Every year, the Michelin Guide’s inspectors travel the world, tasting their way through restaurants to evaluate culinary excellence. But beyond awarding stars, these inspectors also have a front-row seat to the latest food trends, allowing them to predict the direction of global dining. Some trends carry over from 2024, while others reflect shifting consumer preferences, especially regarding sustainability, health consciousness, and the revival of traditional cooking methods. Interestingly, many of these trends are also emerging in Jakarta, where an influx of new restaurants has reshaped the dining landscape.

Plant-Based on the Rise

In Indonesia, plant-based eating has always been deeply rooted in tradition. Tempeh, tofu, and jackfruit have been staple ingredients long before plant-based diets became a global movement. Recently, however, there has been a noticeable shift in the conversation, with social media influencers and content creators increasingly highlighting plant-based Indonesian dishes. 

Unconventional Pairings and Innovative Garnishes

Social media continues to fuel an endless wave of food trends, making unique ingredient combinations more popular than ever. One of the biggest local trends in 2024 was the explosion of chocolate pistachio knafeh, which evolved beyond just a chocolate bar pairing into donuts, pies, pastries, and even steamed buns. This rapid adaptation of viral food trends suggests that 2025 will bring even more unexpected flavor mashups to the city’s dessert scene.

Chefs at restaurants such as Pavyllon in Paris are moving toward using alternatives to refined sugar, such as fruit and birch sugar. While St. Regis Jakarta’s Pastry Chef Kevin Lee has used the same approach toward his creations, taking advantage of the abundant seasonal fruits we have in Indonesia.

 

Rediscovering the Art of Flame Cooking

Cooking over an open flame is nothing new, but the renewed appreciation for smoky, fire-grilled flavors has led to a surge in restaurants specializing in this method. Internationally, restaurants like Bar Kar in Kuala Lumpur and Brat in London have embraced open-fire cooking. Jakarta has also seen a rise in eateries using grilling techniques, from high-end restaurants to street foods that preserve the art of cooking with charcoal. In 2024 alone, several notable flame-cooked dining spots opened, including Meatguy Steakhouse, Charkoal by Adhitia Pratama Julisiandi, the viral Korean Hamburg steak restaurant SURA, which introduced a different take on both grilling and Korean cuisine, or Soichiro Japanese Steakhouse who showcases the art of irori grill. 

The Evolution of Chinese Cuisine in Jakarta

Chinese cuisine has long been a staple in Jakarta, with its presence so ingrained that it feels like a second home food. While classic institutions continue to thrive, the city has also seen an expansion of noteworthy new openings. Among them is the sprawling 2.2-hectare Angke Restaurant in PIK, which became a major talking point in 2024 for both its size and menu. As more Chinese restaurants refine their offerings, from traditional banquets to modern fusion concepts, the diversity of Chinese cuisine in Jakarta is only set to grow.

Sustainability in the Kitchen

Globally, restaurants are rethinking their environmental impact, whether through energy-efficient kitchens, regenerative agriculture, or sustainable sourcing. Jakarta’s dining scene is also moving in this direction, with chefs increasingly prioritizing local, responsibly sourced ingredients. The farm-to-table movement is gaining traction, while efforts to reduce waste and implement sustainable seafood practices are becoming more visible. One example is Pizza 4P’s Indonesia, a Vietnamese pizza brand that opened in late 2024. The restaurant takes a creative approach to sustainability, giving new life to discarded materials.

 

Southeast Asian Traditions with a Modern Twist

Southeast Asian chefs are transforming the region’s fine dining scene by fusing traditional flavors with modern culinary techniques. This trend will be even more prominent in 2025, with restaurants from Malaysia to Vietnam and Singapore to Hong Kong embracing the fusion of old and new. Standout examples include Kuala Lumpur’s Dewakan, with its east-meets-west approach, and Singapore’s Seroja, which draws inspiration from Malaysian cuisine.

Jakarta, too, has experienced a wave of new Thai restaurants, ranging from upscale dining to street food concepts. The shared similarities in Southeast Asian flavor profiles make these places highly approachable, with some drawing long lines and high anticipation. Among the most talked-about new spots are Silk Thai by Chef Freddie Salim, Young Restaurant by Chef Yohans, Neighbor in Blok M, and Mi Mie Dang—a Vietnamese-Korean fusion restaurant that went viral on social media.

Global Treats, Local Influence

The demand for international cuisines in Jakarta has always been strong, but the variety has expanded significantly in recent years. From Catalan-inspired Costa by Chef Ryan Theasukmana to a growing number of diverse street food, such as Higenaka, a Japanese street food stall providing an intimate izakaya experience, and Tranxquill, a Viet-Thai fusion street food vendor.

 

 

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The Rise of Non-Alcoholic Pairings Beyond Wine

The trend toward well-crafted non-alcoholic beverages has been gaining momentum since 2023, and Jakarta is no exception. Many bars have begun offering zero-proof cocktails that are just as complex and thoughtfully crafted as their alcoholic counterparts. Beyond bars, there has also been an increase in coffee and matcha experience bars, with recent openings like Hakuji Tea Room in Kemang and Something Else in Ratu Plaza, the latter bringing its expertise from Bandung’s specialty coffee scene.

As Michelin’s 2025 food trends unfold globally, Jakarta’s dining scene is adapting in its own way, blending international influences with local tastes. Whether through fire-grilled meats, plant-based dining, or inventive ingredient combinations, the city’s culinary evolution is set to make 2025 another exciting year for food lovers. What trend do you anticipate to see this year?