Where to go for a slap-up meal to celebrate `Imlek'
Where to go for a slap-up meal to celebrate `Imlek'
Bill Blade, Contributor, Jakarta
It's getting close to that time of year again when the blood
of ethnic Chinese people worldwide begins to pump a little faster
and younger Chinese people start to dream of fat red envelopes
(Ang Pau as they are known in Jakarta, or Hung Bao in Mandarin).
Yes, we're only a short time away from the Lunar New Year
(Imlek here in Jakarta), and what better way to celebrate this
joyous and auspicious occasion, which falls on Feb. 1, than by
bringing the family out for a slap-up meal with all the
trimmings.
But where to go?
Of course, Jakarta has no shortage of fine eateries serving
exquisite cuisine from all over China. Which, unfortunately, can
sometimes lead to confusion, if not actually downright
bafflement.
And so, in continuation of The Jakarta Post's long tradition
of public service, we've prepared a list of some of the top
Chinese restaurants in Jakarta, and the programs they're laying
on for the big event.
Well, given that it's not every day we get to celebrate the
Lunar New Year, we might as well go the whole hog, or should I
say goat, for next year is the Year of the Ram.
And where better to start than in the Jakarta Hilton's Lotus
Court (Tel: 5703600), one of the finest and most luxurious
Chinese eateries in Jakarta. This year they're putting on a
special Lion Dance (Barongsay) to keep the customers satisfied on
the eve of the New Year. Starting at 7 p.m., you'd be well-
advised to book early if you don't want to be disappointed.
Of course, there's no end to the arguments about which is
Jakarta's definitively preeminent Chinese eatery, although many a
would-be bon vivant swears by Ah Yat Abalone Forum, located in
the Mid-Plaza, Building 2, on Jl. Sudirman (Tel: 5707333, average
price range Rp 250,000 to Rp 350,000, much more, of course, for
abalone, bird's nest or shark's fin delights). This can only be
described as a riotous, garish piece of Hong Kong miraculously
transported to Jakarta. But the food is top notch. And for the
eve of the New Year, they're putting on special package menus for
10 diners at Rp 3 million, Rp 4 million and Rp 5 million a go
depending on the type of tasty treats included.
In the Kota area, Jakarta's traditional Chinatown, the Hotel
Omni Batavia on Jl. Kali Besar Barat now proudly plays host to
Liyan (Tel: 6907936), a fine, three-month-old, upmarket eatery.
And, once again, the eve of the New Year they will feature a
Barongsay lion dance (starting at 6:30 p.m.). They're also giving
away all sorts of door prizes and have a special 10-person, nine-
course set menu going for Rp 2,880,000 net.
Another highly popular Chinese eatery is Samudra Shark's Fin
at the Hotel Mulia Senayan on Jl. Asia Afrika (Tel: 5747777).
You'll also find great entertainment here provided by a Barongsay
troupe, and those ever popular ang pau lucky draws. Long a
favorite with Jakarta families for its dim sum, for the big day
Samudra Shark's Fin is offering three set menus at Rp 298,000, Rp
398,000 and Rp 538,000 per person respectively.
One of the most urbane, classical Chinese restaurants in
Jakarta, the Shang Palace at the Shangrila on Jl. Sudirman
(5707440) has gone and gotten itself all rejuvenated, and, as it
happens, is none the worse for it. They're also staging a
Barongsay dance to remind us of the cultural dimension and take
our minds of our bellies for a while. With the proceedings
kicking off at 6:30 p.m., our more earthly desires will be
capably satisfied by an Imlek buffet that will set one back Rp
238,000 (plus 21% tax and service).
Perhaps my favorite upmarket Chinese restaurant here in
Jakarta is Pearl, which you'll find tucked away in the JW Marriot
Hotel in Mega Kuningan (Tel: 57988888). Like so many other
Chinese restaurants, Pearl has laboriously selected the
ingredients in its set menus so as to ensure the requisite levels
of happiness and prosperity in the year ahead. These include such
delights as Yu Sang (raw fish salad), which we are told
symbolizes expanding business opportunities, Fa Cai, the last two
syllables in the Chinese New Year greeting, Gong Xi Fa Cai, and
fish (Yu), which ensure luck, happiness and everything good in
abundance.
Other necessary ingredients include lotus seeds, which
symbolize fertility, something that's essential to keep the in-
laws happy, or so the Pearl blurb informs us, and Nian Gao (New
Year rice cakes), apparently not to be missed as nian gao also
means rising higher every year.
Pearl is offering three set menus, each featuring these
propitious ingredients, among others, which will set you back Rp
268,000, Rp 298,000 or Rp 388,000 per person (all excluding 21%
tax and service).
If you're looking for somewhere a little more unusual to
celebrate the New Year, you could do a lot worse than check out
Kuk Bin (Center Park Lt. 9, Jl. Sudirman, Tel: 5713330), one of
Jakarta's only Chinese-Korean restaurants. Apparently, lots of
Chinese people emigrated to Korea after the Communist takeover,
taking their delectable cuisines with them, of course.
As with most transplanted cuisines, however, they became
adapted to suit local tastes, which may broadly be described as
being spicier and more sour than is the norm with most mainland
Chinese cuisine. Nevertheless, about 60 percent of the dishes on
the Kuk Bin menu, which is presented in Korean, Mandarin and
English, should be recognizable to those familiar with
traditional Chinese cuisine.
By the time you read this, however, there's a fair possibility
that many of Jakarta's better Chinese eateries will be fully
booked for the big day, in which case it could well turn out to
be a case of getting out the Yellow Pages and taking potluck.
But, one way or the other, you should be able to find somewhere
to celebrate the once-a-year event in the style it deserves.
So, it only remains for me to wish you all Gong Xi Fa Cai, and
bon appetit!