Medan is one of the best cities in Indonesia for food. The city's mix of Indonesian, Batak, Chinese, and Indian communities produces a cooking tradition that is richer and more varied than most Sumatran cities. Soto Medan — a spiced coconut-milk broth with shredded chicken or beef — is the local speciality and available everywhere. Bika Ambon, a pandan-flavoured sponge cake, is the most celebrated Medan sweet and sold throughout the city.
The night market at Pasar Semalam on Jalan Semarang is the best place to eat cheaply and well, with dozens of stalls covering Chinese, Batak, and standard Indonesian cooking. Merdeka Walk, along Jalan Balai Kota, is a more touristy strip of restaurants but has a good range of options.