Huh what? Jakarta? But why? I thought this blog is about eurotrip.. Well in this special edition, I'll write about my hometown, kampung halamanku, my beloved Jakarta. Jakarta or officially known as Special Capital Region of Jakarta (Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta), is the capital and the largest city of Indonesia. Most people questioning why you would go to Jakarta, with its traffic jam and pollution. I have an answer, it's because of the FOOD. Yup, you can go anywhere in Indonesia, but if you want good food you have to go to Jakarta, you can find pretty much anything here, from traditional food to European fancy cuisine. The price also varies, for a full meal per person it cost from Rp 7.000,- (or around 50eurocent) to unlimited (I mean, we also have super expensive fancy restaurant here in Indonesia, I've never went there so I don't know how much it cost). The main reason why I'm in Jakarta this time is to attend my brother's wedding (which was great).
When I just arrived, I forced my brother to take me to Kelapa Gading (One of Jakarta's china town), if you want to eat a good pork meat (Chinese version) or any other Chinese cuisine, this is the place you have to go to. One of my favorite restaurant is KacaMata it's quite pricey here, but it's worth it. I think for 7 person we spent around 25euros (Rp 300.000), and we still got some leftovers.
Second day in Indonesia, I woke up pretty late (I arrived on midnight), and ate the leftovers. On my way home my sister complained that she's hungry, so we made a stop in a Padang Restaurant, this is one of the most famous Indonesian culinary in the world, and one of the best foods in the world according to CNN. There are lots of famous Padang Restaurant in Indonesia, like Sederhana, and even super expensive one, but no matter which restaurant you pick, you will love the taste of the spiciness and the richness of the ingredient. I had Gulai Tunjang (cow's skin cooked in coconut milk and lots of other spices). Usually if you order a take out, they will give you complete with vegetables and sambal. But if you eat in, don't be surprise when they put all those food on your table, it doesn't mean that you have to eat all of that. Just eat what you want to eat, and at the end, the waiter will sum what you eat and how much you have to pay. If you ask me, the best way to enjoy this cuisine is to take it out, so you will have all combined together, and the gravy will get in the rice
Like what I've told you, that you can find any kind of food you want in Jakarta. One of my favorite international cuisine restaurant is Pancious Pancake, although it specialized in pancake, my favorite menu in this restaurant is mushroom pasta, it's pasta with mushroom cream sauce and completed with fried mushroom as well. Another similar kinda like restaurant is Nanny's Pavillion, although this wasn't one of my favorite, but the food here is bad. I had french fries top with meat sauce and melted cheese, it was good yet feel so wrong in so many level (Sorry big belly)
So, finally the reason why I make a short visit to my lovely Jakarta, my brother's wedding. To be honest I think this is the most fun wedding I've ever attended. Foods were amazing, and the venue was also nice. It's different with typical Indonesian wedding, where it's so formal with buffet table in the middle. This one is just like a garden party with small food tents spread all over the place, and of course it's all Indonesian traditional food. If you want to eat this kind of food, you can find it anywhere on the street all across the city.
Is that all??? of course not.. A few days after the wedding, I forced my brother to take me wherever he goes, because I had nothing to do. So we had lunch at one of small food stall (Waroeng Lovina) in Ampera. We had some Balinese Cuisine (Charcoal Grilled Seafood with Balinese Seasoning), and we only spent around Rp 150.000 (around 10euros) for 3 person and you got free dessert (Banana and Coconut with brown sugar wrapped with pancake).
Well, I think if I told you about all great cuisine in Jakarta a post won't be enough, so let me just end it for now. If you have any question or any suggestion for what to eat and what to do when you're in Jakarta, just let me know. I'll be happy to help :)
When I just arrived, I forced my brother to take me to Kelapa Gading (One of Jakarta's china town), if you want to eat a good pork meat (Chinese version) or any other Chinese cuisine, this is the place you have to go to. One of my favorite restaurant is KacaMata it's quite pricey here, but it's worth it. I think for 7 person we spent around 25euros (Rp 300.000), and we still got some leftovers.
Second day in Indonesia, I woke up pretty late (I arrived on midnight), and ate the leftovers. On my way home my sister complained that she's hungry, so we made a stop in a Padang Restaurant, this is one of the most famous Indonesian culinary in the world, and one of the best foods in the world according to CNN. There are lots of famous Padang Restaurant in Indonesia, like Sederhana, and even super expensive one, but no matter which restaurant you pick, you will love the taste of the spiciness and the richness of the ingredient. I had Gulai Tunjang (cow's skin cooked in coconut milk and lots of other spices). Usually if you order a take out, they will give you complete with vegetables and sambal. But if you eat in, don't be surprise when they put all those food on your table, it doesn't mean that you have to eat all of that. Just eat what you want to eat, and at the end, the waiter will sum what you eat and how much you have to pay. If you ask me, the best way to enjoy this cuisine is to take it out, so you will have all combined together, and the gravy will get in the rice
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| Complete Menu |
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| Gulai Tunjang |
Like what I've told you, that you can find any kind of food you want in Jakarta. One of my favorite international cuisine restaurant is Pancious Pancake, although it specialized in pancake, my favorite menu in this restaurant is mushroom pasta, it's pasta with mushroom cream sauce and completed with fried mushroom as well. Another similar kinda like restaurant is Nanny's Pavillion, although this wasn't one of my favorite, but the food here is bad. I had french fries top with meat sauce and melted cheese, it was good yet feel so wrong in so many level (Sorry big belly)
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| Guilty Fries |
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| Mushroom Spaghetti |
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| Nasi Gudeg |
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| Sate Ayam & Lontong |
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| Selat Solo |
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| Kue Lekker |
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| Lontong Kari |
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| Siomay |
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| Me, My Friends & Funny Shaped Candy |
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| Lovely Bride & Groom |
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| Grilled Shrim |
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| Plecing Kangkung |
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| Grilled Squid |
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| You have to eat with hand |
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| Dessert |
Well, I think if I told you about all great cuisine in Jakarta a post won't be enough, so let me just end it for now. If you have any question or any suggestion for what to eat and what to do when you're in Jakarta, just let me know. I'll be happy to help :)