The Original Crispy Duck. Courtesy of Bebek Bengil Jakarta

Any restaurant will choose a name that makes a perfect impression on guests, but Bebek Bengil Restaurant dares to be different.

In Balinese, Bebek Bengil means dirty duck. When the first Bebek Bengil restaurant in Bali was about to open, a flock of dirty ducks ran into the restaurant, making them the first guests. The owner decided to name the restaurant after them.

The restaurant has two outlets in Bali, both in Ubud. Now, it is opening its third outlet. This time it is in the capital. Jakarta foodies can now enjoy the specialty menu daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Several prominent figures, such as former president Megawati Soekarnoputri, State Minister for Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises Suryadharma Ali and Minister of Trade Mari Elka Pangestu, attended the restaurant’s launch ceremony held last February.

Since its establishment in 1990, Bebek Bengil has offered duck as its specialty dish, original crispy duck. Consisting of half a duck steamed with Indonesian spices, deep-fried for a crispy finish and served with steamed rice and Balinese vegetables or sautéed potatoes and a side salad, guests can ignore the silverware and use their fingers.

Even the bones are as crispy as a French fry.

There are several other duck dishes, such as Duck Melon Soup, where duck is consumed with melon and ginger.

Owner Anak Agung Raka Sueni said that she wanted to introduce Jakartans to the signature Balinese dish of duck.

“For the Balinese, the duck is a holy animal because it can live in three habitats. It is usually served as an offering to the spirits, or for the Hindu priests. I want to serve the duck as a dish in a restaurant. Let the guests decide what makes our dish different from others,” she said.

The restaurant has special order dishes that should be booked in advance, such as Balinese Smoked Duck, a whole duck smoked in the traditional way with spices and wrapped in Areca nut leaves. For two people, the meal is served with Balinese sate, vegetables, steamed rice and Balinese fruit punch. There is also Balinese Smoked Chicken, with similar accompaniments as the smoked duck.

Another special order dish is Indonesian rijstafel, a traditional Indonesian meal of saffron rice, Balinese sate, curried egg, Balinese chicken curry, ginger chicken, crispy fried duck, Balinese vegetables (lawar) and all the trimmings with combo cocktail, coconut cream pie and tropical Balinese fruit.

As well as the poultry-based dishes, Bebek Bengil has other dishes, such as pastas, kebabs and salads.

The menu offers not-to-be-missed desserts. For example, Black Russian Pie, mixed with vodka and kahlua and topped with chocolate. Guest can also try Original Sin Devil Dark Food Cake, the Coconut Cream Pie and Carrot Cake a la Bebek Bengil.

In Ubud, the restaurants have the rice paddy scenery for guests to enjoy. Located in Central Jakarta, Bebek Bengil Jakarta may not have the luxury of a scenic view, but the strategic location will certainly be another reason for guests to pay a visit.

The indoor area has two floors, with several tables on the balconies, where guests can enjoy a romantic candle-lit dinner under the stars that twinkle amid the skyscrapers. The indoor area can accommodate 140 guests. The restaurant has an open-air inner court, which is still empty at the moment, but planned to be used as an eating area in the near future.

The restaurant’s name may mean dirty duck, but the guests’ plates will surely be clean when dinner is over.

Bebek Bengil Restaurant

The Ubud Building

Jl. Agus Salim 132

Menteng – Central Jakarta 10310

Phone: (021) 391 8016 (RSVP), 391 7965, 391 8091

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