Indonesia

Jakarta

Food

Lazy Susan, made up of the duo Val Edgina and Alyandra Katya Mangkuningrat, founded Indonesian restaurant Mari Mari in Jakarta.

The motto of the restaurant is to "eat and play", a reflection of the duo's buoyant approach to the culinary arts. Described as an "Indonesian food playground", Mari Mari is a hub for key players within Jakarta's culinary industry, a space in which they can showcase their skills via guest chef menus. Aside from running Mari Mari as a restaurant, it also doubles up as a store through which Lazy Susan sell their own condiments (take, for example, their delicious gule barbeque sauce or kecombrang relish). 

Outside of Mari Mari, Lazy Susan launch their own food-based experiences which align with their ethos of seeing beyond flavours to appreciate the stories behind them.

As a pair well-versed in the culinary scene, they've decided to lend us their knowledge on were you can enjoy a hearty breakfast in Jakarta. Start your day off right, and scroll down for their selections.

Located at the parking lot of a mini market, this place serves you ketoprak – vegetables, rice cakes, tofu and rice noodle drenched with peanut sauce. To top everything, pick one: salted duck eggs, sunny side up or omelette – your choice!

This rice porridge place is located next to my past office. Whenever I needed that extra kick of carbs, I would go here before work. I also love to talk with Bang Udin, who happens to be a paralympic athlete in archery. When you eat here, don’t forget to ask for extra crackers!

A breakfast spot in the middle of Jakarta’s business district that can make you feel like you’re transported to a tranquil place with their fried chive noodles cooked in a wok, paired with fried meatballs.

In a country full of Soto, this one is a taste of Surabaya, a city in East Java that you can enjoy in Jakarta. A piping hot bowl of chicken soup filled with slices of chicken, egg, rice noodle and shreds of cabbage. Located just behind the city’s bustling business district, you will experience eating soto with office workers.

Rice cooked with coconut milk. You will be faced with an endless option of toppings. From soy-glazed tempe orek, fried omelette with green onions to potato fritters; I usually get two to three different toppings to try, but you’re more than welcome to get more!

An explosion of spice and herbs that I always crave when I need something to wake me up in the morning. It’s rice cakes poured with light vegetable curry, topped with eggs, crispy potato bits, shrimp crackers and shredded coconut. Not to mention the clam skewers that you can add as extra.

This is a quite personal spot I used to go to with my family! One of the legendary dishes originated from Solo: rice cooked with coconut milk with spicy chayote vegetables, chicken and steamed eggs served on banana leaves.

Noodles with boiled chicken. Sounds simple, but it’s always the simple things that are the most difficult. Their broth is some of the most flavourful broth I’ve ever tasted. Perfect for one of those cold and gloomy mornings.

Soto Ambengan Cak Di

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