I don't know about you, but I'm a huge fan of Indonesian food. Yes, I'm a bit biased because I'm half Indonesian (and I lived in Jakarta for ten years). Nonetheless, even non-Indonesians will agree - the food is tasty, spicy and often exotic.
And the wonderful thing in Sydney is that international cuisine is so well-represented, especially Asian food. If you're after authentic Indonesian dishes, you need not look further. The Eastern Suburbs have got it all. From
Java in Randwick to
Shalom in Kingsford (and various other locations in the city), you're spoilt for choice.
These are my three favourite Indonesian restaurants in Sydney.
1. Ayam Goreng 99
Arguably, Ayam Goreng 99 is the best and most authentic Indonesian food you can get in Sydney. And most of my Indonesian and half-Indonesian friends would agree with me.
Ayam goreng means fried chicken, so obviously getting the fried chicken is a must. But I have to say, I prefer the grilled chicken (ayam bakar). It's deliciously soft and tasty.
Fried chicken thigh, grilled chicken breast, tofu, tempe and mushroom pepesI highly recommend the tofu and tempe as well. Tempe is a soy bean product, which is often described as fermented soy bean cake. It probably doesn't sound very appetizing, but it's probably one of my favourite Indonesian foods.
Nasi uduk and tofuIf you want something a bit different from plain rice, give the nasi uduk a go. It's cooked in coconut milk, so it's super-fragrant and a lovely, flavoursome addition to the meal.
Bakmi ayam baksoAlternatively, try the noodles. There's nothing better than
Bakmi Gajah Mada in Jakarta (if only they would open up in Australia - sigh). If ever you find yourself in Jakarta, you
must try this restaurant. Anyway, the bakmi (noodles) at 99 do the job.
SambalChilli addicts like myself will be very happy to know that the sambal (chilli sauce) here is absolutely to-die-for. It can be extremely spicy though, so watch out. On one of the occasions I was here, I actually couldn't handle how spicy it was. Which says a lot because I can take a lot of chilli.
KangkungKangkung (also known as morning glory and water spinach) is an Indonesian staple. And it's definitely something you should have to accompany your meal if you're a veggie fan (like me).
Es cendolDoubling as dessert, es cendol is a drink made with palm sugar and coconut milk. The little green jellies are not the best at Ayam Goreng 99, but overall it's still a formidable es cendol that's worth trying.
Ayam Goreng 99 isn't about the atmosphere by any means. It's likely that it's packed and that you'll have to queue up to even get a table. And it's even likelier that the staff will try to shoo you out by handing you your bill after you've finished eating.
But Indonesian food isn't really about the atmosphere or the service. The most important thing is the food you're eating. And I have to say that Ayam Goreng 99 is by far the best place for that.
Address:
464 Anzac Parade
Kingsford NSW 2032
Opening Hours:
Wed-Sun for lunch and dinner
2. Bali Stick
Let me start by saying that
Bali Stick is a bit less authentic than Ayam Goreng 99, but it's still one of my favourites. Firstly the atmosphere here is nice. It's nicely decorated with Indonesian touches and it's much larger than most Indonesian establishments in Sydney. This means that it's great for bigger groups. I had one of my birthday dinners here and it was such a great night.
Balinese chicken
Now, to the food. Though the name of the restaurant suggests that this restaurant is all about Balinese food, it's not really. There are some Balinese specialties on the menu, like the chicken with Balinese flavours, but there are also many other Indonesian favourites on offer.
Martabak
I always order the martabak as a starter. Martabak is something you'll only find on the sides of the street in Indonesia (and not everywhere in Indonesia). It contains eggs, shallots and meat, enveloped in a sheet of crispy skin. At Bali Stick it comes with a peanut sauce, which isn't how you're meant to eat it, but it tastes good regardless.
Sate ayam
The chicken satay (sate ayam in Indonesian) is also good here, though relatively small. Generally, the servings are smaller here than other Indonesian restaurants, and you'll also be paying a little bit more than you would at Ayam Goreng 99.
Make a booking by
email or calling 9663 0404.
Address:
84 Anzac Parade
Kensington NSW 2033
Opening Hours:
Friday, Saturday & Sunday for lunch
Tuesday to Sunday for dinner
3. Pondok Buyung
This restaurant is the only place in Sydney (as far as I know) that serves Padang-style Indonesian food, where you can pick your side dishes with rice from a cabinet. Don't come here if you're squeamish about eating food that's been sitting in the cabinet for a while.
Again, it's not about the atmosphere at Pondok Buyung. It's all about the delicious food. From rendang to touge (bean sprouts) and tempe to curries, you can choose your favourites.
The other plus point is that it's very cheap. You'll be paying around $9 for rice with three sides. It gets more expensive if you're having more meat dishes. Also great for takeaway and reheating it for lunch the next day.
Address:
124 Anzac Parade, Kensington
(The restaurant moved recently, but just a few shops down the road)
Opening Hours:
Everyday for lunch and dinner
*during Ramadan the restaurant closes earlier
So what do you think? Feel free to add your own favourite Indonesian restaurants in Sydney.
