It seems pretty hard and quite tacky finding a proper place to eat pempek in Jakarta which has the best taste of pempek and cuko. So, today I had the urge to eat those gorgeous food, and my sister just told me that Sari Sanjaya Apy Plaju is one of the best restaurant which claim to be pempek specialist. I still wondering if this restaurant is the branch which originated from Palembang, because if they do, well it's a good news for Jakartans who used to be living in Palembang. Nuff said.
Before I am starting this review, excuse me for being detail for every part of this restaurant, cause yeah I am being sceptical for every chain outside Palembang that serve pempek or other Palembangnese food. The location is not so hard to find, right after the traffic light of Lotte Shopping Avenue, Kuningan directed. The parking lot is spacious enough and they shared the same building with that infamous Ayam Taliwang Bersaudara.
- Pempek Kapal Selam
The portion is quite small compared to its price, but I could feel the taste of fish itself in there, it fried deep causing the outer layer is a little bit crisp yet not too dry. The taste is juicy and when I slurped down the cuko, well I gotta say it is the best cuko I've ever slurp in Jakarta, almost near the original one from Palembang. But I have to say that it slightly missed the spiciness, maybe they already suit it to the Jakartans' preferrences. I love how they put slices of cucumber in the cuko, it might seems a little bit unimportant, but for me I hail and appreciate the existence of it and the freshness that come out, because somehow it gives a crunchy texture to the dish.
- Rujak Mie
I were so glad knowing that Sari Sanjaya offer Rujak Mie from one of their menu. Rujak Mie is a kind of dish that consists of long-and-thick noodle, bean sprout, and slices of pempek, poured with cuko and cuts of cucumber on top of it. I also love this one, and they sprinkled ebi that enriched and worked well along with the taste of Rujak Mie. The portion is worth the price.
- Pempek Kulit, Pempek Adaan, Pempek Telur Kecil
Among these three kind, I adore the kulit one! I hail the crispy texture of it, I just hardly stopped consume it. The price (7.5K for each) maybe is higher from another chain, but it is worth it since the portion is also twice bigger from the usual that you normally find.
Actually, I wanted to try their Tekwan and also Es Kacang Merah, but my tummy couldn't accept anymore. I also am wondering how they sell the Martabak HAR since I know it is so hard to make the same way like the original one from Palembang, and its taste is way different from the savoury martabak that often sell in here. Let's finding about it on my next coming. For those of you who want to eat a heavier course, no need to worry cause they have a quite wide variety of main courses, such as Pindang Patin, Pindang Iga, and other dish that loaded up with carbs from rice.
On every table, there are two kinds of sambal for otak otak: sambal kacang and sambal merah. I gave it a try and I like the red one because it is well suited with the juicy taste of otak otak. When I initiatively tried mixing sambal merah with cuko, I were surprised how the taste of it were better than before. Well, you gotta try it too.
For the service, I have to say that they are quite slow, even when my coming it was not that packed. When I ordered again for the additional pempek, I had to ask them twice and waited about 30 mins for it is served in front of me. I also ordered hot bland tea, but turned out they gave me the sweet one. But I appreciate their attitude cause they admitted the mistakes and said sorry when they came to my table.
The restaurant is a family kind of place completed with air conditioner that doesn't allow the smokers to misbehave. Besides that, they also sell kerupuk, kemplang, and getas in a rack for you to take home or either snacking right in the place.
Would I come back? Definitely yes