You may be questioning the existence of such an eatery that offers delicious noodles at affordable prices as you enter the posh Villa Cinere Mas complex. It is not located in the anterior of the area or in the heart of the neighborhood, rather further down the back of the complex near the houses outside of it.

The restaurant's appearance resembles a home, and upon entering, you can see its large menu pasted on a wall, including prices. Besides its various bakmi goreng (fried noodles) and bakmi rebus (boiled noodles) choices, it also offers an assortment of bihun (vermicelli) and kwetiau (flat rice noodles) dishes, capcay (stir-fried vegetables), fuyunghai (omelets with meat and vegetables) and other Chinese delicacies.

(Read also: Breakfast at the legendary 'karet' eatery)

Established in 1985, it used to be my family’s favorite dining place when we were still residents of Villa Cinere Mas in 1988. As it was the first time I dropped by after quite a while, it felt like a blast from the past from the moment I stepped foot inside. Everything is still as I remembered, including the chairs and tables. The parking area is still as small as it was back then, with a capacity of about five cars. Bakmi Villa once opened a branch on Jl. Cinere Raya that has since closed down.

As I sat down, I ordered a portion of its pangsit goreng (fried wonton). It didn’t take long for it to arrive at my table. The pangsit goreng here more than matches those that are served by big-name noodle joints. It was crunchy to the bite and its beef stuffing was delicious. Its price is very wallet-friendly, considering that it consists of 10 pieces per portion. Up next was bakmi bakso besar (large meatball noodles), with its soft and wide noodles unlike those served by cart-pushing roadside wonton noodle sellers. Savory and delectable, a few extra dabs of sambal (chili sauce) and soy sauce make the experience even more pleasurable.

Eating at Bakmi Villa brought back those childhood memories that I sorely miss; when the whole family would descend upon this place for lunch. A very simple meal, yet one that is full of nostalgia. (asw)

Explore more Indonesian cuisine here.

Jl. Pluto Dalam No. 43, Pisangan, East Ciputat, South Tangerang

T: 021 743 4870

Open daily from 9am-9pm

Rp.50,000/US$3.70 per person

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