When I think of Purwokerto, Central Java, the first thing that comes to mind is Batrurraden, a renowned tourist destination.
It was where my husband and I planned to explore when we went to Purwokerto to attend his sister’s graduation at the University of Soedirman.
We decided to stay a little longer in the city while other family members went back to Cilacap.
Not only was Baturraden, but there are also several places we would like to check out, particularly coffee shops and restaurants.
These are four places to eat and have coffee that I visited in Purwokerto, which are also recommended.
Tempe Mendoan and Pecel Lesehan in Baturraden
Tempe mendoan is a must-try traditional dish in Purwokerto, made from thinly sliced tempeh coated in batter and lightly fried.
While there are many tempe mendoan stalls to be found in Jakarta, the taste is not as genuine as it is in the place where it originally comes from.
That was why I didn’t want to miss ordering it for lunch at Baturraden.
Strictly speaking, we didn’t stop by a restaurant as it doesn’t even have a physical building.
It was a pop-up food stall (if I might say so) which was serving local dishes, such as tempe mendoan, pecel (steamed vegetables served with a slightly spicy peanut sauce), rabbit and chicken satay, etc.
There are only mats spread around where we can sit down to have our meals.
I totally didn’t mind. In fact, I enjoyed it even more.
I ordered a portion of tempe mendoan as well as pecel, whereas my husband had chicken satay.
The pecel also came with lontong as the carbohydrate.
The combination of tempe mendoan and pecel was so tasty that it carried me away.
The picturesque scenery surrounding added to my pleasure.
There are many food stalls like that scattered throughout the entire Baturraden area.
What put me at ease was seeing posters displayed the standard pricing of all the food, so tourists no longer needed to worry about being scammed.
Sarinah: A Vintage Local Coffee Shop
Just as in Jakarta, modern coffee shops are sprouting up all over in Purwokerto.
My husband and I always can never resist stopping by local coffee shops.
Nevertheless, a swanky café is not something we would typically search for in Purwokerto.
On the contrary, we would prefer to try authentic and out-of-the-ordinary local coffee spots.
We happened to stay at a hotel with a local café across the street.
Initially, we didn’t notice it until the taxi driver, who took us to the hotel, told us that opposite the hotel was a famous coffee spot among the youth, named Sarinah.
He also added that it is open 24 hours a day, non-stop. I was eager to check it out.
Long story short, we went there the very next morning to have our breakfast.
Although our hotel had delivered breakfast to our room, we decided to save it for lunch or dinner, as the menu consisted mainly of carbohydrates, which we were concerned would make us too full and sleepy.
The Sarinah building has a vintage look. It’s not that kind of indoor hangout place with AC and a convenient vibe.
Instead, its door and windows are always open, and they rely on wall fans to cool down the whole room.
They served the coffee in plastic cups.
The coffee was decent and unremarkable, but sipping it while admiring the modest yet impressive interior made for a pleasant experience.
The cafe is cozy, but the smoke makes it uncomfortable to breathe.
The counter where you place your order and settle the bill.
A simple seating area accented with vintage records and nostalgic wall décor.
Besides coffee, we went for pisang goreng (fried banana coated in batter) and French fries.
pisang goreng and the French fries
I was surprised by the unusual shape of the pisang goreng, which was round.
It was also covered with chocolate powder, making it more delicious.
The pisang goreng is so yummy
Despite its uniqueness, it unfortunately allows people to smoke inside.
Moreover, I can still smell the smoke from people smoking outside, which made me so uncomfortable.
Kang Sute: Coffee and Kue Balok by the Rice Fields
In fact, before arriving in Purwokerto, I had been waiting to come to Kang Sute Kedai Kopi dan Kue Balok, as I had seen social media posts about how impressive the place is.
It’s situated on the bank of an irrigation canal, with flowing water, which is always something I fancy.
We went there the next morning to have breakfast. The location was not too far from downtown.
It’s located in the ricefields area. The building is standing opposite the rice field, with only a small road separating them.
Judging by its façade, some people might think it’s not a proper place for a coffee spot, as it’s built from simple wooden structures, with plywood flooring and a traditional tiled roof.
Yet this simplicity was exactly what I was looking for, especially as aesthetic cafés have become commonplace in Jakarta.
To be honest, I didn’t expect much from the range of coffee variations.
I assumed they would only sell one type of coffee, which was kopi tubruk (traditional brewed coffee), but unexpectedly, they offer many more.
Instead of the run-of-the-mill coffee shop with a standard menu featuring cappuccino, kopi susu gula aren, and americano, there are also V60, Vietnam drip, and French press options.
I almost impulsively ordered them all at once, but eventually, we opted for the Vietnam drip and the V60.
The coffee and kue balok
For the meal, we had their signature kue balok in original, cheese, and chocolate flavors.
While the coffee was exceptional, I didn’t find anything particularly special about the signature kue balok.
All the variants were sweet, but despite the range of flavors we tried, the sugary note tended to overpower the others.
Freshly made kue balok, served warm.
However, I really value the overall experience at the place. Having coffee and a meal while surrounded by nature was so soothing, reflecting how modesty brought a sense of solace.
By the way, they also offer a variety of menus, including fried rice, fries, light meals, and noodles.
But for us, coffee and kue balok were enough for breakfast.
Kopi Pletok: A Homey Buffet Restaurant
On our last day in the city, we took time to have lunch at Kopi Pletok. Rings a bell, right?
Yup, the name is quite similar to that of a well-known restaurant from Yogyakarta, Kopi Klotok, which also has a branch in Puncak, Bogor, West Java. I have no idea whether or not they’re related.
Read More: Review Kopi Klotok Cafe in Puncak, West Java
We found two restaurants with a similar name to Kopi Klotok, actually, but we chose Kopi Pletok, as it’s nearer to our hotel.
Kopi Pletok is a buffet restaurant. We found it a little confusing about the flow order; should we sit down first and order the food, or get in line to pick it up? If that’s the case, what if we couldn’t find a place to sit down?
It might be because we were so hungry that we couldn’t think clearly, hahaha.
After we finally figured out the order’s flow.
I was so enthusiastic to see many traditional dishes displayed on the table. They looked mouth-watering.
The color was vibrant and beautiful, reminding me of how precious Indonesia’s culinary heritage truly is.
Frankly, I was unsure which of these appetizing foods to choose.
Yummy yummy
Although we were initially concerned that we couldn’t find a table to eat due to the crowd at lunchtime, we settled on a long wooden table in the corner.
We ate our lunch ravenously as it had been a long time since we had such homey and traditional dishes.
Additionally, they were all chef’s kiss.
For drinks, I ordered kopi rempah (coffee with spices), while my husband had a type of jamu (a traditional drink with spices).
We also had kue apem as our dessert.
A bowl of sayur asem and a cup of kopi pletok (coffee with spices).
What Stayed with Me
Looking back, this trip to Purwokerto felt quietly special. I wasn’t chasing trendy spots or picture-perfect cafés; I simply wanted places that felt real.
Sitting on floor mats in Baturraden, drinking coffee beside rice fields, and enjoying simple local dishes reminded me why I love traveling in the first place.
Purwokerto didn’t try to impress me, and maybe that’s exactly why it stayed with me.
