Home to such a diverse culture, Medan has plenty of beautiful sights and delicious food offerings to keep you satisfied throughout the day and night.

Overview

The largest city on the island of Sumatra, Medan is mostly regarded by tourists as an access point to other exciting travel destinations in North Sumatra. However, it’s safe to say that if you dig a little deeper and take your time to explore the city, you’ll find that it’s much more than just a pit stop for travellers to get to the famous Lake Toba.Walking through Medan, you can almost see the city evolving right before your very own eyes, with Dutch-style colonial buildings coexisting side by side with traditional Indonesian street food vendors as well as modern cafés, bars and shopping malls. The mishmash of cultures contributes to a vibrant food scene, which truly comes alive at night. Satisfy your cravings in this foodie heaven at any time of day with this Late Night Guide!

Eat

BPK Tesalonika

Jamin Ginting No.103, Simpang Selayang, Medan Tuntungan, Kota Medan, Sumatera Utara 20135, Indonesia

Monday to Saturday 8am to 10pm

Sunday 8am to 9pm

At BPK Tesalonika, they serve one of the most popular dishes in Northern Sumatra –Babi Panggang Karo (Karonese Roasted Pork). Found typically in the Karotribe, this traditional Batak dish has become a local favorite in Medan. The juicy, succulent pork meat is grilled to perfection with the most aromatic Karonese spices.

The one served in BPK is especially tasty as they use finer slices from the best cut of meat. Safe to say that pork lovers are in for a real treat at this joint!The sauce also deserves a special mention as it’s made with pig’s blood and chili sauce. Seasoned with herbs and cooked over charcoal till it turns brown, this unique sauce is surprisingly punchy with a bit of a spicy kick.

You can’t deny that it goes so well with the meat –you simply can’t get enough of it. When it comes to ordering, you can choose to buy the pork by weight, or as a complete meal with rice, soup, and a side of mashed cassava leaves and torched ginger. Whatever it is, you’re getting a bang for your buck because you get to have an amazing spread of food at a really great price!

Si Bolang Durian

Jalan Iskandar Muda No. 75 C-D, Medan Baru, Babura, Medan Baru, Kota Medan, Sumatera Utara 20153, Indonesia

Monday to Sunday

Open 24 hours

You know a place is super legit when it’s open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! Si Bolang Durian has made its mark in Medan with an open outdoor café-style concept, complete with quirky durian displays all over the establishment –from cute replicas of durian trees, to a pickup truck with a giant durian propped up against the cargo bed, to a motorbike with a durian-shaped side car.

Besides enjoying the durians, you can see customers having a laugh and taking pictures with these iconic displays. But of course, while the decorations are entertaining, what really brings people back is the amazing service, the quality of the durians as well as the variety of durian-flavored products. Aside from trying the different kinds of fresh durian fruit, we highly recommend the durian pancakes –durian-flavored cream filling rolled in a thin crepe-like wrap, this yummy snack is soft, moist and fluffy. A perfect midnight perk-me-up! If you prefer something to cool you down, then perhaps their creamy durian ice cream would do the trick.

There’s really no better place to enjoy the King of Fruits! Si Bolang Durian is clean, comfortable and has excellent service. If you love durians, you absolutely can’t miss out on this memorable experience

Kodon Kodon Café

Jalan Raya Merek Km 9, Sidikalang, Kodon-Kodon, Merek, Kabupaten Karo, Sumatera Utara 22173, Indonesia

Monday to Sunday 9.30am to 8.00pm

Located at Taman Simalem Resort on the edge of a rainforest, Kodon Kodon Café serves authentic local cuisine. While they don’t offer a wide selection of food, you’re guaranteed a satisfying meal with a great view.

A good place to have a satisfying Indonesian breakfast after a long night out, there’s one dish you have to try –Soto Ayam Medan.Tasty chicken strips cooked in a coconut milk broth, this bowl of goodness is the perfect comfort food. If you don’t feel like eating chicken, they also serve the Soto with beef or shrimp.

The yellowish soup is definitely the highlight of the dish –flavorful and aromatic, you won’t want to leave behind a single drop. Served with potato pancakes and chili sauce, you’re definitely starting the day on the right