From Bali to Jakarta: Nebula Kuningan

An established household name in Bali (with three restaurants in Kuta, Petitenget and Ubud), Nebula has decided to set up home in Jakarta. And no better place to open a restaurant than the vibrant neighbourhood of Kuningan…simply because it is my hood hehe. 😉

With her sleek industrial interior, Nebula radiates a modern and urban feel without coming across as pretentious. Minimalist yet cozy at the same time!

Bar area.

While ambiance plays a key role in every restaurant, Nebula’s main mission is to deliver a personalized culinary experience to guests by transforming good ol’ comfort food into tasteful delights.

There are two different kinds of menu — Lunch Menu and Dinner Menu. Both menus offer a selection of hearty Indonesian fusion dishes and innovative cocktails.

The former focuses on quick one dish options for office workers to eat during lunchtime (individual servings) whereas the latter focuses on dishes that are best enjoyed communally over long conversations (dishes for sharing).

Can’t wait to tuck in!

This means you need to visit Nebula at least TWICE to try out all their food. 😉 I’ve been to Nebula a few times for lunch and only once for dinner and all their dishes are amazing. Some of my favourites include their Soft-Shell Crab Bao, Thai Fried Rice Pork Belly, Nasi Campur Bali, Salted Egg Squid (a very Singaporean dish!), Chicken Betutu (super tender and tasty), and Glazed Shirt Ribs.

Most times I was too busy eating to snap pictures of the food. Here’s what I got:

Soft-Shell Crab Bao (IDR 75k).

With furikake, wasabi and leeks. SO GOOD.

Thai Fried Rice Pork Belly (IDR 60k).

Spaghetti Tuna Hang Jebat (IDR 55k).

O.PL (IDR 35k). Contains orange, pineapple, and lime.

Honey Bee Juice (IDR 35k). Contains ginger, lime, mint, honey and orange.

For the healthy/weight conscious, fret not. Nebula has brought over their infamous smoothies bowls from Bali!!! I absolutely love their Healthy Bowl with greek yoghurt as the base (IDR 55k).

Healthy Bowl (IDR 55k).

Served in round wooden bowls with wooden spoons. Such pretty colours!

Expect to spend about IDR 150k-200k/pax for food and drinks at Nebula (lunch would be cheaper). The calories gained are worth every penny!

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Nebula Kuningan 
Kantor Taman A9
Jalan Dr. Ide Anak Agung Gde Agung Lot 8.9
Mega Kuningan, Jakarta 12950

One of Jakarta’s Finest Coffee House: Tanamera Coffee Roastery

Tanamera Coffee is an independent coffee house with several branches in Jakarta (and even one in Bali!).

Tanamera Coffee South.

Tanamera Coffee Roastery was established with two aims:

1. To promote the fact that nothing beats a cup of freshly roasted specialty coffee;

2. To show support for local Indonesian Arabica — Tanamera uses 100% Indonesian Arabica coffee beans for their specialty coffees.

The coffee experts at Tanamera source their own beans from Indonesia’s finest regions and then roast their blends in-house. By adjusting the roasting profile for various types of coffee, Tanamera manages to bring out all the delicate flavours, notes and aromas characteristic to each coffee.

The result is a delicious locally produced cuppa coffee.

One month back, I visited their outlet along Jalan Ahmad Dahlan (i.e. Tanamera Coffee South). The moment I stepped in, I could smell the aroma of freshly roasted coffee. SO FRAGRANT.

Life is a beautiful and endless journey in search of the perfect cup. — Barbara A. Daniels

The 2-storey cafe reminded me of a coffee house from the 1980s with its old school grills and antique decor.

We paired our coffee with good ol’ brunch food.

Table flat lay.

Since Tanamera specializes in coffee, I honestly didn’t have high expectations for their food. To my surprise, their breakfast n’ brunch food was delish!!

Next time you crave your daily coffee fix, be sure to drop by Tanamera Coffee! One can never go wrong with great coffee and scrumptious brunch dishes. 🙂

CHEERS!

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TANAMERA Kebayoran

Jalan Ahmad Dahlan no.16
Jakarta Selatan 12130

Another UNION Kid on the Block: THE DUTCH JAKARTA

THE DUTCH is a modern gastropub by Union Group which has names like UNION, Cork & Screw, Benedict, E&O, Bistecca (and many more) under its belt. Situated between the SCBD and Senopati districts, The Dutch can be found on the ground floor of 18 Parc Place.

Checking out The Dutch at Parc Place.

It is headed by Chef Chris Moes, a Dutch chef who has lived and worked in Jakarta for some time (hence the name The Dutch – DUH). Unlike what its name suggests, The Dutch is not a Dutch cuisine specialty restaurant.

Homemade sausages to go, anyone? 🙂

Instead, it adopts a smokehouse concept where cold cuts, sausages, smoked and cured meats are prepared in-house (i.e. homemade). You can expect hearty Western/Asian fare on the menu along with some Dutch classics.

Awesome housemade sausages!

The minimalist restaurant is designed by renowned architect, Andra Matin, who has a big love for open spaces. This is reflected in the large open kitchen which allow guests to peer into.

Large open kitchen with bar counter seats.

Its interior is dimly lit with industrial vibes and a spacious feel. All the windows are covered by metal bar grilles, allowing tiny amounts of light to stream in (forgive my badly taken pictures – totally blaming the lighting hehe). The atmosphere is warm and inviting; people settle in and get comfortable over booze.

Warm and inviting atmosphere.

Agent D and I both felt a little under the weather so we stayed away from alcohol and ordered hot tea + fresh orange juice instead.

 Being a gastrobar, The Dutch functions as a restaurant cum pub. If you’re an alcohol lover, you’ll adore this place. Headlining the bar is a copper multi-tap beer tower, dispensing seven kinds of draught brews. The selection ranges from local favourites to international ales; each pour is perfectly frosty due to the cold pipe system.

7 beer taps + 1 cocktail tap.

Beer aside, the cocktail list at The Dutch runs gourmet and experimental, incorporating exotic ingredients and interesting techniques. It is legitly the first pub in Jakarta that serves cocktail direct from a tap. Plus they have loads of happy hour promotions going on throughout the week. So look out for that!

Food-wise, The Dutch makes really delish homemade sausages and cured meats. Don’t forget to pair your sausages with the mustard on the side. Its SO GOOOD. The waiter recommended Erwtensoep – traditional Dutch split pea soup and Braised Lamb in Puff Pastry but we decided to go with other options.

The Dutch’s Menu.

Here’s what we ordered:

Classic Bratwurst with sauerkraut and mustard on the side (IDR 105k). Traditionally handmade using natural casing, and then slow-smoked in house. Orange juice was genuinely fresh (IDR 55K).

Caesar Salad had an overdose of parmesan and was a tad dry (IDR 90k).

Spaghetti Aglio Olio with pork (IDR 90k). Quite a nice change from the usual prawn/chicken.

Soy-glazed Duck Wings on rice with pickled vegetables (IDR 95k). Duck wings were good but Agent D left the pickled veges untouched.

Food at The Dutch is not exactly cheap but the portions and quality are good. For both of us, the bill came out to about IDR 580k. That said, we had an enjoyable meal. 🙂

Sundate brunchin’.

After lunch, we spotted a really pretty mini park/garden opposite Parc Place and headed there to walk off some pounds. The trees, plants and flowers were beautifully landscaped. Such a pleasant surprise after lunch!

We had to leave after about 15 minutes because I was becoming food for the mozzies. Dang should have brought my mosquito repellent out.

And that’s how my Sunday went by. How did yours go? 🙂

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The Dutch Gastrobar (by UNION Group)
18 Parc Place Tower E, Ground Floor
Jalan Jendral Sudirman Kav. 52-53, SCBD
Jakarta Selatan 12190

Cafe Series: HAUSE Rooftop in Kuningan

Hause Rooftop Kitchen & Bar is an oasis in the city, away from the bustling Jakarta traffic. Located on the topmost floor of MD Place Tower 2 (in Setiabudi), this cozy rooftop hideout makes a good place to relax and unwind.

Hause Rooftop Kitchen & Bar.

Bearing semblance to that of a private glass house complete with a backyard, Hause Rooftop has both indoor and outdoor seating. The indoor space oozes homey vibes and takes a collected approach, with souvenirs and artworks from the owner’s travels.

Cozy electic interior.

Brunch at Hause Rooftop on Good Friday. #TGIF

Hausemade cakes.

Beautiful terrariums for sale!

The outdoor space is my favouritest part of the cafe. It is a really nice place to chill and feel the breeze in your hair coupled with a lovely sky view.

Outdoor garden area.

Filled with the owner’s personal collection of hanging air plants, herbs and flower plants, it feels like you’re dining in a private garden of a friend’s.

Lush green enclave.

Some fun facts about Hause Rooftop:

#1. Hause Rooftop handcrafts food & drinks using herbs picked from their very own backyard.

#2. The restaurant is pet-friendly so you can laze under the sun with your fur friends.

Perfect for you and your fur kids.

#3. Hause Rooftop opens early and closes late. They open at 9 a.m. everyday so you can get your morning coffee fix. On Sunday – Thursday, they close at 12 a.m.; on Friday – Saturday, they close at 2.00 a.m.. A great place to hangout and have late night drinks with friends!

#4. There is live music on certain nights. So check before going down!

Hausemade food.

Hause Rooftop is as much a restaurant as it is a bar. Their Hausemade menu and drinks are all freshly made with love. The food menu offers both Western and Indonesian choices along with vegetarian/organic options. For example, they have organic burgers by Burgreens.

Agent D got himself the ‘Curry Katsu Burger’ (IDR 115k) while I ordered a ‘Hausemade pasta – Linguine Carbonara with Salmon’ (IDR 100k).

Curry Katsu Burger (IDR 115k).

Consists of fried chicken breast, curry mayo, purple cabbage, hausemade bun served with fries & mixed garden salad.

Linguine Carbonara with Salmon (IDR 100k).

Consists of linguine carbonara, salmon, diced red onion in light cream sauce and egg yolk served with orange zest.

Classic cocktails aside, they have a pretty good list of Hause-invented cocktails which are inspired from their garden and hand-crafted to perfection.

For instance, the fresh and light Backyard (white rum, ginger liqueur, lemon juice, clove syrup with lemongrass and scented basil), the milky Hause Sweet Hause (vanilla flavoured vodka, Frangelico, Baileys, fresh milk, and caramel syrup biscotti), the light and fresh Flower Lady (Hause Gin, Bols elderflower, fresh lemon, lavender bitter and rosa aroma), etc.

Hause bar.

Non-alcoholic options are extensive too with freshly squeezed juices, chilled juices, artisan coffee, specialty tea,  hand-crafted Vitamines (something like mocktails), Kombucha Sangria, etc.

Agent D went for the ‘Kombucha Sangria’ (IDR 75k) which is rather pricey for Jakarta standards, in my opinion. According to Hause, their kombucha is made exclusively from fresh local fruits & vegetable juice that cleanses, heals, energizes and detoxifies one’s body. Sounds too good to be true eh?

Kombucha Sangria (IDR 75k).

I love all things chai and ordered the ‘Chai Latte’ (IDR 45k), a cinnamon flavored milk tea served with palm sugar.

Chai Latte (IDR 45k).

Chai latte made my morning!

Adding to the list of cafes in Kunignan. ENJOY!

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Hause Rooftop

MD Place Tower 2 – 6th Floor

Jl. Setiabudi Selatan no. 7

Jakarta Selatan

Flavour-packed Indonesian Cuisine on a Rooftop: Kila Kila by Akasya

Yummy Indonesian fare at Kila Kila by Akasya.

Two months back, I shared a list of my favourite Indonesian restaurants in Jakarta. Out of the recommended 5, one of them was KilaKila by Akasya. This is a super delayed post on Kila Kila…but better late than never right. 😉

Lunch at Kila Kila.

Kila Kila means “sounds of joy” in Sanskrit; through her Indonesian food, she hopes to create a joyful experience for all visitors. Located in the heart of SCBD near Pacific Place, this rooftop restaurant offers a beautiful view of the city, especially after the sun goes down.

It is managed by Akasya Catering, a well-known catering company amongst the who’s who of Jakarta. They have provided food for numerous VIP events including the wedding of ex-President Susilo B. Yudhoyono’s son. Kila Kila is a step up from their first food joint – Akasya Express in Kemang –  which is more casual and warung-ish.

Charming atmosphere.

The interior of Kila Kila is unpretentiously vibrant. As soon as the lift door opens, dozens of rotating yellow and white pinwheels greet you cheerfully. Traditional rattan lamps, cages and wind chimes of various sizes hang down from a mirrored ceiling, creating an enchanting atmosphere.

Happy rotating pinwheels.

The entire place is divided into two sections —  smoking and non-smoking (in a semi-open space). The restaurant’s large windows provide good natural lighting during lunch and a beautiful city night scene during dinner, making it an ideal setting for family get-togethers or a romantic date night.

Lunch with family.

Dinner with friends.

Kila Kila serves good quality Indonesian food that is tastefully done. Common favourites are their Sate Wagyu (grilled wagyu on skewer), Udang Telor Asin (juicy prawns in salted egg yolk sauce), Tumis Bunga Pepaya (one of the best I’ve tasted), Singgang Lidah (Sumatra style grilled ox tongue), amongst many others.

Table flat lay.

Here are some pictures of our food on the table:

If you’re looking to savour authentic Indonesian cuisine in a chic restaurant (coupled with a view), Kila Kila might just be the place for you! 🙂

Dad and mom very pleased with their food

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Kila Kila by Akasya
Jl. Jendral Sudirman Kav 52-53
SCBD, Gedung Lot 4 – 7th Floor

Artisanal Baked Goods: BEAU HQ by Talita Setyadi

It’s been about 5 months since BEAU HQ opened her doors in Senopati. Helmed by Indonesian pastry chef Talita Setyadi, BEAU focuses on producing artisan bread and pastries of high quality — using fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

BEAU HQ by Talita Setyadi.

BEAU HQ is Talita Setyadi’s third outlet; she opened her first outlet in Plaza Indonesia, followed by the second one in Central Department Store, Grand Indonesia.

There are two separate seating areas, indoor and outdoor. The outdoor area gives the feel of a lush garden at the back of a friend’s home. It is for those who want to bask in the sun and people watch from their seats.

Indoor area – super packed on a weekday afternoon.

The indoor area has a Scandinavian minimalist design with white walls, large windows, black frames, wooden furniture and loads of greenery. I love it that the large windows allow lots of natural light to stream in, brightening up the entire place.

A large white communal table sits in the center of the cafe. It is perfect for large group meetups and encourages conversations between strangers.

Communal table (foreground) and live kitchen (background).

The live kitchen and production space is separated from the cafe by a large glass window. Patrons can peer in and watch pastries being molded into various shapes. I found it pretty therapeutic haha.

Hot from the oven – croissants, bagels and pastries on a rack.

Delicate sweet offerings on display in the encased glass counter.

Eclairs.

Pretty cakes.

Apart from the usual bread and pastries, BEAU HQ has an all-day brunch menu. Watch out for their famous Smorrebrod — a Danish style open-faced sandwich, which comes in a variety of toppings and spreads. I’ve heard it not only looks good but tastes delish too.

What we ordered that day…

Table flatlay.

Valrhona Iced Chocolate (IDR 40k).

Iced Latte (IDR 40k).

Eggs Florentine (IDR 75k).

Green Pearl Barley Risotto with Pesto (IDR 89k).

Sadly, the eclair was a lil’ disappointing though. I felt that the choux dough was a tad dry and hard. Wished it was softer!

BEAU by Talita Setyadi is definitely one of the better artisan bakerys in town and I’ll be back again for more.

“Bread – like real love – took time, cultivation, strong loving hands and patience. It lived, rising and growing to fruition only under the most perfect circumstances.”
― Melissa Hill, Something From Tiffany’s

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Beau HQ

Jalan Cikajang No. 29 
Senopati, Kebayoran Baru
Jakarta Selatan 12190

Best Japanese Brunch Buffet In Jakarta: ENMARU

Enmaru (rated 4.8 on Google, 4.8 on Zomato and 4.5 on Trip Advisor at the point of writing) is part of a group of three restaurants called Altitude, located on the 46th floor of The Plaza. From there, you get to enjoy one of the finest 360 degree views of the city + a spectacular view of Jakarta’s bay with boats lining the coastline.

Bird’s-eye view from where we were seated in Enmaru.

Since opening its doors in 2006, Enmaru has been highly regarded as Japan’s no.1 Izakaya restaurant. (Izakaya is a Japanese dining style where one sits down for sake after a long day at work.) In Japan, Enmaru won the champion award for two nationwide restaurant competitions — the “Izakaya Koshien 2010” and the “S1 Server Grand Prix 2011”.

ENMARU has a total of 13 restaurants in Japan, Jakarta, Singapore, Hong Kong and most recently in Shanghai.

Enmaru – bringing the authenticity of Japanese culinary to you.

Enmaru Jakarta’s interior is like that of a traditional Izakaya restaurant tucked in a corner of a busy Tokyo street. The dark solid timbers, stone slabs, and rustic wood decor give the entire place an authentic Japanese ambiance. The atmosphere is lively and warm,  great for all occasions from family gatherings to romantic date nights.

A traditional Izakaya restaurant.

Authentic Japanese ambiance.

Since its opening, Enmaru’s top priority has been to ensure the freshness of its products (I guess that’s what Japanese food is all about right!). Their seafood is air-flown from the world’s biggest fish market, Tsukiji in Tokyo.

Visiting Enmaru when my parents were in town.

I’ve been wanting to check out Enmaru’s all-you-can-eat weekend brunch for the longest time ever. And I finally got down to it earlier this month, when Dad and Mom visited Jakarta over Chinese New Year.

The weekend brunch buffet runs every Saturday, Sunday and Public Holiday (12pm – 3pm). Unlike the usual buffet where you have to walk around to get your food, you can place your orders directly with the waiter, a la carte style. Thus, you can be assured that every dish comes to you freshly prepared from the kitchen.

All-you-can-eat weekend brunch menu (IDR 385k++/pax).

Renowned for its classic Japanese cuisine and iconic homemade dishes, the variety of food on their menu is pretty extensive. And I’ve to add the quality is good too.

Table flatlay of our first round of orders (appetizer round 1.0).

I won’t be reviewing all the individual dishes we had; that’ll take me forever as we tried almost everything on the menu. I’ll post up some pictures though. 🙂

Tofu Agejako Salad.

Tori Momo Kushiyaki 3 Kinds Moriawase (1 was devoured by Agent D).

Sashimi 3 Kinds (I requested for all salmon) – LOVED IT.

California Roll.

California Roll.

Unagi Tempura & Cream Cheese Ika Sumi Roll.

Aburi Salmon Spicy Roll – one of my faves.

Wagyu Tongue & Gyu Suji Miso Nikomi Gratin Soup Shitate.

Grilled Eringi Mushrooms.

Unagi Gohan – one of my faves.

Mushi Buta Ponzu – pork belly was so good.

Buta Kakuni Wasabi Potato.

Special mention goes to these two items on the menu:

Foie Gras Chawanmushi.

Foie Gras Chawanmushi.

This is seriously the best chawanmushi I’ve had in Jakarta. The texture was just right and the egg custard literally  melted in my mouth. The pairing of foie gras on top was an excellent combination. I would definitely go back to Enmaru just for this. ❤

Foie Gras Steak & Yaki Onigiri.

Another AMAZEBALL dish is the Foie Gras Steak & Yaki Onigiri. I ordered 3 portions of this all to myself. The sauteed foie gras, together with the teriyaki sauce, was SO YUMMY. The grilled onigiri helped to neutralize the strong foie gras taste.

Our faces one inch wider.

The desserts, though limited, was of impeccable quality. I loved every bit of the Ice Cream Zenzai which contained all my favourite things — matcha, azuki, and mochi. ‘Twas was a nice sweet finish to a very filling brunch.

You don’t have to travel all the way to Japan to satisfy your Jap cravings — just head down to Enmaru! 🙂 🙂 🙂

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Enmaru Japanese Restaurant

Altitude, The Plaza level 46,

Jalan M.H. Thamrin No.28 – 30

Menteng, Jakarta 

It’s Always Tea Time at Lewis & Carroll Tea Jakarta

“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.” – C.S. LEWIS

Lewis & Carroll Tea.

Lewis & Carroll Tea is an artisan tea house that has been around for some time in Jakarta. I’ve been wanting to check the place out (since early last year!) and finally got to do so last week. And I loved everything about it — the earth-toned, brightly lit space and the entire collection of lovely tea.

The cafe’s interior is very spacious and white, with loads of daylight. It seems like a great place to have good conversations over tea, or to simply sit in solitude with a book and a cuppa tea.

Inspired by two tea-loving literary icons C.S Lewis and Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (better known as Lewis Carroll), Lewis & Carroll works at crafting each and every blend into a masterpiece of aromatic attraction and visual artistry.

Colourful pretty tea sets.

The tea is sourced from suppliers all around the world, including reputable tea plantations in Indonesia. Their entire tea leaves collection is impressive — a whooping 12 categories (Black, Black Blend, White, White Blend, Herbal, Green, Green Blend, Oolong, Oolong Blend, Spice, Fruits, or Flower) and 54 different flavors.

Spoilt for choice by their comprehensive selection of tea blends.

Prior to ordering, you can either walk up to the counter to sniff the tea samples or request for them to be brought to your table. This experiential process enabled me to make a more informed choice on my desired flavour. 🙂

PS: Teas are priced differently with Signature teas at IDR 40k and Heritage teas at IDR 60k.

After much sniffing, I finally picked this out.

Whilst waiting for your order, you can browse Lewis & Carroll’s teapots and tea leaves that are for sale. All of them are really PRETTY. I was so tempted to get one. 😉

Items available for purchase.

Lovin’ the colours.

I can imagine they would make lovely housewarming gifts.

To accompany your tea, Lewis & Carroll’s main menu offers a wide selection of choices from light to heavy, including all-day breakfast, salads, pastas, sandwiches, and sweets.

Flatlay of our beautiful lunch.

The food was well presented and tasted good. Their teas were even better.

I particularly enjoyed the Crystalline Mojito (crystalline fruit tea with mint leaves and lemon water) from their craft tea fusion. It was sooooo refreshing to the throat!

Happy Summer Days Fruit Tea (IDR 40k)

Genmaicha Glory (IDR 60k)

Crystalline Mojito (IDR 55k)

Truffle fries (IDR 50k) – Could have had more truffle!

Pan-fried Salmon (IDR 115k) – Salmon was cooked well and the lemon butter cream sauce added a nice touch.

Chicken Penne (IDR 80k) – Generous portions of chicken breast in fungi truffle sauce.

Atlantic Bites (IDR 115k) – This one was a disappointment. The smoked salmon was off-colour and wasn’t fresh. I could hardly taste the truffle oil in the crab claw.

We ended off the meal with a really nice dessert (of which I can’t remember the name of!) that we selected at the counter.

“If you are cold, tea will warm you;
if you are too heated, it will cool you;
If you are depressed, it will cheer you;
If you are excited, it will calm you.”

― William Ewart Gladstone

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Lewis and Carroll

Jalan Bumi No. 4

Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta Selatan 12120

Authentic Indonesian Food in an Elegant Colonial Setting: Kembang Goela Jakarta

When friends or family visit Jakarta, they always want to eat good Indonesian food. I am constantly on the lookout for new and interesting places to bring my guests, where they can experience the complex flavours of Indonesian cuisine in a traditional elegant setting.

In today’s post, I am going to share with you a list of my 5 favourite Indonesian restaurants in Jakarta – all tried and tested. One of them being Kembang Goela, a restaurant I recently brought my parents to (and they loved it).

Entrance to Kembang Goela.

Beautiful handcrafted mirror and chandelier overhead.

Kembang Goela feels like a mansion of some rich tycoon with many private dining rooms. I absolutely adore its high ceiling, which makes the entire place much more classy and roomy.

One of the private rooms (it’s HUGE).

Lovin’ the grand hanging lights.

Its interior is colonial yet elegant with old photographs on walls, pots of pretty flowers, dark wood furniture, and a grand piano by the side. #nostalgic

Excited to order!

Colonial-style architecture.

Live piano music – a great dinner accompaniment.

Kembang Goela serves traditional Indonesian cuisine influenced by the various regions within Indonesia. What makes this restaurant unique is that its menu has a Peranakan twist as well. Indonesian food + Peranakan food = TREAT FOR THE TASTEBUDS.

Table Flatlay of mains (not including the appetizers we ordered).

Bon appetit!

The food was well-presented and excellent. Special mention goes to their Oseng-Oseng Ketjipir (sauteed wing beans) and their Brinjal Panggang (grilled egg plant with red chilli), which I loved.

I’ve also heard that their Dendeng Balado (deep fried beef carpacio) is good too but we weren’t feeling beefy that night and so didn’t order it.

Oseng-Oseng Ketjipir (sauteed wing beans).

Brinjal Panggang (grilled egg plant with red chilli).

Ayam Mevrouw Lientje (grilled chicken with coconut brown curry).

Iga Bakar Cabe Idjo (grilled short ribs with green chilli and tomatoes)

Each dish on the menu comes with an English description, which I find really helpful. Saves me the hassle of googling to see what the dish looks like. 🙂

Thank you for the lovely experience, Kembang Goela!

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List of my 5 favourite Indonesian restaurants in Jakarta

1. Kembang Goela
Plaza Sentral Parking Lot
Jl. Jend. Sudirman Kav 47-48
Central Jakarta 

2. Bunga Rampai
Jl. Teuku Cik Ditiro No. 35
Menteng, Central Jakarta

Bunga Rampai (photo credit: JKTGO).

Dining at Bunga Rampai.

3. Kila Kila by Akasya
SCBD Gedung Lot 4, 7th Floor
Jl. Jend. Sudirman Kav 52-53
Central Jakarta

Kila Kila (photo credit: Akasya).

Delish.

Dinner at Kila Kila, when Jia visited Jakarta.

4. Harum Manis 
Pavilion Apartment Retail Aracade
Jl. KH Mas Mansyur Kav.24
Central Jakarta

Harum Manis (photo credit: JKTGO).

5. TeSate Menteng 
Jalan Dr Samratulangi No. 39
Menteng, Central Jakarta

TeSate (photo credit: Sari Rasa Group).

TeSate with Indo girlfriends, when Juli visited.

“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien

Vibrant Peranakan Culture and Cuisine at Meradelima Restaurant

Meradelima Restaurant is a reflection of how two different cultures used to and still coexist side by side in perfect harmony.

Meradelima Restaurant.

Commonly referred to as Peranakans, they are the descendants of Chinese immigrants who came to the Malay archipelago (which includes Indonesia and Singapore) between the 15th and 17th centuries. Peranakans are a unique heritage to Southeast Asia, an intertwining of the Malay and Chinese culture.

A Peranakan wedding couple (taken from Wikipedia).

Meradelima beautifully embodies the vivacious and spirited Peranakan culture both in its design and cuisine. Housed in a two-storey building featuring Jengki architecture, patrons are welcomed into the restaurant by a red-carpeted wooden deck and servers dressed in red oriental cheongsams.

One of the private dining rooms in Meradelima.

On entering the restaurant, I felt as if I was transported back to a bygone era. The interior was decorated with vibrantly coloured Peranakan-style porcelain collections, vintage replica becak chairs, and exquisite kebayas encased in large glass frames.

Pretty porcelain on tables.

Our first visit – dining against the backdrop of intricately embroidered kebayas with floral motifs.

According to the owner who was born and raised as a Peranakan, each kebaya is uniquely designed and the display stands as a tribute to the lives of Peranakan women of the past.

An assortment of Peranakan-style porcelain ware.

A set of stairs leads from the first floor of the restaurant to the upper floor. The decor of the second floor is equally enchanting. A pair of gigantic doors made of teak wood is fixed to the wall and inscribed on it are four Chinese characters (which I could hardly make out with my sad command of Mandarin).

Since my dad is a full Baba (which makes me  half a Nyonya I guess), I thought that he might like dining at Meradelima. And I was right. My parents loved the setting of the entire place.

Our second visit – seated at the exact same spot.

Food wise, their menu has a mix of Indonesian, Malay and Chinese food — thanks to the influence of the Peranakan era.

What we ordered.

Meradelima makes a lovely place for a family get-together or a private party. It is also a good place to take your tourist guests to. If you want to dine in privacy, there are various private dining rooms on both floors as well as an enclosed al fresco dining area.

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Meradelima

Jl. Adityawarman No. 47, Senopati

Jakarta