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| Ondel Ondel in the Front Door |
In Jakarta not so many you can find traditional restaurant
that served traditional Betawi cuisine. There are only several area that
actually where you can find this kind of restaurant. The South of Jakarta especially
in Jagakarsa, Ciganjur or depok you can find this kind of restaurant. You might
wondering why you can find so many Padang restaurant rather then Betawi
restaurant even Jakarta their natives is Betawi people. But Then again Jakarta
has been a melting pot where you can fins so many race from many parts of Indonesia
therefore here you can find so many restaurant that represent their culture.
However since most of the Betawi people have been moved to suburb, therefore
you can only find their traditional restaurant in this area.
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| Stage that can be used for community |
Betawi Ngoempoel basically a restaurant run by native Betawi
Family. Even from the traditional buildings and decoration represent Betawi’s
culture and here they only served traditional betawi’s dish that you cannot
find in the other restaurant. This
restaurant complex has several area, they offer you the gazebo area , they also
has big building forms like a stage that can be use as huge gazebo to have meal
during the day but also can be transform into a stage to performed traditional
Betawi play like music such as Gambus and Tanjidor or traditional betawi play
like lenong and also betawi dance like Tari Topeng. Really this restaurant also
used for the this traditional performance for people around the
neighbourhood. Beside that they also
offer you a dining area that décor like old betawi house. In front of the door
they have a pair of Ondel Ondel (traditional betawi’s giant Dol). For betawi’s
people, Ondel Ondel made to cast away bad spirits and as guardian from bad
luck. This is why normally Ondel Ondel’s face often made creepy. During the traditional wedding or any other
traditional ceremony this pair of ondel ondel often use as one of the entertainment
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| Wall Decoration |
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| Wall Decoration in the main dining room |
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| Old TV |
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| Old Cooking utensil |
The inside interior also full of Betawi’s ornaments such as
old pictures of the Betawi’s traditional dance and plays. Also you can find the
old cooking utensil they use to cook dishes in the old days. It’s very homey
ambiance and the waiter will greet you with “Mpok .” And “Abang” cause that what they normally called people in
the society.
The service here during weekend is slow, since the
restaurant always full. And if you come more than 2 PM , some of the signature
menu normally already sold out. As I said here you can find some of traditional
Betawi dishes that really rare to find nowadays. The recipe usually passed down
to generation to their daughter. So these some the dishes that traditional will
always made within the Betawi’s Family.
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| Pecak Ikan Mas - 20 K |
Pecak Ikan Mas – 20 K
This dish is basically fried Ikan Mas known as carper fish.
This fish can be easily found in the river. And easily breed in the community
pond. This fish has huge economic value, because easy to breed and you can find it in almost
traditional market. This fish is deeply
fried then season it with Pecak. Pecak is basically the method of cooking that
use shallot, chili, ginger cooked by stir-fry all the ingredient then add a little
water to ensure the fresh seasoning not scorched. As finishing touch they add lime
to add acid hint in the dish. The taste is spicy, savory and sour. It’s perfect
for lunch because of the freshness taste and also the perfect combination of the savory, spicy
and a bit sour. One portion of this dish can be share for two person.
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| Pepes Peda - 15 K |
Pepes Peda – 15 K
Pepes is an Indonesian cooking method using banana leaves as
food wrapping. The banana leaves package containing food is secured with lidi
semat (a small nail made from central rib of coconut leaf and sew upon banana
leaf), coooked on steam, in boiled water. The fishthey use is Ikan peda,
basically salted white water fish that taste salty then seasoning with some
chili, shallot and other herbd. The taste is savory and perfect to eat with
sambal terasi (traditional chili sauce with shrimp paste). If you eat this with
steamed rice is very delicious.
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| Ayam Kampung Goreng - 25 K |
Ayam Kampung Goreng – 25 K
This is basically chicken that boiled with the seasoning
such as turmeric, salt , cilantro and any other herbs then they deep fried the
chicken until it’s crispy and golden brown. The chicken taste savory and tender
inside and crispy outside. Have it with sambal and steamed rice then it’s
perfect.
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| Semur Jengkol |
Semur Jengkol – 15 K
This traditional dish is hard to find. This made from
jengkol that has strong flavor and fragrance. Not so many people like to eat
jengkol because the after-smell but if you can cook it the right way, this dish
is delicious. Here’s they cooked it perfectly , they made it very tender
marinated with soy sauce, palm sugar, shallot. The taste is sweet and savory.
They said only Betawi’s people can cook this dish perfectly and here the taste
is very authentic
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| Menu lunch |
Sayur Asem Bening – 10 K
Sayur asem betawi signature is their simple and humble ingredient
for seasoning. The taste is savory and tangy. The soup contain peanut, young papaya, long
bean, melinjo and the melinjo leaves. It’s fresh and perfect balance between
the savory and the tanginess in the soup itself. Served in a small bowl for a person portion
Sayur Asem Goreng –
10 K
Basically similar with the sayur asem bening but the
difference is they stir-fry the seasoning so the soup is looked a bit red and
oily. The taste if more stand out but basically I prefer the Sayur asem bening
than this.
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| Sop Iga |
Sop Iga – 30 K
Sop Iga or Rib soup is made from Iga broth served with
potato, carrot and leek. The seasoning is simple and bring the taste of the rib
into their soup. It’s savory and served with sambel ijo (chili sauce made from
green chilli). The rib is cook until it’s tender and juicy. It’s so tender you
can actually separated the meat just by the spoon. I like this sop iga because
is so delicious and tender.
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| menu lunch |
In overall the dish here taste very authentic and really
some of the dish here is really rare. This traditional dish is worth to try.
You can actually taste the traditional betawi recipe that has been passed down
to generation. The price is very reasonable for that kind of food quality.
These dish really bring out memories of the betawi old days.
Betawi Ngoempoel
Jalan Raya Tanah Baru No 74
Tanah Baru - Beji
Depok
