Harum Manis @ Jakarta

“Sweets from Heaven”, the name of this restaurant translates to. But what attracted me of the longest satay grill I have ever seen on a dining table.

Welcomed by large wooden door similar to those used in Keraton Jogjakarta, the interior is such a feast for the eyes with elegant warm homey dining room vibes. As the name suggests, Harum Manis serves wide range of authentic Indonesian food, here are some of the signature or chef recommended dishes that we tried:

Tauhu Telur (Egg Tofu)

The classic Indonesia appetiser that originated in Java, the tauhu telur (egg tofu) is vegetarian friendly dish that is packed with proteins from the tofu and eggs. Along with some vegetables such as beansprouts, the tauhu telur is made flavourful with a sweet and nutty sauce made primarily with Indonesian sweet soy sauce and peanut butter. Here, it came with sambal for that extra kick.

Sup Buntut (Oxtail Soup)

I have a soft spot for oxtail soup, and these Indonesian style sup buntut hits the spot! Cooked in a clear vegetable broth that is seasoned with nutmeg and garnished with fried shallots, served with melinjo crackers, sliced lime, and sambal. The spices used were just right, not overpowering. The meat simply fell off the bone. And the sambal hijau (green chilli paste) provided the heat if you are up to it.

You get either turmeric rice or nasi kuning (yellow rice), or white steamed rice to go with the different dishes. The rice is from the local farmers and is starchier than the normal Thai jasmine rice that I was used too.

Tumis Kecipir (Stir Fry Winged Beans)

I was surprised that some of my guests had not tried this dish before but tumis kecipir (stir fry winged beans) was one of my favourite Indonesian vegetable right behind sengkong and petai. The crunchy texture was like cucumber but it had that okra taste. Coupled with the deep fried shallots and chilli, it was a good eat.

Asam Manis Ikan Jurung (Sweet and Sour Mahseer Fish)

Ikan Jurung is the Mahseer fish, otherwise known as Empurau or 忘不了. However due to the difference in the natural environment they grew up in, the freshwater fish is muddier than the variety in Sarawak. Hence it did not fetch the ridiculous price that one would pay for in Singapore for a really good Empurau. However at S$68 for this 1kg fish, it was still considered a luxe upgrade from the Gurame. Done sweet and sour taste to cover the muddiness, it was really tender and juicy, which makes me want to go try the Sarawakan version.

Sate Satu Meter (One-metre Satay)

There’s more than one metre of satay on parade here, so where do we start? Eight types of sate or satay (meat kebabs or skewers) that had been expertly grilled over charcoal fire were kept warm on a special griller with bites of amber underneath.

We were wowed both by the presentation and the taste, juicy tender meat with scrumptious seasoning and amazing smoky scent from grilling process using coconut charcoal. Served with peanut sauce and sweet soy sauce, if we have to choose, their Sate Lilit (fourth from right, minced beef wrapped around lemongrass), Sate Padang (second from right, served with a special curry sauce) and Sapi Wagyu (third from right) are our top favourites. The variety varies with the available of the raw materials.

Tongseng Kambing (Lamb Stew Tongseng-style)

Tongseng is an Indonesian goat meat, mutton or beef stew dish in curry-like soup, with vegetables and kecap manis (sweet sauce). Tongseng is commonly found in Indonesian region of Central Java.

This comfort food for many Javanese is best eaten with some rice as you do not want to miss any of the delicious sauce that comes with the casserole. However it was quite watery, so I didn’t bother with rice.

Durian Brûlée

And to round up a very good meal, a sweet dessert that’s not entire Indonesian except for the inclusion of durian puree in the creme brûlée. It was proper creme brûlée but I could not taste the durian until the very end. It could do with more durian puree.

Overall a very good place to entertain the clients because the decor matches up with the level of service. The food was very good when we were there, and everyone enjoyed the satay. I believe the rest of the grilled dishes would be as good, not so much for the cooked ones. Private rooms available for a secluded tête-à-tête if required.

Harun Manis Indonesian Restaurant
Pavilion Apartment Retail Arcade
Jl.KH.Mas Mansyur Kav. 24 Jakarta 10220
Tel : +62 21 5794 1727

Visited Sep 2023

@harunmanisjkt #harun.mani.jkt  #HarumManisJKT #TasteOfIndonesia #harumanis #harummanis #harummanisjkt