The demand for sustainable food systems is becoming increasingly urgent, yet urban planning policies in Indonesia tend to be disconnected from food security issues. Smart City planning policies in Indonesia have been subject to numerous misconceptions compared to the successful implementations in developed countries. This study aimed to analyze the interaction between urban planning policies and architectural design in creating sustainable food systems by identifying cities with high Smart City readiness to provide relevant policy recommendations for other cities in Indonesia. This research employed a mixed-method approach, utilizing multiple linear regression analysis with a sample of 75 Smart City cities, correlation analysis, and case studies from six representative cities demonstrating best practices. The regression analysis on food security showed that the Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) variable had a significant negative relationship (-0.502, p = 0.000), as did food expenditure (-0.269, p = 0.043) and lack of clean water (-0.562, p = 0.000), while electricity access had a significant positive effect (0.234, p = 0.034). Economic distribution, access to local food, and providing basic infrastructure are critical to improving food security in Indonesian cities. Case study analysis showed that Semarang is the city with the highest readiness level (97%), followed by Makassar (91%), Jakarta (91%), Samarinda (86%), Medan (79%), and Surabaya (66%). Each city adopted a different approach, which means the national strategy for developing Smart Cities will also differ. Semarang and Makassar employed a Holistic Benchmark approach, Jakarta followed a Technological-Fragmented approach, Medan and Samarinda were in a Developing Transition phase, and Surabaya utilized Community and Local Initiatives. Smart cities are not just about technology but also involve appropriate urban planning policies and architectural practices, particularly to support sustainable food systems through infrastructure management and environmental sustainability.