Kelapa Gading is home to a smorgasbord of various delicacies, with one of them being Bubur Ayam Tangki 18 Wawah. It being located right by the roadside of a busy street – opposite Apotik Victory, not far from the shopping mall row on the Jalan Boulevard Raya roundabout – makes it very easy to reach.

I was nearly disappointed when I popped by on a Saturday at around 1pm. The door to the shop was already half-closed, so I panicked and asked a parking attendant nearby. His response brought relief to my agitated soul. “It’s closing for the time being as it has ran out of Bubur (porridge). It’ll open again at 6pm,” he explains. Only then I discovered that Bubur Ayam Tangki would begin its daily trade at 7am, closes at 1pm, and reopens at 6pm all the way until 11pm.

Founded by Bapak Stevi in 2000 with his wife, Bubur Ayam Tangki 18 Wawah is a very popular Bubur joint in the Gading area. People from all walks of life visit this eatery, which also serves its porridge with Sapo Seafood (claypot seafood), Sapo Kodok Kungpao (claypot spicy stir-fried frog), ikan (fish), Ayam Rica (spicy chicken) and more – besides the usual Bubur Ayam (chicken porridge). Its menu also offers other dishes including Nasi Goreng (fried rice), noodles, and an assortment of dim sum choices.

After running down the clock at Mal Kelapa Gading not far away from the restaurant, I finally made my return to the restaurant at 6.30pm in tenterhooks. Thankfully, the door to the place was opened wide, from which I could see a couple of tables filled with customers. The waiter handed me the menu once I sat down, and after a few flips, I was hankering for its Bubur Sapo Seafood and Hakau Udang (shrimp dumplings).

The porridge here is served in a bowl that we are more accustomed to use for Sapo Tahu (claypot tofu), which is shaped like a pot. Topped with cuts of squid, chicken and shrimp, it is accompanied with Cakwe (Chinese crullers), leek, fried shallots, and chives on the side. Savoury in taste even before I added pepper or soy sauce into the mix, the rice is cooked not only with water but also with flavouring to keep it flavorous. Its sizeable portion was just enough to fill me up, while its warmth went straight down to my tummy and alleviated the slight cold that I was suffering from on that day. The soft and warm Hakau Udang provided a pleasant end to my meal.

One unique aspect from the porridge here is the availability of mustard – handmade by the owner of the establishment – on each table for customers to add into their Bubur. Most people would use stock, but they do things differently here. Do they combine well? Surprisingly, the answer is yes, the savoury porridge and the semi-sour mustard do make for a compatible duo.

You can also read this article on The Jakarta Post:Kelapa Gading’s tasty ‘bubur’ with mustard on the side

Jl. Boulevard Raya QF1, No. 26,
Kelapa Gading, Jakarta Utara
T: 021 450 7706
Open daily from 6am-1pm and 6pm-11pm
Rp.50,000/US$3.70 per person