Besides the already famous duo Coto (beef soup) and Konro (beef rib soup), Makassar is also renowned for its Es Pisang Ijo. I certainly did not to want to waste such an opportunity, so I went straight to Warung Bravo. Rather small in size, the joint is housed in a shoplot on Jalan Andalas and has a capacity of around 15 to 20 customers.

Its unassuming, run-of- the-mill restaurant-like appearance belies its cosy environment – perfect for putting your feet up while indulging yourselves with the local treats on offer, which include Nasi Campur (mixed rice), Nasi Goreng (fried rice), Mie Pangsit (wonton noodles), Soto Ayam (chicken soup), Sate (satay) and Rawon (black nut beef soup). However, its specialities remain its Es Pisang Ijo and Es Pallubutung (shaved ice with banana) – and I ordered them both.

The two desserts are quite similar in appearance. The difference lies in the banana used. Es Pallubutung features plain banana, while the banana that you find in an Es Pisang Ijo is wrapped in green-coloured flour dough. Both are served with Bubur Sumsum (rice pudding) and a splash of sweet syrup in one bowl. The use of plantain banana that has yet to fully ripen lends a rather solid texture to the proceedings.

Its Bubur Sumsum was top notch; I could feel its velvety texture and a hint of savouriness dancing on my palate. The syrup – Warung Bravo utilises local Makassar syrup – brought a unique sweet flavour with a very distinct aroma to the party. You will not encounter such a sensational combination between savoury and sweet anywhere else.

Open every day from 8am to 10pm, one of the employees there informed me that Warung Bravo has another branch in Makassar that was launched not too long ago.

You can also read this article on The Jakarta Post: The one ‘warung’ not to miss when visiting Makassar

Jl. Andalas, Makassar
T: 0411 361 5180
Open daily from 8am-10pm
Rp.40,000/US$3 per person

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This establishment, which was founded in the 1970s, is the expert when it comes to Sup Saudara (spicy beef soup). With one other branch to its name, this place is very much a firm favourite of the locals for a bowl of Sup Saudara, and many would agree it serves the best- tasting Sup Saudara in town.

Being in close proximity to Pasar Sentral Makassar has lent the shop a huge advantage in the form of a huge crowd of customers almost every single day, especially considering that it is possibly the only Sup Saudara joint in Makassar that is open 24/7. I encountered a bit of a problem here while trying to obtain a place to sit not too long ago. It was 12pm sharp and the shop was at its most packed. The slightly boiling weather outside led to quite a few sweat patches as I waited for a vacant table.

After about ten minutes, I finally managed to secure the perfect spot to enjoy my lunch. I spotted a few rows of bowls just behind the counter that were ready to be filled with soup. We are able to select from the different ingredients for the soup here, including Hati Sapi (beef liver), Babat (beef tripe) and Kikil (beef trotters). I opted for a mixture of beef and Paru Goreng (fried beef lung).

To the casual eye, its broth resembles a Coto Makassar (Makassar beef soup) – including its colour. What differentiate them from one another are their ingredients. Sup Saudara features Mihun and Perkedel Kentang, and each spoonful of its broth is refreshing and delectable.

The addition of a few squeezes of lime juice and a dab of sambal are more than enough to enhance its flavour. The tender beef and crispy Paru Goreng are palate-indulging wonders, and in just five minutes, I completely finished my bowl of Sup Saudara. “This is the best Sup Saudara that I’ve ever tasted” were the only words that I could mutter to myself afterwards.

You can also read this article on The Jakarta Post: Tucking into the best ‘sup saudara’ in Makassar

Jl. Dr. Wahidin Sudiro Husodo (Jl. Irian), Makassar
Open 24 hours daily
Rp.30,000/US$2.30 per person

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One of the most famous Bakwan Malang joint in Jakarta is Bakso Bakwan Malang Cak Su Kumis Rawamangun. When I popped by on a Sunday afternoon, the place was crammed with punters having their lunch, while a long snaking queue had already formed in front of the counter where customers could choose their various fritters and steamed treats. This warung has adopted a buffet-esque system so that its customers do not have to wait for a waiter or waitress to come around and take their order.

The lengthy queue over at Bakso Bakwan Malang Cak Su Kumis (Image: Good Indonesian Food)

Founded in 1990, the business already has quite a few branches across East and West Jakarta, including shops in Pondok Kelapa, Pekayon, Cempaka Putih, Galaxy Bekasi, Pondok Kopi and Percetakan Negara. It has also become a frequent haunt for local celebrities such as Inul Daratista, Farhan, and Bondan Winarno.

Also read: Jakarta: Bakso Gepeng Rawamangun

I had a tough time controlling myself as my eyes scanned through the various fritters and steamed dishes on show. It would not feel right if I did not have a go at all of them. Among those present include Bakso Urat (tendon meatballs), Bakso Halus (smooth and soft meatballs), Tim Goreng (fried rounded dough), Kekkian Goreng (fried floured shrimp), Siomay Goreng (fried wonton), Tahu Cokelat (brown-coloured tofu), and Tahu Putih (white tofu). The tofu here is stuffed with meatball beef to lend a more savoury feel to them. When they are doused with the soup, the aroma that emanates from it is heavenly, while its taste will delight your palate. Each of these treats is quite large in size so a few of them would be enough to fill you up. It still did not stop some of my fellow customers from queuing up again and again to get more.

My advice is to drop by when it is not lunchtime or dinner time to avoid a long wait. Or perhaps during a holiday, as my online ojek driver informed me that the queues here during working days tend to be of considerable length.

You can also read this article on Queuing for a bowl of hot ‘bakwan Malang’ in East Jakarta

Jl. Rawamangun Muka Barat, No. 14, RT 9/RW 12,
Rawamangun, East Jakarta
T: 021 9269 6256
Open daily from 9am-9pm
Rp.30,000/US$2.20 per person

The post Jakarta: Bakso Bakwan Malang Cak Su Kumis appeared first on Good Indonesian Food.

Not long ago, my culinary adventures took me to Pasar Baru, which is home to one of the most popular Nasi Uduk places around: Nasi Uduk Kota Intan. Although it has been around for quite a while, it is not a fancy restaurant; only a couple tents that make up the warung welcomed me when I set foot on Jalan Samanhudi.

Located on the pavement right in front of GKI Samanhudi, it was 5.30pm and the place was beginning to see a lot of its devotees. Not all the tables were occupied, yet the queue that had formed at its counter was already long enough. It offers a different concept compared to those of its kind in Kebon Kacang, which involves customers having to choose their side dishes at the counter and waiting for them to be served with its Nasi Uduk.

The side dishes are displayed on a long wooden counter and ready to be cooked to your preference. Besides the usual chicken, tempeh and tofu, you also have duck meat and fish here, along with a few vegetable choices including water spinach and bean sprouts. I opted to order a couple of pieces of chicken along with a tofu for the staff to fry. To lend a rather healthy touch to my meal, I went for its water spinach. It may be a bit odd to hear someone eating Nasi Uduk with sautéed water spinach, but hey, it’s never wrong to try something new, right?

My first spoonful took me straight to heaven. The delicacy and savouriness of its Nasi Uduk is such a treat to my taste buds, so much as I could eat it with just some peanut sauce and it would be more than enough. The fried chicken was tender with a hint of sweetness. The combination of water spinach with Nasi Uduk, though, was not really to my liking.

If its location is a tad too far from where you live, then you could visit its branch in Kelapa Gading instead. One piece of advice: never ever try mixing Nasi Uduk with water spinach.

You can also read this article on The Jakarta Post: Tasty ‘nasi uduk’ is talk of town

Jl. Samanhudi (in front of GKI Samanhudi), Pasar Baru, Central Jakarta
Open daily from 6pm-2am
Rp.40,000/US$3 per person

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