Food, Restaurants

Home Cooked Indonesian Food at Warung Makan

Sorry, this establishment is no longer operating. :(

It’s been a while since I’ve discovered a classic BF establishment—you know, a previously unheard-of hole in the wall with a really basic menu that fits on one side of a laminated sheet of paper, the sort with a Teacher’s Village feel… in short, simple, unpretentious, proudly small-time. Many establishments now are part of a chain of restaurants, or slick, cosmopolitan date places—I’m not complaining, of course; both types are fine by me… but the hole in the wall holds a special place in my heart.

Warung Makan is not exactly a hole in the wall (though its name, which refers to a small food stall, suggests exactly that); after all, it does have a huge parking lot (big big plus!) and the better part of a refurbished house serving its needs. But overall, eating there is like being invited over to a friend’s home (an Indonesian friend, mind you) for dinner, which is exactly its charm. The fact that the owner, Ng, is often around to provide friendly conversation (in careful English, punctuated by Filipino words like “baboy” and “bawal”), makes it feel even more so.

Most of the people who come to visit are looking to relive food memories of Jakarta, which is why the tightly edited menu (what Ng believes is the best of typical Indonesian fare) changes every so often—guests ask for some dishes more than others. I suppose I should go on a campaign for them to include some Nasi Goreng, which stands out in my own limited experience of Indonesian food. In the meantime, I’ll settle for the sneakily spicy Beef Rendang (P105; it starts out mild and surprises you by making your nose drip after a few mouthfuls) and the tender Sate Ayam (P105 for 5 sticks).

The Laksa (P90, on the menu due to popular demand), a gata-based soup with shrimp, chicken, and veggies such as onions and crunchy sprouts—very fresh-tasting and unusually thin for a dish with coconut milk— is a pleasant discovery, as is the Rempeyek Udang (P35), pre-packaged (unfortunately not-so) crispy shrimp fritters, which taste strongly of some seasoning I can only describe as plasticky-tasting (and believe me, I mean that in a good way). Dessert is Es Cincao (P40), black jelly in sweet syrup that sinks to the bottom of the glass, making the dregs a real treat.

The food, while rather basic, is cheap enough for you to go a bit crazy ordering, so anyone wanting to broaden their cultural food horizons would be well advised to try this place out. But be stubbornly mainstream for me and ask for some Nasi Goreng… it might find its way onto the menu after all.

Warung Makan
El Grande corner Djakarta Streets, BF Northwest, BF Homes Parañaque
825-6330
Restaurant hours: 6PM to 10/11PM daily except Tuesdays

For other Indonesian restaurants, check out:

Bali Blends

Rumah Makan

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