JAKARTA EATS: Pork Tourism in North Jakarta

While we were based in Jakarta, TD coined the term “pork tourism”, because when we were deprived of pork in mostly Muslim Jakarta,  we realised how much we loved and ate pork. When we would go on trips to Bali and Medan where there are many Hindus and Buddhist/Christians respectively, we went on Pork Tourism mode, where we would search for the best pork in the city. So here we are being pork tourists in North Jakarta!

This has to be one of my most unforgettable foodie experiences in Jakarta. And how perfect is it that we experienced it with the owners of the ultimate shop for people who like to cook, Pantry Magic Jakarta?

The first restaurant, Sky, was my favorite. I don’t know if it was because we were just starving, but the flat noodles and the 2 kinds of pork  were just to-die-for YUM!

Don’t forget to season the noodles with the different sauces. In Bakmie Keriting Siantar 19, we had really yummy noodle that came with a side of soup. It’s up to you if you want to pour the soup in or eat it separately. This reminded me of the days when my lolo (grandpa) would take us to Ma Mon Luk where the stinky noodles when cooked in the soup were just SO good! Local juices that i’ve never had before.Next up was iced coffee (reminds me of our favorite Vietnamese iced coffee) in this eatery that has a picture of quirky-posing owners. LOL! While enjoying coffee we enjoyed this delicious Nasi Kucing from this stall.

I had to ask, is it made of cat? Because “kucing” is Bahasa Indonesian for cat haha. And Rianto and Cindy explained that it was called cat rice because of the portion size.

Nasi kucing ([ˈnasi ˈkutʃɪŋ]; also known as sego kucing^[1] and often translated cat rice^[2] or cat’s rice) is an Indonesian rice dish that originated from Yogyakarta, Semarang, and Surakarta but has since spread. It consists of a small portion of rice with toppings, usually sambal, dried fish, and tempeh, wrapped in banana leaves.

We were already rolling after all the food, but as true foodies, we persisted. Since TD loves duck we had to try the famous Aeng Bihin Bebek!

Last but not the least was the famous Roast Pork at ATEK.

Roast Pork

Babi Merah

 

One thing to note in this place is that they sell really yummy chicharon (pork skin crackling)! I also enjoyed this tangy juice made with a fruit, whose name I forgot. (I am so bad with fruits. I think all I know is mango really haha!)For expats in Jakarta  who are adventurous foodies and love pork, I would definitely recommend a food trip up North. The places we went to, though not upscale restaurants were clean, and we didn’t get any tummy bugs, I promise! I am sure there are many other places that we didn’t get to go to. It is great to go with a local because the tidbits of information that they give is priceless.

Thanks so much Rianto and Cindy. This was an experience of Jakarta that TD and I will always remember and treasure. I don’t think we’ve ever eaten so much in our lives!

 

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