Nasi Goreng Bang Roby
Situated right in front of Robinson Department Store on Jalan Sabang, you may find yourself waiting for it to open if you come here early as Nasi Goreng Bang Roby only starts business at 6pm. It is never devoid of customers though. Its sizeable portion goes hand in hand with the abundant toppings that it comes with. Besides Nasi Goreng, it also offers Bubur Ayam (chicken porridge), Omelette and chicken. One of the aspects that make its Nasi Goreng unique is the additional sprinkle of Cakue (fried breadstick) that makes it taste even more savoury.

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Nasi Goreng Kebon Sirih
It is a must to order its Nasi Goreng Kambing (mutton fried rice), which has been this joint’s speciality ever since it was established in 1958. One of the most interesting sights here is to witness a mountain of fried rice on a wok just waiting to be devoured. Cooked prior to order so that customers need not wait too long, the fried rice here is fried using butter. Although this cooking process lends a slightly oily feel as a result, it is still savoury and is accompanied by sizeable cuts of mutton meat.

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Nasi Goreng Kebuli Apjay
A joint in South Jakarta that never fails to draw a crowd, this place tends to see a never-ending stream of punters every day from the moment it opens at 5pm. Although it is called Bakmi Jogja Pak Ivan, most people go for its Nasi Goreng Kebuli (fried rice cooked in goat broth) instead. It is quite large in portion and the kebuli flavour is rather zesty. If a plate doesn’t get you going, then you can also snap up a box of Martabak (stuffed pancake) sold right behind this fried rice seller.

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Nasi Goreng Warna-Warni Thole
It may be a bit ordinary in taste for the palates of some, but Nasi Goreng Thole wins in the novelty department for its colourful fried rice. The black colour is extracted from squid ink, while beet is the source of its red-coloured fried rice. The green colour for its green fried rice comes from Chinese mustard greens. You can also have black-coloured noodles or a red Bihun (rice vermicelli). Despite its small portions, a plate can be very filling.

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Nasi Goreng MPR
One of the most popular Nasi Goreng in Jakarta, although its nomadic existence has caused confusion for its customers. Sold from a small pushcart on Jalan Fatmawati, its fried rice is savoury and not too oily. It is also incredibly generous with its toppings.

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The Story Behind
It was christened with its moniker not just for the sake of it. Founder Bapak Ruhman started selling his fried rice back in the 1980s right in front of the entrance to the MPR residence area in Fatmawati – hence the name Nasi Goreng MPR. However, Nasi Goreng MPR had to relocate several times after they were turfed out, leading to confusion for its customers. Now, though, you can find it in front of the Philips shop before SMA Cendrawasih. Pak Ruhman’s son – who has inherited the business from his father – informed me that this was its fourth spot ever since the shop’s inception.

Simple yet Tasty Nasi Goreng
Now, I may have said shop, but don’t you go and imagine Nasi Goreng MPR to be this huge tented warung with a snaking long queue of customers waiting for their fried rice. Nasi Goreng MPR is actually just a pushcart equipped with a table and a no-frills tent, along with a signboard that says “MPR” to indicate its location to potential punters. For a dish as renowned as Nasi Goreng MPR, I was slightly worried as not one other customer was present at the time of my visit. My concerns disappeared right after I was told that most of the toppings that I wanted were finished when I went up to place my order. Even the rice was almost kaput, with just a quarter of the rice receptacle still left for me to consume. This shows that the majority of its customers prefer not to dine in.

Also Read: 
Colourfully Delectable Nasi Goreng Warna-Warni
Padang’s Much Celebrated Nasi Goreng

Finally, I settled on a plate of its Nasi Goreng Bakso Sosis (meatball-and-sausage fried rice) and a glass of Es Jeruk (orange juice). Its fried rice, topped with a fried egg, was utterly appetising. It took me only a glance to know that it was not oily like its equivalents; even the fried egg was dry. Based on its deliciousness, it really deserves its reputation of being one of the most celebrated Nasi Goreng around. The spices did not dominate the overall flavour of the dish, yet it was still adequately savoury. And in a blink of an eye, I had gobbled down my plate of Nasi Goreng Bakso Sosis and gone were the growls that were previously sung by my hungry tummy.

Jl. Fatmawati (in front of toko Philips),
South Jakarta
T: 0858 8890 7745
Open daily from 7pm-11pm
Rp.30,000/US$2.20 per person

The post Jakarta: Nasi Goreng MPR appeared first on Good Indonesian Food.

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Comes in Several Flavours and Sizes
Always given in pairs – male and female – the female Roti Buaya would usually be accompanied by a smaller sized Roti Buaya that represents the hatchling and to differentiate it from the male Roti Buaya. In the olden days, a Roti Buaya would customarily be void in taste. As time passes by, though, flavoured variants of the Roti Buaya have been introduced so that it could be eaten after the proceedings have ended, such as chocolate, cheese and jam.

Usually quite large in size – approximately the length of an adult’s arm – the modern day Roti Buaya now includes a smaller sized version that are packed separately akin to selling an individual bread. It can be consumed as a snack, although not all bakeries offer Roti Buaya as it would normally baked to order. You can now obtain Roti Buaya – complete with tray decorations and ribbons – at morning cake markets such as the likes of Senen or Blok M.

The Story behind The Gift 
What, then, is the philosophy that is embodied within the Roti Buaya? The Betawi people believe that the crocodile is a symbol of loyalty due to its practice of monogamy, and it is hoped the bride who receive the Roti Buaya will apply the same approach towards her marriage and be forever loyal to her other half. The crocodile is also seen as an animal abundant with patience – a trait desired to be carried on by the bride as she faces a new life with her husband-to-be that is sure to be filled with many obstacles.

Interestingly, besides the two aforementioned ideologies, the Roti Buaya that is present at a wedding could also be eaten or distributed to guests who are still single. It is meant to be a prayer for them so that they could find a life partner sharpish. However, back in the day, Roti Buaya were baked to be kept, not to be devoured. A Roti Buaya that is stored away and slowly ingested by maggots until it is finished off is believed to symbolise the love of a married couple that will last until death beckons.

Now, after understanding the philosophy behind Roti Buaya, would it still be relevant to call a man “lelaki buaya” – a “philanderer” in the English language – to describe someone who loves nothing more than to charm the opposite sex?

Also Read:
6 Soto Betawi Shops You Need to Visit
Never Miss Out on These 5 Delights at Jalan Sabang
Sate Taichan: A New Challenge for Spicy Food Lovers

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For The Martabak!
I discovered that this was the location of the famous Martabak AA. Established in 1982, the moniker Martabak AA was derived from the names of the two owners: A Siang (Surya) and A Kiu (Sulaiman). Although not as popular in the past, it has seen a steady rise in the number of customers visiting the place. Now, Martabak AA can sell around 500-600 boxes of Martabak (stuffed pancake) and finish up six to seven crates of eggs in a day.

Customers are able to witness the making of each Martabak with their own eyes – from the crafting of its stuffing and its dough to its cooking process, all the way until it is placed inside a box. This unique aspect was devised so that punters can see for themselves the ingredients used and be convinced of the quality of its Martabak. Unfortunately, although there are tables and benches present, customers are not advised to dine in. Besides lacking in the cutlery department, the seating area is generally used by its army of customers to wait for their Martabak. However, you could have a go at the Mie Yamin (sweet noodles) and Siomay (dumplings) joints to the left and right of Martabak AA respectively as you bide your time until your Martabak is ready.

Simple Selections
Despite the multitude of Martabak places around, Martabak AA is still held closely to its loyal punters’ hearts. For the youth of today, its menu may not be as colourful as its more modern equivalents and their all-the-rage selection of Martabak choices, such as Oreo, Nutella, Toblerone, red velvet or mozzarella, but it does not mean so much to its long-standing customers who have grown accustomed to its Martabak.

Also Read: Delightful Sensation of The Legendary Martabak Kubang
The long queue that I encountered when I went there did not dampen my spirits. I opted for its Martabak Telur Daging Sapi (fried flatbread stuffed with egg and beef). It is quite pricey compared to your common Martabak Telur, which piqued my curiosity even further. Once it was ready, I opened the box and in an instant, my mouth was watering. So thick and stuffed to the brim, its savouriness shone once I took a bite; the crunchy onion and the large chunky beef were a delight to chew. It became a new experience in eating Martabak for me.

You can also read this article at The Jakarta Post: Introducing Martabak AA, a much-celebrated ‘martabak’ joint in South Jakarta

Jl. Minangkabau No. 29, Pasar Manggis,
Setiabudi, South Jakarta
T: 0856 194 6364
Open daily from 2pm-12am
Rp.60,000/$4.50 per person

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