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!

Marche Christmas

Holaa! Feliz Navidad!

So last weekend, me, my sister – @noviabenny and her fiance – @yondythong had a Christmas Dinner at Marche, and it’s awesomeeee! Heard about it a few times and looking at the location and the always-there crowd, I always have the impression this place is one of those fancy restaurants with ceiling-high price, definitely not my everyday eatery! But hey, It’s Christmas!

Being a first-timer, I was pleasantly surprised by the restaurant concept. Turns out it’s somewhat like a European food-court where each person will be given a card upon entering [forget to take a snap of this card] and there are lots of stalls selling different kinds of European delis: Pastas, Pizzas, Paellas [their Seafood paella was AMAZING!], Steaks, Pork Knuckle, Rosti [apparently their rosti is quite ell-known], Salads, Soups, Drinks, Cakes, etc!

Take a peek at what’s inside:

THE famous Swiss Rosti

THE star of the night, Seafood Paella

DAT SEAFOOD PAELLA THOOO….!!
That’s arguably the best paella in town, but legit the best one I’ve had! By default, it came with prawns, chicken and mussel, then the guy asked if we want to add pan-fried calamari for $2.5. YAAAASSS OF COURSE!! and I’m happy we did! Very flavorful and rice was nice & plump. Not the kind where the rice is mostly dry and stick to the pan.

Now you might or might not have heard [or read] people talking about their Rosti, and some even went to the extent of saying it’s like a compulsory thing, it feels like there’s something missing if you go to marche without ordering their famous rosti. so, of course, we got Ourself one too! With sausages! IMHO, I’d say it’s not worth the hype. I mean it’s okay, eatable. Not horrible but not amazing either. How did it taste like? Pan-fried small-cut potato. That’s about it.

Other than these two, we had Salmon Steak, Mushroom Soup, Garlic Bread, and the Tiramisu Cake as well as the lemon tea too! Most of them are – as expected – not bad. These things feed the three of us well. We're tempted to get the pork knuckle as well, but I’m glad we didn’t, or else it’ll be such a burden to finish.

If I am to come back, I will definitely say it’s the Paella!

OH! one more thing, despite having a nice ambiance, it was quite hard to take a well-lit picture in there. Perhaps it’s for you to enjoy the moment – be there, talk, catch up – instead of being busy taking pics.

Here’s a little video of our visit:

Merry Christmas!! Have a Blessed one!

Marché Mövenpick 313@somerset

313 Orchard Rd, Level 1, Discovery Walk,
313@somerset, 313@Somerset

Open until 11:00 PM

Average/Pax S$30-40

Follow me on Instagram @anthony.ali for more recent updates!

Merry Medley at Flower Dome

MERRY CHRISTMAAAASSSSS EVERYONEEEE....
YASSS... we're in the most wonderful time of the yeaaaarrrrrrr...
when Starbucks Redcup is everywhere, roads and shopping malls are ssssoo pretty full of Christmas decorations and lights, and of course, Christmas carols everywhere...

Have you visited Merry Medley at Flower dome by Gardens by The Bay???
I DID! and it was pretty...! [Hurry, it's only until 5Jan]

Here's the thing about Christmas decoration [or in this case, installations] they're pretty in bright day-light, but prettier by folds when the night comes -- talking about the magical feeling when those fairy lights shining in the dark. [Not to mention in a full air-conditioned dome, with christmas carols playing non-stop.

Now if you're like me -- love them both, but find it hard to take nice pics with the lights behind. I'd usually opt to take 'em while the sky's bright, and take some of the decorations itself when the sun's out. With this in mind, If you're planning to visit, i would strongly recommend you to come at around 4 or 5pm [like we did]. This way, you'll get to see the installation in bright day and night condition.

If you're a Singapore resident -- Singaporean, PR, and long-term pass holders -- you are entitled to buy the tickets at a local price [check the prices here]. Better yet, use your OCBC Card and enjoy a good 15% off of your ticket(s). In Our case, we choose to go to Flower Dome only -- cause they don't have any christmas installation in the cloud dome, and i've been there -- and the local price for single dome is S$12. with 15% OCBC discount, it's S$10.20 ONLY! #lovestruck

Here are our tickets:

However, for tourists, I wouldn't recommend buying the tickets on the spot. Take time and contact a travel agency, like seawheel here -- located at Chinatown. More likely than not you'll get better offer. Last time I checked, they sell a two-dome ticket at S$18 each [u.p. S$28 on the counter]. That's a direct S$10 off there..!

Here's some peeks:

sssooo pretty, yeah? 😍

Them reflections 🌌

PS: If you're going by MRT, make sure you alight at Bayfront station [not Marina Bay -- I know it's behind Marina Bay Hotel, but trust me. Bayfront.]

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