Martabak Favourite has ruled East Jakarta for almost three decades as everybody’s favorite sweet martabak. The Foodie Magazine sought them out to find out really how good they are.

I have to admit that it’s pretty unusual for the eastern part of Jakarta to get the spotlight for interesting places to eat. Even in a food guide I acquired recently, the pages for East Jakarta are no match when compared to other more familiar parts of the city. To tell you the truth, this side of Jakarta has so many hidden gems waiting to be discovered and if time allows, The Foodie Magazine will unearth these in upcoming issues.

Back to the real story, the all-day vibrant Jalan Balai Pustaka is a den for foodies to explore – from hawkers, restaurants, cafés and even a bustling supermarket for affordable groceries. It’s hard to talk about the famous Indonesian pancake when it comes to Jalan Balai Pustaka as Martabak Favourite rises above everybody else with its food truck appearance and a legacy that has lasted for around 30 years.

This family business is now being run by the second generation. Yudi’s father created an excellent recipe for the martabak dough and has since been well-loved by people from around this area. The strange thing about martabak is that often we see random stalls poured so many chocolate sprinkles or cheese on top of their martabak but that doesn’t mean that you’re going to get what you expect. Decadent yes, but delicious? Not always! The key lies in the dough recipe and Martabak Favourite does a fantastic job with that.

Martabak Favourite keeps its martabak size relatively compact but somehow, more affordable. After the dough is cooked properly, it is sent off to the serving station right on the food truck, then the rest of the crew, including Yudi or his wife, will shower the pancake generously with rich Wysman butter and toppings such as chocolate sprinkles, crushed peanuts or cheddar cheese.

While the topping selections may seem classic if compared to those who already leveled up the ante in order to renew public interest over this iconic evening snack, Martabak Favourite still retains a huge number of followers and they even recommend everyone to book their martabak first before coming in straight or risk themselves waiting in the queue.

The owners of Martabak Favourite see diversification as a way to expand their business. Just nearby the already famous food truck, they have a bubur ayam and nasi goreng stall and a savory martabak stall just across the street. If you have made it all this way to East Jakarta, you definitely can’t just leave without tasting their delicious creations.

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MARTABAK FAVOURITE
Halal-friendly
Unsuitable for vegetarians

Address: Jalan Balai Pustaka Timur (in front of Lada Motor), Jakarta – Indonesia
Tel: +62.816.1922.336

Opening hours: Everyday, 5pm – midnight

Spend: IDR 40,000 – IDR 60,000 / martabak

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Featured in THE FOODIE MAGAZINE April 2014 edition

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