Pondok Jawa Timur @ North Bridge Road

My visit to Pondok Jawa Timur was back in March 2014 and I have heard that they have relocated to their new location at 737 North Bridge Road. Together with Maureen and Kimberley, we stopped by Pondok Jawa Timur on a weekday night for dinner.

Avocado Juice 3.5/5

A must order drink for me whether I have Indonesian food is the Avocado Juice ($5.80). I have always enjoyed the nutty and creamy drink,

Soto Madura 3.5/5

The Soto Madura with Beef ($6.50) reminds me of Mee Soto. It seems rather similar except it comes with pieces of beef. Squeezed a dash of the lime or add some chilli to alter the flavour for an accentuated enjoyment.

Corn Batter with Prawn 4/5

During my previous visit, I did not get to try the Corn Batter with Prawn ($5.70 for 3pc). I am glad that I got to try it this time round. It is really a delightfully snack to kick start the meal.

Tahu Telor 4/5

The peanut sauce at Pondok Jawa Timur is freshly made daily. There are 3 different types of peanut sauces at the restaurant for the various dishes. The one used for the Tahu Telor ($6.90) is richer and bolder in flavour which goes well with the fried tofu and egg.

Gado Gado 4.2/5

The other peanut sauce is used for the Gado Gado ($6.90). The sauce is lighter but creamier with a subtle sweetness that paired excellently with the vegetables.

Sate Ayam 3.8/5

Lastly the peanut sauce which is more coarse and nutty is the perfect marriage for the delectable Sate Ayam ($8.90). I thought the sate ayam was not as well marinated compared to my previous visit. It was also missing that charred smokey flavour I was looking for.

Mie Goreng Jawa 4/5

If you want to just have a quick meal and you do not want to over order, I would recommend the Mie Goreng Jawa ($6.90). I like the fact that the stir fried noodles is the wet kind, flavourful and with hints of wok hei aroma.

Ayam Penyet 4.5/5

Probably a Singaporean favourite is the Ayam Penyet ($6.90) that is served with freshly made sambal. The ayam penyet is another dish I would order. The chicken is cooked to a nice exterior crisp while retaining the tenderness inside.

Rice

Over at Pondok Jawa Timur, customers have a choice of 3 different types of rice. Namely the normal white rice, pandan rice and yellow rice.

Fish Head Curry 3.8/5

I did not really enjoy the Fish Head Curry ($32.9) during my previous visit as I thought it was too watery. However, the fish head curry was more palatable this time round. According to the owner instead of using coconut milk, they used fresh milk to cook their curry. The gravy will go well with a plate of rice or even bread.

Es Teler 3.5/5

Wrapping up the dinner, I have the Es Teler ($4.50) which is a sweet dessert of fresh fruits, shaved ice and condensed milk. I was introduced to the dessert during a Jakarta trip and this has become my favourite Indonesia dessert. I simply love the taste of condensed milk with the shaved ice. However I think the presentation could be better and the shaved ice can be finer. It was a bit coarse on the palate.

After moving from Selegie to the new location at North Bridge Road, Pondok Jawa Timur exactly dropped their prices. I was actually quite surprise but it is a great news to the customers. On top of that, there is no service and GST. With the type of pricing and good food, it is definitely a wallet friendly place for a meal.


Pondok Jawa Timur
737 North Bridge Road
Singapore 198705
Tel: +65 68845853
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pondok-Jawa-Timur-Javanese-Cuisine/484078558340235
Website: http://www.pondokjawatimur.com/
Nearest MRT: Bugis (DT Line, EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Bugis MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk down Victoria Street towards Golden Landmark Shopping Complex. Turn right onto Arab Street. At the junction of Arab Street and North Bridge Road, turn left onto North Bridge Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

Pondok Jawa Timur @ Wilkie Edge (Selegie)

Driven by the passion to offer authentic Javanese cuisine to Singapore, Mdm Indah opened her first eatery house at Indonesia Embassay in 2007 before moving to Atrium Orchard 3 years later. The popular Indonesian Javanese restaurant, Pondok Jawa Timur at Dhoby Ghaut area has since relocated to Wilkie Edge at Selegie area. Fans of their Indonesian Javanese food will be glad to know the platoon of Indonesian chefs in the kitchen has remained the same all these years. Meaning you can expect the same quality and standard at Pondok Jawa Timur in their current premise.

Ayam Penyet 4.5/5

Upon sighting the smashed fried chicken that looked as if it has just been run over by a car, I knew I am into something good. Deep fried to a crispy exterior, the chicken was tender and moist. This is definitely one of the best Ayam Penyet ($7.90) I had for a long time.

Tahu Telor 4/5

I have mixed feeling towards the Tahu Telor ($9.90). I prefer my tahu telor to be the tower form so that every bite has a good mix of the beancurd and fried egg. Saying that I like the robustness of the prawn paste that complemented the fried tofu in egg.

Rendang Jawa Timur 3.8/5

The Rendang Jawa Timur ($8.90) was pretty flavourful and fragrant with all the spices. It felt that the beef redang needed a couple more hours to be more tender.

Gado Gado 3/5

After ordering all the food, we realised we did not have a vegetable dish. Hence the owner recommended us to try the Gado Gado ($8.90), mixed vegetable in peanut sauce. Some may think it is weird to have your vegetables with peanut sauce but in fact it is quite a staple dish in Indonesia. The nutty sauce actually goes very well with the natural sweetness of the mixed vegetables. Quite similar how goma sauce is used in Japanese cuisine.

Sop Buntut 3/5

My first introduction to Indonesian cuisine is Sop Buntut in Jakarta. Since then I have quite an high expectation of the oxtail soup. The Sop Buntun ($11.90) at Pondok Jawa Timur was hearty and comforting but fell short in the robustness to satisfy my expectation.

Gulai Kepala Ikan 3.5/5

One of the popular dishes here is te Gulai Kepala Ikan ($28.90). Served in a claypot, the fish head was fresh and succulent. While I can taste the aroma of the spices in the gulai sauce, the spicy scale is too mild for my palate and I prefer something more lemak. However, my dining partners did not agreed with me and they actually enjoyed the fish head curry. Hence it is down to one's preference.

Mie Goreng Jawa 4.5/5

We were already quite full from all the yummy dishes but since the owner has been raving about their popular Mie Goreng Jawa ($7.90), the curiosity in us just could not let this be missed without trying. The Javanese fried noodles was unlike the Malay style which is reddish in colour. The mie goreng jawa here is more inclined to the Chinese style, wetter with the noodles infused with the wok hei flavour.

Sate Ayam 5/5

The one dish that blown me away at Pondok Jawa Timur it the Sate Ayam ($9.90). Charcoal grilled to a nice smoky flavour, the tender chicken thigh meat satay was drenched in a very delish sauce that accentuated the whole flavour. For a more spicy kick, have a dip of the chilli sauce to further enjoy the chicken satay to the fullest.

I am glad that my food journey has brought me to Pondok Jawa Timur. The halal restaurant uses only fresh ingredients with their Indonesian chefs cooking up tasty and authentic Javanese cuisine since 2007 following closely at heart Mdm Indah's recipes. The wallet friendly restaurant with delicious Indonesian food offers an extensive menu that caters for both individual and families.


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Pondok Jawa Timur Indonesia Javanese Restaurant
Wilkie Edge
8 Wilkie Road
#01-21
Singapore 228095
Tel: +65 68845853
Website: http://www.pondokjawatimur.com
Nearest MRT: Bras Basah (CC Line), Dhoby Ghuat (CC Line, NE Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Bras Basah MRT station. Take Exit D or E. Walk down Bras Basah Road to the junction of Bras Basah Road and Prinsep Steet. Cross the road and turn right onto Prinsep Street. Walk down Prinsep Street and continue onto Selegie Road. Continue walking down Selegie Road until destination. Journey time about 15 mins. [Map]

2) Alight at Dhoby Ghuat MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk down Orchard Road to the junction of Orchard Road and Prinsep Street. Turn left onto Prinsep Street. Walk down Prinsep Street and continue onto Selegie Road. Continue walking down Selegie Road until destination. Journey time about 15 mins. [Map]

IndoChili @ Zion Road

I got to know about IndoChili after reading the good review at Maureen's blog. I finally got my chance to make my way down to Zion Road to check out the restaurant that was opened last year serving authentic Indonesian cuisine at Zion Road. The restaurant is just located at the stretch of shop houses opposite Great World City or beside Zion Riverside Food Centre.

Stepping into the restaurant, it felt like I have been transported to Java with its woodcraft decor and traditional music playing in the background. The restaurant is owned by the Java Kitchen Group which has 13 casual eateries in Jakarta and 5 nasi padang stalls in foodcourts.

Jus Alpukat 4/5

Lunch was served with a complimentary plate of keropok. I like that they have a varieties of it however inside me was screaming for a chilli dip to go with it. Paired with a glass of creamy and refreshing Jus Alpukat ($6.80), fresh avocado juice, I look forward to the rest of the lunch.

Tahu Telor 4.2/5

Initially, I wasn't impressed with the presentation of the Tahu Telor ($8.80) when it was served. I was looking forward to a beancurd tower instead of pieces of beancurd drenched with the peanut sauce. What hit me is the unique savoury sweet peanut sauce that comes with a hint of spiciness. This is probably the best Tahu Telor sauce I ever had. I also spotted an interesting white ingredient garnished on top of the beancurd omelette that has a raw garlic taste. I realised it was baby bean sprout head which they painstakingly peeled after checking with the staff.

Redang Sapi 4.2/5

The Redang Sapi ($9.80) is a traditional from Minangkabau, West Sumatra. The fork tender beef redang was slow cooked for at least 4 hours packed with richness of the spices.

Ayam Kari Padang 4.2/5

The Padang style curry chicken, Ayam Kari Padang ($8.8) may not be as rich or spicy compared to the Indian version. The curry is more watered down with a strong ginger taste, I am actually surprised that coconut milk was added in it. Nevertheless the chicken was cooked perfectly, tender and moist. For diners that can't take too spicy, the kari ayam will be easy for your palate.

Sop Buntut 4.5/5

A must order at IndoChili is the Sop Buntut ($14.80). The thick and yet clear broth was comforting and hearty. No wonder it is known for serving one of the best oxtail soups in Indonesia. I have learnt from my Indonesian friend that you can squeeze a bit of lime, add a few drops of sweet soy sauce and mix a bit of sambal to enhance the flavours of the soup, giving it a different punch.

Es Cendol 4.2/5 and Es Teler 4.2/5

Wrapping up lunch on a sweet note with Es Cendol ($5.80) and Es Teler ($6.80). The Es Cendol was really good with the mixture of pandan jelly coconut milk and palm sugar. Once again, my Indonesian introduced me to Es Teler during one of my Jakarta trip. I am glad that the assorted fruits of coconut, avocado and jackfruit in a milky ice mixture was as good as the one I had in Jakarta.


IndoChili
54 Zion Road
Singapore 247779
Tel: +65 64451766
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IndoChili
Website: http://www.indochili.com/
Nearest MRT: Outram Park (EW Line, NE Line), Tiong Bahru (EW Line), Orchard (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun: 1130am -10pm
Fri-Sat: 1130am - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Outram Park MRT Station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop opposite Outram MRT station (Stop ID 06011). Take bus number 75 or 970. Alight 4 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Tiong Bahru MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop at Tiong Bahru MRT station (Stop ID 10169). Take bus number 5, 16 or 195. Alight 4 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

3) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop opposite Orchard MRT station (Stop ID B09022). Take bus number 16 or 175. Alight 4 bus stops later. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

Ayam Penyet President @ Serangoon NEX

Ayam Penyet President is the new resident at Serangoon NEX servicing authentic Indonesian cuisine. I have to admit I was looking for an experience and meal that is fit for a president. Unfortunately, I am brought to reality very soon when I needed to walk up to the cashier to place my order and made payment before I got my food served. This is not how you treat a president or rather I thought I will be treated like a president.

Tahu Telor 2/5

The Tahu Telor ($5.50) was a big disappointment. I was expecting a tall standing tower of the tahu telor but instead I was served with with pieces of fried beancurd wrapped in by a omelette. I really felt I was being cheated.

Ayam Penyet 3/5

The Ayam Penyet ($6.50) is a Malay word which literally means smashed fried chicke does not come with steamed rice. The Steamed Rice ($0.80) needs to be order separately. While the chicken was tender and moist, the chicken was not flatted or smashed enough. I also wished I could have more of the crispy bits.

Ayam Bakar 3.5/5

I also tried the Ayam Bakar ($6.50) which is served with grilled tofu, bean cake and cut chilli in black sauce. Actually the waitress left out the cut chilii in black sauce and I have asked for it. The grilled chicken with the sweet sauce drenched over it was rather flavourful. It complemented the moist and tender chicken.

Mixed Fruit Juice a la President 3.5/5 Iced Chendol 3.5/5 

The meal ended on a sweet note with the Mixed Fruit Juice a la President ($4) and Ice Chendol ($3). The mixed fruit juice a la president is quite similar to our Chinese version of Ice Kachang.

Overall I find that the food here is just average and definitely you won't be getting the president treatment. Unless I need a quick meal or avoid the crowd, I probably would not visit the eatery.

Ayam Penyet President
Serangoon NEX
23 Serangoon Central
#B1-13/14
Singapore 556083
Tel: +65 66348165
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ayampresident
Website: http://ayampresident.com/
Nearest MRT: Serangoon (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 1130am - 930pm
Sat-Sun & PH: 11am - 930pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Serangoon MRT station. Take Exit G. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes.

Medan Town @ Tanjong Katong

Named after the fourth largest city in Indonesia, Medan Town is located at the growing dining enclave of Tanjong Katong.  The casual dining restaurant offers home style Medanese food which reflects the diverse cooking styles of the different races living in Medan.

Bihun Bebek Dry  4/5

The marquee dish at Medan Town is the Bihun Bebek Dry/Soup ($5.80). I tried the beehoon dry served with duck herbal soup on the side. The bowl of beehoon was topped with generous amount of shredded duck, fried garlic, spring onion and bean sprouts. I understand the rice noodle is made in Medan. It comes with a unique springy texture that is different from others.

Nasi Redang Sapi 4.2/5

The other dish at Medan Town that caught my attention is the Nasi Redang Sapi ($6.50). The redang was extremely tender but it was the flavour that woke my palate. At that instant, memories of Indonesia trips flashed across my mind, an authentic taste that has long been forgotten.

Klepon 3/5

The Klepon ($2.50 for 5pc) is boiled rice cake stuffed with palm sugar and rolled in grated coconut. Singaporean will probably known it better as oneh oneh. The rice cake has a nice chewy texture but I am a bit disappointed with the fillings. I prefer the palm sugar filling to be of flowing fluid form.

Es Campur Medan 3/5 and Es Chendol Medan 3/5

Wrapping up the dinner, we ordered the Campur Medan ($3) and Chendol Medan ($3). Both are shaved ice dessert with coconut milk and palm sugar. The different is the ingredients used. I preferred the Campur Medan over the Chendol Medan. Although the chendol was homemade, the colour was unappetising and lacking in texture.

I previously visited a Medanese cuisine restaurant and was not impressed with the food. Medan Town has changed my opinion with Medanese cuisine and I am glad to discover the casual dining restaurant. Now I am another restaurant to go to when I am crave for Indonesian food.


Medan Town
253 Tanjong Katong Road
Singapore 437041
Tel: +65 63489227
Nearest MRT: Dakota (CC Line), Paya Lebar (EW Line, CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 11am - 10pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Dakota MRT station. Walk to bus stop at Blk 99 Old Airport Road (Stop ID 81181). Take bus no. 10, 31 and 32. Alight 2 stops later. Journey time about 6 minutes.

2) Alight at Paya Lebar MRT station. Walk to bus stop along Paya Lebar Road (Stop ID 81111). Take bus no. 43, 76 and 135. Alight 4 stops later. Journey time about 6 minutes.

Rumah Rasa @ Bay Hotel

Located at the newly opened Bay Hotel at Telok Blangah near Vivo City is Rumah Rasa, a pan-Indonesian restaurant specialising in bringing together the best flavours of the Indonesian archipelago.

Called House of Taste, Rumah Rasa is helmed by Chef Sharifah Zaharah who is armed with years of experience at the likes of SATS, Raffles Hotel and ST Regis. Her philosophy is to use fresh seasonal produce to sincerely share the beautiful flavours of Indonesian with the dining public.

Soda Gembira 4.2/5

The Soda Gembira ($6) is a freshing drink mixture of Rose Syrup, Evaporated Milk and Soda. I call this the modern version of Bandung drink. The traditional version usually turns out to be way too sweet but the soda gembira has a nice refreshing balance of sweetness.

Buah Belinjau Chips 3.8/5

While we waited for the food, we were served Buah Belinjau Chips. Belinjau is a fruit that has medical value. Accordingly to what I read on the web, it helps to reduce sugar level in the blood and helps protect the kidney. Compare to other chips, it is a rather healthy snack as no flour, preservatives or colouring is added. The buah belinjau chips has a subtle bitter taste which surprisingly was very enjoyable.

Soto Ayam Madura 3.8/5

The Soto Ayam Madura ($6) is a hearty chicken broth with shredded chicken, beansprouts and topped with a Potato Croquette. For me, the highlight was the potato croquette. The potato croquette was crisp on the outer crust and fluffy inside. The soup was tasty but I find it awkard to be served Soto Ayam as a soup on the menu. It felt like someone has stolen my noodles.

Paru Goreng 4/5

I love all sorts of innards but I have not tried Beef Lungs before. I was looking forward to the exotic Paru Goreng ($8). The thinly sliced beef lungs were fried until crispy and served with sambal petai. I am probably the only one that kept going back for more. I could have finished them with a mug of beer.

Redang Sumatra 4/5

The Redang Sumatra ($14) which was simmered in spicy coconut gravy for hours. The rich and thick gravy was a perfect camflourage for the melt in the mouth tender beef.

Ayam Korma 3.8/5

The Ayam Korma ($14) which was simmered in mild yellow curry was palatable. The chicken meat was moist and tender. I am not sure whether the gravy should be that watery but I would prefer it to be thicker.

Tahu Telur Surabaya 4.5/5

The Tahu Telur Surabaya ($8) definitely stands tall among the rest of the dishes. The tower of fried beancurd and egg combo drizzled with a sweet and spicy dark sauce disappeared within minutes. The smooth and silky beancurd definitely was the main cast of the dish. One of our blogger friends, Nat who just returned from a trip in Bali, told the chef that the Tahu Telur was as good as the one he had in Bali.

Gulai Kambing Aceh 4/5

The almost melt in the mouth tender Aceh style Mutton Stew, Gulai Kambing Aceh ($10) simmered with coconut milk and a medley of spices was indeed very good. Drenched with the gravy on the rice, it was just simply sedap.

Sayur Lodeh 4/5

Unlike the Chinese version of mixed curry vegetables where the gravy uses more coconut milk and thicker, the Sayur Lodeh ($8) is on the mild side. I actually preferred Rumah Rasa's version as it is healthier. The vegetables were also not over cooked still retaining that crunch.

Udang Petai Belado 4/5

The Udang Petai Belado ($12) uses big, succulent and fresh prawns stir-fried in chilli gravy with petai beads. Surprisingly the bitter petai beads complements the chilli gravy demonstrating the chef's vast knowlegde of flavours.

Ayam Panggang Berkakak Jakarta 4.5/5

The Ayam Panggang Berkakak Jakarta ($14), probably is the BEST grilled chicken I ever eaten. The chicken was grilled to perfection  with Rumah Rasa's homemade spicy sauce. The crisp skin had a lingering sweet taste and the chicken was tenderly yummy.

Gado Gado 4/5

The Gado Gado ($8) is a light melange of mixed vegetables, tofu and crispy emping cracker drizzled with Rumah Rasa's very own homemade spicy peanut sauce. Unlike other Gado Gado I have tried, there is a refined approach to the dish at Rumah Rasa. The plate of vegetables are delicately presented and not flooded with sauce.

Ikan Bakar Rumah Rasa 4.2/5

If you have been to Indonesian, grilled fish along the street is a common sight. At Rumah Rasa, the Ikan Baka ($28) was marinated in turmeric, topped with homemade spicy sauce and charcoal grilled to perfection.

Es Chendol 3.8/5

The Chendol ($6) served in tall glass does look elegant but I ever blogged before that I disliked Chendol to be served in glass. It is very hard to mix everything together and eat the ingredients at the bottom. Nevertheless, the chendol with its fresh coconut milk stands out for me.

Deep Fried Banana Fritters served with Vanilla Ice Cream 4.5/5

I was sceptical about the Deep Fried Banana Fritters ($8) served with Vanilla Ice Cream. I never think savoury and sweet can married together to be a dessert. I have tried deep fried banana fritters with peanut sauce and was very disappointed. Chef Sharifad's definitely has changed my opinion.

I would like to thank Dennis of Publicist PR Communications for the invitation.


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Rumah Rasa
Bay Hotel Singapore
50 Telok Blangah Road
Level 1
Singapore 098828
Tel: +65 68186681
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rumah-Rasa/244708265619255
Webiste: http://www.bayhotelsingapore.com
Nearest MRT: Harbour Front (CC Line, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 6am - 4am

Direction:
Alight at Harbour Front MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk towards traffic juction along Telok Blangah Road and Sentosa Gateway. Cross the road and walk towards Bay Hotel Singapore. Journey time about 5 minutes.