with a live AI tutor. Coming soon.
Join the beta →