The Best Food and Restaurants in Best Islands in Indonesia Beyond Bali are concentrated in emerging hotspots like Lombok, the Gili Islands, Komodo/Flores, Raja Ampat and the Maluku Islands, where you’ll find everything from beachside warungs serving fresh grilled fish to refined resort dining with modern Indonesian menus.
For Singapore-based travellers and investors using Homejourney, these food-focused islands offer a useful lens into lifestyle quality, cost of living and hospitality standards across the Indonesia islands – a helpful comparison point when evaluating Singapore as a home base or investment hub.
How this food guide fits into Homejourney’s Indonesia islands pillar
This article is a tactical companion to our main destination guide, Best Islands in Indonesia Beyond Bali: 2025 Guide Best Islands in Indonesia Beyond Bali: 2025 Guide by Homejourney .
While the pillar focuses on where to go and what to do, this cluster dives deep into where to eat and what to order – especially relevant if you’re used to Singapore’s food standards and are planning a longer stay, workation or a scouting trip before considering regional property investment.
Homejourney’s focus on verified information, safety and transparency means we prioritise restaurants and food areas that are relatively easy to reach, consistently well-reviewed and clear about hygiene and pricing.
Overview: Why food matters when choosing Indonesia islands beyond Bali
For many Singaporeans, food is a key part of destination choice. When you’re weighing Lombok vs Gili vs Komodo vs Raja Ampat, the food and restaurant scene gives quick insight into:
- How tourist-friendly an island is (English menus, cashless payment, clear prices)
- Whether it’s comfortable for families, long stays or workations
- Availability of diet options (Halal, vegetarian, gluten-free)
- Cost of daily living compared with Singapore
Across Indonesia islands, typical warung dishes like ikan bakar (grilled fish), nasi campur, gado-gado and regional specialties can range from about IDR 30,000–80,000 (roughly SGD 2.60–7.00) in local eateries, while mid-range resort restaurants often charge IDR 150,000–350,000 (SGD 13–30) per main course.
Compared with popular Singapore neighbourhoods like Tanjong Pagar or River Valley, you can expect casual meals to be 30–70% cheaper, but alcohol and western-style cafés can approach Singapore prices in ultra-touristy pockets like Gili Trawangan.
Lombok: Sasak flavours and beachside grills
Lombok is usually the first stop for Singapore travellers who have already done Bali. With direct flights via Jakarta or short hops from Bali, it’s an easy add-on to a Singapore–Indonesia itinerary.
Food here leans heavily on Sasak cuisine – spicy, coconut-rich and seafood-forward – alongside familiar Nasi Padang and Java-influenced dishes.
Must-try Lombok dishes
- Ayam Taliwang – grilled or fried chicken with chilli paste, usually around IDR 40,000–70,000.
- Plecing Kangkung – water spinach with sambal and grated coconut, typically IDR 15,000–30,000.
- Ikan Bakar – whole grilled fish with sambal and rice, IDR 60,000–120,000 depending on size.
In my own experience coming from Singapore, Lombok’s seaside warungs around Senggigi and Kuta Lombok are where you get the best value: freshly caught fish simply grilled over coconut husk charcoal, with prices clearly written on a board – always confirm per 100g vs per fish before ordering.
Recommended food areas in Lombok
- Kuta Lombok town strip – mix of local warungs and surfer cafés; easy to walk end-to-end in about 15–20 minutes.
- Senggigi beach road – casual seafood grills and a few higher-end resort restaurants with sunset views.
- Traditional markets in Mataram – early-morning options for nasi campur and kue (cakes); go with a guide if you’re unfamiliar with Bahasa Indonesia.
Insider tip: If you’re sensitive to spice and used to milder Singapore hawker sambals, ask for “tidak pedas” (not spicy). In Lombok, “a bit spicy” can be much hotter than a typical sambal at Maxwell Food Centre.
Gili Islands: Beach cafés, sunset grills and easy dining
The Gili Islands (mainly Gili Trawangan, Gili Air and Gili Meno) are car-free, which makes food-hopping especially comfortable for families and solo travellers. You walk or cycle between beach bars, warungs and cafés, and most main areas are 10–20 minutes apart on foot.
On Gili Trawangan specifically, there is a broad mix of Indonesian, Western and vegetarian food options, from budget warungs to mid-range restaurants.[6]
Where to eat on Gili Trawangan
- Night market area (harbour side) – cluster of stalls with grilled seafood, satay, nasi goreng; many dishes IDR 30,000–70,000, ideal for sampling multiple items.
- Beachfront restaurants on the east side – slightly more expensive but with clear menus, photos and English descriptions, good for those less familiar with Indonesian food.[4]
- Inland garden cafés – calmer setting away from the main strip, often with healthier menus and good coffee, comparable to a neighbourhood café in Katong but at lower prices.[6]
Most places in the Gili Islands accept cash only; some larger venues on Gili Trawangan now take cards but expect a 2–3% surcharge. ATMs are available near the harbour but can run out of cash on peak weekends – bring some rupiah from Singapore or Lombok.
Food safety tips for the Gili Islands
- Choose busy stalls at the night market where turnover is high.
- Prefer grilled or freshly cooked dishes over pre-cooked items sitting at room temperature.
- As with Singapore NEA hygiene grades, use your own visual check: clean grill area, covered ingredients, staff using tongs or gloves.
Komodo & Flores: Seafood, Flores coffee and harbourfront dining
Most travellers base themselves in Labuan Bajo (Flores) to explore Komodo National Park. This small but rapidly developing town has a compact main street lined with restaurants and cafés overlooking the harbour.
There is less street food here than in Lombok; instead you’ll find sit-down eateries ranging from simple warungs to polished rooftops frequented by dive crews and liveaboard guests.
What to eat around Komodo / Labuan Bajo
- Grilled fish and squid – usually priced per 100g; ask for the total before confirming.
- Flores coffee – rich, chocolatey profile; a good souvenir to compare later with your usual Singapore café beans.
- Simple nasi campur – ideal pre- or post-diving, generally IDR 30,000–50,000.
Insider tip: If you’re diving, avoid heavy, very spicy meals before a dive – I’ve seen visiting Singapore divers feel unwell on boats after combining choppy seas with extra-sambal ikan bakar.
Raja Ampat: Remote, pristine and mostly resort-based dining
Raja Ampat, in West Papua, is one of Indonesia’s most remote island groups and a world-famous dive destination.[5] Food options are very different here compared with Lombok or the Gilis: outside Waisai town, you’ll mostly eat at your homestay or dive resort.
Most Raja Ampat stays include full-board meals, typically a buffet-style spread of rice, fish, vegetables and occasionally chicken or tempeh, plus coffee and tea.
What to expect from food in Raja Ampat
- Simple, repetitive menus – expect fish daily, rice every meal and rotating vegetables.
- Freshness over variety – seafood is often extremely fresh, but choice is limited due to logistics.
- Higher overall cost – even simple meals contribute to package prices that can feel close to Singapore mid-range restaurant spending, because everything is shipped in.
Insider tip: If you have dietary restrictions (Halal, vegetarian, allergies), confirm in writing with your resort before paying any deposit. Because Raja Ampat is remote, last-minute adjustments are hard and ingredients not always available.
