MADAGASKAR PLAZA SENAYAN JAKARTA

Madagaskar is a newly opened restaurant in Plaza Senayan with a unique concept. Their customer target obviously are family with kids, seeing from the "kids friendly" design. The whole idea is turning an imitation of tropical jungle with replicas of animal creatures, trees and plants to look like a restaurant inside a forest. The moment you stepped inside, you would find their souvenir store with mostly stuffed animals for sale, and walk further inside is the restaurant with a very dark lighting. I never really like a restaurant with dimmed lighting, especially a family restaurant type, but I think the lighting has something to do with the whole jungle theme. 

HAWKER CHAN PIK JAKARTA

Brought by the same group behind Tim Ho Wan Indonesia, Hawker Chan opens its first international branch in Jakarta. Two restaurants both are popular with "The world's cheapest Michelin starred restaurant" under the same roof. If you haven't know already, Hawker Chan is a hawker stall in Singapore specialized in soya chicken who in the past year becoming well known after gaining the Michelin star.   

CABE IJO PIK JAKARTA

Residents of PIK, be happy, now you can get your seafood craving fixed just nearby! Cabe Ijo is not a new name in the seafood department. The restaurant has been established for years and even going strong with their new outlets in Pluit and PIK. If you know Shirayuki desserts, they are located in the same location. Double happy news, as you can satisfy both your seafood and dessert cravings. *wink*

Ivy's Travel: Summer in Japan Diary {Part III}

Summer in Japan Diary Part I can be read here.
Summer in Japan Diary Part II can be read here.
 

DAY 3 - UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN - KAITEN BELT SUSHI DOTONBURI - DARUMA KUSHIKATSU 

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN 

Ivy's Travel: Summer in Japan Diary {Part II}

Previous post of Summer in Japan Diary {Part I} can be read here. 

DAY 2 - HOZENJI YOKOCHO - KUROMON MARKET - AQUARIUM KAIYUKAN - SHINSEKAI - TSUKENKAKU TOWER - TENJIMBASHISUJI SHOPPING STREET - YAYOIKEN - MIZUNO OKONOMIYAKI - EBIBASHISUJI

HOZENJI YOKOCHO

5 mins walk from Namba Station exit 14

Hozenji Yokocho is one of my personal favorite. The temple with quaint narrow alley located at the busy Minami area take you back to the olden days of Osaka. Can't believe this place located just few blocks away from the vibrant Dotonburi. You can really feel the strong Japanese culture in this place. Rows of small authentic Japanese restaurants are along the alley. We went here early morning before our trip to Kuromon market so the shops are all closed, they only open around late afternoon and sadly we didn't have time to come back later that day, even though our hotel just 10 minutes walk away. Seriously, we loved how Cross Hotel is so conveniently located. The famous Hozenji Sanpei Okonomiyaki and Daruma Kushikatsu can also be found here.

Ivy's Travel: Summer in Japan Diary {Part I}

 

Hello! Welcome to my Summer in Japan travel diary!

To most people, summer might not be the best season to visit Japan. We know that the peak times to visit are in spring and autumn, but we had our reasons. The very first one is that when it comes to traveling, Hubs doesn't have a flexible schedule. We own a humble business and though it can be managed without having him there everyday, He always there. He's a workaholic and I love that about him. My parents are both workaholic too, we have our small family business, so since my childhood, I am used to the idea of having long holiday only on Idul Fitri or new year where here in my hometown, most business will closed for a period of week or two.

Ivy's Travel: Christmas in Bangkok Diary {Part II}

Ivy's Travel: Christmas in Bangkok Diary {Part I} can be read here. 

Ivy's Travel: Christmas in Bangkok Diary {Part I}

Another Bangkok travel diary, this time on Christmas. Obviously, we didn't plan to go to Bangkok to celebrate Christmas since it isn't the best city for it. The majority religion in Bangkok is Buddhism, so you hardly see any big celebrations nor Christmas decorations here. 

To cut straight to the story, we spent 6 days in the city and again, we stayed at our favorite hotel in Bangkok, Amari Watergate Hotel. I'm not going to talk much on this as I've covered on why we love this hotel on my previous Bangkok trip. But to say it again, if you like street food and shopping, Pratunam is the best area to stay in Bangkok, and Amari Hotel is the best one to stay, good accommodation with great location. 

BO & BUN PIK JAKARTA

With Jakarta has been raining almost everyday lately, it is comforting to find another Vietnamese restaurant open at PIK. Bo & Bun is a franchise of the one in Bali, specializes in Vietnamese food located in a row with Chir Chir and Sushi Hiro. 

SUPER LOCO PACIFIC PLACE JAKARTA

It always excites me whenever a new restaurant opened by a qualified F&B group, it means, at least I can partly have my high hopes upfront. Even though, things like that can't always be certain. Super Loco is a Mexican restaurant and bar managed by Union group and Singapore's Loco group.

CENTRAL PERK SINGAPORE

People who grew up watching FRIENDS series would definitely feel so psyched with the opening of Central Perk cafe in Singapore. And by people, I mean me! I am definitely one of FRIENDS' biggest fan. My college years were filled with watching this series, and I was practically in bed with Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Ross, Joey and Chandler. When the series ended on their 10th season, it didn't stop me from watching them. I have been rewatching the series for more than 50 times, I kid you not. For me, it is and will forever remain as my favorite and the best series ever made. 

Eight Treasures Plaza Indonesia Jakarta

Hello 2017!

Marking my first post in 2017 is this currently trending steamboat in Plaza Indonesia. Now, when I went there for our Saturday date last week, I uploaded them on Insta story and some of you leave me messages confusing on the location.

Ivy's Travel: Snacks To Buy in Japan

Since I am still working through hundreds of pictures from my Japan trip, let's start with something less editing stressful. I bought quite many snacks to bring home though of course, there are many many other snacks that I didn't buy. I'm going to show you only what snacks I bought, where to buy and whether they are recommended or not. And no, I'm not crazy, most of them were for my family, my nieces, nephews and friends, they were not all for me. 

Ivy's Travel: Singapore Food Diary IV

A short post on what we ate during our last SG trip. Don't expect any trending cafes since we didn't go to any. It's funny how I changed so much now that I'm not really into the rapidly growth food scenes. Normally my trip to SG won't be complete without visiting few of the trending spots, but now I am more into locals and food that I do enjoy rather than wasting my tummy space for fancy cafes' typical food, not that I won't be going there for good, it just won't be my priority anymore. 

BISTECCA JAKARTA

How anything under Union group never failed my taste buds. I was here at Bistecca last weekend with my girlfriends, in need of good food and we got them. Bistecca is located in the same building as the other establishment of Union group, The Dutch. As soon as we stepped inside, the design immediately reminded me of Union group's signature concept. Except for Casa, I personally always feels every restaurants under the group has similar vibes and ambiance, that New York pub style classic. 

IZAKAYA KAI PLUIT JAKARTA

As picky as I am lately with trying on new restaurants, I can't hold my excitement to try Izakaya KAI as soon as possible, with three main reasons, first, it serves Japanese, my favorite cuisine. Second, it is the brainchild from the talented Chef Adhika Maxi and his gorgeous wife, Chef Karen Carlotta, and they teamed up with Tempura Master Chef Hitoshi Kimura. Third, it nestles in my neighborhood. Yes, Northerners, you heard it right. 

HOOLALA CHICKEN GANDARIA CITY JAKARTA

When it comes to fried chicken, personally I am always leaning towards more to Korean type of fried chicken rather than American. I won't say no to KFC or McDonalds, I mean, who would? I'm just saying that in terms of personal choice, I like the Korean way better when it comes to fried chicken as they can make it less greasy and oily.

LARB THAI PIK JAKARTA

And yes, yet another newly opened restaurant at none other than Pantai Indah Kapuk. With countless restaurants keep on opening here, PIK has confirming its stand as one of the frontliner in the neighborhood filled with cafes, restaurants, and nowadays, coffee shops.
 
Thai food has always been one of my favorite cuisine, so to find Larb that focusing on bringing authentic Thai certainly excites me. Larb located at the same row as Saine Daise and Bienvenue. The restaurant occupies only one ruko with a standard family restaurant interior.

THE KINGDOM BUFFET & SHABU SHABU PIK JAKARTA

As it's approaching end of July, I can safely say that this place is my best find of the month. The perfect example to not judge first before you try. Honestly, I have probably the lowest expectation on this place. Though the restaurant looks all grand and nice from the outside, I somehow kept them off my list and didn't really excited to try, until earlier today, I was meeting my girls for lunch and there were 3 of us, perfect for the "Buy 2 get 3" promo that The Kingdom currently have.

KILA KILA by AKASYA JAKARTA

So how's everyone holiday? :) If you've been following me on snapchat or instagram, I have just got back from my holiday trip and going to write my travel diary series soon. But for now, let's share some thoughts on one of the newly opened restaurant in town, shall we?