Juanda International Airport

Juanda International Airport won't leave you hungry — and if you're smart about it, you'll actually eat well here. Terminal 1, which handles most domestic flights, is where the action is for local flavor. Head to the food court on the departures level, where you'll find proper Surabayan staples like rawon, the dark, rich beef soup made with keluak nut that's almost impossible to find outside East Java. It's the kind of bowl that makes a two-hour layover feel like a bonus.

Terminal 2, serving international and Garuda domestic routes, skews slightly more polished. You'll find sit-down options including a decent rendition of lontong balap — Surabaya's beloved street dish of rice cakes, tofu, and shrimp fritters bathed in sweet soy — alongside familiar café chains if you need a flat white before a long haul. The quality is honest rather than exceptional, but the prices are reasonable for an airport, and the staff are genuinely warm. Grab a table near the windows and watch the runway while you eat.

One thing seasoned Juanda travelers know: stock up on packaged snacks before you clear security if you're picky. But airside, don't skip the klepon or onde-onde from the small kue stalls tucked near the gate areas — these chewy, palm-sugar-filled rice sweets are an East Javanese specialty that travel beautifully as a snack on board. Local bottled drinks like Teh Pucuk and Es Teh Indonesia are everywhere and ice-cold. Think of Juanda as a genuine taste of Surabaya, not an apology for it.