[ JAMBI ] My Favorite Foods!

It’s been 2 years since the last time I went back home to Jambi, my hometown. It was May 2013, if I recall. I kinda missed it, you know, being at home all day & do nothing. So last week, I made an unplanned trip to Jambi. It was very spontaneous, I swear! I just needed to renew my driving licence and I can’t do it elsewhere but in Jambi (yes it sucks), but at least I got a reason for this impromptu trip!

Going back home after years makes me feel good! Everything suddenly seems to be more interesting that it normally was. I ate a lot of local foods I can hardly find here in Jakarta or Bandung. And… I got to spend so much time with my parents. What could be even better, right?

And by the way, since I’m quite bored with my usual restaurant review posts, I decided to make a post about some of my favorite foods in Jambi, with a list of places of where you can have that particular food. Isn’t is awesome?!

Kopi AAA

First thing first, coffee! And what I mean by coffee (this time) is not that fancy latte I usually have at my favorite coffee shop. It’s the local coffee, brewed in a traditional way.

I like to have my Kopi AAA (it’s the famous local brand of coffee in Jambi) in a Kopitiam. You know, it’s a traditional coffee shop which you can easily find in Southeast Asia. Kopi (in Malay / Indo / Hokkien) means coffee and Tiam (in Hokkien) means shop. They usually sell something like kaya toast, coffee, tea, Milo, and egg. Yes, just like the one usually find in Singapore!

Sometimes, I like my coffee with Cakkue! Dip it to the coffee, and eat it right away.

Where to drink Kopi AAA in Jambi : 

• Bogor Baru (Pasar)
• Toko Kopi Ho Ho (Jl. Gatot Subroto)
• Gang Ria (Pasar)
• Kedai Kopi Hoki (Jelutung)

 

Mie Celor (Celor Noodle)

Mie Celor (celor noodle) is one of my favorite dish! It’s basically noddle served with coconut milk based soup. It’s said to be the specialty of Palembang (South Sumatra, Indonesia) but I found the one at Jambi and the one at Palembang a bit different. They use dried shrimp while cooking the soup, if I’m not mistaken. I prefer the one at Jambi, though. Perhaps because I grew up here, so it’s just perfect for my taste buds 😉

Where to eat Mie Celor in Jambi : 

• Sari Rasa (Simpang Jelutung)
• Jajanan SD Xaverius 1
• Mie Celor Hawa Jaya (Jln Sultan Agung No. 56)

Sate Padang

I know.. I know.. Sate Padang must be from Padang. And you can easily find it in another city like Jakarta or Bandung. But it just happened that I know some places selling good sate padang in Jambi. So whenever I go home, I always make sure to have this dish.

For those of you who have no idea what Sate Padang actually is, it’s basically beef satay (some vendor sells the chicken and lamb one as well), with this special yellow sauce made from spicy broth, garlic, curry powder, etc and rice flour. So it has this thick kind of texture.

I like to have mine with skin cracker (we call it Jangek)!

Where to eat Sate Padang in Jambi : 

• Sate Padang Gunung Tigo (Simpang Empat Rajawali)
• Sate Padang Mitra (Talang Banjar)

Pempek

Again, this dish is from Palembang city. It’s like a fishcake, but much more thicker. And you eat it with this sweet and sour sauce called cuka (vinegar sauce). Can’t stop eating this!

Where to eat Pempek in Jambi : 

• Pempek Asiong (Talang Banjar)
• Pempek Terang Bulan (Talang Banjar)
• Pempek Mega (Talang Banjar)

Mie Pangsit

Oh you don’t want to miss this when you’re in town. It’s noodle with pork (some use chicken) and soup. What makes the noodle in Jambi is much much better than the one at another city is, in my humble opinion, because of the sambal (chilli sauce)! Unlike the one at another city, the sambal in Jambi is very thick and has this red color. The one I usually find in Jakarta or Bandung is very watery.

Where to eat Mie Pangsit in Jambi : 

• Mie Akheng (Talang Banjar)
• Mie Ting An (Pasar)
• Gang Ria (Pasar)

Bakso

Bakso (beef meat ball) with savory broth on a rainy day? YES PLEASE!

Where to eat Bakso in Jambi : 

• Bakso Solo Pak Din (Dekat Simpang Jelutung)
• Bakso Royal (Depan Lorong Kamboja)
• Bakso H. Sukat

Soto

Oh this one is my dad’s favorite! It’s beef / lamb with milk-based soup. Best served with warm rice and crackers!

Where to eat Soto in Jambi : 

• Soto & Sate Kambing Tigo Saudara

Mie / Kwetiaw / Bihun

Whenever I go home, I always make sure I don’t skip this one. Kwetiau and Mie in Jambi is totally different with the one I found at Jakarta. It’s much much more savoury. And thicker. And remember about the sambal? The thick red one? That’s one of the best part.

Where to eat Mie / Kwetiaw / Bihun in Jambi : 

• R.M Lestari
• Mie Abu (Samping Daren)

Martabak Kari

Not my type of dish. But my mom like it very much. It’s like, what can I say.. uhm.. stuffed pancake? But the outer side is very crispy. And it has potato, meat, onion, garlic, etc inside. Served with curry sauce.

Where to eat Martabak Kari in Jambi :

• Martabak Roxy (Makalam)
• Martabak Mesir Muhajir (Talang Banjar)
• Martabak Har (Kampung Manggis)

 

Now here comes the BOMB.

Nasi Gemuk Jambi

Nasi Gemuk is basically rice cooked in coconut milk. And then, it’s served with this special sauce on top, boiled egg, and sweet tender beef. What makes it different with another version of Nasi Gemuk (like Nasi Lemak from Malaysia) is that sweet and savoury sauce on top! Numero uno. 

Where to eat Nasi Gemuk in Jambi :

• Gang Ria (Pasar)
• Bogor Baru (Pasar)
• Nasi Gemuk Seberang Saimen

Ah! There are still a lot of food to be featured! I really can’t wait to be home again! Till next time, my beloved Jambi!

 

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