Soto Betawi H. Husen

Pros

Compared to its equivalents, the soup of its Soto looks yellower in colour and has a more concentrated texture. Taste-wise, it is dense, savoury and delightful. The beef slices are sizeable and they feature a rather velvety touch. Crunchy and delicious, one can say that the Paru Goreng (fried beef lungs) that accompany the dish are one of the best around. Freshly made and served, the food here are cooked and finished on that day itself.

Cons

There is a distinct lack of space inside this warung. Once it reaches a full house – a sight you can see almost every day – you can feel the air beginning to thin out and you’ll be out of breath in no time. Also, it does not stock up on enough supplies for its food; hence customers must be prepared for disappointment if they come around late.

Jl. Padang Panjang No. 6C, South Jakarta
T: 021 8370 6476
Open daily from 7am-1pm

Soto Betawi H. Ma’ruf

Pros

The soup of its Soto features just the right level of consistency and is original in flavour. With more than one outlet to its name, you are able to dine in peace without the risk of an overcrowding. It does not use artificial flavouring, which mean that its bowl of Soto tastes fresher and natural.

Cons

Despite its unblemished-by- artificial-flavouring tang, there is a slight blandness to its soup. The concoction also lacks a bit of bite in terms of its savouriness level on the whole. The ingredients inside the Soto are quite inadequate and unsatisfying.

Jl.Gondangdia Lama No. 36A, Central Jakarta
Open daily from 10am-9pm

Verdict

With a more savoury and denser soup, Soto Betawi H. Husen snatches victory in this duel by a country mile. And its Paru Goreng is guaranteed to keep you coming back for more.

The post Soto Betawi H. Husen VS Soto Betawi H. Ma’ruf appeared first on Good Indonesian Food.

The variety of how Bakso is served and its filling has also swelled up in recent times, including those that are stuffed with cheese, bird’s eye chilli, minced beef, and even another meatball (imagine a matryoshka Bakso). This time around, we will be measuring two heavyweight Bakso joints – Bakso Cemplon Setiabudi and Bakso Bakwan Malang Cak Su Kumis Rawamangun – against each other to see who comes out on top.

Bakso Cemplon

Pros
Its rather tranquil ambience owes much to its slightly isolated location far from the main road, making it the ideal place to unwind. The background music also enhances the atmosphere, be it for work or a spot of conversation with friends and family. Its meatballs are quite soft to the bite and savoury as well. Besides its much-fêted Bakso, Cemplon also has a smorgasbord of other dishes on offer.

Cons
You may end up disappointed by the quality that you will be getting from the price that you are paying. Although its Bakso is flavourful, the soup, rice vermicelli, and yellow noodles that make up the whole dish are weak in taste and require more than just a pinch of additional flavouring.

Jl. Setiabudi 2, No. 19,
Setiabudi, South Jakarta
T: 021 3218 9791
Open Sunday to Friday from 10am-10pm (closed on Saturdays)
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Bakso Bakwan Malang Cak Su Kumis

Pros
The willingness of its many customers to park their vehicles quite far from the joint and walk on foot, only to then stand in a long line just for a bowl of its Bakso Bakwan Malang (meatball dumplings soup) signify the high esteem in which this place is held by Bakso lovers. Its soup is delightfully savoury and the generous amount of ingredients within makes this dish simply unmissable. It adopts a buffet system, which means that punters need not wait to be served. The menu here is packed with various delights; while a must-try Es Teler (fruit cocktail with coconut milk, sweetened condensed milk, and shaved ice) shop for hot afternoons is sited right next to it.

Cons
It is just too crowded. You have to be prepared for a scramble with other customers to secure a seat during peak hours, aka lunchtime. And you cannot dilly-dally while eating as well due to the snaking queue of punters waiting for you to finish up and leave. Those who travel here on wheels will have to make do with a parking spot far from the establishment and a bit of walking on foot to reach it.

Jl. Rawamangun Muka Barat No. 14,
Rawamangun, East Jakarta
T: 021 9269 6256
Open daily from 9am-9pm
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Verdict
Despite being regularly filled to capacity and the prospect of not being able to take your time enjoying a meal looms large, I am still electing Bakso Bakwan Malang Cak Su Kumis as the clear winner in this contest. Besides the savoury and delicious soup, the addition of Bakso, Siomay (steamed fish dumplings), Kekkian (minced prawn roll) and the many other choices available on its menu makes the long journey to get here worth my while

The post Bakso Cemplon VS Bakso Bakwan Malang Cak Su Kumis appeared first on Good Indonesian Food.

NASI GORENG WARNA-WARNI THOLE

PROS

The affable seller left a newcomer like me feeling like I’ve been a loyal customer for the longest of time. Ever since it relocated, the warung has seen its customers dwindle in number – a godsend for punters as they now have no need to wait in line for an hour to get their hands on its fried rice. Easy on the eye because of its colourful appearance, the savoury and not too oily Nasi Goreng here is also a hit on the palate.

CONS

Some may say that its portion is a bit too small for its price. I, on the other hand, would say that it is ideal – not too much to leave you feeling full and with an upset stomach, but just enough to save some space in your tummy for dessert. The lack of a tent can be troublesome, especially during the rainy season. Also, as with every other cart-pushing fried rice seller, it doesn’t offer much variety on its menu.

Jl. Panglima Polim Raya Blok C, No. 5,
South Jakarta
T: 0813 1017 8915
Open daily from 6pm-1am
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NASI GORENG KEBULI APJAY

PROS

A crowd will usually gather under its tent from the moment it opens up shop at 5pm, which shows just how popular its fried rice is. There is diversity in its menu, which also offers the likes of Bakmi Goreng (fried noodles), Bakmi Godog (boiled noodles) and Martabak (deep-fried stuffed pancake) along with its signature Nasi Goreng. Cooked with an assortment of spices and condiments, the fried rice here provides a new flavour outside the norm. To complete the experience, it is also topped with large cuts of chicken or mutton meat.

CONS

Although quite savoury, its fried rice can be a tad too strong on one’s palate – definitely not one to eat on a daily basis. A waiting time of at least 20 minutes is required to get your hands on its Nasi Goreng Kebuli Ayam (spicy chicken fried rice cooked in goat broth) because of the joint’s crowded nature. It is impossible to hold a conversation with the cooks to gain any insight into the secrets behind its Nasi Goreng as their hands are always full.

Jl. Panglima Polim IX,
Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta
T: 0812 835 9996
Open daily from 5pm-2am
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VERDICT

With all its significances and simplicity – along with the presence of the affable Pak Thole – Nasi Goreng Warna-Warni Thole is the clear winner of this round of Food Wars. To enjoy a plate of multicoloured fried rice under the night sky is an altogether pleasurable experience for yours truly. Well, as long as it’s not raining, that is.

You can read more in The Jakarta Post: The fried rice battle royal in South Jakarta

The post Nasi Goreng Kebuli Apjay VS Nasi Goreng Warna-Warni Thole appeared first on Good Indonesian Food.

Ayam Goreng Berkah

Pros
The sweet juicy sensation of its fried chicken is simply the best, while its decision to adopt a Javanese fried chicken concept is spot on. Its use of free-range chicken for its signature dish lends a significant effect to its overall taste.

Cons
Its fried chicken tends to be on the soggy side and too oily. The sambal terasi (shrimp paste chilli) provided is just not strong enough to provide the proper refreshing touch to its main course. The cleanliness of its dining area tends to be overlooked, especially during peak hours.

Jl. Melawai XIII,
South Jakarta
T: 021 573 6663
Open daily from 11am-11pm
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Ayam Goreng H. Mardun Martinah

Pros
Its perfectly seasoned fried chicken features a very velvety texture. It is served with a few complementary ingredients such as peanut sauce and pickled cucumber and onion, with the former the main reason why this dish has won plaudit after plaudit from a lot of people. This joint has also plumped for a comfortable atmosphere rather than a capacious dining area.

Cons
For some, its fried chicken may taste very bland. You may also encounter some difficulties with its insufficient parking space.

Jl. Mangga Besar Raya No. 90A,
Central Jakarta
T: 021 629 0229
Open daily from 9.30am-8.30pm
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Verdict
There is not much difference when you compare the tastiness of both dishes in general. For me, though, the silky smooth texture of Ayam Goreng H. Mardun Martinah’s fried chicken offers a uniquely satisfying sensation when paired with its phenomenal peanut sauce.

The post Ayam Goreng Berkah VS Ayam Goreng H. Mardun Martinah appeared first on Good Indonesian Food.