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Bali Nusa Indah
Category: Restaurants Indonesian Indonesian [Edit]
651 9th AveSte 145
(between 45th St & 46th St)
New York, NY 10036
Neighborhoods: Hell's Kitchen, Midtown West, Theater District
(212) 265-2200
- Nearest Transit:
-
42 St - Port Authority Bus Terminal (A, C, E)
50 St (A, C, E)
49 St (N, Q, R)
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
117 reviews for Bali Nusa Indah
Review Highlights
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"...on that Sunday afternoon walking through Hell's Kitchen." In 12 reviews -
"The Rendang Padang is to die for." In 6 reviews -
"The gado gado (salad with peanut sauce) was crisp, fresh..." In 3 reviews
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117 reviews in English
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Review from Alice G.
Jersey City, NJ
4/25/2012
OMG - they have Lontong. If you don't know what it is, you should definitely try it - it is tofu, potatoes, pressed rice (katupat) in a yellow coconut curry that is yum yum! I have pretty much been to EVERY Malaysian restaurant in the city looking for Lontong and this is the only that I've found that has it and it is good here. This makes my review start out at 5 stars.
Non-Lontong impressions: the otak-otak (fish cake inside leaves cooked on a grill) is also rare for NYC, but they should not have it on the menu, it was really bad. The other food was overall ok but not outstanding. The service was very attentive and sweet, this is a nice addition to this area. -
Review from J T.
West Chester, PA
3/17/2012
I've been missing Balinese food, so on a recent trip to Manhattan, I figured I'd give this place a shot. The staff are very nice and the ginger tea was delicious.
Lunch specials are quite reasonable, but I found the food to be a bit bland and lacking in complexity compared to other Indonesian places I've tried in Philadelphia, Miami and Bali. -
Review from David N.
2/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
I guess nothing says I love you more than Indonesian restaurant of Valentine's Day? While all the love dove couple all slurping pasta like Lady and the Tramp the three of us decided to go the other route. The restaurant was quite with couple of other patrons eating on this day of hearts.
We went here because one of our friend had a craving for Krupuk Udang(shrimp Crackers). It food here is decent Indonesian cuisine. It feel like home cooked dishes that are flavorful. The beef rending padang tasted good but not the best as was the ayam panggang. The Nasi Goreng was also decent. So yeah, it is a good place to go if you are in the HK area and tired of Thai but certainly there are better one if you branch beyond. -
Review from Sasha B.
1/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
I've walked by this place literally hundreds of times in my 4 years in Hell's Kitchen. For whatever reason, I've never been compelled to walk in the door. Finally, this Friday, I was looking for a lunch spot with a friend and we came across it once again.
I decided it was finally time to give it a shot. We walked in about 12:30 and the place was empty. That's never a good sign, but we decided to proceed since we were already in the door.
We ordered two dishes off the lunch menu ( a good deal at ~$8), the curry chicken and curry shrimp. We also ordered their sampler, I can't recall the name, but it's just under $30 and it gives you a little bit of everything.
Overall, I thought the food was good, the staff was very warm and you got the mom and pop home cooked feeling. -
Review from Gary R.
Hell's kitchen has a vast variety of cuisine. I found this little hideaway as I walked through the ocean of choices. It was very quiet, peaceful and relaxing inside. The service was very friendly and efficient.
I came for dinner by myself after a long day working. I had the chicken satay and a Singha. It was very good end to a crazy day.
I would reco this place for friends or couples looking for a quiet place to chat and unwind. -
Review from Amit M.
Woodbridge, NJ
4/16/2012
Came here for a 6pm dinner before seeing a show last Friday. We had the rijstaffel and all the different curries were AMAZING. The service was perfect as well. We will be back for sure.
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Review from Jess B.
12/17/2011
Living in the neighborhood for the past 18 months, me and my beau have walked passed Bali Nusa and giggling and their "only Indonesian restaurant in NYC" that proudly hangs in their window. And yet, this place has always been curious to us. After taking me to see Mission Impossible 4 yesterday, he suggested we go here since it was close and we were freezing.
For the most part, it was good. Everything that I ate (veggie croquettes and their bean curd curry) was phenomenal. the BF, though, couldn't finish off his soup since it was overly spicy for him. I guess we're never going to Indonesia, otherwise he'll pass out during his first meal there!
The thing that irked me the most about the place was its slow service. It was about 15 minutes before the waiter (a VERY nice guy otherwise) took our order, and took longer to get the bill. Their attentive busboys slightly made up for the slow pace, but they're still getting three stars. -
Review from Matt B.
ASTORIA, NY
2/1/2012
Not that many Indonesian restaurants in the city, and definately not a lot of Balinese places, so I definately wanted to try this restaurant. It was a bit more simple in terms of decor than I thought it would be. Very basic interior. Was hoping for more ornaments or decorations from Bali.
I have only been here once, the staff was friendly. I ordered one dish with chicken, it was OK, but not like what I'm used to eating at Balinese restaurants, didn't feel the freshness in the ingredients, the consistency was a bit mushy and the presentation on the plate was not too appealing because of that.
The prices are not too bad, around 13 USD for chicken. Might come here again to try another dish and hope for something better than what I had the first time. It's not too loud here, so if you want to go to a place where you can sit in peace and talk, it might be a good option. -
Review from Cynthia O.
New York, NY
11/9/2011
I was so happy to stumble upon an indonesian restaurant spot because they really are few and far between on this half of the hemisphere. I will say that everything we had was pretty delicious. The waitstaff was also very accommodating and polite esp. considering we rolled in there fairly late.
I would recommend it esp if you're up for trying this type of cuisine. -
Review from Amy C.
Flushing, NY
11/19/2011
Let it be known I am NOT a fan of spicy food. That being said, I'm still a fan of Bali Nusa (I wouldn't dare give them a poor rating because I don't like spicy things). We had a few appetizers, enjoyed them all, and my entree was delicious.
I'd go here on a date or with my family, maybe with a group, but I wouldn't necessarily go for a special occasion.
I thought it was a little overpriced, but I'd go back again. -
Review from Serena C.
9/26/2011 2 photos
Not the best Indonesian food I've had, but the food will pacify any cravings you may have for the cuisine until you find better. The unfortunate downside? It's definitely the priciest Indonesian food I've ever encountered.
Perkedel Jagung (corn fritters) - came with three corn fritters that were freshly fried and probably my favorite dish of the night and the only thing I would order again from here.
Nasi Goreng (Indonesian fried rice) - Simple fried rice. Nothing to really rave about here.
Bakmi Goreng (Indonesian fried egg noodles) - Again simple fried noodles, a lot like Chinese chow mein but sweeter. Also again, not much to rave about here. -
Review from Shaun V.
New York, NY
12/12/2011
Now, I was a bit skeptical as on the outside of the restaurant it states "NY's only & best Indonesian Restaurant!!!" HMMMM. The rest of my party wanted to try it so we went in. The menu has 1 GAZILLION things on it. I hate menu's like that. Luckily my cousin ordered.
The food. The food is incredible. Seriously. The flavors are well pronounced with out being too sweet/spicy. I remember having the roti canai, the green beans with shrimp, spicy tofu, and a lamb dish. All excellent.
While the menu is a bit overwhelming, and the food seems a bit overpriced, and the waiter seriously forgot about us (seriously); I would still go back. The food is amazing. -
Review from Chris A.
Manhattan, NY
3/2/2012
I went there with a group hoping to find some interesting Indonesian food. Instead, the food was extremely bland and tasteless, and a majority of the people on the table didn't finish even half of their plate. Given all the other good options in Hell's Kitchen, I really wouldn't recommend this place.
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Review from Alexis K.
8/21/2011
I have never had Indonesian food, so I don't know if it's "authentic", "just like home", or whatever other qualifiers people like to use for ethnic food. It was tasty food, however, a good amount of spice but not so much that your mouth is on fire. I ordered a noodle dish and ice coffee, both very good.
The price wasn't bad, either, and the service was attentive. The atmosphere was cozy, not trendy, which I like. -
Review from christine a.
New York, NY
8/22/2011
Modest looking place low on ambience. Food is pretty good bordering on very good. Service is the same.
My first beef is that the dinners are way overpriced for the neighborhood, probably because the tourists who frequent Hell's Kitchen don't know any better.
My second criticism is the menu lacks vegetarian options. Barely any tofu. Some lackluster vegetable dishes. I've seen Buddist monks in here, for real. Wonder what they are ordering...
Even though I like this place, next time I'll walk over to 10th where good food and fairer prices abound.
Or I'll come back for the decent lunch special. -
Review from Josh d.
7/28/2011
I'm not very familiar with Indonesian food, so I went with something that seemed Indianish... Spicy tasty curry for delivery. Much love!
Aside from that, not too compelling... Will order from again, but I wasn't blown away. -
Review from Randy F.
New York, NY
5/4/2011
Until Recently, I had no clue whatsoever about Indonesian cuisine. I've had Malaysian food many times but I've never had Indonesian before. Walking by this restaurant in the middle of hells kitchen or i should say little Bangkok, this Indonesian restaurant is a nice alternative to the massive Thai options in the vicinity. To sum it up Indonesian cuisine is composed of many foods from neighboring Polynesian, Malaysia and other islands ( after all, Indonesia is composed of 5000 islands). OK lets get back to the food....
My brother and I decided to get the Rijastaffel, An Indonesian version of Tapas. Rijastaffel was an example of what the Dutch left them during the colonial days..... but getting back to the food. The establishment is owned by ethnic Javanese and they do a good job with their food. The Rijastaffel consists of some Beef Rendang, some beef and chicken satays, a mixed salad, some stir fried spicy shrimps, fried noodles, broiled bean curd, spicy pickles and most importantly some rice. There was also a small salad that came before the Rijastaffel meal. The portions were huge and for 2 people, we were struggling to finish our meal. For 2 people for dinner with tip, the bill was 50 dollars flat.
Overall, this is a hidden gem in the Midtown West/ Theater district. For those of you trying to grab some grub to eat before a show, I advise you to come over to this Restaurant rather then the usual burger and beer or pad Thai dinner. No regrets if you go. I guarantee. -
Review from Yasmine K.
Manhattan, NY
Updated - 11/13/2011
My second experience at Bali Nusa Indah was disappointing. I came here on a Friday afternoon, excited to get my boyfriend to try Indonesian food. The pan fried fish was like bad sweet and sour fish from a mediocre Chinese restaurant, while the curry chicken was like a bad Indian curry. I know this place can do better than that as long as they stick to authentic Indonesian food. That experience alone would cause me to never go back.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/15/2011
I have to say that my review is skewed as I am a big fan of Balinese cuisine, and this is the only… Read more »
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Review from Yani I.
New York, NY
12/19/2011
Totally understated authentic Indonesian restaurant near the theater district. We had walked out of Arcadia halfway, and decided to get late lunch. Luckily we found this gem just about an avenue away. The nasi rames (mixed rice) was sooo satisfying! The portions were generous, and every dish was delicious. If those who yearn that particular level of spiciness, this is the place to be.
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Review from Maria A.
4/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
I found out about this place during the International Festival back in 2009. Came across this stand, and had their chicken croquettes, fried chicken wings, barbecue chicken wings and corn fritters. It was delicious, and I remember going back to their stand for a second round.
So, after the international festival, I've gone back to this restaurant twice. The place is really clean, and has a really cool decor. The server was really nice both times.
I've had their fried chicken wings, roti canai, spring rolls, indonesian fried rice, rendang padang, and chicken curry. They're all sooo good!! I love spicy, and if you're not into spicy, do not come here. The prices were really reasonable.
I really enjoy this place, and I look forward to coming back! :-) -
Review from Marlon A.
Manhattan, NY
When eating alone I sometimes look for cozy dimly-lit places that allow me to pretend I'm a disconnected expat. Bali Nusa Indah in Hell's Kitchen is a good example. The unassuming ambience, ethnic music, and friendly service provided the perfect setting to enjoy Indonesian food in relative anonymity.
The Oxtail Soup, which was inexplicably served last, is a clear soup. Its boneless oxtail meat had plenty of wonderful gelatinous cartilage. The Anchovies with Peanuts and Chili Paste was spicy, salty, and crunchy. The Sautéed Eggplant in Curry Sauce was soft but not a complete mush, and mildly curried. The Hot Shrimp with String Beans had more string beans than shrimp and was thick and rich with what must have been coconut milk.
It was a pleasant and interesting expat tour, and I made it back to Hell's Kitchen just in time for volleyball. -
Review from Jean Y.
3/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Cute place.
We sat right by the window towards the street.
I could take a few good photos while I was having dinner.
That's a big plus.
My fish was very spicy. I didn't expect that kind of spiciness in NYC.
My mouth was burning, need Thai beer, which was pretty good.
Far better than Hite, the Korean beer.
Service was good. -
Review from Jimmy T.
Brooklyn, NY
11/21/2011
As the cook explained it "you get everything in the kitchen!". And presented with a menagerie of tiny bowls the only thing missing was a kitchen sink. Pricy and aot the best presentation but although the devils in the details, the flavors in the Rijsttafel!
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Review from Daniel S.
Brooklyn, NY
6/23/2011
A year ago I would have given Bali Nusa 5 stars, definitely. Unfortunately, at some point over the last 12 months, some changes occurred here and the portion sizes shrank and there seemed to be more of a focus on presentation rather than straight up killer Indonesian food. This place is still fantastic, but it was even better as a 'rough-edged' SE Asian joint amid the typical snootiness of Hell's. I made the following comments about a year and a half ago about Bali Nusa, so, keep in mind, things have changed a little since then...
"Bali Nusa is one of my favorite spots for southeast asian food. I've probably been here a dozen times and have yet to find something I'm not particularly fond of. The Rendang Padang is to die for...creamy sauce, tender beef - some of the best Rendang I have ever had! Satay Ayam and Daging were both perfect and the peanut sauce was the perfect combo of spicy and sweet. Fried tofu is delicious, roti is wonderful, all the veggie dishes I've had have impressed me. Looking forward to going back again soon." -
Review from Tasha B.
2/5/2011
My mother is Indonesian, so I have high expectations of how Indonesian food should taste. That said, here is my review of Bali Nusa Indah:
The food: The taste of the beef rendang was a little off. The sate ayam, which should be topped with peanut sauce, tasted like it was drenched in teriyaki--gross! The roti pratta (Indo style bread, somewhat similar to naan) was good, though.
Service: Waiter was nice, though he was not Indonesian and did not speak the language. In my experience, this is usually a bad sign in terms of the authenticity of the food.
Ambiance: Better than the typical hole in the wall style that most Indo restaurants boast. There is Indonesian art on the walls and the table cloths are batik.
Price: A bit more expensive than your typical Indonesian restaurant, but then again it's midtown.
Overall Verdict: Food sucked, waiter did not speak Indonesian, atmosphere was probably the best part. Will not come back. -
Review from Tamar K.
New York, NY
8/5/2010
I shouldn't tell you about this place because I want to keep it to myself, but I also want to make sure it has enough business to keep going forever!
I found this place when I came back from Indonesia. I was very excited because they are Indonesian and the food is authentic, amazing, and inexpensive. Plus, the staff is SO nice. I've had birthday parties there and they've been wonderful and helpful.
As for the menu, OK, I love it all. But I always get one of the special tasting menus (there are 4 different ones). The most expensive is, I think $32 and has about 10 courses. You can NOT beat that. You get soup, salad, dessert and drink, plus a large plate that has about 6 small portions of lots of yummy (some spicey) dishes.
I love this place for so many reasons. But especially, there is so much selection on a very well organized and easy menu, that everyone can eat here: vegetarian, gluten conscious, or meat lovers alike. Everyone I've taken here loves this place.Listed in: Allergy Friendly
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Review from Thomas K.
Rutherford, NJ
2/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
After taking note of this place a while ago we decided to try it after a theater excursion. We never had Indonesian food before and were looking forward to a new experience and a new cuisine to rave over. Well, that'll happen another day, I'm sure, but not after visiting this quaint, little restaurant.
We had jasmine tea to start. It was piping hot, but unfortunately severely lacking in any jasmine flavor or aroma. It was not until the waitress came with a refill that we had the waftings of jasmine hitting our nostrils. It seemed like a totally different tea altogether.
Let's move on to dinner, shall we? We had a side dish of dried anchovy and peanut, with some seasonings that escape me. It's texture was crunchy and OK...flavor was a bit smoky, a little fishy, but not horrible. The other side dish was a tofu that was, I believe, broiled. At least, that's what the menu said. What we received was a tofu with red curry flavor whose texture wasn't unlike scrambled eggs. Not a fan.
Mains were a curried tofu dish which had fried tofu puffs in a very heavy yellow curry with a few vegetables. Lots of coconut milk here and a heavily thickened sauce. It got thicker as the dish cooled off. We also had the beef sates with peanut sauce. It was alright, but a more tender piece of meat would have been nice, such as skirt steak or sirloin. This felt a lot like flank steak. The peanut sauce was peanutty, but somehow neutral. Strange, we thought.
Service was alright, as they kept our water and tea filled. I'm sure there are other Indonesian restaurants that are great. We'll have to seek them out.
We came, we ate, we moved on. -
Review from Onur U.
1/5/2011
I am far from an expert on Indonesian cuisine, but I enjoyed my visit.
They were open Christmas day, and they're close to the theater district without being at all touristy. I was with a group of four people and we all ordered different combo meals which were a serious amount of food. This was a great way to sample a huge variety of the dishes and pretty much everything tasted good. In particular I enjoyed the roti which was chewy and definitely made fresh to order. Also the satay had a rich peanut flavor which stood out. Otherwise, all the other dishes kind of blended together. Granted it's hard to discern subtleties when working your way through a plate with 6 different curries on it. Still, since nothing stood out, I guess that meant I didn't love any of the dishes enough to notice it.
All in all a nice experience and a good introduction to the cuisine. Also very affordable considering the location. -
Review from Marc S.
New York, NY
3/14/2011
I've been here a few times and have gone the route of their rijsttafel each time. There is something so enjoyable about being served course after course until you are so stuffed that you simply can't eat anymore. (Gluttonous? Yeah, maybe. ) As far as Indonesian food goes, it's not the best I've had, but considering how few Indonesian places there are in the country in general, it should not be missed. At only $27 per person for the feast (there are cheaper and more expensive options), it's well worth the value.
If you have friends who have never sampled Indonesian cuisine, this is a great introduction. It allows you to try many small dishes (almost tapas style) and get a feel for it.
Great for the pre-theater crowd! -
Review from C H.
New York, NY
4/30/2011
This place is a must if you've ever been curious about Indonesian food. I've been coming to this place for years and the food as well as the service has been consistently good. The staff is incredibly friendly and attentive. I've had almost all the food on the menu and they are all super tasty. My favorite dishes are the Rendang Padang and Nasi Goreng. Try the satay ayam with the addictive peanut sauce that comes with it. The gado gado is refreshing. For deserts, I love the fried banana dishes.
It's always difficult to not over-order when I eat here. -
Review from Michelle P.
New York, NY
10/16/2010
Been a while since I came here but what left a lasting impression on me was their roti. Now I tried roti in both Thai and Malaysian restaurants but the way this place made it was just... wow.
I should check into other Indonesian places to see if the way they prepare it is consistent.
I have gone again this summer just to bring back old memories. Unfortunately the side of curry to accompany this, not too fluffy or too crispy, piece of dough used to be thick and not watered down as you would find in some restaurants (shame on them!) Alas it is now more like juice although the flavour is retained. Now to each their own, but I have truly enjoyed all the times I have ordered this dish here. If you have not yet seen a picture of it, they almost look like buttermilk pancakes. Almost; if they really do, that would be gross. -
Review from Keiko S.
10/30/2007 4 photos
Sadly, there's a major shortage of Indonesian restaurants in NYC. By luck, we found Bali Nusa Indah, and we're sure to go back very very soon.
5 stars for the impeccable service. Not only are the people extremely nice, but they're also honest. When your waiter asks, "are you sure you can eat that much?" or say "I'd recommend this dish instead of that one" while pointing to a much cheaper dish than the one we'd selected, you know he cares.
4 stars for the delectable food. The red snapper in curry sauce (ikan kari) and the grilled chicken (ayam panggang kuning betawi) were both very flavorful. Nice peanut salad dressing, too. I didn't grow up eating Indonesian cuisine, so I can't attest to the authenticity of their food...but whatever satisfies my palate, I like.
Note to self: try the "Rijsttafel" next time! -
Review from H S.
Manhattan, NY
10/6/2011
I saw this place the other day walking down 9th ave and decided to checkout sometime when I had time for lunch.
Today was one of those days so decided to try them out. Got there around 01:15 PM and the whole place seemed emply but for 2 tables that were occupied, it wasn't a good sign.
Anyway grabbed a table and was given the Menu right away. I scanned thru the menu and asked the waiter what was the soup. I don't think he understood any english and mumbled pick what you want..... I was think of heading to the door when a waitress showed up with water.
I asked her what was the soup for today and she said "Chicken Clear soup". After few minutes she came to take my order, I ordered the Kari Sayur (veg curry) with the salad and a place of Roti Chanai with veg sauce.
The Roti was from an instant package that they had just thrown on the stove ( I know where to buy a pack of 5 for 4.99 $), the sauce seemed to ve flavoured coconut milk (not good). The salad came next and wasn't fresh at all, it was wilted and definitly indicated to have been pre cut and in the refrigrator for hours...
Then came my main course with a spring roll. The spring roll was soggy. At least they had served a decent bowl of rice that was warm and freshly cooked. The Veg curry was alright and did have a bit of a sour taste, quite different from the malaysian places where I have had the similar curry. Overall a way below average meal for 14$ incuding tip.
What was worse was that the waitress screwed up my check by giving me 1$ instead of 6$ which I pointed out.... she said that she was sorry and I left her a 15% tip and will definitly not return to this place in the near future. -
Review from Diana L.
San Francisco, CA
9/25/2008
Fact: I am Indonesian-Chinese.
Fiction: Bali Nusa Indah serves authentic Indonesian food.
Fact: Gado-Gado is made with boiled cabbage, hard boiled egg, bean sprouts, string beans, sprinkled with fried garlic, krupuk udang (prawn crackers), sliced carrots, sliced cucumber, and seasoned with
Fiction: Gado-Gado is made with romaine lettuce, tomatoes, frozen carrots, and steamed tofu. It felt like the airplane version of my true love of a salad.
Fact: Ikan Pepes is a steamed fillet of fish wrapped in banana leaves with very few additives and basic indonesian chili and spices.
Fiction: Ikan Pepes is served curry style, with tomatoes, onions, green peppers, and slices of fish. What is this, sweet and sour fish? NO. Wrong country.
And this is the only fact-fact that inspired me to another star - their take-out is faaaast and when I stood around to order, the server poured me a glass of iced water and offered me a seat. It certainly made my hungry out-of-town self feel just a little better. -
Review from Philine v.
New York, NY
12/2/2007
Having had a mother who was born and raised on Java, when it was the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia), I am extremely familiar with this cuisine. I cook it myself periodically (a lot of work, for most of the dishes!), for myself, for friends -- it's a much sought-after dinner party invitation!
I discovered Bali Nusa Indah many years ago -- a voice teacher I studied with was a few blocks away. Hungry after my lesson (what else is new?), I walked along 9th Avenue and came across this place and decided to try it. I surprised my waiter by ordering the dishes in Indonesian -- I took after the Dutch side of the family, not the Indonesian/Eurasian -- and explained my background.
The food was wonderful, and quite authentic. I've never had a problem with service, and have brought many friends to Bali Nusa to introduce them to the cuisine, in varying sizes of parties (including 20, which was not a problem). Yes, it's a little short on space, but so are most restaurants in New York City. You want space? Go to the suburbs and eat at Olive Garden..... -
Review from Malcolm O.
New York, NY
2/5/2008
I am Indonesian so I think it's safe to say I know what authentic Indonesian food should be like.
I ordered a bunch of appetizers/sides: Perkedel Jagung, Kroket Ayam, and Terong Belado. I enjoyed the Terong (eggplant).. but the Perkedel and Kroket didn't taste authentic nor good. The sauces helped to improve the taste though.
I also ordered: Nasi Goreng Ikan Asin and Rendang Padang.
I gave the Nasi Goreng (fried rice) a chance cause it's supposed to be different from typical fried rice (I never understand people who order fried rice.. it's like ordering garlic bread as an entree if you ask me). It was supposed to have salted fish.. but I did not taste any salted fish, and other than the overpowering taste of garlic, the rest of it was just plain fried rice. Definitely disappointing. The Rendang was also just OK -- the meat was tough and the overall it wasn't anything spectacular.
I might give this place a chance again during lunch (when it's cheaper) and try other dishes... but so far I'm disappointed. -
Review from Scott R.
3/8/2007
Doesn't look like much from the outside but this is a pretty damn good Indonesian place. For those not familiar with Indonesian food, it's like a combination of Indian (Ind-) and Southeastern Asian (-onesian?).
The roti canai was tasty. The curry dipping sauce wasn't quite as good as I've had in Malaysian restaurants but the bread/pancake was very good.
The $7.50 lunch special comes with free salad or soup, rice, and one of 20 dishes. I found the Ayam Opor (Chicken w/ Coconut Milk) to be good, didn't care for the Ayam Pelecing (Chicken in a Chili/Onion sauce) but the Kare Kambing (Indonesian Lamb Curry) was fantastic. Reminded me most of Indian food but didn't feel quite as heavy. The Nasi Goreng is Indonesian fried rice - the difference b/w this and, say, Chinese Fried rice is in name only. I probably wouldn't re-order the chicken dishes, maybe on the fried rice but hell yeah on the lamb.
The accompanying salad w/ peanut-based dressing was very good.
Delivery took 30 minutes in the middle of the work day.
9th ave is known for its Thai food but good to know there's some other good Asian options...Listed in: Midtown West Lunch
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Review from Michael K.
Scotch Plains, NJ
8/10/2008
I have never visited Indonesia, however, I am familiar with Dutch-style Indonesian food, commonly available in the major cities of Holland, where I have eaten it numerous times, and on the islands of the Netherlands Antilles, particularly Curacao, which also has a couple of very good Indonesian restaurants. I absolutely love this cuisine, and so I was anxious to try this NYC restaurant.
The space is claustrophobic, but aside from that, the food was not of the quality that I was expecting. The dishes I ate were not memorable. it wasn't horrible, I didn't get sick. However, everything was pretty mediocre, and not what I hoped for from a big-city Indonesian restaurant.
You would probably have a more satisfying meal at a good Thai restaurant in the area. -
Review from Jim B.
11/14/2008
Not too many places in NYC where you can get Rijstaafel.. I did not try it on my first visit since I was dining alone.
Some people would see a sign saying Indonesian Restaurant and keep walking. I saw it, crossed the street and tried it for lunch. I tried the shrimp curry which was fine in my book, had some interesting heat but not as spicy as Thai. I also had what the waitress called "chicken broth" - she did not mention the chilis, ginger, scallion, rice noodles - anyway it was very good.
I don't have a clue about this cuisine but I will try anything once. I liked the place, good service, cheap prices at lunch, food was a nice change of pace. I would go again. -
Review from Keiko T.
New York, NY
2/25/2010 1 photo
I was so excited to try this place by reading many good reviews from people who have some Indonesia-related background.
My friend and I shared Fried Bean Curd w/ Onion, Garlic & Chili, Chicken Curry, Nashi Goreng (Indonesian fried rice).
Our most favorite dish of the night was actually the Bean Curd which we ordered as appetizer. It reminded of Chinese shrimp in chili tomato sauce. The tomato sauce with minced onion has a nice kick of spice and goes well with bean curd.
Second runner-up was the Chicken Curry. The sauce was rich and creamy. The chicken was not really tender but a little dry.
Nashi Goreng was a little disappointing. I thought this dish always comes with a sunny-side-up egg, but maybe not...? I had friends from Indonesia in my college, and they cooked it much better. Probably it was just better bc it's got more of a home-cooking taste.
Overall, the food was not bad, their service and portion of the food is decent. I still would like to come back and try more food here to find something good. Next time I will try something more adventurous than those typical ones.
