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. 

TAMOYA UDON JAKARTA INDONESIA

Hello! 

Let me start my writings by sharing two of my September's highlight so far. First, Auntie's Anne will open an outlet at Emporium Pluit Mall, so close to where I stay which means I'll be seeing my all time favorite cinnamon pretzel more often. Yay! 

YA HUA BAK KUT TEH Indonesia

If North side has been spoiled with two Bak Kut Teh brands from Singapore, now it's time for the West side to be happy about another bak kut teh invader also from Spore. YA HUA, established since 1973 with two branches in Spore has open their first store at Mall Taman Anggrek, taking the former spot of Honeymoon Dessert.
**update: Ya Hua has opened their second branch at Baywalk Mall Pluit. 

[CLOSED] SOON HUAT BAK KUT TEH Indonesia

Welcoming another bak kut teh from Singapore, meet Soon Huat Bak Kut Teh. The recently opened store at Pluit Raya not too far from Garuda restaurant is the first ever branch outside Singapore. Having to stay in a city with not so much options to go for Bak Kut Teh, I am happy to find another good place in town.

Mokka Coffee Cabana Pluit Village

 
If you are one of the Northerners, PIK - Pluit - Muara Karang to be exact, you would know that Muara Karang street has been crazy for the past few months due to a bridge construction which no one knows how long it would take to be done. It's so frustrating! The traffic and the headache cause I need to think of an alternate route everytime I want to pass the area, it's like every week there's a new route being shut temporary without proper notice in advance. But at least, on the bright side... The whole re-route thing gotten me to know this newest coffee shop in town. 

[CLOSED] Hokkaido Fish Market Muara Karang Jakarta

Muara Karang is one of THE food destination in North, especially for people who live nearby the area. However, the place mostly crowded with Medanese or Chinese cuisine, so when Hokkaido fish market open its door, it definitely took people's attention. If you ever go to the one in Novena Square Singapore, yes, this one is the same.

Kedai Ribs by Nasi Campur Putri Kenanga

They were considerably numbers of new restaurants open at Baywalk Mall and one of them was this ribs specialty by the famous Nasi Campur Putri Kenanga. Just like most of other restaurants at Baywalk, they too have outdoor dining area to enjoy the sea view, though it was dark at night and practically nothing to see.

Sushi Masa Muara Baru Jakarta

Lately, foodie enthusiastic, especially who stays at North has been hearing news about a so called mysterious sushi place opens at a secluded area somewhere in Muara Baru. For those who never heard of Muara Baru, the neighborhood mostly known for its port activities including fish shelter and warehouse complex. In conclusion, not a place to expect a sushi place or even any kinds of restaurants to open.

HOLDAK Crispy Chicken

The crispy chicken from Busan is in town!

I was on my way to my friend's house when I saw the banner on the opening of Holdak in front of Pluit Village. Couldn't resist the urge on making a turn into the mall, I texted my friend to tell her that I will be late for half an hour. Yes, I do admit I have a serious sickness when it comes to trying new food place. *rolling eyes*

HOT STAR Large Fried Chicken

Hot Star large fried chicken, one of the most popular night market snack in Taiwan is finally here. After having only Shilin for years, I was ecstatic in welcoming them.

[CLOSED] Little Taiwan

Many things can be done to ease the stress. One of my way is by having my own "me time". I love having a me time. Go anywhere I want, sleep all day, eat anywhere I want, anything I want to do just by my self. One of "me time" moment I enjoy is to go by my self to mall and just wandering around without a purpose. Some of my friends think it was weird to go eat or walk around alone, but I personally find it relaxing.

Depot 3.6.9

I once went to Depot 3.6.9 with my mom for their dumplings and find it quite delicious, so some time ago when they were having voucher promo at Disdus, I bought the voucher without any hesitation. My bad was that I used my voucher on the last day of the expiry date which I shouldn't have remembering what kind of service I got from my previous "close to expiry date voucher's" experience.

Incognito

Incognito is an Italian bistro which located at the ground level of Emporium Pluit, shared a connected spot with Han Gang and White Hunter. I have passed this place several times but never really interested in trying them until one day, I was meeting one of my good friend who I know is a fan of creamy pasta, so we decided to have an early dinner there.

Cha Cha Bubble Tea

Spotted another new bubble tea originated from the bubble tea country, Taiwan. Located at the 4th floor of Pluit Village next to Shilin. I love what they did with the menu board, it was sketchy and colorful to look at. They have selections of fresh tea, milk tea, fresh milk and ice blended with various unique flavor that I haven't found in other bubble tea's brand such as Irish cream, butterscotch, creme brulee, tiramisu and marshmallow. I was going to try one of the unique one's when I saw they also have one of my favorite tea flavor which is rose, so for my first attempt I tried Rose black tea with pop passion fruit boba (21k) and my friend chose Oolong milk tea with egg pudding (21k). 

Crown Palace

About two months ago, lines of board flowers outside Pluit Junction caught my attention. The mall had been a solitude place for quite some time. Most of food tenants in the mall were closing down, so I was surprise to see a Chinese restaurant recently opened there. 

Couple weeks ago, after the very very very unpleasant breakfast at Lei Garden (will post soon, so lazy to have to write about an awful food experience), my mom and I went to Crown Palace on our way back home. It was not  lunch time so the place was almost empty. They occupied two places, upper floor took place of the former Cuisine Cuisine was meant for ala carte formal lunch or dinner, meanwhile the one at the ground floor took place of the former Mame Sushi meant for much simpler food, serving dimsum, xiao long bao, lamian and rice/ noodle set. 

Hong Tang (Sweet Poetry)

 

Anyone into Ice Kachang? 

Actually they not only serve ice kachang, Sweet Poetry is more about Chinese traditional desserts. They used to have Hong Kong's fruit desserts such as the famous Mango Sago, but nowadays they're back to having only traditional Chinese dessert, Tong Shui (soup base). 

Besides traditional Tong Shui like almond soup, black sesame soup, they also have types of soup base from green beans, grass jelly and Q ball (salak seeds). It was a bit confusing for a first timer like me as the menu comes with many selections, and the waiter was not really mastering the menu, if I may say. When I asked for recommendation, all he did was repeating what had been stated in it. At the end, out of confusion, we randomly picked red bean + peanuts + pearl in green beans soup base (18k) and yam + barley + mochi in grass jelly soup base (18k).

Bakmi Coboy

Several months ago in one Saturday morning, I picked up my friend in her house. My friend's house was located inside the Pluit Sakti complex and entering the complex there were security post where they will handed us an entrance card. Being located in quite secure complex, I found it a little bit strange passing by a noodle seller (street cart vendor type) inside the neighborhood, and it was crowded. Lots of cars parked around the cart, and as it was a street vendor with only 2 small tables, I saw the customers bringing the bowl to be eaten at their cars. At that time, I was thinking I have to give it a try. I did, several morning ago.

I went with my husband around 8 something on Sunday morning, and again the place was full. The owner was a quite elder man, it was really a typical street cart noodle vendor. I saw they used a look like abandoned empty house across to put few tables in the yard. I asked the owner what did he sell, he told me he only have one type of chicken noodle (10k) with no other options, so we ordered two bowls. While waiting for our noodle, I saw there was a plastic container filled with fried meatballs (6k). We took 3 pcs and it was surprisingly yum, no smell of rancid from the cooking oil. 

The noodle came, again to emphasize it was literally very standard typical noodle with minced soy sauce chicken in the top. The taste was not bad, but just so so & nothing special. Looking at the crowd, I can only say some place really must have a good feng shui.

Bakmi Coboy

Street vendor Inside complex Pluit Sakti 

North Jakarta

[CLOSED] Revisited: Taiyo Sushi

Ever since my first visit to Taiyo, I have been wanting to pay a second visit as it was a love & hate first visit. Lovin' the sushi but hatin' the service. When one of my favorite web, Disdus.com features promo from Taiyo Sushi, I immediately bought the vouchers.

Tonight I went there with my husband. I bought 2 vouchers at that time with the promo package of 1 Special sushi roll + 1 tempura selection worth 48k. The waiter passed us a small paper with a list of sushi & tempura selections to be chose for our vouchers, as we have 2 vouchers so we can choose 2 types of sushi rolls and 2 tempura selections. We went with Taiyo special roll (53k), Spicy mozarella salmon (53k), Yasai tempura (32k) and Karaage (32k). For the non vouchers selections, we added a plate of Salmon sashimi (32k) and Salmon mentai (17k). After we finished ordering, I just realized we chose a bunch of salmon.

Taiyo Special Roll (Salmon, kyuri, crunchy topped with aburi salmon)

Spicy Mozarella Salmon (Mozarella cheese topped with aburi salmon)

Yasai Tempura (mixed vegetable tempura served with tempura sauce)

Salmon Sashimi

I think it was a very good deal from Disdus as the actual price of our package worth 85k, so 40% off as I only paid 48k. The portion was huge and we found all the food was delicious and fresh. My favorite was the Yasai tempura, it came in big portions, nicely fried and very attractive presentation. 

My second visit was meant for me to edify whether it was a love or hate against Taiyo. It was love. The service was flawless tonight and so was the food. Nicely improve since my first visit which happen to be only on their second day of opening at that time. 

Taiyo Sushi

Jl. Pluit Putera Raya No. 17
North Jakarta
Ph. +6221 6631652

Come Buy

Another new bubble drink in town. It was until my 3rd time that I finally can taste this new bubble tea drink located in 2nd floor of Emporium Pluit, as there were always so many people queuing. They have 2 sizes medium and large. I chose 3Q Passion Blast which was passion fruit tea with 3 different kinds of toppings, bubble, jelly & aloe (22k) and my friend chose Bubble milk tea (20k). It was very cheap considering the large size were quite big.

I found my passion blast very refreshing and has the right amount of sweet sourness. Love it and will be come back soon! 

I'm not sure whether it was originally from Taiwan as the queuing line were quite long so I didn't have the chance to ask, but when I went to Macao recently, I saw several Come Buy outlets there. 

Come Buy 

Emporium Pluit Mall Level 2

(In front of Paper Clip)

Jl. Pluit Selatan Raya
North Jakarta

Other branch: Pacific Place, Kota Kasablanka, Central Park

Bakmi Tan

One morning, me and hubby were craving for a nice noodle breakfast. We were thinking to go for the safe road... You know the old time favorite where we know it will never disappoint us, Bakmi Aloi. But I remember I crossed something new when I was driving around Pluit, so we drove there and turns out it was not something new but at least it was new to us as we haven't tried it before. Bakmi Tan was a branch from the popular one in Mangga Besar, and the one in Pluit Karang was a branch moved from Pantai Mutiara. It located just a few ruko away from Bakmi Babat Senen. 

As we stepped in, the place was almost empty with only 1 table occupied. We ordered two portions of noodle (20k) and 1 portion of beef meatball. The noodle came and it had quite generous amount of chicken chunks on the top along with dumpling crackers. I was relief that the noodle was thick and firm, it was quite good although I didn't find anything special to make me itch for a second crave. 

 

Bakmi Tan

Jl. Pluit Karang Utara 

(Next to Bank DKI, in line with Bapau A1)

North Jakarta