I managed to drop by a few Bak Kut Teh joints while on the island, but Shuang Hong Bak Kut Teh was the only place that merited a repeat visit. Owner Acai informed me that his wife first learned how to make Bak Kut Teh when she was working as a waitress at an eatery. The couple then decided to open their own shop in 1994, and by 1998, they were handed an opportunity by a food court to open up an outlet. They now have three branches in Batam, with one more set to be launched soon.

Twice I went there during my time in Batam, and the reason why I came back was for its Bak Kut Teh Indomie. It blew my mind that instant noodles could be combined with Bak Kut Teh to make for one incredible dish–although it’s a common delicacy here in Batam.

The dark Bak Kut Teh broth is made from garlic, star anise, cinnamon, and Chinese herbs. The mixture lent a delightfully bitter yet refreshing taste to the instant noodles, while the fragrant soup added a hint of herbal flavour to the tender pork meat.

Perhaps Shuang Hong Bak Kut Teh should consider opening up a shop down here in Jakarta. I reckon it’ll be a sell-out.

A2 Food Court,
Jl. Laksamana Bintan, Kompleks Gading Mas,
Batam, Riau Islands
Open daily from 7am-9pm
Rp.39,000/US$3 per person

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Established in the 1980s, the joint is now run by the second generation of the founder’s family. It is usually packed during holiday seasons; a time when the majority of its customers would consist of tourists from Jakarta and Surabaya. When I saw the number of vehicles parked outside of the restaurant and the crowd inside, I duly went in to investigate.

Capacious and decently designed, the eatery is well kept and clean enough despite the lack of modern furnishings. Its menu is pretty straightforward akin to any other Babi Guling joints. I ordered a portion of its signature dish, which comprises steamed rice, pork meat, pork skin, pork satay, urutan (pork sausage), soup, and sambal.

Although a tad small in size compared to its counterparts, it still tasted as good–if not, better–than the ones I have sampled before. The pork meat was tender and flavourful, with its crisp skin crunchy to a T, while its spicy soup is very much the epitome of Balinese cuisine. The best thing about my meal was the sambal. As a spicy food lover, I was delight to have my palate be subjected to an enjoyable burning taste courtesy of the sambal provided.

Jl. Sunset Road No. 554,
Seminyak, Kuta, Bali
T: 0851 0045 2968
Open daily from 9am-6pm
Rp.50,000/US$3.80 per person

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With an interior design inspired by the Javanese joglo house and keroncong music playing in the background, the atmosphere here is more Yogyakarta than Bali. Its menu consists of both Thai and Indonesian dishes, but as a fully fledged Indonesian food enthusiast, I opted for the latter. My order for that day comprised Lumpia Goreng (fried spring roll), Sayur Lodeh (vegetable soup with coconut milk), and Ikan Panggang Kemangi (grilled fish in lemon basil). It’s also worth noting that the prices here start from Rp.56,000, which is quite affordable for an eatery of such stature.

The food here are served as if one is at one’s own home, such as the Sayur Lodeh and the white ceramic plate that is used for the rice. Taste-wise, everything was superb. The grilled fish featured a heavenly aroma thanks to the addition of lemon basil, while the Sayur Lodeh was made perfectly with the right consistency for the coconut milk and the vegetables are nicely cooked. Although classified as an appetiser, the Lumpia Goreng ended up becoming an excellent side dish for my meal.

Despite the refined ambience of the place, it felt like home at Café Degan.

Jl. Petitenget No. 09, Kerobokan,
Bali
T: 0813 3728 1281
Open daily from 11am-10.30pm
Rp.100,000/US$7.60 per person

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Its name isn’t exactly Mie Lendir Harum Manis though. Due to it being served at a coffee shop called Harum Manis, people started to dub it Mie Lendir Harum Manis. Having been around for more than 30 years, the joint is currently operated by the second generation of the founder’s family.

Although it uses the same ingredients as other shops–yellow noodles, bean sprouts and hard-boiled egg–its taste reigns supreme over its counterparts. Especially when compared to the one that I tried the first time around.

Delivering the perfect balance between sweet and savoury, the corn-starch gravy added a pleasantly milky sensation to the chewy noodles. The dense sauce is enhanced even further by the egg yolk and lent an extra flavour to the dish. Despite its simple presentation, its taste was extraordinary.

If you’re a noodle person, then Mie Lendir Harum Manis comes highly recommended. It can get a bit packed in the morning, but it’ll be worth the effort.

Kedai Kopi Harum Manis,
Nagoya Hill, Jl. Imam Bonjol,
Batam, Riau Islands
Open daily from 6am-12pm
Rp.12,000/US$0.90 per portion

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