Hit the Indonesian Festival @ Darling Harbour with
Was really impressed with the food there. The were sizable portions and all the food was really authentic and tasty. Only downside was that it was also incredibly unhealthy – lots of oil, sugar, salt, etc. Didn’t end up eating all that much since the food was so filling and unhealthy we couldn’t stuff much down. However, ended up with a whole bunch of stuff that I brought home to have for lunch/dinners :)~ We need more of these festivals in the City, since there’s not much good Indonesian/Singaporean/Malaysian food around!
Indonesian festival
Hungry people
The performing arts stage
Dim Sims
Deep-fried meatballs and fritters
Deep-fried meatball
Noodles
Something or other 😛
Chicken in glutinous rice
Some soup thing
Vegetarian “chicken” satay
The real chicken satay with lontong rice. OMG IT WAS GOOD!
Cripsies
More meatballs and dim sims
Grinding up fresh spices
Char kway teow
Coconut drink
Sweet sticky rice dessert
Indonesian cakes
Onde Onde dessert
Making Martabak…
…adding in peanuts and chocolate…
…then grated cheese and condensed milk…
…cut it up to serve…
YUMMY
Well fed!
A bit random, but whilst shopping at David Jones, the nice SA gave us
pretty Jo Malone fragrance samples, much to our delight. Woo hoo!
Ayam Goreng 99
464 Anzac Parade
Kingsford, NSW 2032
$$—
I haven’t been to Ayam Goreng 99 for what seems like ages! A common haunt back in my Uni days, I hardly ever go there anymore, sadly. A few of us headed there this evening for dinner, much to my delight – I figured since I’d already kicked off my Indonesian-eating day with the Festival, I might as well continue it through to dinner 😛 Ayam Goreng 99 is undoubtably a ‘no frills’ restaurant. Indonesian-style, there’s a box at the table where you can get your own cutlery, and you help yourself to (free) iced water in the fridge. You order quickly, the food comes quickly, you eat quickly, and you’re out the door since there’s a hoard of people waiting eagerly outside for your table. The popularity of the place really speaks for itself – it’s packed with Indonesians and the reasonable prices are worth a mention too.
We ordered a couple of dishes to share around, which meant that we could have a wider variety to tantalise our tastebuds – fantastic! I thought the Ayam Bakar (grilled chicken) was the star dish – it was moist, the meat fell right off the bone, and the flavour packed a punch. Also enjoyed the Beef Rendang, meltingly soft and tasty, albeit sadly in a small portion. The Assam Soup was spectacular. Normally a dish I wouldn’t have ordered myself, I was delighted with the prospect of trying out this new food. I really liked it! The soup was sweet yet tangy, slightly spicy, and packed with delicious tender veggies. Fantastic flavour, it’ll be on m list of choices next time I’m there.
I wasn’t a huge fan of the Bihun Goreng (Fried Noodles) and Sambal Kang Kong veggies. Both were saturated with salt, like the cook forgot he’d added salt and added a 2nd dose or something. It was pretty overwhelming and I was really thirsty afterwards, and it felt like my hair was going to fall out :X It was tasty, but the salt content is ridiculous!
So to help off-set all that SALT, a sweet dessert was in order. Chendol of course, my favourite 🙂 Slippery bright-green jelly strands swimming in a concoction of sweet gula melaka (palm sugar) and coconut cream/milk. Very sweet, chilled, and slid down the throat like a charm. A beautiful way to end a very filling dinner.
Ayam Goreng 99 inside
The menu
Boys
Pretty smiles
Assam Soup
Mushroom Pepes
Beef Rendang
Sambal Kang Kong
Ayam Bakar
Bihun Goreng
Chendol
(previous review here)
I’ve been up-and-about for about 12 hours straight now.. I’m exhausted! Heading off to bed right now. Have a great weekend everyone 🙂
Heya Beverley! This is Jenny from Panda & Cakes; got your message and nice to meet you too 😛 Lol..I’ll probably spend some time going through your archives now that I know about your website 😀
Anyway, on my last trip to Singapore, I had something similar to the Indonesian Martabak and it was absolutely yum. There’s probably like 1000 calories in it cos of the peanuts but seriously, it’s the best!
Ahh yes, “peanut pancake” in Singapore! It has a chinese name but errr I’ve forgotten in. This one I had was really similar, but just had lots of chocolate, cheese, sugar, butter and condensed milk in it. SO GOOD :)~
Heya Beverley! This is Jenny from Panda & Cakes; got your message and nice to meet you too 😛 Lol..I’ll probably spend some time going through your archives now that I know about your website 😀
Anyway, on my last trip to Singapore, I had something similar to the Indonesian Martabak and it was absolutely yum. There’s probably like 1000 calories in it cos of the peanuts but seriously, it’s the best!
Ahh yes, “peanut pancake” in Singapore! It has a chinese name but errr I’ve forgotten in. This one I had was really similar, but just had lots of chocolate, cheese, sugar, butter and condensed milk in it. SO GOOD :)~
My friends and I think that you’re either a Team Ayam Goreng 99 or Team Ayam Goreng Jakarta ;p. We’re firmly Team Ayam Goreng 99.
I think UNSW is having an Indonesian night on Tuesday if you’re interested :). (from the Arc): Indonesian Night Market 2007
Indonesian Night Market (INM) is an annual night market which brings the wonderful and colourful Indonesian culture, Traditional and modern Music & Dance, and also all sort of variety of Indonesian Food. There will be two huge performing stages, for Live Band! it will be Fantastic! Be there!
When: 4.30-9pm
Where: Mainwalk (in front of Science Lawn)
Ooo thanks for the tip! Think i’ll go 😀 😀 Will you be there too?
I won’t be there, I have Tuesday’s off. I hear that it was great last year 🙂
that’s not martabak!! that’s mee chiang kueh! except in sg it’s usually only suygared crushed nuts or red bean paste or kaya.
martabak aka murtabak is prata with meat filling that you dip in curry.
Haha no, for Indians, Murtabak is the savory one.
For Indonesians, it’s spelled Martabak and it’s what you see in the photo above. Just different cultures, so there’s no right or wrong
Butting in…the Malays here call it Apam Balik (http://masak-masak.blogspot.com/2005/08/crispy-peanut-pancake.html). But the version we have here doesn’t have grated cheese. Instead, we have corns 🙂
There’s also a thinner and crispier version that’s like crepe 🙂 Yum! Must make a trip to the pasar malam soon…hehehe…
I miss those Indonesian restaurants in Kingsford! You ever tried the one at Barker Street??
My friends and I think that you’re either a Team Ayam Goreng 99 or Team Ayam Goreng Jakarta ;p. We’re firmly Team Ayam Goreng 99.
I think UNSW is having an Indonesian night on Tuesday if you’re interested :). (from the Arc): Indonesian Night Market 2007
Indonesian Night Market (INM) is an annual night market which brings the wonderful and colourful Indonesian culture, Traditional and modern Music & Dance, and also all sort of variety of Indonesian Food. There will be two huge performing stages, for Live Band! it will be Fantastic! Be there!
When: 4.30-9pm
Where: Mainwalk (in front of Science Lawn)
Ooo thanks for the tip! Think i’ll go 😀 😀 Will you be there too?
I won’t be there, I have Tuesday’s off. I hear that it was great last year 🙂
We need more of these festivals in the City, since there’s not much good Indonesian/Singaporean/Malaysian food around!
hmmm…. who were the vendors at the event? were they local ind/sing/malay. restaurants using the event to promote their menus? maybe there ARE a lot of these kinds of restaurants in the city – you just have to dig a little deeper! 🙂
They didn’t own restaurants unfortunately, the stalls there were just Indonesians cooking up homecooked food – not a single restaurant owner there!
that’s not martabak!! that’s mee chiang kueh! except in sg it’s usually only suygared crushed nuts or red bean paste or kaya.
martabak aka murtabak is prata with meat filling that you dip in curry.
Haha no, for Indians, Murtabak is the savory one.
For Indonesians, it’s spelled Martabak and it’s what you see in the photo above. Just different cultures, so there’s no right or wrong
Butting in…the Malays here call it Apam Balik (http://masak-masak.blogspot.com/2005/08/crispy-peanut-pancake.html). But the version we have here doesn’t have grated cheese. Instead, we have corns 🙂
There’s also a thinner and crispier version that’s like crepe 🙂 Yum! Must make a trip to the pasar malam soon…hehehe…
I miss those Indonesian restaurants in Kingsford! You ever tried the one at Barker Street??
The chicken in glutinous rice really reminds me of those days that I lived in Indonesia as my dad would occasionally bring one home for me from work 🙂 (no idea why he got them at work hehe)
If I had an Indonesian festival here, I’d be there! Too bad our Indo population is too small here..
There are lots of Indonesians here, which is fortunate for us 😛 But there’s not much authentic Indo food directly around where I live 🙁
We need more of these festivals in the City, since there’s not much good Indonesian/Singaporean/Malaysian food around!
hmmm…. who were the vendors at the event? were they local ind/sing/malay. restaurants using the event to promote their menus? maybe there ARE a lot of these kinds of restaurants in the city – you just have to dig a little deeper! 🙂
They didn’t own restaurants unfortunately, the stalls there were just Indonesians cooking up homecooked food – not a single restaurant owner there!
Gaaahhhh, looking at all these pics makes me wish I bought MORE FOOD!!! It was so good.
Ayam Goreng 99 looks delicious. Especially the Ayam Bakar!
Ayam Goreng99 is sooooo good. Def recommended 😀 And my favourite Kingsford Chinese is on the same road too, a few shops down!
I’m loving your new picture quality esp. those taken at the festival ones. So clear and crisp-looking!
I’m really happy with it too, esp cos I wasn’t really trying hard to take nice photos yesterday, it was just random point-and-click so fortunately they still turned out!
I really want to try those ‘Martabak’ , they look so yummy!! 😀 All those food look so good , wish i had those instead of the bad pizza i got at the restaurant today..and it was so expensive as well! 🙁
Mmm pizza is good, but only if it’s done well! I like making my own 🙂
never tried martabak before, but i can imagine what it tastes like..! (love cheese!)
ayam goreng’s chicken is the best! u made a very good choice 😛
It’s totally sinful 😛 It’s chewy and soft and the inside is sweet yet a bit salty cos of the cheese.. You can really eat only 2 slices though, it’s SO heavy! But so good..
Unfortunately we didn’t manage to make it to the Indonesian Festival coz we shopped for home wares from 10.30 till 5! The food looks good though. And oooh I love the Ayam Bakar, especially with lots of sambal chilli and some kecap manis (I don’t usually like this but it goes well with the sambal). It’s the one dish that I have to order whenever I go to Ayam Goreng.
whoa, did you guys end up buying lots? That’s a lot of homeware shopping! We stopped by DJs to play with fragrances, I’m eyeing a Serge Lutens one now, it was so divine.
Yup, we picked out shower heads, a retractable kitchen tap, kitchen ware, bed linen etc. So tiring but at least we’ve got heaps of things ticked off the list.Can’t wait till everything is done and we’re settled in at the new palce.
My choice of food for meals is being affected by your postings!!!!!! I think I’ll have satay tomorrow!
You get the authentic stuff too lucky you!
And now I can take pictures of it too!!!
It’s funny they call it “Assam Soup”, cause in Indonesia we call it “Sayur Asem” which translates to “Assam Veggies” =P
It’s called the correct name on the menu! I just coudln’t remember when I made my post.. hehehe
Omg, I love Ondeh-ondehs!! They’re sooo yummy. :)~
We didn’t get any though, we were totally sugared-out from the Martabak!
Indonesian Food Day kinda remind me of Singapore Day in NYC ! hehe
I wanna try the glutinous chicken rice !
They’re so cute, 3 for $5 so I thought that wasn’t too bad!
Everything looks so good. I think you’re “in the know” because you are such a foodie.
Hahha I do search online all the time for food festivals in the Sydney area. I just can’t help it 😉
wah SO MUCH FOOD!!! 🙂
Hehe it was heavenly, being surrounded by such good food!
The chicken in glutinous rice really reminds me of those days that I lived in Indonesia as my dad would occasionally bring one home for me from work 🙂 (no idea why he got them at work hehe)
If I had an Indonesian festival here, I’d be there! Too bad our Indo population is too small here..
There are lots of Indonesians here, which is fortunate for us 😛 But there’s not much authentic Indo food directly around where I live 🙁
Gaaahhhh, looking at all these pics makes me wish I bought MORE FOOD!!! It was so good.
Ayam Goreng 99 looks delicious. Especially the Ayam Bakar!
Ayam Goreng99 is sooooo good. Def recommended 😀 And my favourite Kingsford Chinese is on the same road too, a few shops down!
I’m loving your new picture quality esp. those taken at the festival ones. So clear and crisp-looking!
I’m really happy with it too, esp cos I wasn’t really trying hard to take nice photos yesterday, it was just random point-and-click so fortunately they still turned out!
I really want to try those ‘Martabak’ , they look so yummy!! 😀 All those food look so good , wish i had those instead of the bad pizza i got at the restaurant today..and it was so expensive as well! 🙁
Mmm pizza is good, but only if it’s done well! I like making my own 🙂
never tried martabak before, but i can imagine what it tastes like..! (love cheese!)
ayam goreng’s chicken is the best! u made a very good choice 😛
It’s totally sinful 😛 It’s chewy and soft and the inside is sweet yet a bit salty cos of the cheese.. You can really eat only 2 slices though, it’s SO heavy! But so good..
Unfortunately we didn’t manage to make it to the Indonesian Festival coz we shopped for home wares from 10.30 till 5! The food looks good though. And oooh I love the Ayam Bakar, especially with lots of sambal chilli and some kecap manis (I don’t usually like this but it goes well with the sambal). It’s the one dish that I have to order whenever I go to Ayam Goreng.
whoa, did you guys end up buying lots? That’s a lot of homeware shopping! We stopped by DJs to play with fragrances, I’m eyeing a Serge Lutens one now, it was so divine.
Yup, we picked out shower heads, a retractable kitchen tap, kitchen ware, bed linen etc. So tiring but at least we’ve got heaps of things ticked off the list.Can’t wait till everything is done and we’re settled in at the new palce.
My choice of food for meals is being affected by your postings!!!!!! I think I’ll have satay tomorrow!
You get the authentic stuff too lucky you!
And now I can take pictures of it too!!!
It’s funny they call it “Assam Soup”, cause in Indonesia we call it “Sayur Asem” which translates to “Assam Veggies” =P
It’s called the correct name on the menu! I just coudln’t remember when I made my post.. hehehe
Omg, I love Ondeh-ondehs!! They’re sooo yummy. :)~
We didn’t get any though, we were totally sugared-out from the Martabak!
Indonesian Food Day kinda remind me of Singapore Day in NYC ! hehe
I wanna try the glutinous chicken rice !
They’re so cute, 3 for $5 so I thought that wasn’t too bad!
Everything looks so good. I think you’re “in the know” because you are such a foodie.
Hahha I do search online all the time for food festivals in the Sydney area. I just can’t help it 😉
wah SO MUCH FOOD!!! 🙂
Hehe it was heavenly, being surrounded by such good food!