Indo Rasa, Broadway

Ayam Bakar to rival 99.  A piece of Kingsford in Broadway.

Ayam Goreng 99, Kingsford

They may have blinged the place up a little with a fresh coat of paint, some new plastic tumblers and laminated menus, but their recipe for amazing Indonesian grilled chicken hasn’t changed one bit. Good etiquette is well forgotten during the assault on the soy sweet yet spiced flavour on the well charred poultry. KFC it ain’t… it’s better. Finger and plate licking good.


4 / 5 yums!
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Where? 464 Anzac Parade, Kingsford, NSW
What? Under $10

Pondok Buyung

Have you been a good, healthy lad this week? Done 1000 crunches and at least 40 kms on the tready? Are the arteries cruisin’ for a fat bruisin’? It’s substance, and sustenance over style at this Indonesian eatery that’s pretty ghetto. Might not look like much, but the choose your own adventure curries and other Indo goodies with rice and you’ll be seeing the place in a new light. Flavours are big and rich, and that’s where your gut will be heading if you eat here too frequently.


3 / 5 yums!
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Where? 124 Anzac Parade, Kensington, NSW
What? Under $10

Ria Sari

Ria Sari, sitting at the gutter along Barkers Road. You’ve probably driven past it dozens of times but never ever thought about it. And I don’t blame you. The shopfront is certainly not flattering, neither the aged and neglected lino, heavily utilised tables and chairs draped by faded plastic tablecloths often found at your grand’s place.

But the smells and the sight of the food from Padang (the city of West Sumatra, Indonesia) that’s richer than a Trump makes one turn a blind eye to the décor. On rice, sample the range of curried fried egg, sambal hard boiled egg, fried fish, curried beef and stewed vegetables amongst others. Not only might it clog an artery or two, it’ll also singe the tongue courtesy of the chilli and spices. Quench the thirst with what could be mistaken as tadpoles but is actually basil seeds and sugar syrup in a classic ice cream sundae glass.

Returning to Ria Sari, I wouldn’t think twice.

3 / 5 yums!
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Where? Barkers Road, Kensington, NSW
What? Under $10

Pondok Selera

Dixon Food Court, the Johnny Rotten of Chinatown food courts. It’s dark, dingy, rebellious and steadfastly refusing to conform to those around who have upgraded with the times. Though just like in Asian countries, sanitised places do not always produce the best food.

Pondok Selera quietly trades in a shoebox serving over the heated counter Indonesian/Malaysian dishes with rice for $7.50 or freshly cooked on request. Its take on the Nasi Lemak, whilst has the mandatory coconut rice, deep fried shallots, fried crunchy anchovies, sliced cucumber, hard boiled egg and a pungent sambal as condiments, the meat components leave plenty of room for improvement. The curried drumstick chicken provided appeared to be suffering from muscle atrophy, and a bit more understanding that hungry souls need more than just 1.5 bite sized piece of coconut cream heavy rendang beef.

1.5 / 5 yums!
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Where? Dixon Food Court, Hay St, Haymarket
What? Under $10

Ayam Goreng 99

Have no idea what the 99 means and don’t care. I just salivate profusely at the mere thought of eating at Ayam Goreng 99, home of Kingsford’s famous Indonesian chicken. If you’re not too bothered by your eating surrounds and where good service means getting your meal promptly, this is the place. It’s in their best interest to get it out quick, less drool to mop up later.

Offering most pleasers Indonesian, the crowds come for the meat. Clueless as Alicia Silverstone, whatever they marinade the poultry in it’s gold and a secret worth protecting. Three choices of chicken available: Bakar (grilled), Goreng (Jakata style) and Kalasan (Javanese style). I like the Bakar the best, grilled pieces of breast or thigh still on the bone retain a yellow tinge, it’s has a sweetish soy flavour but other than that, I could not describe to you how good it tastes. What I can tell you is that after my first visit, I wasn’t licking my lips because Zhang Zhi Yi was so gorgeous whilst watching Memoirs of a Geisha… that chicken is intoxicating.

An epiphany… that 99… 99 out of 100? OK that was lame. Just go and try it for yourself.

4 / 5 yums!

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Where? 464 Anzac Parade, Kingsford, NSW

What? Average Dish - $6

Left to Right : Gado Gado, Bakar Dada (Breast), Grilled Beef