Taco Local

I've been to Panglima Polim area many times but didn't manage to notice Taco Local. Well the name says it all, it's Mexican food. Before I begin, I'd like to thank 'Andy' who recommended me to this eatery, I was complaining about a bad Mexican joint, he commented on my post and advised me to have a go for Taco Local.

It was a Sunday noon and I just finish practicing for the Marathon run coming up in October. A bunch of friends and I practiced ran 8 km and after a quick shower and a changed outfit we were growling with hunger. 

Initially we nearly drove pass the place. The facade is very simple. Nothing posh or sleek looking. A plain white 2 storey shop house. It has this messy porch in front and the additional bougainvilleas makes it look a little bit like a house to me. Just for your information, Taco Local is sandwiched between a bike shop and 'Manja'. 

I wasn't expecting anything. The facade was messy and 'homey'. Thus I was actually eager to come in. It feels like a commune place where you can dress super casually and have a chat over good food. The decor didn't scream Mexico at all, no sombrero or jalapenos hang anywhere. Just simple cement flooring, white plain walls and tiles on the other side, wooden stools and bench tables arranged like back in boarding school days. You got order at the counter and pay up, very much self service kind of thing. I must say this is nothing fancy but certainly loved it. A good change from your lounge, bar and cafes scene that is popping out all over Jakarta.

Menu : Saparella

Price : Rp 20,000 ++

Score : 7.0 / 10

>> The person at the counter introduced us this and called it their house soda. Gotta like the shape of the bottle, very sexy I thought it resembles like a lady's oversize hip hahaha. Anyways 'Saparella' taste like the normal 'Sarsi' soda drink. 

It has been quite sometime since the last time I came across Sarsi or even longer, had a gulp at it. This brings back good memories actually. Well as for the taste, what can go wrong with sugar and soda? It's not something that Taco Local brewed at their own kitchen but hey it is sugary soda and it always taste good. So hence the score of a seven.

Menu : Al Pastor Tacos

Price : Rp 32,000 ++
Score : 8.5 / 10

>> Yummmm! This beautiful tacos consist of grilled pork shoulder, pickle cabbage, salsa fresca, salsa verde and grilled pineapple. Love it!!! The pork was succulent, tender and super generous with the amount of meat. The salsa, pickled cabbage and pineapple gave the sauce a slight bbq taste but with just an extra pinch of sour. I went on to quirt the small wedge of lime and the level of sour was just right on the dot for me. The base of the tortilla could have been toasted and hence increase the crisp but they didn't do that. It was soft and still manage to hold all the fillings on top just well.

Menu : Lengua

Price : Rp 32,000 ++
Score : 9.0 / 10

>> Lengua has grilled tongue, salsa fresca, guacamole and crispy pork rind as the fillings. How does it taste? It was better than Al Pastor! I took a bite and geezzz...the grilled tongue was exactly how I liked it; thick, cut into cubes, tender and succulent. The sauce was less sour than Al Pastor but instead a more of a salty taste while Al Pastor is more sweet and bbq. I couldn't figure out the guacamole maybe to the small amount smeared inside but regardless what sauce this has inside, it was good !! The tortilla wasn't toasted and hence pretty much the same as described above; soft but nevertheless good.

Menu : Carne Burritos
Price : Rp 50,000 ++
Score : 7.0 / 10

>>  I got pulled beef, dirty rice, frijoles, salsa fresca, guacamole and cheese inside my Carne Burritos. It came steaming piping hot and I love the amount of fillings stuffed inside. It was sliced into 2 piece thus upon looking you'll try to figure the components inside. It's a filling dish, mainly because of the rice I think. I must not only mention the generousness of the fillings but also the taste. I don't eat many burritos in my life thus not too sure how the real ones in Mexico taste like but I was hoping a little bit more heat inside. They just ran out of their hot sauce and I really think the extra spicy heat will made all the differences. I was really disappointed not being able to taste their hot sauce, but certainly looking forward on my next trip.

Menu : Jamon Y Huevos Tortas
Price : Rp 40,000 ++
Score : 7.5 / 10

>> What is Tortas? Tortas is simply a Mexican sandwich in a Bolilo Bread. Just like the French has Croissant sandwich, the Mexicans has the Tortas. And for this particular sandwich, I had smoked pork ham, fried egg, frijoles, cheese, salsa fresca and mayonnaise. By the way for this smoked ham sandwich, it is only available on the weekends. It came sliced into 2 pieces which made is easier to bite on and apart from that, easier to detect the fillings. I had a few bites into it and it felt like a breakfast menu to me. Smoke ham, eggs and bread with a little bit of nachos crunch on the side, which really tasted like a breakfast sandwich. I liked the toasted bolilo bead too, wasn't over crispy but just the right texture. A dish I second best enjoy after their super good tacos.

Menu : Sticky Date Pudding With Vanilla Ice Cream and Toffee Sauce.
Price : Rp 30,000 ++
Score : 6.25 / 10

>> I was at 7/8 stomach capacity and I pushed myself towards 9/8 capacity. I had dessert of course. A few variety to choose on and landed my eye on the sticky date pudding. It was not mind blowing good. It was pretty alright, the vanilla ice cream was supermarket bought and the toffee syrup was okay too. The sticky date pudding itself was mediocre. Wasn't too fluffy nor was it gooey enough. It tasted more like a sponge cake rather than a pudding. But still, I managed to gorge it all down myself. Exactly 5 seconds after finishing this, I realized the amount of calorie intake must be horrifying hahahaha. I shuddered but soon moved on !

Was it a good experience? Yes it was! I'll definitely become a regular here, will try the rest of the variety listed on the menu. I haven't tried their hot sauce for goodness sake and that will be on top of my list on the next trip there. Which is going to be soon.


Taco Local
Jl. Panglima Polim 5 No 38, Jakarta Selatan
Phone : +62 21 94949538

Spanky's Ribs

A friend recommended this 'Ribs' restaurant, saying it's better than all those Outback, Planet Hollywood, Hard Rock Cafe and even Tony Roma's ribs !! And of course being a food enthusiast myself, I wanted to taste it for myself. Spanky's Ribs is situated in the Kemang area, Jakarta Selatan. Not too difficult to locate, it's around 200 meters after Mc'Donald. Hence, just keep on staring onto your right after you drove past Mc'Donald. It's in fact the new tenant of 'Nu China' if you're familiar with the area. Nevertheless, the restaurant was rather quite, only a few tables were occupied (bearing in mind it was 8pm on a Saturday night), but then again, it was raining so I guess couldn't judge too much from the crowd. Ambiance was alright, it was decent although it gave a feeling of a 'diner' instead of a steak or ribs' house. I'm not going to judge too much on the decor but instead 'yap' away on the food ......

Menu : Pile 'O' Onion Rings
Price : Rp 49,000 ++
Score : 6.5 / 10

>> What can ever go wrong with fried onion rings? Almost nothing right. But to make it spectacularly good...hmmm that's another story. The one served here was alright, a 6.5 over 10 from me. The onions were crispy all good and the additional home made 'sambal mayonnaise' was a great combination. The way it was served was similar to the one in Tony Roma's too. Piled on top another with all the wonderful bits of burnt parts distributed over. Well, a good starter but didn't blew me away.

Menu : Baby Back Pork Ribs
Price : Rp 315,000 ++ (Full Slab)
Score : 8.5 / 10

>> I sort of get it why my friend highly recommended this place. The pork ribs itself was a perfection! Very very succulent, the meat just slides off the bone. It didn't need too much effort in biting off the meat from the rib bone. On top of that, they managed to keep all the juices intact inside the baby back ribs. 

Whether it is better than Tony Romas? Hmm..I would say on the same caliber! But what was special about it was more on the sauces. We're given 2 choices of sauces that is served aside; Tangy Mango Chili, Spicy Alabama & Indonesian BBQ. The best one was the Tangy Mango Chili and that simple sauce might help hit the home run for this menu!

Menu : Chicken Wings
Price : Rp 45,000 ++
Score : 6.5 / 10

>> For this menu, there is a choice of 'spicy buffalo' or 'honey bbq' and served with blue cheese on the side. We opted for the 'spicy buffalo' and another tasty dish. A 6.5 over 10 for me is like saying 'Well done, but a lot of other people can do just as good. Room of improvement!' hahahaha. The chicken wings were cooked well, crispy and moist on the inside. The spicy sauce were glazed evenly and the blue cheese were a good combination. Who thought of blue cheese with fried chicken right !!?? But again as I said, needed that extra kick somewhere.

Menu : Pulled Pork Quesadilla
Price : Rp 65,000 ++
Score : 7.5 / 10

>> Hmmm yumm! I love quesadilla and I mean who don't?? Warm, thin, crispy pita bread with pulled smoked pork in between. Have a good dollop of salsa and guacamole on top and pop it into your mouth. Hmmm...yumm!! The pita bread was well done and the guacamole was heavenly. It was obviously freshly made in the kitchen and couldn't stop asking for more. The salsa was alright, fresh but rather mediocre. And they could definitely improved more with the amount of fillings inside. The delicious taste of the guacamole overthrow the taste of the meat. But overall it is still a good dish for my taste.

Menu : Key Lime Pie
Price : Rp 42,000 ++
Score : 9.0 / 10

>> I was full as hell but was sooooo glad that I decided on the dessert. This is the best key lime pie I had ever taste in Indonesia. The sourness of the lime and the combination of the cream cheese with the perfect amount of sugar was heavenly! Well, I must say if you're not a fan of sour food then don't go for this one, have a chocolate cake instead but if you like it then, you'll love this! I finished every bit of the slice and licked my fork glistening clean. That was how good it was. Delish dessert !! Bravo !

Spanky's Ribs
Jl. Kemang Raya No 24 A, Jakarta Selatan 12730
Phone : 021 - 7182876

Tapas Movida

Last Sunday, I had a super late lunch with a bunch of pretty interesting people, interesting meaning in a positive way of course! Hahaha..anyways I was introduced to this Spanish Restaurant that had opened in 2011 in Cipete Raya, South Jakarta. I was all excited and pumped about it and I must be honest that I'm a virgin with Spanish food. The only time I tried was at Moya and way back to remember anything about tapas, paella nor sangria. So this place called 'Tapas Movida' was a great welcome, differentiating itself from all the fusion food that Jakarta is flooded with !

As mentioned in their website; 'Tapas' refers to the authentic and original Spanish appetizers and 'Movida' refers to the post Franco-era eruption of entertainment and artistic freedom enjoyed in Spain which they celebrate with their emphasis on enjoying yourself. To add on, besides the great food and a pleasant service they do try and set an ambiance that resembles true Spain setting. I've never been to Spain but upon entering the door, it's obvious that their presentation of Flamenco themed indoor and Gaudi inspired outdoor areas was nailed!

Menu : Montadito de ternera con queso azul y cebolla caramelizada
Price : Rp 30,000 ++
Score : 9.0 / 10

>> This was the first tapas that was served and I was blown. Presentation is simple and straight to the point as  a 'tapas'. This is basically beef tenderloin, blue cheese and caramelized onion stacked on top of each other with a piece of cut bread on the bottom. One bite and I smiled ! Today's meal is going to be really good! The flavor was packed full and gotta loveeeeeee the caramelized onion. Sweet, salty and a the combination with blue cheese was surprisingly a good marriage!

Menu : Pintxo de pollo moruno con salsa de yogur y queso
Price : Rp 17, 500 ++
Score : 8.0 / 10

>> Look like your ordinary satay? Well, it's chicken skewers with much much better cooking herbs and condiment at the side. The sauce inside the shot glass is actually yogurt with cheese and it's gooooddd. The chicken was cooked well, and the herbs infused into the meat was surprisingly has this familiar taste with 'satay'. Must be the 'smokey taste' effect from the grilling process. Nevertheless, gotta try this too !

Menu :  Champinones rellenos
Price : Rp 25,000 ++
Score : 7.5 / 10

>> This is a good breakfast or a brunch menu but because it taste great, it's very much quite alright to have it in the afternoon. Mushroom cooked in garlic butter fill with ham, mozzarella cheese topped with fried egg. Well apology for my photography skill, thus you can't figure out much about the layers but all you need to understand is that, this is delicious! Ever heard the phrase 'breakfast for the champions'...champinones, champions..resembles right? Hehehehe...silly ^_^

Menu : Cordero al horno
Price : Rp 195,000 ++
Score : 8.5 / 10

>> If you are a loyal reader, then you'll know probably by now that I'm not a big fan of lamb but this might be a game changer. This roasted lamb shank with sauteed potatoes, pan fried asparagus and lamb juice is not only NOT heavy with lamb 'smell' (which is the main reason as to why, I'm not a fan of the meat), the meat flakes so easily off the bone and the tenderness of the meat just screams 'cooking to perfection'. This is the menu to try if you are a lamb shank lover.

Menu : Panceta Asada
Price : Rp 70,000 ++
Score : 9.5 / 10

>> Holly Molly, damn it was a blessed Sunday afernoon and look what I got to eat !! It's roast pork belly with red wine juice reduction on the side. Look at the glistening layer of pork belly fat that is just shining and calling out your name! Hahahaha, disregard my 'drama' writing but this dish deserves all thumbs up. The crispy layer of the pork is crunchy, still manage to keep the layers of belly fat intact and gooey! Pour the beautiful red wine juice, swirl the pork belly to get every angle covered and pop it into your mouth. Boom! Foodgasm is guarantee! This is definitely worth you ignoring your cholesterol level.

Menu : Esparragos trigueros con huevos pasados por agua
Price : Rp 30,000 ++
Score : 7.0 / 10

>> For ladies that are keeping a crazy eye on their waist, try this and you'll still able to enjoy your meal. This appetizer dish is pan fried green asparagus wrapped in Spanish ham, served with a 4 minute boiled egg. I love the presentation, it's pretty and aren't you curious what does a 4 minute boiled egg look like? You got to come, order and take the top off the egg! I have to recommend that the Spanish ham is drop dead good ! It's different from Panchetta or your average bacon, it is actually called 'Jamon Serrano' or more commonly known as 'Serrano Ham'. This taste better than your morning fried bacon by miles.

Menu : Albondigas
Price : Rp 45,000 ++
Score : 9.0 / 10

>> Another yumm, another smile, another dancing tastebuds! This is a dish of Spanish style meatballs, cooked in red wine and caramelized onion sauce. Gosh, anything Tapas Movida does with caramelized onion, it's goooood !

Look, the meatballs itself were alright, good bite size pieces, quite a handful of meatballs too for the portion. But the beauty is in the sauce ! Thick consistency, with chunks of onions happily submerged in the soup of red wine sauce. Rip the bread and dip it deep until it is soaked, put it your mouth and yeaaa! I bet you'll having dancing tastebuds, or at least, I did ^_^.

Menu : Gambas al ajillo
Price : Rp 55,000 ++
Score : 8.0 / 10

>> I know alot of the pictures in this review involves a bowl of something with sauce and chunks of bread at the side. Well, I realized that but it just further explains that the sauce is damn good ! Again, this traditional Spanish prawns cooked in olive oil, garlic and white sauce is beautiful. The prawns was cooked very well, wasn't chewy and still maintain that firm texture in every bite. The sauce is of course glorious, same style as above; rip the chunks of bread and dip it into the sauce until it is soaked and enjoy it! For those 'vampires' who are scared of garlic stench staying behind in your mouth, don't worry. It is subtle and yet impact-full.







Menu : Paella de Marisco
Price : Rp 330,000 ++
Score : 9.5 / 10

>> Wohooo !! I found the best paella in town and I mean it ! I love this yellow rice and could never find a good restaurant selling a decent paella. Find no more yulian, because Tapas Movida is here ^_^ hahaha. This chicken & seafood Spanish yellow rice is so big that I'm pretty sure it's enough for at least 5 adults, especially with all the additional tapas, you'll go home a happy happy man with additional 2 kilos on the scale. The rice is beautifully done, it has that uniform yellow color from the saffron and love the rather 'sticky' effect this rice got. I'm not sure whether it is a special kind of rice or a special cooking method but let the Spanish chef do the working and us do the eating.

Menu : Sangria (Traditional)
Price : Rp 295,000 ++
Score : 8.5 / 10

>> Hahahaha, okay I first didn't record down the pricing on this drink but  a friend helped out and hence much details now. There is two types of Sangria served here, the traditional and the deluxe (Rp 395,000 ++). The difference is this traditional sangria is not too strong on the alcohol. Well, it definitely involves wine and a good splash of sprite, with all the fruit juices and fresh fruits inside the mixture. A very refreshing and complimentary to  the food served. Trust me, you won't be thrown away by the alcohol if you're not much of a drinker. While the deluxe is slightly more pricy but with a good mixture of 14 spirits of alcohol. So, depending on your mood and your alcohol tolerance level, the sangria is definitely one of the 'must try' among the menu list !





Overall, I know the title of the dishes are a bit tricky, but bookmark my page on your phone and just show it to the waitress when you're there. No big fuss right? Bottom line, like ambiance, like the price tag, loooooove the food. Which comes down to 'Yes, I'll definitely come back' and you all should all try it for yourself. I bet you'll come back as a regular !!


Tapas Movida
Jl. Cipete Raya No 66, Jakarta Selatan.
Phone : 021 - 7510851