Wartegs Show Signs of Economic Strain as Customers Cut Back on Meat Dishes

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Warteg vendors are increasingly concerned about the impact of rising food prices and declining consumer purchasing power. CNBC Indonesia’s observations in Senen, Central Jakarta, show several vendors reporting customers reducing meat and side dishes due to higher food prices.

Amirah, one vendor, confirmed the trend, stating that her customers now predominantly buy side dishes under Rp15,000–20,000, such as tempeh, tofu, balado eggs, and fried snacks, while increasing vegetable consumption. Meanwhile, dishes like fried chicken, beef rendang, beef stew, black squid, and shrimp (fried or balado) are being purchased less frequently.

‘Yes, that’s correct—customers are now cutting back on fried chicken or beef, opting instead for balado eggs, tempeh, tofu, vegetables, and fried snacks,’ Amirah told CNBC Indonesia on Saturday (30 May 2026).

Customers are now ordering warteg meals for around Rp10,000, with those spending over Rp20,000 becoming increasingly rare. As a result, she has stopped selling side dishes priced above Rp20,000.

‘Currently, many customers order meals for around Rp10,000, with those spending over Rp20,000 becoming rare. I’ve stopped selling side dishes priced above Rp20,000,’ she added.

Similarly, another warteg vendor, Kusuma, noted a shift in customer orders, with rendang and shrimp dishes seeing reduced demand.

‘True, most customers now order side dishes like vegetable and tempeh, fried tofu, potato croquettes, and fried potatoes—all around Rp10,000,’ Kusuma said.

In fact, he has stopped selling shrimp dishes entirely due to declining demand, though fried chicken remains available.

‘Shrimp is relatively expensive; even with rice, it doesn’t reach Rp20,000, but without vegetables and sambal, it’s less appetising. So people are cutting back on shrimp,’ he explained.

Meanwhile, another vendor, Surono, reported that many customers are now ordering meals priced between Rp10,000 and Rp15,000.

‘With prices rising, people are becoming more selective with their side dish choices at wartegs. Typically, offal dishes would sell out quickly, but now they often remain unsold until evening—especially rendang beef,’ Surono said.

Surono added that dishes like potato croquettes, fried potatoes, tempeh, tofu, and vegetables are now more popular, while fried fish, beef, and shrimp are being ordered less frequently.

‘People want convenient meals but still want rice, and since we don’t reduce the rice portion, they’re being more selective with side dishes rather than the rice itself—just enough to feel full,’ he said.