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Savoring 'konro bakar', the pride and joy of Makassar
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Signature konro bakar (grilled beef ribs) by Konro Karebosi. (Good Indonesian Food/File)
S
ome of you Jakartans may either have heard of Konro Karebosi or have had a taste of it at one of its branches up in Kelapa Gading in North Jakarta. One of the most celebrated restaurants in Makassar in South Sulawesi, its beef ribs are much loved by the locals. I grabbed the opportunity to enjoy its signature dish, where the story of Konro Karebosi all began.
Konro Karebosi was initially established in 1968 in the form of a warung at Lapangan Karebosi – a popular food market in the heart of Makassar at the time – and its name was derived from its initial location. As time went by, Konro Karebosi relocated to Jl. Gunung Lompobattang and settled down inside a permanent modern building, where it has remained up to this day.
The clock struck 6 p.m. when I paid a visit to Konro Karebosi, and the sun started to descend and fade from view. Not exactly the ideal time to have dinner, but it was already packed inside the eatery. The wait staff were running left and right taking down orders and delivering food from one table to another, accompanied by the buzzing noise of chatter from customers.
(Read also: Where to get great pork ribs in Jakarta)
With seating scarce due to the crowded nature of the joint, I had no choice but to sit at the only vacant table in a corner near the kitchen. My order was obviously its signature konro bakar (grilled beef ribs). As with any other grilled dishes, I assumed that it would take time to prepare my meal. However, Konro Karebosi only took about five minutes to cook and serve. It seems that the ribs here are prepared until they are half-cooked and ready to be grilled once ordered.
Its konro bakar consists of two sizeable beef rib cuts that are splashed with peanut sauce. Seasoned well prior to grilling, the dense and savory peanut sauce really enhances the overall flavor of the dish. Unfortunately, my delightful meal was plagued by a few parts of the ribs that were too chewy and difficult to cut. Perhaps it just was not my lucky day – or maybe the eatery should put in more effort to maintain the quality of its dishes? (kes)
Jl. Gunung Lompobattang No. 41–42, Makassar, South Sulawesi
Contact: 0411 361 2157
Open daily from 1 p.m. - 11 p.m.
Rp 70,000 (US$5.30) per person
Explore more Indonesian cuisine here.
