The Indonesian name for fried chicken is ayam goreng.
In Indonesian, ayam means “chicken” and goreng means “fried,” so ayam goreng literally means fried chicken. The dish is commonly prepared by seasoning chicken with a mixture of spices and aromatics, and many versions simmer or braise the pieces before they are fried. This can make the meat flavorful before the exterior is crisped.
Recipes vary substantially by region and household. Ingredients can include garlic, shallots, turmeric, coriander, galangal, lemongrass, and coconut milk. Ayam goreng may be served with rice, sambal, vegetables, or fried tofu and tempeh.
It is easy to confuse the name with ayam bakar, which means grilled chicken, or nasi goreng, which means fried rice. Ayam goreng is a broad Indonesian dish category rather than one single standardized recipe.