When it comes to budget overseas trips, the most cited place to visit—aside from Johor Bahru, of course—is Batam. The Indonesian city is just a ferry ride away from us, and the hotel, shopping, and food costs tend to be much lower than in Singapore. If you’re thinking of going on a trip but aren’t sure of what to eat there, this guide of the best food places in Batam will come in handy.
The current exchange rate is IDR10K = ~S$0.84 as of 18 October 2024.
Table of Contents
Mie tarempa is a noodle dish that’s quintessential to Batam. It’s similar to mee goreng, but with flatter, chewier noodles, and a reddish hue—a dead giveaway for its intense spicy kick. One of the best places to get mie tarempa in Batam is Mie Terempa’k. While you can get a plain plate of mie tarempa for just IDR19K, we recommend you try one with some meat. There’s the Mie Goreng Sapi (IDR25K+), which features beef, and the Mie Goreng Seafood (IDR25K+), which has prawns, squid, and fishcake strewn throughout the dish.
You can choose from three levels of “wetness” for your noodles: dry, moist, and wet, the last of which sees the noodles drenched in an almost soup-like sauce.
Address: Ruko Royal Sincom, Blk. D No.15 – 16, Tlk. Tering, Kec. Batam Kota, Kota Batam, Kepulauan Riau 29431, Indonesia
Opening hours: Daily 7am to 9pm
Tel: +62 778-465910
Website
Mie Terempa’k is not a halal-certified eatery but uses no pork or lard.
Fans of our local fried carrot cake should give Abun Cha Kue’s renditions a try. Found in a quaint coffeeshop, the stall’s Cha Kue (IDR18K) makes for superb black chai tow kway, especially with its sweet dark soy sauce and sizable chunks of carrot cake.
But what truly sets the stall apart is its Cha Kue 3T (IDR18K), a dish that combines carrot cake, yellow noodles, and kway teow! Wok hei permeates this dish, making it superb street food fare.
Address: Batu Selicin, Lubuk Baja, Batam City, Riau Islands 29444, Indonesia
Opening hours: Daily 6:15am to 1pm
Abun Cha Kue is not a halal-certified eatery, but does not use pork or lard.
When it comes to sweet martabak—also known as min jiang kueh in Singapore—few stalls in Batam are as iconic as Martabak Bangka Ceria. Their fluffy pancakes tend to be quite sinful, with tons of condensed milk and other ingredients used to make these highly buttery and fragrant snacks. Each box of martabak gets you a large serving of pancakes, too.
For a classic flavour, get the Martabak Manis Kacang (IDR40K), which has an aromatic peanut filling. Those who have a sweet tooth can opt for the Martabak Manis Keju + Coklat (IDR51K), featuring the tried-and-tested combination of cheese and chocolate. And if you’d like something similar but with a nuttier flavour, give the Martabak Nutella (IDR85K) a shot.
Address: Morning Kopitiam, Ruko Cahaya Garden, residence blok Ac no 3-5, Sadai, Kec. Bengkong, Kota Batam, Kepulauan Riau 29444, Indonesia
Opening hours: Daily 5pm to 11pm
Martabak Bangka Ceria is not a halal-certified eatery, but does not use pork or lard.
It’s not a Batam trip without a nice seafood dinner. Love Seafood Batam Centre is a popular choice for many tourists, and it’s easy to see why. The restaurant is spacious and comfortable, and the prices won’t break the bank. Many dishes, such as the Chilli Crab, Salted Egg Prawns, and Thai Style Fish, will surely appeal to the tastebuds of Singaporeans. The size of certain seafood may be a little small for some—we thought the crabs weren’t sufficiently meaty—so you may want to look elsewhere if you value quality over affordability.
Address: Kompleks Mahkota Raya, Jl. Raja H. Fisabilillah No.12B, Teluk Tering, Batam Kota, Batam City, Riau Islands 29444, Indonesia
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 11pm
Tel: +62 823-6111-8881
Website
Love Seafood Batam Centre is not a halal-certified eatery but uses no pork or lard.
Nasi lemak isn’t the cheapest local dish around, but in Batam, you can get a superb plate of it—with great dishes to boot—for under S$3. For instance, nasi lemak with chicken rendang, fried mackerel, and sambal goreng, cost us a mere IDR22K at Kedai Kopi Medan. We thought the coconut rice was wonderfully fragrant, and the chicken rendang juicy and piquant.
Address: Jl. Imam Bonjol-Nagoya No.17, Lubuk Baja Kota, Kec. Lubuk Baja, Kota Batam, Kepulauan Riau 29444, Indonesia
Opening hours: Daily 8am to 11pm
Kedai Kopi Medan is not a halal-certified eatery but uses no pork or lard.
Bakmie Bangka Asan 2323 serves mie bangka, a traditional noodle dish from Bangka Island. The difference is that the stall prepares their mie bangka with pork, rather than chicken. A bowl of Mie (IDR22K) gets you a generous serving of springy and savoury noodles with a pile of well-marinated minced pork. You can complement that with Sangsui (IDR27K), a garlicky pork-based soup with ingredients such as pork belly, liver, and even blood curd.
Address: Ruko Pasar Mitra Raya Blok F No. 15, Teluk Tering, Batam Kota, Batam City, Riau Islands 29444, Indonesia
Opening hours: Daily 6am to 2pm
Bakmie Bangka Asan 2323 is not a halal-certified eatery.
Layer cakes, or kueh lapis, are must-buys in Batam due to their affordability. Diana Layer Cakes, a bakery with over a decade of experience, offers their intricate yet homely cakes from IDR300K. They’re also known for their Prunes Layer Cake (from IDR325K), which incorporates dried plum into the buttery treat.
Address: Taman Seruni Indah Blok G No. 10, Tlk. Tering, Kec. Batam Kota, Kota Batam, Kepulauan Riau 29444, Indonesia
Opening hours: Daily 9am to 5pm
Tel: +62 778-466906
Website
Diana Layer Cakes is not a halal-certified eatery but uses no pork or lard.
For delectable Italian fare, Amare Ristorante Italiano fits the bill nicely. A plate of Fettucine Bolognese will set you back just IDR105K++, while a more lavish pasta dish such as the Fettuccine Truffle Cacciatora will cost you IDR130K++. There are plenty of delectable classic pizzas to try here too, including the Margherita (IDR115K++), Prosciutto (IDR155K++), and seafood-filled Frutti Di Mare (IDR140K++).
Address: Pollux Meisterstadt, Ruko Pollux Habibie, Tering, Kec, Tlk Blk. C No.23 & 25, Kec. Batam Kota, Kepulauan Riau 29431, Indonesia
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 3pm to 10pm, Fri-Sun 11:30am to 10:30pm
Tel: +62 812-6015-150
Website
Amare Ristorante Italiano is not a halal-certified eatery.
Harbour Bay Seafood Restaurant is another well-known place to get your seafood fix in Batam. The restaurant overlooks the sea, and has live bands performing at night, making it a great place to unwind with friends and family over good grub.
Prices for the more luxurious seafoods vary according to the season, but you should definitely go for dishes such as the Salted Egg Crab and Black Pepper Crayfish.
Address: The Promenade Blok 8E, Harbour Bay Downtown Jl. Duyung Sei Jodoh, Sungai Jodoh, Kec. Batu Ampar, Kota Batam, Kepulauan Riau 29444, Indonesia
Opening hours: Daily 11:30am to 11pm
Tel: +62 778-7415-188
Website
Harbour Bay Seafood Restaurant is not a halal-certified eatery.
Located inside Nagoya Hill Mall, one of Batam’s most established malls, is Nagoya Hill Food Street. It’s an indoor food street sprawled out in all four directions, with plenty of eateries and restaurants to dine at. From fast food such as A&W and Wendy’s, to restaurants including Duck Kitchen and Ayam Penyet Ria, there’s something for everyone at this famed food street.
Address: Nagoya Hill Food Street #V7-8, Jl. Teuku Umar, Lubuk Baja Kota, Kec. Lubuk Baja, Kota Batam, Kepulauan Riau 29432, Indonesia
Opening hours: Daily 6:30am to 1pm
Bhinneka Indonesian Resto & Cafe is another good eatery to check out in Batam. It has plenty of classic Indonesian dishes on its menu, including the Ayam Bakar Madu (IDR25K), Bebek Sambal Terasi (IDR33K), Sapi Rendang (IDR65K) and many more. The first of these is a must-try, as it features a succulent, well-grilled chicken leg that’s best paired with a hearty portion of rice and other sides.
Address: Limindo Trade Center 2 Blok A No.13-14 Batam Center, Jalan Bakal, Batam City, Riau Islands 29444, Indonesia
Opening hours: Daily 10:30am to 10pm
Tel: +62 812-6648-4745
Website
Bhinneka Indonesian Resto & Cafe is not a halal-certified eatery but uses no pork or lard.
Known for its excellent fish soup, Sup Ikan Yong Kee is where you should go for a truly comforting meal. Their Fish Sliced Soup (from IDR58K+) has wonderfully fresh slices of fish in a bowl of umami soup that’s sure to warm the soul. There’s also the Fish Sliced & Prawn Soup (from IDR62K+) and Prawn & Squid (IDR64K+) if you’d like to pair your fish soup with other seafood ingredients that are said to be just as fresh.
Address: Komp. Hup Seng, Jl. Raja H. Fisabilillah No.5-8 Blok A No. No, Tlk. Tering, Kec. Batam Kota, Kota Batam, Kepulauan Riau 29444, Indonesia
Opening hours: Daily 8:30am to 8pm
Tel: +62 778 467740
Website
Sup Ikan Yong Kee is not a halal-certified eatery.
For more seafood that’s known to be both affordable and delicious, visit Barelang Seafood Restaurant. Here, you can enjoy treats such as the Ikan Sonu (IDR50K per 100g), which is based on fresh leopard coral grouper, Lobster (IDR88K per 100g), and Flower Crab (IDR22K per 100g) and other seafood dishes. The restaurant also has a nice view of the surrounding sea!
Address: Jalan Trans Barelang City, Tembesi, Kec. Sagulung, Kota Batam, Kepulauan Riau 29472, Indonesia
Opening hours: Daily 10:30am to 9pm
Tel: +62 812-7755-9191
Website
Barelang Seafood Restaurant is not a halal-certified eatery but uses no pork or lard.
Aroma Signature has a great range of Indonesian dishes to try in a chic and modern space. These include their signature Ayam Series, which features the Nasi Ayam Cabe Ijo (IDR30K), Nasi Ayam Sambal Matah (IDR30K), and Nasi Ayam Penyet (IDR30K). Other great dishes to have here are Nasi Padang and even more cafe-style treats such as Spaghetti Bolognese (IDR25K) and Chicken Katsu (IDR38K).
Address: Komplek Limindo Trade Centre Blok A No. 8, Taman Baloi, Kec. Batam Kota, Kota Batam, Kepulauan Riau 29444, Indonesia
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 10pm
Tel: +62 878-1786-7788
Website
Aroma Signature is not a halal-certified eatery but uses no pork or lard.
Having started in 1989 in the city of Cianjur, West Java, Ikan Bakar Cianjur has opened outlets all across Indonesia, including one here in Batam. Some of its specialities include the Gurame Asam Manis, a fried fresh water carp in tangy sweet and sour sauce, and Ayam Bakar, the classic Javanese-style grilled chicken. If you’d like a comforting dish, try the Nila Sop, where lightly fried fresh water tilapia cooked in house blend clear soup with preserved vegetables,
Address: Jalan Centre Point, Tlk. Tering, Kec. Batam Kota, Kota Batam, Kepulauan Riau 29444, Indonesia
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 10pm
Tel: +62 778 466722
Website
Ikan Bakar Cianjur is not a halal-certified eatery but uses no pork or lard.
There’s plenty of affordable and delicious food to try in Batam. This guide narrowed down a list of 10 Batam food places to choose from, so your next trip won’t be short on yummy meals. If you’re planning a trip to JB instead, have a look at our 18 Johor Bahru hawker food stalls guide or our 15 Johor Bahru cafes guide.
Photos taken by Melvin Mak.
The next time you're craving fresh Japanese-style bread, our list of Japanese bakeries in Singapore…
Go back in time with traditional fare at White House Teochew Porridge. This stall along…
Wheathead is a hidden bakery in One-north with all kinds of trendy bakes, including fresh…
Check out our list of the best cafes in Singapore for your weekend brunch, coffee…
This Christmas, CHAGEE launches their Paws Up collection with pet-themed tumblers, mystery pins, and plenty…
Kopiloco by 1993 is a popular breakfast spot in Johor Bahru with delicious and affordable…