Where to Eat in Sumba
Sumba food, town by town: cafes and coffee, sit-down meals, local warungs and the Sumbanese dishes worth trying.
Where should I eat in Sumba?
Most cafes and restaurants are in the three towns: Waingapu in East Sumba, Tambolaka near the airport in Southwest Sumba and Waikabubak in West Sumba. Outside the towns, most travellers eat at their accommodation.
Vetted by Sumba Guide
Our top recommendation
The place our team recommends for a good meal and a real taste of Sumba.
Top recommendationTambolaka, Southwest Sumba
Makan Dulu
A restaurant near Tambolaka run by the Sumba Hospitality Foundation, serving Indonesian food with a Sumbanese twist.
- Google 4.9 / 5 from 415 reviews
- Restaurant
- Type
- Restaurant
- Where
- Tambolaka, Southwest Sumba
- Best for
- Sumbanese dishes, Indonesian favourites
Places to eat by type
Sumbanese Food
The island's own dishes, from rumpu rampe to manggulu, and where to try them.
Cafes and Coffee
Local coffee shops and cafes serving Indonesian and Sumbanese food.
PC Corner Cafe & Restaurant
Restaurant · Waingapu, East Sumba
A cafe and restaurant in Waingapu with live music, an Indonesian menu and a view over the city.
Best for: Coffee and breakfast, Sumbanese dishes
Google: 4.3 / 5 from 552 reviews
View listing
Kopi Dari Hati Sumba
Coffee shop · Waingapu, East Sumba
A Waingapu coffee shop with live music at night, serving Indonesian snacks such as cireng and seblak.
Best for: Coffee and breakfast
Google: 4.9 / 5 from 506 reviews
View listing
Restaurants
Sit-down restaurants in Waingapu, Tambolaka and Waikabubak.
Dapur Sumba
Sumbanese and Indonesian · Tambolaka, Southwest Sumba
Reviewers mention grilled fish, papaya flowers and Sumba grilled chicken at this Tambolaka restaurant.
Best for: Sumbanese dishes, Seafood
Google: 4.3 / 5 from 578 reviews
View listing
Dapur Sumba Waikabubak
Indonesian food · Waikabubak, West Sumba
An Indonesian restaurant and bakery in Waikabubak, where reviewers mention cakes, grilled chicken and sambal.
Best for: Indonesian favourites
Google: 4.2 / 5 from 307 reviews
View listing
Warungs
Small local eateries serving rice dishes, soups and grilled fish.
Pondok Daun Ubi
Bakso and cassava leaves · Waikabubak, West Sumba
Named after daun ubi, pounded cassava leaves, and known in reviews for its meatball soup.
Best for: Sumbanese dishes, A quick, cheap meal
Google: 4.3 / 5 from 288 reviews
View listing
R.M. Arista
Padang food · Waikabubak, West Sumba
A Padang buffet in Waikabubak with grilled fish and a wide variety of dishes.
Best for: Indonesian favourites
Google: 4.3 / 5 from 206 reviews
View listing
Ratings are Google ratings at the time of writing. Sumba Guide is not paid for these listings.
Find your next meal
What Do You Feel Like?
Eating out in Sumba is simple and good value. Town cafes are good for coffee and a light breakfast, warungs for rice dishes and soups, and restaurants for a longer sit-down meal.
“I need a good coffee”
Coffee and breakfast
Town coffee shops for kopi and a light meal.
See these places“I want to try local food”
Sumbanese dishes
The island's own dishes and where to try them.
See these places“I want fresh fish”
Seafood
Grilled fish at local warungs in town.
See these places“I want something quick”
A quick, cheap meal
Bakso, noodles and canteens.
See these places
Choose by region
Eating Out Town by Town
Each town has its own food scene. If you are staying on the coast, plan meals around your accommodation and the town you pass through that day.
01Waingapu, East Sumba
Restaurants here →The island's biggest town, with the widest choice of cafes, Padang canteens and grilled fish by the old harbour.
Best for: coffee shops, seafood and late meals.
02Tambolaka, Southwest Sumba
Restaurants here →The airport town, with cafes and restaurants handy for arrivals and day trips to Kodi and Weekuri Lagoon.
Best for: a meal on arrival or before a flight.
03Waikabubak, West Sumba
Restaurants here →A small inland town with bakso, Padang food and a few cafes, close to the traditional villages.
Best for: lunch on a village day.
Sumba Food Map
See where the cafes, restaurants and warungs are before you set out. Most are clustered in the three towns.
Eating in Sumba
Eating Out in Sumba
Where are the cafes in Sumba?
In all three towns: Waingapu, Tambolaka and Waikabubak. AKS Aroma Kopi Sumba serves Sumba-grown robusta, and Cafe Talasi is near Tambolaka Airport.
Where are the restaurants in Sumba?
Most are in the three towns: Waingapu, Tambolaka and Waikabubak. Away from the towns, most travellers eat at their accommodation.
What food is Sumba known for?
Sumbanese cooking is built on corn, cassava, pumpkin, coconut and peanuts. Well-known dishes include rumpu rampe, a dish of boiled papaya flowers and leaves, and manggulu, a snack of banana and peanuts wrapped in banana leaf. Our Sumbanese food guide covers each dish.
Is food in Sumba expensive?
Warungs and Padang canteens are cheap. Town cafes cost more, and resort restaurants cost the most.
Can I find halal food in Sumba?
Many Padang and Javanese canteens in the towns serve halal food. Ask the staff to be sure, as some local places serve pork.
Sumba travel tips, once a month
New guides, places to stay and island news.