Amongst other cultural foods in Jakarta, Padang restaurants are some of the easiest to find. There will always be a Padang restaurant right around the corner. However the quality might not be as satisfactory nor fulfil the requirements that you wish a Padang restaurant to have.
Padang food or Minang food is the cuisine of the Minangkabau people of West Sumatra, Indonesia. It is known across Indonesia as Masakan Padang or simply Padang food, after the city of Padang the capital city of West Sumatra province.
Padang food is famous for its rich taste of succulent coconut milk and spicy chili. The main emphasis is on three elements; gulai (curry), lado (chili pepper) and bareh (rice). No traditional Padang meal is complete without the three — spicy chili sauce; thick curry and perfect steamed rice. This cuisine demonstrates Indian and Middle Eastern influences, with dishes cooked in curry sauce with coconut milk and the heavy use of spices mixture.
Here are the 7 most delicious Padang restaurants:
Pagi sore
Pagi Sore restaurants has already held the reputation of being the oldest Padang restaurants in Jakarta. For that accomplishment, this restaurant is said to have inherited the authentic flavor of Minang cuisine from generations to generations.
Their specialty dish is the rendang, which is known to be one of the best in Jakarta. The restaurants even uses the jargon “Jagonya Rendang” (The Master of Rendang) for their tagline. Despite that, you can also try their other delicious padang dishes like ayam goreng and ayam pop.
Address:
- Jl. Cipete 2 No. 1, Fatmawati, Jakarta
Phone: +62-217667000 - Jl. Cempaka Putih Raya No. A5, Cempaka Putih, Jakarta
Phone: +62-214266000 - Jl. Benda Bawah, Cilandak, Jakarta
Phone: +62-2122785555 - Jl. Kalimalang Raya No. 1A, Kalimalang, Jakarta
Phone: +62-2186907422/+62-2186907421 - Jl. Rawamangun Muka No. 1 A, Rawamangun, Jakarta
Phone: +62-2147860000 - Jl. Jend. Sudirman 96D, Palembang
Phone: +62-711323000
Website: http://pagisore.id/
Marco padang
With the large number of Padang restaurants in Jakarta, you would not expect a fresh twist to come out of it. Marco Padang is a restaurant that aims to combine elements of authentic Padang Peranakan Cuisine with fine dining. Rather than serving the same type of food day in and day out, Marco Padang serves menus per order, which means that there more variety of food that you can try.
This restaurant is popular that there are several signature dishes that you can eat from its appetizers, coffee to dessert. For the main dish, you can try their Barramundi Panggang Pacak, a grilled Barramundi fish marinated in coconut milk with various spices. Afterwards, you can end the meal with Es Kopi Padang and their martabak kelapa.
Address: Pacific Place, 5th floor unit 45 – 46, Jl. Jendral Sudirman kav. 52 – 53, Jakarta Selatan
Phone: +62-2151400445
Website: http://www.marcopadang.com/
Sari bundo
Besides Pagi Sore restaurant, another Padang restaurant with a reputation as big is the Sari Bundo restaurant that opened since 1967. It has become a favorite of Jakartans for a long time and has even become a favorite of former Indonesian president, B. J. Habibie.
Although the restaurant is not the most luxurious, there are plenty of dishes that will leave you asking for more. Their fried chicken is famous for their crispy and spicy taste, while Dendeng Balado and signature rendang are also considered to be one of the best. Otherwise, you can also try their Ayam Pop.
Address:
- Jalan. Ir Juanda No. 27, Jakarta Pusat
Phone: +62-213458343 - Mangga Dua Square, Jl. Gunung Sahari Raya No.1, Jakarta Utara
Phone: +62-2162312417 - Food Court Area Bandara Halim Perdanakusuma, Jl. Halim Perdana Kusuma, Jakarta Timur
Phone: +62-2180899217 - Jalan. Panglima Polim IX/01, Jakarta Selatan
Phone: +62-2180899217
Website: https://www.saribundo.biz/
Padang merdeka
This restaurant is known to serve delicious food, but also at the same time offers décor that is suitable for millennials. For every restaurant, the interior design is meant to represent Indonesian history which youngsters can take amazing pictures for their Instagram accounts.
Not only the interior design, but the Padang dishes that they serve also have a modern twist. Other than their Satay padang and dendeng batakok, you can try their gulai nangka.
Address: Jl. Lada No.1, Kota Tua, Pinangsia, Tamansari, Jakarta Barat
Phone: +62-2122692291
Website: http://padangmerdeka.com/
RM Surya
RM Surya is also another padang restaurant that has set legendary status since the 70s, especially since it has been visited by late US celebrity chef, Anthony Bourdain. The restaurant is spacious and the tables are large, so if you want to see the iconic display of Padangnese servers perform the tricky task of juggling small plates of every single dish available at the restaurant and carry them to your table, this is an ideal place for it.
You can find the classics such as ayam kalio, rendang, gulai kikil, although a dish that’s not to miss is the dendeng batakok or deep fried beef served with green chili sambal. Visitors can also try their gulai kurma that’s only available on Friday.
Address: Jl. Bendungan Hilir No. 15, Bendungan Hilir, Jakarta Pusat
Phone: +62-215731474/ +62-81310032485
Padang restaurants are very popular in Indonesia because of the delicious food that they serve, from the balado dishes to their special ayam pop. For that reason, eating at a Padang restaurant will complete your knowledge of Indonesian cuisine.
Have you tried any of these Padang food? Tell us your experience in the comments section below!
