Jakarta - Restaurants

[Titleist19]

Nice to see this thread updated by some foodies. Best to take advantage of the great prices in Jakarta on some quality food. Anyone know a good Japanese place they have tried?

Thanks. When in Kuningan I go to the Outback Steakhouse nearby. Only Outack I've been to in SE Asia that was any good. I see Loewy is much cheaper but is the steak as good? My go to steak place in Jakarta is Holycow! Steakhouse. Cheap and tender US cuts.

I'll have to try Outback, back home Outback is definitely not my first choice so I don't have much basis of comparison. I had the wagyu flank steak (170 k) at Loewy and thought it was very good, just a touch too rare. I've had some pretty awful steaks in Asia so I'm always a little hesitant to order. One thing I will note, compared to the west, is that there is a different scale of doneness in Asia. Its very bloody in Asia. So back home a medium rare might be equivalent to a medium or a even a medium well in Asia. I don't like my steaks too rare, so that adjustment is needed. Thanks also for the tip on Holycow.

I agree, it's difficult to find a good burger in Asia. In Jakarta, the burger at Chilis in Sarinah is very good, and the burger at BATS in Shangri-La hotel is very good (they close at 9 pm). In Bangkok, I think the burger at the Hooters in Nana is very good as well.

As far as fast food burgers, in Jakarta, FatBurger and Carl's Jr. Are not bad burgers.

I'm a sucker for a good burger, just hard to find. Thanks for the suggestions, I've been to that Chilis at Sarinah, but didn't have the burger, nor do I remember the food being all that great, but I should go try. If you get a chance, do go and try the black wagyu burger at Skye, it was delicious, just a bit small. Almost ordered two haha.

[Smoothy]

I have trouble finding a really good burger in Asia

I agree, it's difficult to find a good burger in Asia. In Jakarta, the burger at Chilis in Sarinah is very good, and the burger at BATS in Shangri-La hotel is very good (they close at 9 pm). In Bangkok, I think the burger at the Hooters in Nana is very good as well.

As far as fast food burgers, in Jakarta, FatBurger and Carl's Jr. Are not bad burgers.

[Smoothy]

Awesome will give it a try but I'm not sure I can order beef ribs over pork ribs. Just not a fan of beef ribs. Will be a game time decision.

Do you guys find the ribs at Tony Roma's in Thailand or Indonesia to be as good as Tony Roma's in North America or Europe? I've always been tempted to try it in Asia but have a feeling I am going to be disappointed.

I also found it hard to try the beef ribs over the pork ribs because every other place in the entire world I have eaten, the pork ribs are better. However, if you can take my word on those beef ribs at Bluegrass, you won't regret it because they are very special. Hell, if I could get that here in the USA, I would. You would be doing yourself a disservice ordering the baby back pork ribs because they are the same as pork ribs anywhere else. Good, but not as good as those Bluegrass beef ribs. I haven't even found ribs that good in Texas.

I eat at the Tony Roma's in Terminal 21 in Bangkok fairly often when I am there for work and on expense account. Not because it's great, but just for some variety. It's garbage in comparison to Bluegrass in Jakarta. The only Tony Roma's I ever ate at in the USA was in Guam and it was better than in Thailand, but still not as good as Bluegrass.

[Banana Boi]

If you want to try something that is absolutely delicious and a bit unique, try the Beef Ribs at Bluegrass in Kuningan Epicentrium. I think it's 350 k, but it's large. One order is enough for 2 people. Truly awesome. It has to be the beef ribs though, the baby back ribs are not as good believe it or not.

Awesome will give it a try but I'm not sure I can order beef ribs over pork ribs. Just not a fan of beef ribs. Will be a game time decision.

Do you guys find the ribs at Tony Roma's in Thailand or Indonesia to be as good as Tony Roma's in North America or Europe? I've always been tempted to try it in Asia but have a feeling I am going to be disappointed.

Looks like 4 ounce steaks in Jakarta are the norm, LOL.

Maybe Indonesia has very small cows? 3-4 ounces is what is deemed to be a proper portion of meat. Any more is excessive. Even the Holycow steaks are 200 grams (7 ounces). You can always order 2 steaks if you're hungry. I almost did once after a big workout at a nearby spa.

[Smoothy]

Looks like 4 ounce steaks in Jakarta are the norm, LOL.

At HolyCow, I agree. However, at BATS, the standard is about 10 ounces.

[Questner]

Looks like 4 ounce steaks in Jakarta are the norm, LOL.

[Smoothy]

Why do you prefer the beef? Are they using a different sauce?

I remember years ago Tony Roma's had all their pork imports stopped and they resorted to lamb and beef ribs until it was sorted. Theirs were bloody awful.

Cheers G.

We used to go to the Tony Roma's near Ratu Plaza back in the day when they did have the pork ribs. These ribs at Bluegrass are way better. I prefer the beef ribs simply because they taste great. I've never had any like them, not even in the US. Tender and delicious. I prefer them with the BBQ sauce rather than the special Bluegrass sauce, but both sauces are good.

[Goferring]

If you want to try something that is absolutely delicious and a bit unique, try the Beef Ribs at Bluegrass in Kuningan Epicentrium. I think it's 350 k, but it's large. One order is enough for 2 people. Truly awesome. It has to be the beef ribs though, the baby back ribs are not as good believe it or not.

Why do you prefer the beef? Are they using a different sauce?

I remember years ago Tony Roma's had all their pork imports stopped and they resorted to lamb and beef ribs until it was sorted. Theirs were bloody awful.

Cheers G.

[Smoothy]

If you want to try something that is absolutely delicious and a bit unique, try the Beef Ribs at Bluegrass in Kuningan Epicentrium. I think it's 350 k, but it's large. One order is enough for 2 people. Truly awesome. It has to be the beef ribs though, the baby back ribs are not as good believe it or not.

[Banana Boi]

Which steak did you have? I only ate there once. I got the most expensive steak on the menu and it was very mediocre.

US Angus Beef Tenderloin medium rare. I prefer my steaks a bit bloody. Cooked any more and they may be chewy. I believe the Wagyu is Aussie meat and I'm not a fan of Aussie beef which is why I seek US or Canadian beef. Guys have ordered the more expensive Wagyu but didn't even look like a better cut of meat than I had. I've only been to the one in Manga Besar near Emporium. Have taken several guys to Holycow and all have liked it except one so it's not a slam dunk great place for all.

https://www.zomato.com/jakarta/holyc...pa-gading/menu

I have heard the buffet at the Shangri-la hotel is amazing so I can only assume the steak at BATS is delicious.

[Smoothy]

My go to steak place in Jakarta is Holycow! Steakhouse. Cheap and tender US cuts.

Which steak did you have? I only ate there once. I got the most expensive steak on the menu and it was very mediocre. Maybe I picked the wrong one because it was bad enough for me to never return. I will say that HolyCrab is awesome, but one crab meal is like 100 USD, so it's not cheap.

As far as a place I do know has good steak, BATS has awesome steaks, but they are not cheap and the restaurant closes at 9 pm.

[Sydpat]

I ate at The Holy Crab for the first time tonight. Absolutely delicious! Not cheap, but that was some of the best crab I have ever had in my life anywhere in the world.

Hi,

Can you tell us what you ate and how much it cost you so that I can order. Went online and everything is price per market.

Thank you.

Sydpat.

[Banana Boi]

Loewy:

Trendy restaurant with a small bar. I had the wagyu steak, was delicious, and very affordable. The meal was under 20 USD. Highly recommend the blue cheese sauce, was fantastic. After about 9 pm, music tends to get quite loud and the atmosphere changes a bit.

Thanks. When in Kuningan I go to the Outback Steakhouse nearby. Only Outack I've been to in SE Asia that was any good. I see Loewy is much cheaper but is the steak as good? My go to steak place in Jakarta is Holycow! Steakhouse. Cheap and tender US cuts.

[Titleist19]

Some really great restaurants that I tried on my recent trip to Jakarta.

Loewy:

Trendy restaurant with a small bar. I had the wagyu steak, was delicious, and very affordable. The meal was under 20 USD. Highly recommend the blue cheese sauce, was fantastic. After about 9 pm, music tends to get quite loud and the atmosphere changes a bit.

Skye:

Rooftop restaurant and outdoor bar patio, really nice place. Had the wagyu burger, I have trouble finding a really good burger in Asia and prices were again very reasonable, although more expensive than Loewy. If you eat dinner at Skye, as one of the waiters to give you a free stamp to enter the patio area after. Quite popular and good music.

Basque de Tapas:

3 min walk from Loewy. I thought food here was a bit worse than Loewy or Skye, but not too bad. I found the scallop, croquettes, beef balls quite nice. We should've ordered one of their steaks as well. Basque also turns into a bar that gets quite happening on certain nights. Quite a few pros from what I saw. Did not partake in any of their services.

[Porker]

Price point was approx. 20 USD, open from 7-10. As was always staying in North Jakarta, though, traffic to get there was a PITA. It was on the way to Blok M, though, back when Blok M was worth a look late at night.

North Jakarta had decent Chinese restos, as one might expect, being in Chinatown.