Nasi gule is big in Blok M, but nobody knows that Pak Lasimin is among the pioneers of this comfort food in Jakarta. That’s why I’m tagging you along for a good breakfast at his place.

The neighborhoods around Blok M and Kebayoran Baru have some of their best places to eat hidden from the main streets. It’s not that they are elusive or even exclusive – since many of them are openly visible like the hawkers behind Masjid Al Azhar for example, but there are those that require a bit of effort with all the searching and further appreciations.

Nasi gule is rather ubiquitous in Jakarta, albeit not as obvious as ketoprak, mie ayam, or bakso. The easiest find is at Jalan Mahakam itself at night until dawn where there are so many of them there. However, there are only a few which are available during daylight there or at neighboring vicinities.

One of the best belongs to Pak Lasimin on Jalan Lamandau, just behind the Gran Mahakam Hotel. As you enter the street, Pak Lasimin’s pushcart is already there at the intersection since as early as 7am until late in the afternoon.

Like any typical Solo’s nasi gule, a great claypot is filled with all the curry and meat. Pak Lasimin’s version includes also tempe and the offals. My choice was only the meat and despite coming from secondary cuts, Pak Lasimin cooks it thoroughly so you won’t be doing a lot of chewing. With his uber-rich broth, a bit of sambal and kecap manis, and some crackers; I never hesitate to have my seconds while here.

One after one customer visits his place and enjoys the breakfast. It is quite unbelievable that even if Pak Lasimin’s pushcart is somehow hidden like this, people from different backgrounds actually came by to have his superb nasi gule. Assisted by two helpers, Pak Lasimin operates his business efficiently and not forgetting to show his smiles to the patrons as well.

“I started selling nasi gule since 1978 at the Blok M bus terminal. There weren’t so many of us back then, but look at now at night! I decided to move here since 1995 and I am thankful that the home owners here allow me to open my business”, explains Pak Lasimin.

Curious at why that some nasi gule hawkers operate since the morning, Pak Lasimin actually has a really good answer for that. He says laughingly, “At night, I couldn’t stand getting sleepy!”

Well, now it’s almost time to have my third serving. Should I or should I not?

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NASI GULE PAK LASIMIN
Halal-friendly
Unsuitable for vegetarians

Address:
Jalan Lamandau (on the intersection), Jakarta – Indonesia

Opening hours: Daily, 7am – 3pm

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Featured in FOODIES Mar 2016 edition

Nasi bebek is ubiquitous in Jakarta, but among them, few became my personal favorite. This time, let’s travel to the eastern part of Jakarta for a showdown with Ibu Hamidah’s finest!

Following the trails of good food can lead you anywhere unexpected, especially with street food. Unbeknownst to many; wonderful street food can be elusive as they may appear during odd hours, tucked inside a residential area, hidden among the tenants of a chaotic traditional market, or even playing hard to get by moving around frequently.

This time, we would like to dedicate it for nasi bebek khas Madura. Originated from the island off coast of Surabaya, the people of Madura have been migrating to many places in Indonesia and drawing their fortunes from ironworks and food businesses. The latter especially has a special place in the heart of many Jakartans with the appearance of nasi bebek around the city, mostly at night.

Ibu Hamidah’s nasi bebek came from a very well-thought recipe. Firstly, it was all about the marination process and Ibu Hamidah successfully brings the flavors all inside. It was already good as it is even without any dipping sauce or other forms of accompaniments – other than good old fashioned warm and fluffy rice with serundeng on top of it.

Not just that, the duck came in very crispy and in larger size, which really worked so well for any big eaters. What’s also deeply loved by her nasi bebek fans is definitely the super fiery sambal. Savoring the duck profoundly and getting myself caught with pouring sweat actually reminds me of what Anthony Bourdain used to say, “I’m sweaty, but I’m happy!”

By serving duck, chicken, and cat fish all at once already qualifies her as an ambitious street food owner. However upon witnessing a lot of patrons coming by, that certainly means that there’s more to it than just mere looks from this humble vendor.

Be sure to drop by at Ibu Hamidah’s wonderful nasi bebek if you happen to be around Halim Perdanakusuma Airport. A bit of detour to the Pasar Mini Indah inside the residential area would reward you with an excellent and fulfilling lunch, more than you can imagined.

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NASI BEBEK KHAS MADURA BU HAMIDAH
Halal-friendly
Unsuitable for vegetarians

Address:
Pasar Mini Indah – Puskopau Lanud Halim Perdanakusuma, Jalan Maphilindo, Jakarta – Indonesia

Opening hours: Daily, 8am – 8pm

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Featured in FOODIES Mar 2016 edition