Colorful Xiao Long Bao - Paradise Dynasty Jakarta

2 weeks ago, my colleagues and I went to try the "all you can eat" for xiao long bao (Shanghai dumpling) at Paradise Dynasty. It was a day promotion from 10 am to 4 pm and costed only Rp. 68.000.

Since it was our first time here, we went for the sampling basket (normal price is Rp. 88.000 for the 8 flavors). 8 signature xiao long bao flavors: original, garlic, ginseng, foie gras, black truffle, cheese, crab roe, and Szechuan.

Red chili, raw garlic and ginger.

The normal price for original xiao long bao is Rp. 65.000 for a basket of 6 and Rp. 88.000 for a basket of 10 , while the exotic premium xiao long bao like the black truffle, foie gras and ginseng are Rp.88.000 for a basket of 6 and Rp. 118.000 for a basket of 10.

Black Truffle, Crab Roe, Foei Gras and Garlic were really good, thus we ordered them again. Three of us agreed that the Cheesy and Ginseng didn't suit our liking.

Black Truffle.

Foei Gras.

Crab.

Szechuan.

Not spicy at all as expected.

All prices are subjected to tax and service charge.

Current currency:

1 USD = Rp. 11.700

Location:
Paradise Dynasty
Central Park, Level LG Unit 139-140.
Jl. Let. Jend. S. Parman Kav. 28.
Jakarta Barat
Tel: 29200351

Disclaimer: The review and opinion expressed here are purely according to my personal taste. There's a possibility that the taste of the food might change later on, which could affect the review and opinion here. I also affirm that no monetary or non-monetary compensation has been received from this restaurant for writing this review.

May Star, Central Park Mall

There are four May Star restaurants in Jakarta and one in Bandung, but so far, I've only eaten in Central Park mall. Most of the time, this restaurant is crowded especially in the weekends. What I usually order is the dim sum but sometimes, I also like to order from the a la carte menu.

Here is the list of dim sum:

Rice noodle roll with pork (chiong fan chasiew) - Rp. 19.800

Phoenix claws (fengzhao) Kaki Ayam Lada Hitam - Rp. 19.800

Shumai (siew mai) - Rp. 20.800

Xiaolongbao - Rp. 20.800

Steamed pork spare ribs (paigu) with fermented bean (tausi) - Rp. 20.800

Sweet salted egg buns (bao telor asin manis) - Rp. 21.800

Inside the bun, the salted egg yolk.

Har gow (shrimp dumplings) Hakaw - Rp. 22.800

Haam Seoi Gaau ( shrimp & chopped veggie dumpling) - Rp. 20.800

Lotus leaf  rice (lo mar kai) -Rp. 37.600

Sticky rice with egg yolk, dried scallop, mushroom, water chestnut and pork.

Rice noodle roll with youtiao (chiong fan cakwe) - Rp. 19.800

Fried taro cake (wu tau gou) Lobak goreng - Rp. 18.800

From the a la carte menu:

Corn, asparagus and crab soup - Rp. 36.000

Fried pork ribs with sesame seed - Rp. 108.000

Fried rice with garlic - Rp. 38.000

Pickels - Rp. 20.000

 All prices subjected to tax and service charge.

Current currency: 

1 USD = Rp. 9.700

Location:
May Star Restaurant
Central Park Mall
Lower Ground
Jl. Letjen S. Parman Kav. 28
West Jakarta
Tel: 569 85422

Disclaimer: The review and opinion expressed here are purely according to my personal taste. There's a possibility that the taste of the food might change later on, which could affect the review and opinion here. I also affirm that no monetary or non-monetary compensation has been received from this restaurant for writing this review.

Rumah Makan Krekot d/h Kuo Thie

It's been already 10 years ago when I had lunch in this old Chinese restaurant. Rumah Makan Krekot means literally Krekot Restaurant because it is located in the Krekot area; more precisely behind Metro Pasar Baru in Central Jakarta. It is famous for their dumplings (Kuo Tie).

Nothing changes much, the decor inside the restaurant is still the same.

 Kuo Thie - Rp. 50.000

Traditional Shandong's pan fried dumplings. A bit disappointed because it didn't taste as good as I remembered. Beside the fried dumplings were fried until very dark brown and I personally prefer them on the light brown side.

Garlic sauce, Chili sauces.

Bihun Goreng - Rp. 45.000

The fried vermicelli tasted delicious just like in the old days. I even bought another portion to bring it home for my mom.

Liang Tea - Rp. 10.000

 Current Currency:

1 USD = Rp. 9.600

Location:
Rumah Makan Krekot 
d/h Kuo Thie
Jl. Krekot Bunder Raya No. 14
Pasar Baru
Central Jakarta
Tel: 384 3972 / 386 4073

Disclaimer: The review and opinion expressed here are purely according to my personal taste. There's a possibility that the taste of the food might change later on, which could affect the review and opinion here. I also affirm that no monetary or non-monetary compensation has been received from this restaurant for writing this review.

Gyoza Oriental Cuisine

A couple weeks ago, some food bloggers planned to meet up for lunch together with Njomany - a comic writer and food lover (but not yet become a food blogger). He recommended to try one of his old time favorite restaurants named Gyoza.

It came to my surprise when I arrived at the Gyoza restaurant and found it out that it's a Chinese restaurant instead of a Japanese restaurant. Well, I think the name of Gyoza is a bit misleading since it  Japanese word for dumpling. Why not use the Chinese word for dumpling such as Ziao Ji, Suikiaw or Guo Tie? It just makes me wonder until now... Hmmm....

Overall, my opinion of the food in this restaurant is decent.

Gyoza - Rp. 63.000 (for 10 pieces)
Fried dumplings

Boiled dumplings

Ayam Pedas (Sauteed Chicken with Dried Chili) - Rp. 83.000

I was already a bit afraid when we ordered the spicy chicken because I can't stand chili. Lucky for me, it's not spicy at all but then I guess for others who expected a spicy dish, it might become a disappointment.

Kulit Tahu Rebung - Rp. 63.000

Most of us think this dish is the highlight of the lunch.

Mantau (Chinese buns) - @ Rp. 14.000

Fried - nice crispy.

 Steamed

Sapi Dingin Ketimun - Rp. 88.000
(Beef in Chinese Herbs with Cucumber served cold)

Nasi Goreng Udang Pancet (King size Tiger Prawn Fried Rice)- Rp. 110.000

I could love this tasty over expensive fried rice but unfortunately, it was sodium overloaded!

All prices subject to 5% service charge and 10% government tax

Current Currency:

1 USD = Rp. 9.500

Location:
Gyoza Oriental Cuisine Restaurant
Menara Anugrah
Kantor Taman E 3.3. Unit C7
Jl. Mega Kuningan Lot. 8.6-8.7
Kawasan Mega Kuningan
South Jakarta
Tel: 57942290

Disclaimer: The review and opinion expressed here are purely according to my personal taste. There's a possibility that the taste of the food might change later on, which could affect the review and opinion here. I also affirm that no monetary or non-monetary compensation has been received from this restaurant for writing this review.

Super Suikiaw 董华饺子馆

One of the most memorable food that I used to eat when I lived in Beijing, China is Jiao Zi (饺子); here in Indonesia, it's known as Suikiaw. It's like almost every week, I had Jiaozi for my meal and yes, I'd never have enough of Jiaozi :)

Jiaozi is divided into 3 types: Boiled called Shui Jiao (水餃), Steamed called Zheng Jiao (蒸餃), Fried called Guo Tie (鍋貼). Sometimes, people got mixed up between Jiaozi and Wonton. Jiaozi has thicker skin and the ingredients of the skin are also different. Besides, Jiaozi usually is eaten with dipping sauce.

So far, I couldn't find any restaurant in Jakarta that can prepare  Jiaozi as authentic as the ones I ate in Beijing, until last week! I visited this Super Suikiaw restaurant in Mangga Besar area with my colleague who studied also in China. We couldn't agree more how delicious the Jiaozi here!

There are a lot of Japanese, Chinese and Korean expatriates eating in this restaurant.

The owner, her name is Dong Hoa (董华) and comes from Shandong,  a province in the East region of China. She also owns restaurants in her hometown and in Bali.

The making of Jiaozi

Put the filling in a round piece of dough, fold in half, and pinch along the semicircle. Then, it can be steamed, boiled or fried.

For the filling, customers can choose meat filling (pork, beef, lamb, chicken, seafood - fish, oyster, crab, squid, shrimp, etc.), vegetable filling (garlic chives, coriander leaves, paprika, eggplant, seaweed, tomato, lotus, etc.).

Shuijiao (水餃 - Boiled dumplings)- Rp. 40.000/ portion

The filling: pork, shrimp and garlic chives

 Guotie (鍋貼 - Fried dumplings) - Rp. 40.000

The dipping sauce is made from soy sauce with vinegar, rice wine and chopped garlic.

 Zha Jiang Mian (炸酱面) - Rp. 28.000

Another dish that I love to eat in Beijing especially during cold nights. Zhajiangmian is thick wheat noodles with stir fried ground pork and salty fermented soybean paste, topped with shredded cucumber. 

The Hoisin sauce aroma was pretty strong and there's also a peppery kick. I ate it with black vinegar. Yummy!!!

Xiao Long Bao (小笼包  - steamed dumplings) - Rp. 28.000

Xiaolongbao is similiar to the steamed Jiaozi except it has gelatin pork and also for the appearance, it's different than Jiaozi. The skin is pinched at the top.

I was hoping for the juice of gelatin pork when I bite but it's only the juicy pork.

Current currency: 1 USD = Rp. 9.400

Definitely, I'll come back again for the Jiaozi!!!

Location:
Super Suikiaw 董华饺子馆
Jl. Mangga Besar Raya 3B Kota
Jakarta Barat
Tel. 0815 74648999, 0815 13422703
Opening hours: 10 am - 1 am (Mon - Sun, Public holidays)

Disclaimer: The review and opinion expressed here are purely according to my personal taste. There's a possibility that the taste of the food might change later on, which could affect the review and opinion here. I also affirm that no monetary or non-monetary compensation has been received from this restaurant for writing this review.