The name “Radio Dalam” comes from the satuan kerja (units) of the national radio station Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI) which are found in the area. Among them are the office of Satuan Pengawas Intern (Internal Supervisory Unit) that poses as the auditor, and Pusat Penelitian dan Pengembangan Pendidikan dan Pelatihan (Center of Research, Development, Education and Training).

How to get there

Jl. Radio Dalam is easy to reach as it is nestled near the Blok M and Lebak Bulus bus terminals. Those who want to take public transportation to the street can stop at the Blok M terminal as Jl. Radio Dalam can be accessed from there. Those coming from Menteng can hop on a Transjakarta bus via the Sarinah bus stop. If you're coming from Kemang, you can catch the Kopaja bus number 605 that serves the Blok M-Kemang-Kampung Rambutan route or Kopaja 605A that serves the Blok M-Kemang-Ragunan route. After that, from Blok M terminal, you can take Metro Mini S72, which ends at Lebak Bulus terminal.

Other public buses you can opt for are the yellow-green bus Koantas Bima P102 that serves Tanah Abang-Radio Dalam-Ciputat terminal route and APTB 04 that serves the Ciputat-Kota route.

What to wear

Wear casual outfits and shoes if you want to explore the area by foot. Apply sunscreen beforehand and wear a hat if necessary as the weather can be hot.

What to buy

 

A post shared by Bengkel Nawilis (@nawilis_auto_center) on May 1, 2015 at 11:14pm PDT

Among the plethora of automotive repair shops, showrooms and car salons, one of the leaders in wheel alignment is Nawilis Auto Service Centre, which is situated not too far from the intersection of Jl. Radio Dalam, Jl. Gandaria I, Jl. Ahmad Dahlan and Jl. Kramat Pela. Established in 1963 as Gaya Ban and changed to Nawilis in 1973, the repair shop branch on Jl. Radio Dalam has been in operation since 1995. Those who want updates on Nawilis Auto Service Center’s promos can visit its Facebook account.

Herr Katz, for instance, is one of the many barbershops with a catchy name. It is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 8.30 p.m. (JP/Christhalia Wiloto)

For maintenance of your appearance,  Jl. Radio Dalam also has beauty salons and barbershops with their own specializations. Herr Katz, for instance, one of the many barbershops with a catchy name, is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 8.30 p.m. There is also deMoz5 for Muslim women, located near Nawilis Auto Service Centre, which provides treatments from head to toe.

Read also: Jakpost guide to Jl. Surabaya

For skin care enthusiasts, House of Ristra beauty clinic is a must-visit establishment on Jl. Radio Dalam. Ristra itself is a renowned Indonesian cosmetic brand, which was founded by Dr. Retno Iswari Trenggono in 1983.

Clothing maintenance is also a feature of the street as many laundry services are available. Among them are 5àSec which is open 24 hours and The Laundry Hall, which offers delivery services.

Those who want to purchase chandeliers and other home decor should consider visiting Fuse. (JP/Christhalia Wiloto)

Jl. Radio Dalam is also home to a plethora of furniture shops. Classic-style furniture store Karya Guna, for example, has produced teak wood furniture since 1986. Meanwhile, those looking for chandeliers and other modern-style home decor should consider visiting Fuse, which has operated in the area for fifteen years. Fuse is open from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m., with prices starting from Rp 5.8 million (US$435). The establishment will also start selling imported ceramics soon.

What to eat

The 'lesehan' (floor seating) area at Aneka Bubur 786. (JP/Christhalia Wiloto)

Visitors are recommended to try Aneka Bubur 786's Bubur Zafran (porridge made with saffron, shredded chicken and chickpeas) which is full of spices and is accompanied by condiments, such as cakwe (fried wheat) and emping (nut crackers). (JP/Christhalia Wiloto)

Aside from its reputation as the 'maintenance' road, Radio Dalam also boasts many restaurants that serve Japanese, Indonesian and western delicacies. For club-goers, Aneka Bubur 786, which is open 24 hours, is the go-to post-clubbing hang out with its mix of Indian, Pakistani and Indonesian foods. Bubur Zafran is a favorite at this restaurant.

Other restaurants on Jl. Radio Dalam include the legendary Sushi Tengoku, which has been in operation for decades, as well Pempek Palembang & Otak-otak 161 that sells pempek (fish cakes) and is considered to be one of the most popular pempek restaurants in the city. Notable restaurants also include the “no pork” Ramen Seirock-ya for those looking for halal ramen, Andakar Steak House, Steak Hotel by Holycow! for carnivores and Nasi Uduk (Betawi-style steamed rice cooked in coconut milk) Zainal Fanani for that late-night carb craving. 

Beer Garden Jakarta on Jl. Radio Dalam. (beergardenjkt.com/File)

However, the current hippest hang out on Jl. Radio Dalam is Beer Garden that is open from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Located at the intersection of Radio Dalam, Pela and Ahmad Dahlan, Beer Garden's modern architecture is hard to miss. (asw)

Tips:

• Be careful when strolling down Jl. Radio Dalam as the sidewalks are not too wide and some are already damaged.
• If you want to explore the area by foot, bring a handkerchief to cover your nose and mouth because most of the time, traffic is dense, especially during rush hours.
• Be careful when crossing the street, especially the intersection between Jl. Radio Dalam, Jl. Ahmad Dahlan, Jl. Gandaria I and Jl. Kramat Pela as there are no adequate zebra crossings for pedestrians.
• Although limited, most stores on Jl. Radio Dalam provide parking spaces for their customers.