Legendary area revisited as food hawker center<\/p>\n
Emmy Fitri, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya<\/p>\n
Just like the shy Japanese prostitute it is named after, the area
\nof Kembang Jepun (literally \"Japanese flower\") has two faces.<\/p>\n
During the day it is a business district for mostly ethnic
\nChinese traders. At night, it turns into a massive open air cafe
\narea, with dozens of food hawkers selling a variety of food, from
\nthe traditional to the modern.<\/p>\n
Visitors are welcomed by a giant red gate (there is also one
\nat the exit), on which there are creeping green dragons. Along
\nthe one-kilometer road, which is closed to traffic at night,
\nChinese paper lanterns provide dim illumination and an exotic,
\nenticing aura.<\/p>\n
On both sides of the street, food vendors display their meals
\nand drinks. Plastic chairs and low tables are arranged in the
\nmiddle of the street, sparing only a small space for passersby.<\/p>\n
The torture of walking along the narrow space, and sometimes
\nhaving to gingerly squeeze past diners, is fully compensated by
\nthe delicious aroma of the cuisine and fragrant fresh fruit at
\nthe juice stands.<\/p>\n
The night hawker area, starting from 6 p.m. and closing at
\nabout 2 a.m., opened in March with the intention of making
\nKembang Jepun the place to grab a bite to eat and take an evening
\nstroll.<\/p>\n
Kembang Jepun was once the city's Chinatown, a pulsating hub
\nfor passersby, shoppers and street vendors. When modern retail
\nareas and shopping malls opened, it was increasingly overlooked
\nby the younger generation.<\/p>\n
Its transformation draws visitors by providing two of the
\nfavorite local pastimes.<\/p>\n
\"Surabayans like to kya-kya (Chinese slang for taking a
\nstroll) and ciak (to eat in the local Chinese dialect),\" said
\nHandoko, who, with his wife and three teenage children, makes a
\nhalf-hour drive from his home to the area two to three times a
\nweek.<\/p>\n
\"We might come more than three times a week if we have
\nvisiting relatives as it's a good place to treat guests.\"<\/p>\n
The rich array of food, and getting a place to sit and take in
\nthe night air are luxuries in Surabaya, the country's second
\nlargest city, which is plagued by the same traffic jams,
\npollution and overcrowding as Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"All kinds of food can be found here, from traditional
\ndelicacies to modern ones. We have rujak cingur (chopped cow's
\nnose and ears with vegetables in a chili sauce), to burgers and
\nmilk shakes,\" one of the vendors boasted.<\/p>\n
He added that business was booming even though the monthly
\nrental fee was Rp 1 million.<\/p>\n
Most of the cuisine, like tahu campur (tofu and vegetables
\nserved with chili sauce), lontong kikil (steamed rice in banana
\nleaf and sliced shank served with coconut milk sauce), various
\ntypes of soto (a clear soup, usually accompanied by chicken, beef
\nor offal), or rujak semanggi suroboyo (Surabaya-style cloverleaf
\nsalad), can still be found in Surabaya, but scattered at
\ndifferent locations.<\/p>\n
There is also sambel tumpang, made from coconut milk, chili,
\ndiced shrimp and tempeh, served in banana leaf with steamed rice,
\nfresh and boiled green vegetables, together with peanut crackers,
\nfried chicken, chicken livers, tofu or tempeh.<\/p>\n
A wide variety of Chinese food can also be found, like \"bicap\"
\nthe acronym for pork in soya sauce, pork satay, kwetiau (noodles)
\nand seafood.<\/p>\n
One night will by no means be enough to try all the dishes,
\nand a trip to the hawker center sure beats the boredom of room
\nservice. It's also a good example for other cities to follow in
\nrevitalizing a neglected area into one that will attract the
\ncrowds anew.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/legendary-area-revisited-as-food-hawker-center-1447893297",
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