Monday 27 May 2013

De Pluit

De Pluit is your normal around your neighborhood kind of restaurant. They serves a good variety of Chinese food, with a slight fusion mixture of Indonesian. Ambiance was reasonable, with air conditioning and sofa seats all over the 2 storey building. I wouldn't say this is a brilliant place and that you must try this, but it's decent for late night snack or a quick bite..

The pricing of the the menu were all reasonably priced with a decent portion. The additional free wi-fi service was a bonus point. But is it enough for me to go back for a second trip? Hmm ... read my reviews below and see how it goes ...
Menu : Siu May (Left)   /   Hakkau (Right)
Price : Rp 11,000 ++ per portion
Score : Siu May 5.0 / 10   &    Hakkau 5.25 / 10

>> Well, a disappointment but didn't expect much from the very beginning. It's a pass and thus edible and not a total junk. But it's for sure wasn't freshly made on the spot. It is most likely pre bought in frozen form. Whenever anyone order, they'll just steam it up quickly and served. The texture that gives a feeling of 'frozen food' is there upon the first bite. But then again, you can't complain too much for Rp 11,00 per portion.

Menu : Char Siu Panggang
Price : Rp 38,000 ++
Score : 5.8  /  10

>> This was not too bad, a 5.8 coming from a stingy person that doesn't give away points for food too easily. The portion was alright, standard for the pricing. I like the sauce that the roast pork is nestling on. Rather too oily but the taste was okay as a matter of fact. If I may complain, the thickness of the Char Siu was too thinly sliced. A little less slices but more thick cuts would be better for me.  Thus I won't recommend it to anyone.

Menu : Nasi Goreng Ikan Asin
Price : Rp 28,000 ++
Score : 6.0 / 10

>> Portion was a surprise for me. A good portion for a fried rice with a tag of Rp 28,000. Wasn't humongous but a good filling to my big tummy indeed. The taste of the seasoning wasn't half bad either. When eating with Char Siu (Above) and Babi Kuluyuk (Below), I should've eaten with white rice instead. Because the salted fish in this rice made it over salty. But as a single dish on it's own, was okay.
Menu : Babi Kuluyuk
Price : Rp 40,000 ++
Score : 6.5 / 10

>> When translated to English it simply means 'Sweet and Sour Pork' and the taste mirror the title of the dish. Sweet from the tomato paste, sour from the pineapple juice. This might be better dishes among the others in the menu. Size of the portion was enough for 2 to 3 person and reasonable priced too. Taste was somehow alright, a decent 6.25 from me. 

Coming down to the conclusion of will I come back for a second trip .... .... ..... ?
Maybe not ... I'd rather spend my money on Bakmi Pejagalan (Review post date : 22 May 2013). Hahahaha !

De Pluit 
Jl. Pluit Karang Blok Z6 Selatan No 13. Jakarta Utara 14450
Phone : 021 - 66672348

Wednesday 22 May 2013

Bakmi Pejagalan

This is the noodle stall that I mention on my post dated (16 May 2013), my favorite noodle of all time! And I personally feel this is the best among the tens and tens of people selling noodles in the crowded area of Pluit & Muara Karang. This place is situated just next to Fong Tu or if you don't know the location in Pluit, get to 'Kwetiau Singapore' and ask around with the guards in that area. It's almost impossible if they don't know it.

The place is decent, with air - con and quite spacious for a noodle stall. It's 'better looking' than your food stall in the Muara Karang area. But never mind the ambiance when you're dining in this area, the food talks and your taste buds don't lie !














Menu : Bakmi Pejagalan, Babi Jamur, Sui Kiauw
Price : Rp 34,500
Score : 9.0 / 10

>> I wanted to dance upon my first slurp. It is that delicious and yes! This is by far the best tasting noodle in Pluir & Muara Karang area. So many things to brag about this and I'm not paid to say all these ;

- Size of noodle : Thin, slightly curled and Perfect
- Pork : Seasoning is Perfect
- Size : Fulfilling to the stomach and Perfect
- Dumplings : Seasoning is Perfect, Thickness of the dumpling skin were Perfect too
- Overall taste : almost too good !!

Notice how each factor ends with a 'perfect' and that is the reason that this earns a nine pointer. There's just something special with the dumplings and the seasoning of the noodle. It wasn't too oily at all. The oil merely glisten and cover lightly across every strand of noodle. Curious? Do try and witness it for yourself!

Menu : Bakso Goreng
Price : Rp 6, 500 / Piece
Score : 8.5 / 10

>> Arrrghhh !!!! Goodness gracious! It's goooodddd!! What I love about this is the fact, the sliced the pork meat ball and then fry it again. Usually, the fried the entire meat ball and then sliced it thus leaving the inside of the meat slightly gooey and chewy. This is definitely different and much much better in all aspect. The price was reasonable too. RP 6,500 per piece and you get half the amount from the picture on the left (Photo show 2 pieces).

Will I come back over and over and over again to this eatery? It's a definite yes and you should be doing the same thing too!


Bakmi Pejagalan
Pluit Barat 1 No 7 Jakarta Utara 14450
Phone : 021 - 6602677

Monday 20 May 2013

Bakmi Khek


Bakmi Khek when translated to English means 'Hakka Noodle'. I'm a Hakka and it just feels right whenever I ate this. It might be the silent brain washing, taste adjuster that my parents and grandparents had instilled in my taste buds. But Hakka food just has a soft spot in my tummy. Remembering my childhood, my grandmother always cooks Hakka dishes and I thought Hakka was only the type of variety in Chinese dishes. When I grow up, I became more 'smarter' of course, but Hakka cuisine still is my old time favorite dish.

Menu : Bakmi Khek Special
Price : Rp 22,000 (Small Portion)
Score : 7.5 / 10

>> The difference between Special and Regular is the amount of meat. Regular is a choice of pork of chicken, while you get both meat the pork and chicken in the special. And the price of a large portion is an additional Rp 10,000 on top of the small one.

They hand made all of the noodles and the claimed to used a secret sauce that has been in their family since 1969, brought down generations to generations. How true? I don't know. But I'm sure of the fact that this food stall had been 'forever' in Muara Karang; since I was a child and with regards to the taste. It's goooood! The texture has that springy feeling and the amount of the sauce isn't over salty. The additional meat gives it an additional kick to the entire dish.
Menu : Sui Kiaw
Price : Rp 20,000 (5 pcs)
Score : 6.5 / 10

>> Thickness of the skin is good. Not too thick at all. What was a slight let down for me was the seasoning of the broth and the fillings.

The soup was a slight bland, maybe this was a purpose as eaters usually adds their own special mix of sauces and condiments such as soy sauce, chili and pepper.  Not a big deal though.

The amount of the fillings were generous. They used pork and vegetables as usual. A good size and was quite filling to the tummy if you had 10 pieces of this. But again a small issue with the seasoning. A little more sprinkle of salt might made of the big changes to this dish. But overall a solid meal and you should definitely pay here a visit!

I will be doing a post on another Noodle stall in Pluit area which I think is better and deserves a 9 out of 10. Curious? Stay tune and hooked on noodles ^_^

Bakmi Khek
Muara Karang B7 Utara No 115 (Pusat)
Phone : 021 - 6680048 / 6604328

Cabang Kelapa Gading                            Cabang Taman Palem Lestari
Boulevard raya Blok WB No 2                 Taman Palem Lestari AA2 No 3 Cengkareng Jkt Barat
Phone : 021 - 97960704 / 4508906        Phone : 021 - 80739935

Thursday 16 May 2013

Tabona


From the head sign it's pretty obvious about the menu that Tabona has to offer. The menu only consist of 'Rice & Thin Vermicelli with Chicken & Beef Curry'. Their menu is very simple, straight to point, no mucking around with fancy menu books, nor fancy menu titles. But their cooking were serious! They're really good with their house name curry. I got to the place on a Sunday at slightly off peak lunch hours; somewhere around 2 pm and the crowd was still buzzing in and out. A very very simple establishment, nothing glamorous, your typical food stalls in Pluit area that serves good Medan food.


Menu : Rice with Beef Curry
Price : RP 33,000
Score : 8.5 / 10

>>  I brought FW to this place and he claimed that this might be one of the best food Muara Karang & Pluit has to offer. As I had mentioned before, this place only serves gooooood curry. The consistency wasn't too thick, thus even with the coconut milk and all the pungent spices and herbs inside the broth, you won't feel sick after having this. I have to mention the smart move taken by the owner to serve the rice is a smaller portion than usual. This actually helps in leaving your tummy less bloated after all the magical broth you had just consumed.

Both the beef and the chicken meat was just as good. Not too tough, well cooked and it merely acts as an 'accessory' in comparison to the broth. The broth is the bomb !

Tabona 
Jl. Pluit Sakti Raya No. 65
Phone : 021 - 6691559 / 6621956

Monday 13 May 2013

Guo Tie - San Tung

It's been a quiet April month for TryThisMenu, not so much reviews been posted on here. I've been really busy with work (due to all the Tax month thingy : SPT, PPh 29, bla bla bla) but that doesn't mean I've not been eating. To think about it, I've been eating just as much or not, more than usual. This May, there will be more reviews on 'Street Food'. It will be a compilation of road side food ('Kaki Lima') and more simple 'local food'. You know, your well known food stalls in Muara Karang & Pluit area. Begin reading and get ready to salivate !!

Menu : Guo Tie San Tung
Price : Rp 3.500 Per Piece
Score : 7.5 / 10

>> Who don't know the well known name 'San Tung'. The very first branch is in Central, Kota area in Jakarta. This brand is very much a big part of my childhood memory and it never fails to bring a smile whenever I came back and pop some in my mouth. 

Thickness of skin is neither too thin, nor too thick. The amount of pork fillings with vegetables was just perfect. The pork meat wasn't over oily at all. With additional condiments such as ; garlic, chili, soy sauce and sesame oil, you'll soon be having at least 20 pieces all to yourself. I had this beauties in the Muara Karang branch, even though it's still good, I definitely think the one in Kota branch is way better !




Menu : Tahu Kecap
Price : Rp 10,000  per piece
Score : 6.0 / 10

>> A simple dish that usually goes together with Guo Tie dishes. They usually sells this as 'Sek Ba'. A big pot that includes Pig's organ such as intestines, blood cubes, trotter, etc, cooked together with hard boil eggs and tofu in a heavy dense soy sauce mixture.

It taste a little bit sweet with a hint of 'herbal' sense. Difficult to explain but has that Chinese herbs smell that is quite soothing to the palate. This dish is common among Chinese tables and even though I had better than San Tung had to offer, it's not bad at all. Mountains of Guo Tie with slices of Tahu Kecap is definitely the 'must eat' menu over here!!
 



Guo Tie San Tung
Cabang Muara Karang ; 
- Along the stretch of eateries across Eaten Restaurant.