Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan International Airport

Balikpapan has a well-earned reputation as one of Kalimantan's best eating cities, and the airport does a surprisingly decent job of reflecting that. The main terminal's food court on the departure level pulls together a solid lineup of Indonesian staples — nasi goreng, mie ayam, and soto — alongside a few international fast-food counters for those who need the familiar. It's busier than it looks, especially around midday, so grab your tray early if you have a window before boarding.

The standout for local flavor is Warung Sari Laut, a small seafood counter that serves kepiting soka goreng — soft-shell crab fried in a garlicky Balikpapan-style sauce — that's genuinely worth arriving early for. You'll also find pesut fish dishes, a nod to the famous Mahakam river dolphin of the region, though it's the grilled snapper with sambal terasi that tends to draw a second look from travelers who know their way around a plate. Portions are generous and prices are honest, even by airport standards.

For coffee, skip the international chains and look for the local kopitiam-style stall tucked near the domestic gates, where robusta beans from inland Kalimantan are brewed strong and served with condensed milk the old-fashioned way. It's the kind of cup that actually tastes like somewhere specific, rather than everywhere at once. Pair it with a klepon or a slice of lapis Samarinda cake from the adjacent snack counter and you've got a proper send-off from East Kalimantan before wheels up.