M

y stomach rumbled as I searched online for “Indonesian restaurants in Bangkok”. My thoughts invariably drifted to the warmth of nasi goreng, prepared at a spice level that is pleasurable yet bearable. Surely there must be an Indonesian restaurant in this sprawling metropolis, filled with food stalls, international cuisine and extravagant dining facilities, I thought to myself. Yet, of the two restaurants that appeared on my online search, only the one called Indonesian by Jimbaran, Bali was in a location easily accessible by BTS Skytrain.

After continuing to work up an appetite navigating Bangkok’s clean yet crowded Skytrain, I alighted at the National Stadium stop and walked to the avant-garde metallic eye of Bangkok’s expansive MBK Shopping Center and into the throng of bargain shoppers. Darting between counterfeit CD stalls and discounted leather goods, I ascended to the food court on the fifth floor.

The need for nasi goreng had never been so overwhelmingly strong, especially since I could sense that I was nearing my savory destination. I walked quickly through the spotlessly clean food court featuring Indian, Italian, Mexican and Thai restaurants. Finally, my eyes caught sight of its sign, tucked away in a corner near the dessert section.

To leave no doubt as to which country’s cuisine this restaurant catered to, a wayang golek puppet and a piece of batik cloth adorned the barrier enveloping the restaurant’s sides. Whether my hands were shaking from the long journey or with anticipation of a familiar meal, I know not; but one thing was certain, I was hungry.

Directly in front of me were beautifully presented, three-dimensional renditions of a range of Indonesian dishes, from the classic nasi rendang (150 baht, or about Rp 37,000) to the exquisitely complicated-looking ikan jimbaran bakar (390 baht). Its specialties included peanut gado-gado (110 baht) to the Balinese version of nasi campur (190 baht). Deciding to follow the collective wisdom of society, I let my fingers point at the best-selling nasi goreng special for 150 baht.

Indi, the head chef of the restaurant, applauded my choice.

“Nasi goreng has been my favorite dish since childhood,” she said, musing over her youth in the quiet town of Negara, Bali. It was there, amongst the open flatlands, rice paddies and splendid sunsets, that she began mastering the art of cooking by experimenting with different spices, herbs, and methods to create those perfect, mouth-watering creations for which Indonesia is famous.

“It’s really difficult to find Indonesian food here,” she said. “Whenever customers from Indonesia come, they are delighted and excited to find us.”

Soon I would find out just what the customers were excited about.

 

The dining experience

Steam spiraled away from the artfully presented nasi goreng and the chicken satay occupying my plate. They wouldn’t stay there for much longer, I realized, as I dove in. To my pleasant surprise, the nasi goreng was light and flavorful, refreshingly devoid of excess oil. In great haste, I ended up pouring the rich coconut and peanut infused satay sauce onto the rice, combining everything into a conglomeration of hot, warm and tasty food.

While this was a valiant attempt at replicating Indonesia’s famous kebabs, there is really nothing like charcoal-grilled homegrown satay. Fervently fanned in the open air and accompanied by menacing clouds of black smoke, the meat skewers crafted by Indonesia’s street vendors take on a unique crispiness that cannot be replicated in an indoor setting.

Was it worth it? It depends on your priorities. If you are looking to stretch your budget, for the price of one dish at the restaurant, you could easily eat five equally delicious Thai meals from any of the street vendors cooking up a feast. But if you are craving some delicious Indonesian food, then by all means let Indonesian by Jimbaran, Bali sate your cravings and whet your appetite for more Indonesian dishes. I, for one, enjoyed the chance to feast on Indonesian dishes once again.
 
Getting there

After alighting from the National Stadium station, walk on the overhead pedestrian walkway until you reach the entrance of Bangkok’s MBK mall. From there, ride the escalator to the fifth floor. Tucked in between the Thai and Italian restaurants is Indonesian by Jimbaran, Bali. Expect to pay around 180 to 440 baht (Rp 45,000 to Rp 116,000), with the majority of entries lying on the less expensive side of the spectrum.  

5th Floor of MGK Shopping Center
444 Phaya Thai Road,
Wang Mai, Pathumwan
Bangkok 10330 Thailand