D'Marco Café (Martabak)

D'Marco Café is located on Jalan Sabang, 5 minutes walking from the backpacker street Jalan Jaksa. It is a simple place to hangout, with minimalist design and cheap prices. Opened on May 2012, it is becoming a popular hangout spot as the three owners are quite active to promote their restaurant and to organize events. The concept of specializing in Martabak, the Indonesian streetfood favourite (a sort of thick pancake) is also helping. It's a little more expensive than eating it in the street, but still very reasonable as the prices range from Rp10,000 to Rp26,000.

Overall: Recommended for backpackers or tourists staying near Jalan Jaksa and to office workers looking for an after-work hang-out place. They have also hosted a few CouchSurfing events.

Opening Hours:
Daily from 7am to 11pm

D'Marco Café
Jalan Sabang No 43A (Next to Hoka Hoka Bento)
Phone number: +62-21 3190 9015
Facebook: D'Marco Café

Lac Mei Che Huo Kuo (Chinese Restaurant)

It may seem like an obvious thing to say, but if you are looking for the best Chinese food in Jakarta, you should go to its Chinatown, in Glodok.

I had already tried a few weeks ago Hunan Kitchen, and I had promised myself to come back to try some of the other popular Chinese restaurants in that area. Lac Mei Che Huo Kuo is also specializing in Sichuan cuisine, but with a focus on seafood. It was full when I entered, and apparently the customers are mostly Indo-Chinese, from the upper-class.

The main room is pretty basic, just some boring tables and decoration. The only thing you will notice is the aquarium, with live fishes, turtles and some weird, huge oysters I had never seen before.

Unfortunately, I didn't write down the names of the dishes we ordered, and our bill was written in Chinese so I cannot tell you precisely what we ate. There was some sea snails, frog legs, 2 of the big oysters, grilled duck and fried rice. At least I have the pictures:

Grilled duck

Frog legs

Huge, weird oysters

Attack of the sea snails

The total was Rp258k and there was enough to eat for 3 people, including soft drinks. Compared to Hunan Kitchen, the food seemed a little less satisfactory. The frog legs, the duck and the oyster were excellent, but the rice average. Concerning the sea snails, the dish was probably too big. After eating 50 of them, there were still so many, and it became disgusting...

Overall: I still highly recommend Lac Mei Che because they serve authentic, affordable Chinese cuisine. The service was very friendly also: Before ordering, we had the waiter for at least 10 minutes to explain us what the dishes were and he was quite fun to talk to.

Opening Hours:

Daily, from 11am to 4.30am (yes, it's opened until 4h30 in the morning)

Lac Mei Chei Huo Kuo

Jalan Mangga Besar 1 No. 63K

Phone number: +62-21 7078 3892

Mobile: +62 (0) 813 106 35833 or +62 (0) 819 326 12777

Hunan Kitchen (Chinese food)

Hunan Kitchen is one of the best value-for-money Chinese restaurants I found so far in Jakarta. It specializes in Sichuan cuisine, best known for its use of spices, herbs and plants.

Located in Glodok, Jakarta's Chinatown, in a gloomy street full of massage parlours, bars and karaokes, it is also walking distance from Jayakarta Hotel and Hotel Mercure Kota. It is quite authentic I thought. Actually, there are a few other Chinese restaurants in the area, and after my positive experience in Hunan Kitchen, I intend to come back and try some of them.

Hunan Kitchen looks new from the outside, and it seems quite popular with the Indo-Chinese community. Inside, there isn't anything fancy, but it is clean. You also have an army of waiters, efficient and friendly.

The menu contains a great variety of dishes, and you would have to be very picky if you don't find something you like. Apart from the usual dishes made of chicken, beef, pork, fish or duck, you also have turtles, jellyfish, frogs, etc... We decided to try a few things:

Angsio Bebek Xiang Xi (Rp88k): A full duck red-cooked in a pot with spices

Ubur-Ubur Saus Pedas (Rp29k): Jellyfish in spicy sauce

Tumis Kodok Kuali (Rp49k): Stir-fried frog legs

Sayur Lokal Baby Kailan (Rp27k): Baby Chinese brocoli (Kai-lan) pan-fried

We were all extremely satisfied with our food, which is very rare. I am normally not a fan of spicy dishes, and it was the first time I tried jellyfish or frog legs, but the cooking was so great that we finished everything up in no time. This restaurant is a top address in Jakarta.

Overall: Hunan Kitchen serves authentic Chinese food at a very moderate price (less than Rp100k for a meal including drinks). It is recommended for anyone interested in the food more than the atmosphere. For clubbers, it stays open until late (4am), so you can visit it just before you go to home.

Opening Hours:
Everyday from 11am to 4am

Hunan Kitchen
Jalan Mangga Besar 1 St. No. 61 (crossing with Jalan Labu)
Mangga Besar Village, Taman Sari District, Jakarta

Phone number: +62-21 6252666

Ali Baba Steak & Iga Bakar

Self-proclaimed "the best value steak in Jakarta", Ali Baba is indeed a cheap, but clean restaurant. At the time of my visit, the prices were Rp38,000 for a New-Zealand tenderloin, and Rp75,000 for Australian tenderloin. It should be noted that the NZ steak tasted pretty much the same as a local one. If you want to eat something decent for western standards, you have to choose the Australian beef.

Ali Baba is all new, with some vintage decoration. It doesn't look high class, but it is far better than competitor Abuba Steak in terms of design. Regarding taste, if you choose the imported meat, I think it also tastes similar. But for those who know it, I would rate Suis Butcher in Bandung a bit higher.

Overall: Recommended for lunch or any informal meal, especially if you live/work near Sarinah Mall.

Opening Hours: Every day from 10am to midnight.

Contact details:

Ali Baba Steak & Iga Bakar (Kelapa Gading)

La Piazza, Blok B, Jl. Raya Boulevard Kelapa Gading, Jakarta
Phone number: +62-21 45864950

Ali Baba Steak & Iga Bakar (Menteng)
Jl. KH. Wahid Hasyim No. 112, Jakarta
Phone number: +62-21 3143501/3143469

Note: I tried the one in Menteng

Abuba Steak Restaurants

Abuba Steak sounded to me like Abuja Steak, the capital of Nigeria, so I had a strong feeling against this restaurant before visiting it... Fortunately, it was a great surprise and a place I recommend to everyone, excluding vegetarians.

The outside doesn't look so great and would need some painting. The inside is similar to that of a warung, basic but clean, with some posters of meat ads. You have about 30 tables, and 1/4th of them were taken when I visited. Many people seemed to complain on internet about the smoke of cigarettes, but in the Abuba I visited, in Wahid Hasyim, no smoke at all since there is a private/closed room for smoking. There is also a small musholla for praying in the back... My only concern was that the AC was not functioning very well, so it was a bit hot for eating.

Click on the picture to see the menu

The menu is quite simple: You have four types of meat, depending on the quality: Local, NZ beef, Australian Beef, Wagyu beef. Then you choose which piece of meat you want: Sirloin, Tenderloin, Rib Eye, Lamb Chop, T-Bone, and how you would like it cooked. About 10 minutes later, your meat is ready with some vegetables and french fries (the french fries were not very well cooked).


I tooked the Tenderloin NZ, for Rp 68,000. With the barbeque sauce, it tasted just perfect, and far better than the meat I had for the same prices in some of Jakarta's malls. Do not go for local meat, you will see that it is still far from tasting good. I cannot say Abuba is cheap though, since I paid in Bandung Rp 20,000 less for the same steak (in the Suis Butcher). I believe other places in Jakarta offer similar value for money, starting with nearby Ali Baba Steakhouse.

Practical Information:
Abuba Steak in Tebet
Jalan Tebet Barat No50
In font of Cheese Cake

Abuba Gajah Mada
Jalan Gajah Mada Ruko GM
No 149 a,b,d, right next to Paragon Hotel

Abuba Cipete
Jalan Cipete Raya no 14A
Phone: +62-21 751 2337
Fax: +62-21 769 2785

Abuba Pluit
Jalan Pluit Indah Raya No 168
Phone: +62-21 666 983 81
Fax: +62-21 662 7996

Abuba "Sabang"
Jalan Wahid Hasyim no 120
Phone: +62-21 3193 5655
Fax: +62-21 3192 7016

Abuba Gading Batavia
Jalan Gading Batavia LC 20-21
Phone: +62-21 4585 3412

Abuba Serpong-Tangerang
Jalan Boulevard Raya Ruko 5th Avenue
Phone +62-21 5421 2136
Fax: +62-21 5421 2137

Abuba Bandung
Jalan Pradu Dimuntur No 12
Phone +62-22 423 3290
Fax: +62-22 426 5056

Ali’s Bar (Jalan Jaksa)

Bar of the african community, especially Nigerians, in Jakarta but some bule go there also. It is quite cheap, like most places in Jalan Jaksa.

Address:
Ali's Bar
Jl. Jaksa No. 25

Ampera (Sundanese restaurants)

Ampera is the largest chain of Sundanese food restaurants in Indonesia, with so many branches that it would be hard to list them all. I tried the one in Jalan Agus Salim (Sabang), near Sarinah.

As with most traditional Sundanese restaurants, all the food is presented to you upon entering, and after that, you choose the items you want to eat. While you wait, you can take some vegetables, and most importantly, the sambal (spicy sauce). In terms of taste, don't expect something amazing: At best, it will similar to what you could have in any good warungs. 

The only reason to prefer Ampera is that generally speaking, their standards are more consistent. They also have A/C, and the one in Sabang is conveniently opened 24h on weekends. The management of the franchise network is loose though, and I would not say it is impossible that some Ampera restaurants taste more average. If you go to Bandung, the original one on Jalan Soekarno-Hatta is supposed to be the best.

Overall: For Indonesian-food lovers, Ampera should already be among your favourites. For the others, I recommend you to try it at least once. At Rp40,000 a meal, you won't take much risks anyway...

Warung Nasi Ampera
Jl. KH.Agus Salim No.32A
Phone number:  +62 21 31930875
Jakarta

For more locations and to see the detailed menu, check their website: http://www.ampera.co.id/

Asmoro Live Dangdut and Bar (Jl Blora)

The most famous dangdut bar in Jakarta and probably the best. Interesting if you want to experience something different in Jakarta. A bit dodgy and not so dangerous, just a few hundred meters from Plaza Indonesia. The clients are mostly middle aged male indonesians, but there are many girls too, though not so sexy, working as prostitutes. It is quite friendly, but people look at you a bit strangely since not many foreigners come here. We had very nice parties here but be sure to be drunk first and to dance!

"The first time you hate it because you don’t understand it. The 3rd, the place is yours and you are the queen of the dancefloor, requesting ‘kucing garong’." SZ

For those who don't know dangdut, I found some on youtube: One of the most famous is Kucing Garong, with its unbelievable stupid video clip.. please enjoy it here. Readers with an ear for music will notice the Red Hot Chili Peppers's Otherside sample, at exactly 2:00.
Another great Dangdut song is SMS Bang, which all of you roisterers should be able to sing perfectly in order to enjoy the messiest nights out, especially in Kota and in dodgy karaokes around Lokasari.
At last, Jablai, though a bit older, is also one of the most popular songs heard in karaoke and dangdut bars in Jakarta and in Indonesia.

Read more and see photos about Asmoro on our other blog (in French) about nightlife in Jakarta : L'Asmoro ou l'initiation à l'univers Dangdut (par SZ)

Contact details
Asmoro Café
Jl. Blora No. 17
Menteng, Jakarta Pusat
Indonesia 10310

Phone number+62 21 31931376

Bakudapa Cafe & Resto (Paula), Near Jalan Jaksa

Bakudapa Café & Resto is a live music spot featuring local artists playing old Indonesian favourites.. After you enter the door, the mamasan (indonesian pimp) will sit you with one of the girl hostesses, to whom you are invited to pay a drink and do some chit-chat. Very empty, and very sad music so it makes the whole experience very depressing... The only patrons are indonesian men in their forties... Worth to grab a beer if you don't know this kind of place. It is very close from the backpacker street Jalan Jaksa, less than 5 minutes by foot.

It is in the same building where once stood the Nusabunga Café, the lowest form of entertainment that existed in Jakarta back then.

Bakudapa (Paula) Café, Resto & Live Music
Jalan KH. Wahid Hasyim 116, Jakarta
Phone number: +62-21 3905987/92927449

The Barrels (Summarecon Mall Serpong)

The Barrels is one of the few decent beer-drinking joints you will find in Serpong/Tangerang. It is inside Summarecon Mal, on the downtown walk, and it basic but lively. You have a big poster of a cave with barrels on the walls, some high tables and chairs in lign, and the barrels... For a little above Rp250k, you can order a small barrel of Bintang to share with your friends.

They also have local live music bands on weekends.

Opening Hours: 10am to 1pm

The Barrels - House of Bintang
Summarecon Mall Serpong (Downtown Walk #DGF-3), Tangerang
Phone: +62-21 4586 4959

There is also one branch in La Piazza Mall:

The Barrels Kelapa Gading (near Harmiones Barrack)
La Piazza, Ground Floor Unit # G 2A,
Jl. Boulevard Kelapa Gading, Jakarta

Website: barrels1767.com
More pictures and infos on their facebook fan page: The Barrels SMS

Bersih Sehat chain (Massage Traditional)

Bersih Sehat is one reliable address to get good value traditional massages in Jakarta. More affordable than some places like Taman Sari Spa, a 2 hour massage will cost you around 200,000 rupiah. Clean facilities and welcoming service. Once again, it is not a sex spa.

How does it work?

After paying, you will go to a large room where they have about 10 other people getting their massage. Don't worry, there are curtains between everyone so you cannot actually see anyone (but you can hear some noise). Then, you take off you clothes and keep only your underwear. You wrap a towel around your waist, and the massage can start. Bersih Sehat massage girls will usually press you quite hard, so if you prefer a soft massage, you should mention it. At the end, you can take a shower. Don't forget to leave a tip since it is the main source of income for your masseuse (Rp50k is good).

 They have different locations in Jakarta:

Bersih Sehat Mayestic
Jl. Tebah II No. 2 (Behind Pasar Mayestik)
Kebayoran Baru
Jakarta Selatan 12120.
Telp. (62-21) 726.1578 - 726.1586 - 722.1551

Bersi Sehat Pondok Indah
Plaza 2 Blok B3 No. 16
Jl. Metro Pondok Indah
Jakarta Selatan 12310.
Telp. (62-21) 750.1342 - 750.1349

Bersih Sehat Kelapa Gading
Kompleks Gading Bukit Indah Blok F-10
Jl. Bukit Gading Raya (Belakang Makro)
Kelapa Gading
Jakarta Utara 14240.
Telp. (62-21) 451.3918 - 451.3919 - 451.3920

Bersih Sehat Puri Kencana
Kompleks Puri Kencana Blok J-1 No. 2R
(Deretan Gedung Kawan Lama)
Jakarta Barat 11610.
Telp. (62-21) 582.6854 - 582.6855 - 582.6871

Bersih Sehat Hotel Sahid Jaya
Lantai 3 (Kolam Renang)
Jl. Jend. Sudirman No. 86
Jakarta 10220.
Telp. (62-21) 570.4444 Ext. 1840 - Direct : 570.2371

Bersih Sehat Bintaro
Jl. Dr. Sam Ratulangi
Ruko Sentra Menteng Blok MN - 56
Sektor VII Bintaro Jaya 15224
Phone number: +62-21 7486 4014 - 7486 4015

Bersih Sehat Sarinah
Jl. K.H. Wahid Hasyim No. 106, Menteng, Jakarta Pusat 10340, Jakarta
Phone: +62-21 390-0204
Fax: +62-21 390-0339

You can also visit their website Traditional Massage & Lulur Bersih Sehat Jakarta

Birdie (Kemang)

Birdie, a "beer warung" is a small café, partly in the open-air, serving cheap beer and food. If i was younger this is the kind of bar I would like, with a friendly, laid-back atmosphere and low prices. The food is not excellent, but for a snack it is ok.

Opening hours:

Everyday from noon to midnight.

Happy hours from Monday to Thurday (4pm-6pm): Beer starts at Rp10,000 a bottle.

Birdie Warung Bir
Jalan Kemang I no3
Phone number: +62-21 9127 9207 or +62-21 9222-8666

Facebook fanpage: Birdie Beer House Kemang

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/BirdieWarungBir

Bombay Tandoori (Indian food)

Bombay Tandoori is one of the few Indian restaurants I found in Jakarta. It is a modest joint, located on Jalan Satrio (opposite Sampoerna Strategic Square) and could easily be mistaken with a regular warung.

Inside Bombay Tandoori, you have two floors with basic furniture and some kitschy decoration. You could be in India that it wouldn't feel more real. The owners are Indonesian-Indian and on the day we visited, all the customers looked Indian too.

The menu features all the typical Indian dishes, veg and non veg. We tried a few things:

Lamb Bharta (Rp47,5k)

Navratna Korma, (vegetables, nuts, raisin and creamy sauce (Rp30,5k)

Non-veg Thali (Rp35k)

I actually went to India a few years ago, and for me the food in Bombay Tandoori tastes just as good as the one you would get in any restaurant in India. It isn't fine dining nor sophisticated, but if you want to enjoy cheap, authentic Indian cuisine, I strongly recommend you to visit this place. Be careful about the waiting though, the service and cooking can be painfully slow.

Bombay Tandoori Indian Restaurant
Jalan Dr. Satrio No64 A,
Karet Kuningan, Jakarta

Phone number: +62-21 5207 190 / +62-21 7080 2919 / +62-21 7080 3019 / +62-21 9865 2544
Fax: +62-21 7801 677
HP: +62 (0) 8 16 996 183

Read more reviews of Indian restaurants on this blog: The Best Indian restaurants in Jakarta.