Palembang Food Trail - Part 1

Hi There! Blessed New year to you! 🎉
How’s your Christmas x New year holiday? Mine was… comforting!

Me, my bro [@harris_yang] and sis [@noviabenny] flew back to our beloved hometown [Palembang, South Sumatra, Indonesia] last Christmas, and we went crazy hopping around the town, mainly from eateries to eateries. So I thought I'd do a little recap sharing some of the eateries I’d recommend you to visit if – by any chance – you are visiting Palembang. This list is not in particular order. 🤓

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Pagi Sore

Assorted Padang Dishes.

Sounds familiar? Yes, it’s like the one we can find here in Singapore [haven't been there tho]. However, instead of being Indonesian Restaurant, back n my hometown they’re Nasi Padang restaurant. Now if you’re good at geography, you might realise that ‘Padang’ is a city itself and 'nasi padang from Palembang' might sound a bit off, but really. This is one of those place we – people living outside Palembang – go straight to off the airport.

As expected from any Padang Restaurant, they’re proud of their Rendang. My recommendation(s)? Try their Rendang, Ayam Bakar, Gulai Tunjang, Ayam Pop, and Jangek Siram.

Also, they have bottom-less rice, they charge you by plate/pax.

So go ahead, unleash your inner beast like I did [read: I always do]. 🙈

Price Range: idr.30-60K/pax

Pagi Sore
Address: Jalan Jend. Sudirman No.96D, Ilir Timur I, 20 Ilir D. I, Ilir Tim. I, Kota Palembang, Sumatera Selatan 30126, Indonesia
Phone: +62 711 323000
Hours: 7AM–9PM

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Pecel Lele Pak Jo

Cumi Goreng Tepung

This is another straight-from-the airport place. So usually, once you touchdown palembang, either you go here, or Pagi sore - depending on your craving, padang or javanese food.

My most favorite thing here - other than their sambal - would be the Cumi Goreng Tepung and Pecel Lele [DUH...?], runner ups are their Gudeg and Krecek! YAS their foods are nice but I really think people who come here are most likely come for the memories. Back in the day when I was little, there were not many good restaurants in town, we probably have only 1 or 2 good ones selling the same type of food. So everytime pecel lele comes to mind, this was the place to go!

ps: This is probably the most well-known and priciest pecel lele in town. Well, they're competing with street-food vendors. XD

Price Range: idr.30-50K/pax

Pecel Lele Pak Jo
Address: Jalan Demang Lebar Daun No.34, Kota Palembang, Sumatera Selatan 30151

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Pempek 888

Left to right: Pempek Kulit / Model Gandum

There are literally hundreds of places you can buy pempek from in Palembang. And usually there will also sell some other palembang food like Mie Celor, Tekwan, Model [not 'that' kind of model], etc. This particular place offers – in my opinion – great pempek, and the best 'Model Gandum' and probably 'Pempek Kulit'.

Now a little bit about these foods. in Palembang, model is a type of a soupy food. Generally there are 2 types of model, ikan [fish] - served with shrimp broth, and gandum [wheat] - fried, served with beef broth. Personally, I find their 'Model Gandum' especially nice because their fried 'model' are still crispy when you eat 'em. and the broth... 😍

Price Range: idr.30-50K/pax

Pempek 888
Address : Jl. Taman Kenten, Duku, Ilir Tim. II, Kota Palembang, Sumatera Selatan 30163, Indonesia
Phone : +62 878-9716-4924

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Hillside Resto

front to back: Pepes Tempoyak Belida / Pindang Kerupuk / Cumi Goreng Tepung / Gurame Cianjur.

Located right outside pempek 888, this place offers a range of local foods - meal-foods. Like the foods you eat with rice. Hillside specialises in Pindang [to make it simple - it's something like tomyum with a lot of local twist] and Pepes [another local dish where they have a piece of fish covered in spices, wrapped in banana leaves and grilled]. Both their pindang and pepes comes in 2 types. For pindang - Fish and Beef based. For Pepes - shallots and tempoyak [some kind of fermented durian] base. But hey, even their stir-fried kangkong is nice!

Personally I enjoyed [read: officially addicted to] their fish based pindang so much! SO much so I went back for another round while I was there.

Price Range: idr.60-80K/pax

Hillside Resto
Address: Jl. Taman Kenten No.18, Duku, Ilir Tim. II, Kota Palembang, Sumatera Selatan 30116, Indonesia
Phone: +62 711 5625578

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Bakmi Aloi

Bakmi Campur

Probably the most successful bakmi [mee, noodle] chain from Palembang with branches in Jakarta, Bandung, and Bogor. Not surprising tho, their noodles are ssssssooooo good! probably the best I've ever had. Visual-wise it's similar to wanton mee here in Singapore, but more flavourful. by folds.

In their HQ [no lah, not HQ.. I mean their 1st store in Palembang] here's how it goes. Once you walk in the shop, you order your noodle - toppings are ranging from Chasiu, Minced Pork, and Chicken. Then you proceed to choose what you want to be inside your soup, they have a spread of choices from pig's intestines, liver, heart, minced meatball, fried meatballs, fishballs, and many more! Then you walk to your seat and someone will come to take your drink order. Not long after, your noodle and soup will be delivered to you and there you go!

Personally, I love their bakmi campur [minced meat and chasiu noodle] with fried meatball and minced meatball soup. and oh! they have free flow crispy fried lard on each tables. 😏

Price Range: idr.40-60K/pax

Bakmi Aloi
Address: JL. Dempo Luar, No. 410 A, Palembang, South Sumatera, 15 Ilir, Ilir Timur I, Palembang City, South Sumatra 30111, Indonesia
Phone: +62 711 354934

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Pempek Dollar

Model Ikan

Probably the best in town.

Whenever I’m back in town and craving for some plate of shrimp-y ‘model ikan’, this is where I’m going. A humble eatery in an alley [sort of] - no fancy place or plating [they don’t even have aircon] but I find it ssoo comforting-ly good. Also, despite the place, this is probably one of the priciest pempek store in town.

There are only 3 menus available, pempek panggang, pempek lenggang, and model ikan! I believe they're commiting on selling only their best, that being said - all three are ssssoooowww guuudddd!! 👍🏻 👍🏻 👍🏻 👍🏻

Waroeng Pempek Dollar
Address: Jl. Dempo Dalam No.918C, 15 Ilir, Ilir Tim. I, Kota Palembang, Sumatera Selatan 30111, Indonesia
Phone: +62 851-0239-3733
Hours: 10AM-6PM

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And yeap, those are some of my recommendations on where to eat in Palembang. I'll be sharing the part 2 somewhere around next week. Till then, stay blessed..!

Also, say Hi and follow me on Instagram @anthony.ali for more updates!