Who’s here not a fan of pempek?
I bet that only a few of you who are not, or perhaps you are not Indonesian. Well, the famed fried fishcakes from Palembang may look so simple from above. It looks like ‘fish battered to death’ if quoting Samuel Jackson from The 50th State and showered with a cold, dark soup. The only colorful thing about it are the diced cucumbers. So what’s so good about it you may ask.
Well, this is where the quote “Don’t judge a book by its cover” works.
A good pempek requires not just a good quality mackerel and how to concoct a well-balanced vinegar dressing. These beautiful creations actually need also an adept handmade skills. Check out the Instagram account of Mr William Wongso quite recently about a lady who puts the duck’s egg yolk into the batter. She did so skilfully and I can already imagine how intriguing it would be after they fry it.
Anyway, I have not yet discovered a lot from Jakarta sadly about its pempek scene but for several times now I have been a loyal customer to Pempek G Putra in Kemayoran.
The variants there are so rich starting from the usual like kapal selam, lenggang, or bulat. But they are also adding other ingredients such as sausage, seaweed, and shrimps into the batter and there are unseen forms before in my entire life having pempek.
The taste is also awesome. The vinegar dressing is what I would call as a harmony between spiciness and sweetness. The ‘battered fish’ are fulfilling, tastes a lot like fish (unlike the cheaper version on the streets), and came in an affordable price as well.
So if you are looking for a good start in Jakarta with pempek, try the one here. Let’s see if you can dispute Pempek G Putra with your preferred place to eat.
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PEMPEK G PUTRA
Halal-friendly
Unsuitable for vegetarians
Address:
Jalan Garuda no. 57A, Jakarta – Indonesia
Opening hours:
Daily, 9am – 9.30pm
Spend: IDR 25,000 – IDR 50,000 / person
RIAN FARISA 
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