Deliciousness comes served on a platter at Madam Tan Restaurant

When I feel like eating good Indonesian food in a chic place, I go to Madam Tan Restaurant. It is located across the road from The Phoenix Hotel and serves Indonesian, Malay and Chinese cuisine. This two-storey restaurant is decorated in Peranakan-Javanese style with some antique furniture.

 

Their best-selling menu is Rice Platters or rice with mixed dishes in one plate. My recommendation is Madam Rijstafel – which comprises Nasi Kuning (yellow rice), an Indonesian fragrant rice dish cooked with coconut milk and turmeric, empal (sweet and spicy fried beef), perkedel (fried potato patty and minced beef), sweet tempeh, shredded eggs and sambal (chili sauce). 

 

Another suggested dish is Nasi Bakar Tangkuban Perahu or seasoned rice filled with shredded chicken and anchovies wrapped in a banana leaf and grilled on charcoal fire, served with empal, chicken meatball soup and sambal. All these dishes combined will surely create a party in your mouth!

 

There is another menu that I always order – Udang Saus Telur Asin (prawn with salted egg sauce), but it tends to sell out fast. If they have run out of it, then choose Tahu Crispy Saus Telur Asin (crispy tofu with salted egg sauce) since it tastes equally good. The sauce is generous and not watery, meaning you can taste the chopped salted eggs. For the dessert, try Dawet (Javanese version of cendol).