Soewondo Air Force Base

Soewondo Air Force Base, which handles civilian flights as Polonia's successor and sits close to central Medan, is a compact airport where the food scene punches well above its size. The main departure hall has a modest but earnest food court where you can grab a bowl of soto Medan — the city's signature coconut-milk broth loaded with glass noodles, chicken, and a squeeze of lime — before your gate is called. It's honest, affordable, and genuinely representative of North Sumatra's bold flavour profile.

Beyond soto, keep your eyes open for stalls selling mie gomak, often called Batak spaghetti, a thick noodle dish fragrant with andaliman pepper that gives your lips a gentle tingle. A few kiosks also stock nasi gurih, a locally beloved coconut rice served with a tangle of fried anchovies and sambal. The coffee corner near the check-in area is worth a detour too — Sumatran beans brewed strong and dark with a spoonful of sweetened condensed milk is the way Medanese locals wake up, and it's the right way to start a journey.

Because Soewondo is a relatively small facility, dining options are limited compared to Kualanamu International across town, so eat before you arrive if you have particular preferences. That said, what's here is refreshingly local rather than generic airport fare. Packaged snacks like bika ambon — a honeycombed, egg-rich cake with a sticky, almost custardy texture — make excellent souvenirs and are usually stocked near the departure gates. Grab a few boxes; they sell out faster than you'd expect.