The Amerikana Diner and DIve - PIK

Whatsup! 

I have to admit I am quite a picky brunch eater and I definitely have a hard time looking for a good one here in Jakarta (I have tasted awesomeness over the years and mostly outside Indonesia). Seemingly my favorite area for the past few months I was back in Pantai Indah Kapuk area in search for a good brunch place.

My eyes transfixed to a new café named ‘Amerikana, diner and dive’, the façade was very minimal with a prominent signage that screams ‘we are serving American food, hence the name and as stated, a diner and a dive bar’ and I decided to stop by with finger crossed that I might find some good western food inside.

Located on the same row as Market City and Holy Cow, this café looks straight to the point; it stripped off of any detailed facade and only concentrated on the signage. The interior is black and white dominated décor and yellow lighting gives off a moody ambience (never good for foodie with camera, it could resulted in very dark and yellowish picture)

The signage might say diner but I feel like the place is more towards a sports bar than a family friendly diner I would typically find in America. A bar defines the space with multiple screens around the café that shows sport games that encourages crowds to stay in to watch their favorite match with booze in their hands (or not) and smoke (or not). A friendly reminder that this place doesn’t seem to be kid friendly as the border of smoking or non-smoking area is literally just a foot step away. 

introducing @erikzyy

I was pleasantly surprised by the all day brunch (yay for me!) and other dishes; from Appetizer, Main courses, spaghettis and burgers. FYI: The café is having 50% off on the burgers, drinks such as the smoothies, milk shakes and the alcoholic beverages.

Here comes the Menu!

The Notorius B.I.G breakfast

(consists of two buttermilk pancake, two any styled egg, a sliced of grilled pork/beef ham, two pork/beef bacon strips, choice of potatoes, choice of breads)

Is a very simple menu, I can actually cook it at home myself, yet I was taken back on how deliciously special it was. The portion was epically humongous (very American sized) and even for a big guy myself I only could finish 80% of that dish. Every single bite was delicious; it was not too oily and tasty. A little bit of improvement could be done on the butter for the toast; I would love to have regular salted or unsalted butter to go with it.

The Platter Appetizer Sampler

(consist of traditional buffalo wings, fries, cheddar bites, and chicken tender)

All fried food in one plate (or should I say sinfully comfort food?) and it is the perfect dish to accompany those meandering chitchats or while watching that endearing match waiting for that goal. The cheddar bites were a little bit disappointing, I could barely taste the cheesiness on any bites and more variety of sauces would have been perfect for this dish.

Mac n Cheese

It only comes in Macaroni and cheese like the name but you can add chicken for extra 10K or beef for 15K. It was an ok dish for me as it was a tad too dry for my liking and I would ask for more cheese if do make a second comeback.

All in all I quite like the place, it has a decent American brunch and every plates were sure instagenic for pictures. I would still not going to acknowledge the place as a diner and more of a sports bar (or dive bar?) and I will sure keep in mind when my favorite match come up and in need of a place to hang out.

The Amerikana

Gold Coast Blok B no 12&15

Pantai Indah Kapuk

Jakarta Utara 14470

Ph                : 0811159887

Opening      : Sunday-Thursday  10.00 AM- 00.00 AM

                       Friday – Saturday 10.00 AM- 02.00 AM

IG                : @theamerikana

Follow my Instagram @whats_up_jakarta for more updates

Outstanding lunch at Nanyang Restaurant PIK

Whatsup!

It has been many moons since my last hang out at the Pantai Indah Kapuk area and major changes have occurred ever since. Many cafes and restaurants had closed down when the ever-increasing rental space fee had skyrocketed beyond reason that resulted many café owners decided to shut down instead of renewing their rent. However, fret not, for those that survive the high rent fee or found a good deal on their rental spaces, new ones sprouts up and take over the old cafes and restaurants. 

A new restaurant that peak my interest bears the name ‘Nanyang Restaurant Malaysian Klang Bak Kut Teh’. Bak Kut Teh, literally translates to ‘meat bone tea’ is a meat dish cooked in broth and is a signature dish from the Hoklo and Teochew community. This dish is commonly found in Malaysia and Singapore but it has lately made quite an appearance in Jakarta. 

There is no actual tea in the dish itself, it is actually referring to the strong Oolong Chinese tea which is normally served along with the soup believing that it dilutes the copious amount of fat consumed in this pork-laden dish. 

What sets this Malaysian Bak Kut Teh apart from the Singapore’s Bak Kut Teh relies heavily on the broth, the Malaysian version is mostly traditional herbal-based broth while Singapore version is usually pepper and garlic based.

Walking in the restaurant, I recognized the Chinese Malaysian themed décor with its distinctive black and bold red color as their primary color. The restaurant feels like your neighborhood restaurant, familiar and homey. The first floor of this four-storey building is the main dining area with the second floor mostly closed off for VIP and guests that come in groups for private functions do call in before hand to book these areas.

the dining area

Let me share with you what I had while I was there:

It is quite a no brainer that everyone loves crispy and salty deep fried food and this dish is a deep fried squid. Squid can be a tricky meat, it can be very chewy if you don’t cook it right, and this dish passed the test, it was super tasty and crunchy.

Deep Fried Chicken Mongolian Style (IDR 45K)

I love Mongolian sauce in anything and it is definitely hard to find a good Mongolian style dish in Jakarta (my favorite could only be found in USA) and I think I just tasted my ultimate Mongolian style dish. As it was served, it didn’t scream deliciousness, it looked soggy and deep-fried instead the usual stir-fried. Without following my judgmental eyes I took a bite and fell in love. It has a perfect combination of sweet spicy, tangy, crispy deep fried Mongolian style chicken and it was cooked to satisfy indeed. 

Deep Fried Prawns with Butter Flakes (IDR 65K)

This dish smells so good and I love good smelling food. You can either eat the prawn shells as it was deep-fried or you can peel it off, either way it is tasty.

Stir Fried Clams with chilly Sauce (IDR 40K)

The dish might look spicy but it is not and is actually more on the tangy side.  It might not as outstanding as the rest that I had tasted but it does give you the option of seafood if poultry or other meat is not of your liking. 

Deep Fried Pumpkins with salted egg yolk (IDR 40K)

Deep fried pumpkins with salted egg yolk sauce might sound a little bit odd but do taste it and let it steal your heart, it is actually unique and tasty. It has a very distinct textures and taste as you feast on it.

Mixed fried jade Kailan (IDR 30K)

This super delicious (and completes your green portions of the day) is the winning dish. The stems were stir-fried but the leaves were cut into pieces and deep fried to give the crunchy texture, brilliant!

Claypot Bak Kut Teh (price may vary)

Coming down to why I was at this restaurant in the first place, the Bak Kut Teh. If you are comparing to other Bak Kut Teh that has recently make appearances in Jakarta (Song Fa and Founder Bak Kut Teh) it is completely different. The herbal based broth really sets it apart and it might need some getting used to, however it is not any less delicious, it is just a different set of taste and need an open mindset when you eat this dish (you might actually feel a little healthier). The soup contains pork ribs, fried tofu skin, tofu, mushrooms and pork meat and they are all blended together in broth soup of comfort and deliciousness.

Claypot Dry Bak Kut Teh (price may vary)

There is another option of trying the Bak Kut Teh and that is the stir-fried version. I would still recommend the signature soup version than the dry one since the aroma and the taste seemed to elevate more than my liking.  But do opt for this dish if you don’t like it being too soupy.

All in all my belly was satisfied, the uniqueness of the food, the friendly staff and not overly priced completes the whole dining experience. I would recommend to anyone who wants to try something new in Jakarta. Enjoy!

Nanyang Malaysian Klang Bak Kut The

The Gallery Metro Broadway Blok 8 CE & CF

Jalan Pantai Indah Kapuk Utara 2

PIK 

Phone               : 021-30010557

Opening Hour  : Monday- Sunday 11.00-15.00, 17.00-22.00

IG                      : @nanyangjkt

 Follow my instagram @whats_up_jakarta for more updates