Sroto Sokaraja is Purwokerto's most distinctive dish — a clear, lightly spiced chicken broth served over rice vermicelli with shredded chicken, boiled egg, fried shallots and a generous spoonful of peanut sauce stirred in at the table. It is related to the soto found across Java but the peanut sauce sets the Banyumas version apart, giving it a richer, nuttier flavour. The name comes from the town of Sokaraja to the east, where it is said to have originated, but it is eaten throughout the Purwokerto area.
The best places to eat it are the row of stalls on the west side of the alun-alun that open from early morning and serve until the broth runs out — typically by midday. A bowl with rice (nasi) costs around 15,000–20,000 rupiah. Many locals eat sroto for breakfast; arriving after 10am means the freshest broth has already gone. The stalls in Sokaraja town itself are also worth the short trip for a direct comparison — some claim the authentic version is sweeter and the broth paler than what is served in Purwokerto.