*Empal Gentong Cirebon Enters the World’s “100 Best Foods 2025 by Category – Soups” According to TasteAtlas*
By: H. Sujaya, S. Pd.
*A. Empal Gentong Soup Category Best Foods World*
Empal Gentong Cirebon, a culinary dish typical of the Cirebon community, was named the most delicious soup in the world by TasteAtlas.
Empal Gentong Cirebon is ranked 23rd in the list of “100 Best Foods 2025 by Category – Soups” or the 100 best foods in 2025 based on the world’s soup category.
In the list of the top 10 most delicious soups in the world, Soto Betawi beats a number of famous ramen variants from Japan, including Miso ramen from Sapporo, Yokohama-Style Ramen and Tonkotsu Ramen which are already well-known throughout the world.
Meanwhile, other Indonesian culinary delights that are also on this list are Gulai Sumatra at 17th place, Empal Gentong at 23rd place, and Rawon at 33rd place.
*B. TasteAtlas and Its Reputation*
TasteAtlas is an online platform from Croatia, founded by Matija Babić in 2015.
This platform focuses on cataloging and ranking traditional foods from various parts of the world. TasteAtlas is often known as the “world taste atlas” because it documents thousands of local foods, drinks, and ingredients from various countries, complete with descriptions, origins, and recommendations for places to taste them.
TasteAtlas’ reputation is very popular on social media and international media. The results of the rankings and food lists from TasteAtlas are often quoted by international media and go viral, especially on platforms such as Twitter and Instagram.
TasteAtlas is also very informative, although of course subjective. Although they try to prioritize data accuracy, the food rating system at TasteAtlas is based on user and editor reviews, so it is subjective. They are not an academic or scientific institution.
TasteAtlas is an interesting and enjoyable source of information for food lovers, but its ranking results should be considered as popular opinion.
Although not a scientific or absolute standard. But it is suitable for reference and guidance for world culinary tourism.
*C. Empal Gentong Soto Khas Cirebon*
Empal Gentong is a typical food of Cirebon, West Java, which is similar to soto but has a distinctive taste because it is cooked in a clay pot using firewood. The broth is savory with a mixture of coconut milk and spices, and the filling can be beef, tripe, intestines, or lungs.
Spices and Ingredients for Empal Gentong consist of:
1. Main Ingredients:
500 grams of beef (can mix offal such as tripe, intestines, lungs)
1 liter of coconut milk (from 1 coconut)
2 stalks of lemongrass (bruised)
3 bay leaves
2 cm of galangal (bruised)
2 lime leaves
Salt and sugar to taste and
Oil for sauteing
2. Fine Spices:
5 shallots
4 cloves of garlic
3 candlenuts (roasted)
1 cm of turmeric (roasted/roasted)
1 cm of ginger
1 tsp of coriander (roasted)
½ tsp of peppercorns
½ tsp of cumin
3. Complements:
Chives (finely sliced)
Fried onions
Dried chili sauce
Crackers or melinjo chips
Rice or lontong
Empal Gentong is usually served with white rice or lontong and has a rich, savory, and slightly spicy taste if added with chili sauce. The original deliciousness is even more pronounced when cooked in a clay jar.
Indramayu. 4/4/2025
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