Bubur Kwang Tung (Open 24-Hour)

Bubur Kwang Tung is an institution in Jakarta, especially for late-night clubbers. Open 24-hour and located in Pecenongan, not far from many nightlife venues, it is similar with Kamseng, located on Jalan Mangga Besar. It is mostly popular for its rice porridges (bubur in Indonesian) but it serves also a complete menu of Chinese (Cantonese) dishes.

We visited it well after midnight after a fun evening of exploring live dangdut café, and we were both very happy with the taste of our porridge. I was even surprised I liked the food so much as I'm normally not a fan at all of it.

Overall: A must-try in Jakarta, especially after a night of clubbing. If you are a celebrity, you'll eat for free and you can have your picture on the wall too...

Bubur Kwang Tung
Jalan Pecenongan No 671
(near Red Top Hotel)
Central Jakarta

Phone number: +62-21 386 5688
+62-21 345 8267

Website: http://www.buburkwangtung.com/
Facebook: Bubur Kwang Tung Jakarta

Open everyday, 24-hour.

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

South Beauty (Chinese Restaurant)

 

South Beauty is a chain of Chinese restaurants, very popular in China for their Sichuan food. They opened their first international branch in Jakarta at the beginning of 2011 and positioned it as an upmarket venue.

I visited South Beauty at lunch time, but i think it is the kind of restaurants you should go to during the evening as the atmosphere is cosy and dim-lighted. As you can see on the pictures, the interior is quite spectacular, with lights and furniture selected to impressed the visitors.

The menu is very long, and interesting to read as many of the dishes are not usually seen in restaurants (at least the ones i go to): Sea cucumber, shark's fin, abalone, etc... But choosing was difficult since everything was extremely expensive:  Only the accompanying dishes cost less than Rp100,000... I tried a few things: The spicy and sour black fungus (Rp35k++), the braised e-fu noodles with mushroom in abalone sauce (Rp38k++) and the stewed beef with pickled bamboo sauce (Rp108k++).

Stewed Beef with Pickled Bamboo Sauce (Rp108k++)

My first surprise was that it was very spicy! It was difficult to finish the mushrooms for that reason, even though the taste was perfect. I enjoyed the rest, but I've had better Chinese food before at much lower prices.

Overall: South Beauty serves excellent food in a stylish venue. I recommend you to try it once at least, but you must be ready to spend a lot of money. I paid Rp250k for my meal and I didn't even try any of their specialties. If you want to do South Beauty the right way, expect to pay at least Rp400k for a full meal.

Opening Hours:
Everyday, from 11.30am to 3pm and from 6pm to 10.30pm

South Beauty Restaurant Jakarta
Thamrin Nine-Podium, Upper Ground unit E, F
Jl. M.H. Thamrin 10
Central Jakarta
Phone number: +62-21 29937227

Twitter: http://twitter.com/SouthbeautyJKT
Website (global): South Beauty Chinese Resto Group

Angke (Chinese Jakarta Resto)

Angke is a very famous Chinese "Hakka" restaurant with two locations in Jakarta, in Ketapang and Kelapa Gading. I only tried the latter, which is made of one huge dining room half the size of a football field. I guess it is adequate for weddings and receptions, but I don't recommend it if you want to have an intimate dinner.

I sat on my table, surrounded by children playing and screaming, and ordered 1/2 Grilled Duck (Rp95,000) and Kailan Cah (Rp30,000). I had read many excellent reviews about this place, but when comparing with Liyen, my favourite Chinese restaurant in Jakarta, the taste of my food in Angke was much less flavorful, while costing the same. It was decent, but certainly not worth all the buzz.

Kailan Cah (Rp30,000++)

Grilled Duck (Bebek Panggang, Rp95,000++)

Overall: From my small experience, I would not recommend Angke because I didn't enjoy its ceremonious atmosphere and I didn't think their food was special enough to justify a long trip to this part of Jakarta.

For Chinese food lovers though, and if you live near Kelapa Gading, I'm sure there are some great dishes on their long, extensive menu. You could try the following, praised on other Jakarta food blogs: Ayam Garam, Hai Som, Lindung Ca Fumak, Sapi Cah Kail Lan, Fuyunghai Babi. The cost for 1 person for a 2-course meal with soft drinks should be around Rp120,000.

Opening hours:
Everyday, from 11am to 3pm and from 5pm to 10pm

Angke Restaurant Ketapang
Jl. Zaenal Arifin (d/h. Ketapang Raya)

Komplek Ketapang Indah, Jakarta Barat, 14440
Phone number: +62-21 634-3030

Fax: +62-21 634-6633

Angke Restaurant Kelapa Gading

Jl. Raya Boulevard Barat, Kelapa Gading Square, Jakarta Utara, 14240
Phone number: +62-21 458-66333

Fax: +62-21 458-66200

Website: http://www.angke.com

Chasio Garing ACC (Chinese Restaurant)

I came all the way from Sudirman to Jalan Pangeran Jayakarta, in Glodok, because I was told this street had some of the best Chinese street food stalls and warungs in Jakarta.

When I arrived, it was already late but some venues were still crowded. I chose one of them, Chasio Garing Acc, for a simple reason: They had air-conditioning. It turned out their unit was not functioning very well, so I had a chance to sweat a little, and also to get a few mosquito bites.

There isn't much to say about the inside as it looks like any typical warung: 4 walls with kitschy ornaments and posters, basic chairs and tables, and uncertain hygiene.

I had eaten the best Grilled Duck ever a week earlier in Liyen, and the one in Chasio Garing Acc was quite disappointing. Since it is twice as cheap in the latter, there wasn't much to expect anyway. I also tried the Beef Kwetiaw: The ingredients were not very fresh and the meat low quality. I only had a few bites and couldn't finish.

Kwetiaw Sapi Kuah (Boiled Kwetiaw with Beef, Rp22k)

Hainan Peking Bebek Panggan (Grilled Duck à la Hainan, Rp38k)

Overall: I was hoping I would find a gem in Jalan Pangeran, and it didn't happen. Chasio Garing Acc is fine if you love Chinese food and live 50 meters from the restaurant. If not, I don't think it is worth it.

 

Opening Hours:

Everyday from 10am to midnight

Chasio Garing Acc (Chinese restaurant)
Jalan Pangeran Jayakarta (Pang-J) 

No. 34 DD (Panca Warna), Jakarta
Phone number: +62-21 659 7263 / 625 0767

They also have two other branches:
Jalan Danau Agung Utara,
Blok G3 No. 12 (Satu Arah Sunter Mall)
Phone number: +62-21 913 02 943 / 6400 974/5

Jalan Boulevard Raya TB2/30
Kelapa Gading
Phone number: +62-21 452 0575 / 451 4331 / 96 445 222

Dim Sum Festival (Kemang)

 

More a hangout spot than a restaurant, Dim Sum Festival is famous in Kemang for being one of the few places where you can eat 24h. Since there are quite many nightclubs in the same area, it is always crowded, and especially around 3am, when it becomes the last stop of many late-night clubbers. Very recommended at that time during the weekends.

During normal hours, it isn't a bad restaurant either. Though more expensive than similar venues in Kemang, it remains popular, probably because of the laid-back, open-air atmosphere. It isn't the best place to eat, but it feels happening and busy.

Dim Sum Festival is actually a combination of a few restaurants, serving mainly Indonesian and Chinese dishes, with a common eating area. A meal should cost you Rp80k including drinks. Here are some of the dishes we ordered:

Salmon Sashimi (Rp65,000++)

Salmon Soup (Rp57,000++)

Nasi Goreng Bebek (Rp37,500++)

No alcohol is served, apparently the management wants to avoid any trouble with late-night customers.

Opening hours:
7 days a week, 24 hours

Dim Sum Festival
Jalan Kemang Raya No.27
South Jakarta
Phone number: +62-21 7197 270
Facebook: Dim Sum Festival

The Duck King (Chinese Restaurant)

I've never been a fan of large restaurant chains, but since more and more restaurants in Jakarta open a new branch as soon as they have a little success, it is hard just ignoring them.

The Duck King, and its premium version "The Grand Duck King", is a medium to upscale restaurant that you will find the more often in malls in Jakarta but also in other Indonesian cities (the one I tried was in Bandung). It is always quite full because the prices are competitive and the service is professional. You can feel all employees have been trained and that their smiles are not as spontaneous as they look. The clients are quite diverse: Expats, Indonesians and also many Chinese. If you visit on Friday/Saturday night, or any other busy day, you may want to book a table in advance because it is always full.



The menu is huge (maybe 100 dishes) and colorful, but I decided to go for the duck. I took half a duck + a mushroom soup + two bottles of mineral water, and paid Rp 215,000 for everything. It wasn't the best duck I ever had (which was in Surabaya), but I must say I was quite happy with the whole meal and also with the dining experience there. It is the kind of place you want to go for lunch with colleagues or in a business setting, but not really for anything more intimate I think, especially not a date.

Practical Information:

Contact details:
Website: Duck King Restaurant Indonesia
inquiry@theduckking.com
feedback@theduckking.com

Locations:
Grand Duck King
Mall Grand Indonesia
East Mall Lt 3A
Garden District Unit 1-17
Phone: +62-21 235 808 35
Fax: +62-21 235 808 46

Duck King Senayan
Senayan City
Lt 4 Unit 4-12, 4-18
Phone: +62-21 727 812 23/25
Fax: +62-21 727 212 27

Duck King PIM2
Mall Pondok Indah 2
Lt 3 Floor Unit 340-342
Phone +62-21 759 206 10/12
Fax: +62-21 759 206 13

Duck King Kelapa Gading
Mall Kelapa Gading
Lt 1 Unit 46
Phone: +62-21 458 764 26/27
Fax: +62-21 458 764 33

Duck King Teraskota
Teraskota Entertainment Center
Sektor 4, CBD lot VII B
Lt 2 Floor Unit 1
Phone: +62-21 300 258 97/98
Fax: +62-21 300 258 96

Fajar Kitchen (in MyHotel, Hayam Wuruk)

Fajar Kitchen is a Chinese restaurant located in the ground floor of MyHotel, on Jalan Hayam Wuruk. It has a large sign visible from the outside saying it has been opened since 1958, and this is the main reason why I visited.

Unfortunately, the restaurant looks very modern now. Apart from the nice open kitchen, there is nothing worth writing about concerning the design, which is cold, impersonal, and lacking charm.

After seeing the setting, I already knew this was not a venue I could recommend so I only ordered some light dishes, with the idea of eating somewhere else later.

I had an Asparagus and Crab soup, a Vegetable soup, and some Lumpia (spring rolls).  Everything was surprisingly very decent, and I was ready to review my judgement of the place, until I was brought the bill: Rp258,000 for 3 appetizers with two juices! This is probably twice as expensive as it should be considering the location, the atmosphere and the cuisine.

Asparagus and Crab Soup

Vegetable Soup

Lumpia (Spring Rolls)

Overall: The food is correct, but it is really overpriced. If you are a guest in MyHotel, I guess the management is trying to take advantage of you not knowing the city. You should walk only 100 meters and go to Jalan Labu instead, where they have the much better Hunan Kitchen and Lac Mei Che.

Fajar Kitchen

MyHotel, GF

Jalan Hayam Wuruk No.127A

Jakarta 11180, Indonesia

Phone number: +62-21 625 5460

Fax: +62-21 629 1919