When you see the word restoran it usually means it's expensive. Rumah makan just means 'eating place' and it could be good. Most major towns and cities have Chinese restaurants. If you ask for a mie goreng in a Chinese restaurant, although it could be`superior to that found in a warung or in a rumah makan, it is not Indonesian cooking. Restaurants or warungs catering exclusively for tourists are generally shitful. They are typified by western casette music, menus written in English, sterile food, brightly neon-lit, overpriced, and Chinese-run. Most tone down the spicy hotness and eliminate many of the 'funny tasting' spices in order to make it palatable for the tourists who come there to listen to the great tapes. Consequently they serve uninspired, bland, prostituted food.

NASI PADANG
The Minangkabaus from West Sumatra are some of the best cooks in Indonesia and it is in one of their rumah makan nasi padang where you'll meet with the most bonafide and the tastiest Indonesian cooking, though sure to be very spicy. They will set many dishes in front of you and you pay only for what you eat. So get the prices straight for each dish before you dig in, otherwise it could prove embarrassing. The sauce from each dish is free so if you find a restaurant that gives plenty of rice just eat a couple of the dishes and use the sauce from the rest, like Indonesians do. If you ask for nasi campur instead of taking the 'a la carte' dishes, it's often cheaper.Nasi campur is a quite filling plate of steamed rice with either fish, beef, chicken or mutton, plus a mixture of eggs and/or vegetables heaped on top. The best value eating in Indonesia. Get your best nasi campurs before the lunch crowd starts coming at around 11 am.