One thing you need to know about Indonesians is that we loooove to eat. Not only is it a huge part of our culture, but food is also something that brings us together as a community. Being an Indonesian in Switzerland is hard at times, especially when you’re missing the flavorful meals from home. However, living here in Switzerland, or Europe generally, there is a rule of thumb: you know an Asian restaurant here is really good, like for real good, when you see actual asian people eating at said restaurant.
With that being said, here’s a list of restaurants in the Zurich/Aargau area, where you can definitely find at least one Indonesian person to be your new foodie friend.
- Dapur (Indonesia)
As the first Indonesian restaurant in the Zurich area (Oerlikon), this restaurant gained its popularity by serving traditional-, iconic-, Indonesian soul food. They serve all the popular dishes known by Indonesians and new to non-Indonesians. A couple years after their first opening, the owners decided to revamp their image and go fully plant based. Now, you can enjoy Indonesia’s popular dishes completely vegan. This restaurant I completely recommend to people wanting to taste the flavors of Indonesia for the first time… and it’s healthy too.
- Papa Oro’s
This Filipino gem, located in the heart of the Baden Altstadt, will enrich your tastebuds with their delicious and colorful rice bowls. Whether you feel like eating Chicken Adobo, Lechon Manok, or want to indulge in Halo-Halo on a hot summer day, they have everything your filipino loving heart could desire. Being one of my favorite restaurants ever, not only because we are geographical neighbors, but we also share many cultural similarities, this family-owned restaurant will leave your tastebuds satisfied and your heart filled with love. Not only has this restaurant attracted all the Filipinos in Switzerland, but us Indonesians also enjoy having our meals here, especially on the days we crave Chicken Adobo (highly recommend).
- Thai Food Corner
Located in the middle of Zurich, close to Langstrasse, Thai Food Corner is another restaurant the Indonesian people of Switzerland enjoy. The Thai cuisine always achieves to find the perfect balance between the 4 S’s: sweet, sour, salty, and spicy. This restaurant is always packed with Asian moms during lunch, where they indulge in the popular Som-Tam(Papaya salad) or the legendary Phad Thai (Thai fried rice noodles), both of which I recommend, especially the Papaya salad, which has the perfect blend of sweet and spicy. Caution: Thai food can be really spicy! If you enjoy spice, this is the place to be.
- Singapore Restaurant
Whether you want a quick sit down lunch-menu or enjoy an evening of mouth-watering meals for dinner, the Singapore restaurant in Zurich Altstetten, close to the Letzigrund stadium, never disappoints your tastebuds. They have meals from fried rice to sweet and sour chicken to Singaporean fried kwetiau (noodle dish), there’s something available for everyone. Out of the 10 birthdays I’ve spent in Switzerland, 8 of them were spent having dinner here. As Singaporean and Indonesian dishes are very similar, the tastes given by this restaurant sends my tastebuds back home to Indonesia.
- Dapura Mia
Located in Richterswil, this restaurant serves a cozy interior and heartwarming dishes. From the moment you step into the restaurant, it feels like you were transported all the way to Indonesia, then you sit down and order your meal (I highly recommend the Gado-Gado(our traditional salad) or the Rendang(slow cooked beef braised in coconut milk and lathered with herbs and spices), my absolute favorites), and that is when you really feel like you are no longer in Europe. Though, the restaurant is far, of course this depends on where you live, the small menu offered by the Indonesian Chef truly makes the trip worthwhile.
This is just a short list of restaurant recommendations from an asian girl and her mom. These restaurants are definitely where you will find the afternoon asian auntie hang outs… you know exactly what I mean. The corner table at every authentic asian restaurant that is packed with meals, desserts, and the expensive purses… that’s where the auntie hang outs are at, and that’s how you know if an Asian Restaurant is actually good or not.
If you’ve ever been to one of these or end up trying one of these restaurants out, let me know in the comments below!
Thanks for reading, I’d love your feedback!
More, next week!
Valerie.
Hi Valerie,
I tried Dapur Indonesia before they change to plant based, Thai Corner, Singapore Restaurant. The food was good. I remembered in Dapur Indonesia, they had bebek bumbu bali and was yummy. I never been to Papa Oro’s and Dapura Mia.
Good luck!
Yolaa i am still waiting for you at Dapura Mia restaurant?????
Hi ci Yolanda! Thank you for your comment!
You should definitely try the other two as well and let me know how you liked them!
Hi Valerie,
Thank you for your recommendations. I have tried 3 restaurants out of your list. All are good. Dapur Mia has the nicest interior from my point of view. The food is very authentic. Singapore restaurant, has a very good location. Easy to reach by public transport and has a lot of parking spaces. If you are Indonesian, the owner even asks you whether you want to order something which is not on the menu?. Just ask him. He might ask the cook to make it just for you.
Hi Tante Ucan!
Thanks for your comment, as well as your tip when visiting the Singapore restaurant! Stay tuned for my next posts! 🙂
I love they way you said about Aunties Asian hang out with an expernsive bags hahahhaha hillarious!
Yes, I’ve been several times to one of three or four resaturants that you had mentioned.
My first favorite of all is Thai Corner in Zurich City close to langstrasse. They have the best menu that they can offfers, especially the menu number 34 is my favorite one. Fried crispy fish with the soup. Is just best??.
And my second fav is Singapore Restaurant of course, the taste of the food are really into our tongue.
Because I live in kanton Tessin , so for me when I go to the nord part if Switzerland, the first thing that crossed my mind is culinary?? and you were right, we are asian we love to eat a good food and hangout with friends .
Success with blog and I think you did fantastic with you’re writting?.
Makasih ya tante Ira for your comment!
Wow all the way from Canton Tessin? Next time you want to try other restaurants, you can get back to my list ya.
I am glad you enjoyed my post! I’ll for sure try #34 next time I’m at Thai Corner!
really enjoyed reading your post valerie! super entertaining and also informative ? thank you for the recommendations! will definitely try them out. Cant wait to read more from you!!
Thanks Maya for your feedback! Stay tuned for more! 🙂
I’ve always wondered where to find the best asian resto spots. Thank you!
I’m glad you enjoyed, Tatjana! Thanks for leaving a comment!
Thank you for the infos Valerie and Mom. Tried Singapore Restaurant and Dapur Indonesia before. Will certainly try the other three. Will be waiting for your future post about foods and grocery stores.
Thank you ci Vilona for leaving a comment! The other three I highly recommend you try for sure! Stay tuned for the next post about the asian stores 🙂
OMG YES! Singapore is literally one of my favourite restaurants in the city! How they cook rice, and their sauces, everything is just out of this world! Thank you for your great tips Val 🙂
Thanks for leaving a comment Fede! The Singapore restaurant has a lot of dishes we eat in Indonesia as well, especially the rice is made the same way! Let me know if you try out the other restaurants!
Dear Valerie, your post very informative and looking forward to see at Dapura Mia Rest ???
Thank you tante Lisda, your comment means a lot to me! Can’t wait to see you at the resto again!
Now I know where to go next time I’m in Zurich. Enjoyed reading it thank you 🙂
Thank you for your feedback Huzi! Let me know which restaurant you end up trying out! 🙂
Hai Valerie. Rekomendasi nya bagus banget. Dari 5 rekomen, sy baru datang ke dua tempat rekomendasi dari Valerie. Ditunggu rekomendasi untuk restoran-restoran Indonesia lainnya di Swiss. Salam 🙂
Hi Tante Recel!
Makasih ya udh di komen! Stay tuned until rekomendasi asian stores di swiss juga. 🙂 Salam
woooww Valerie, your recomended is very nice.. lets all come to Indonesia.. please ask Valerie if you want to visit Indonesia , she is know very well about Indonesia, place n the food..
Have a happy day..???
Hi Om Eddy! Thanks for the comment! I will also write a post about places to see in Indonesia if you are interested to read that and share with your Swiss friends!
Dear Val,
My god how much I enjoy reading your writing, you have a talent to be informative yet making it interesting to read (as well pun intended) without being as heavy as wikipedia page … it‘s not easy! so thumbs up!
I love Dapur Indonesia (named to Dapur now) definitely, Singapore and Thai corner resto is also like go-to-campus when we hang out and we (Asian) know the good menu by heart too,
„no.42 pls for Sing resto and no. 72. pls for Thai Corner“ ?
I cant wait to read on your travel tips now (*panting) .. great job Val for giving this insights ?? , I hope we can go together soon and indulge our cravings with new menus and find new hiding Asian resto somewhere in Zurich area
Hi Tante Deenah! Thank you so much for your comment! I’m so glad you enjoyed my blog! Yes, we should definitely gather some Indonesians and find new hiding spots in the Zurich area. 😀 Definitely stay tuned for my next posts!