Lontong balap seller with typical carried-cart.

The physical development of the city of Surabaya is exceptional in the last decade where a lot of housing, property and real estate were developed. Giant buildings like malls, plaza, hotels and apartments were popping up. But all was not enough to give a unique identity for this second largest city in Indonesia. All buildings and property are thriving equally homogeneous in almost all major cities in Indonesia.

This article is expected to reveal the various uniqueness of Surabaya city. So many uniqueness in Surabaya, starting from places, objects, culture, art, food and physical character, a truly unique and legendary. The goal, for people who once lived in Surabaya or Surabaya younger generation to better recognize these hero city in more depth. For those of you a native of Surabaya, Surabaya-born or at least have lived in this city and is currently living outside the area will be able to reminisce back as the remedy of missing his native land, beloved Surabaya. So what are the uniqueness of Surabaya city ?

One answer is lontong balap.

Lontong Balap is one of the Surabaya city specialties that is not found in other areas. Lontong balap is a special food mixture, rice cake, vegetable seedling / sprouts with fried tofu and lento. With a sprinkling of fried red onion, red onion leaves and a spicy chili shrimp-paste make lontong balap delicious flavor steadily. Accompanying these foods is shellfish and iced young coconut drinks called “es degan”.

The lontong balap sellers that are still exist until now are on Kranggan Street. Exactly in front of ex-Garuda cinema. Hence he is often called Lontong Balap Garuda . This Kranggan road connecting roads in the city center protocol that on north is Jl. Blauran, Jl. Bubutan and Jl. Praban to the south of Jl. Arjuno, Jl. Semarang and Jl. Kalibutuh, or better known as the Pasar Tembok.

Among the western foods invasion such as fried chicken, pizza and other processed foods, as evidenced lontong balap Garuda survives until now. This shows that the lontong balap is one of the Surabaya and East Java community culinary cultural assets which is firmly attached, not deterred by changing times.

What about the price? No doubt: VERY CHEAP! and certainly affordable by all economic groups.
So you should not confess “arek Suroboyo” when not having hobby eating Lontong balap .
Do not say to know the city of Surabaya when’ve never stopped by Lontong Balap Garuda .

Great couple, lontong balap, shellfish satay and iced young coconut.

A row of lontong balap and iced young coconut stalls on Jl. Kranggan Surabaya. Lontong Balap Garuda

Source: www.BestSurabayaProperty.com

Rice Table

Meal times in every region is sometimes different. In western and middle part of Indonesia, usually main food is cooked in the morning and consumed around mid day. Commonly, Indonesian kitchens only cook 1 or 2 meals a day. Then it is heated again for dinner.

It is different from western culture where food is eaten consecutively such as appetizer, main food, and dessert. Indonesian culture is eating main food directly without any appetizer or dessert, whereas Indonesia has many cakes, cookies, and snacks and they’re suitable to become desserts. In fact, the cakes are often eaten anytime among breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There’s no certain time to eat cakes. And there are many servings and fresh Indonesian drink such as es campur (mixed ice), es teler that can be served after main food.

Also, as a country where most of the people are Moslems, rules of religion has changed tradition. Therefore, praying before eating and using right hand when eating seems obligated and it is taught since in childhood. So, generally using a spoon is on right hand and fork is in left hand.