Kosupa Travel

Rendang, one of Indonesia’s most representative dishes, can be described in a word as spiced braised beef with a melt-in-your-mouth texture. It’s characterized by its rich, deep flavor created by slow-cooking beef with spices and coconut milk. While it originated as a regional dish from Padang on Sumatra Island, it has now become a global food loved by gourmets worldwide, even ranking first in CNN’s World’s Best Foods list in 2017.

You can enjoy rendang not only in Padang city but throughout Indonesia. Particularly in Jakarta, the economic center, you can experience various rendang offerings, from specialized restaurants to street food stalls.

Today, we’ll introduce the TOP 5 rendang restaurants in Jakarta recommended by locals. This ranking was created through a hybrid approach, combining local community surveys and our team’s actual visits to verify the reputation of each establishment. Please note that this ranking may include some personal opinions and biases!

5th Place: Sari Bundo

Ranking fifth is Sari Bundo, one of Indonesia’s most popular Padang restaurant chains, known for its reasonable prices and high-quality dishes. Since opening its first store in 1967, it has expanded throughout Indonesia and now operates dozens of restaurants.

They offer dozens of Padang dishes, including Sambal Goreng and Padang-style grilled fish, but their rendang is exceptional. Sari Bundo’s rendang has a relatively sweet and salty flavor profile with a darker color. Despite being made with lean beef, it has a clean, light taste that doesn’t linger. Personally, I think this is the quintessential local rendang taste, but those who have only experienced the curry-like retort rendang popular in Japanese stores like MUJI might be surprised (rendang is definitely not curry!!). This rendang is especially recommended for those who enjoy strong flavors!

Sari Bundo Official Website: https://www.saribundo.biz/

4th Place: Restoran Sederhana

Coming in at fourth place is the national chain Padang restaurant, Restoran Sederhana. Sederhana is a Padang restaurant chain that operates over 100 locations across Indonesia and Malaysia, established in 1972. Domestically, it’s categorized as a fast-food chain and has been featured in journals like the Jakarta Post as “Indonesia’s most popular fast-food brand,” demonstrating its remarkable popularity.

Despite being fast food, the taste is authentic. This consistent deliciousness is what backs up its immense popularity. Rendang is one of their main products, available for both dine-in and takeout at some locations. Their rendang tends to be less fatty with a light, dry texture. Even within Indonesia, opinions are quite divided on this dry taste – people either love it or hate it.

By the way, if you’re visiting a Padang restaurant for the first time, be careful as you’ll almost certainly be confused by the system. At Padang restaurants, once you’re seated, the waiter will lay out a full spread of dishes on your table. You should then transfer what you want to eat onto your rice plate.

Note that the bill is calculated based on the number of dishes you touched, not the total amount eaten. If you take small portions of many different dishes, the bill might end up higher than expected, so be careful!

Sederhana Official Website: https://www.restoransederhana.id/

3rd Place: Karya Minang Jaya

Taking the bronze medal is the hidden gem, Karya Minang Jaya. While it’s also a Padang restaurant chain, it’s not as well-known as the other establishments featured in this article, making it more of a local favorite. Nevertheless, it maintains strong popularity among locals, and its rendang, in particular, is said to be exceptional.

Their rendang is characterized by beef that’s been stewed until it falls apart, combined with rich spice flavors. It’s personally one of my favorite rendangs.

By the way, “Minang” in the restaurant’s name refers to the ethnic group from the Padang region. Padang cuisine is sometimes called Minang cuisine, showing how inseparable Padang culture and Minang are.

2nd Place: Seribu Rasa

The prestigious second place goes to Seribu Rasa, popular among Japanese visitors as well. Unlike the more casual establishments introduced so far, this restaurant is a bit more expensive, but the interior and atmosphere are superb (resembling a Balinese resort) and perfect for a relaxed dining experience. It’s highly regarded not only by locals but also by Japanese tourists and expats, and is frequently used by Japanese companies’ local offices for business dining and entertaining. It’s a relatively new brand that opened in 2008 and now has 10 domestic locations.

Their rendang is particularly refined and appeals to Japanese tastes. The beef is cooked until extremely tender, offering an excellent mouthfeel that melts on your tongue. The flavor balances spices and fat content well, being fragrant yet not too strong – a well-balanced taste. This is the perfect place for first-time rendang experiences.

By the way, if you visit Seribu Rasa, you must try their Sate Ayam (Indonesian-style grilled chicken). This place is truly an all-rounder, with everything being delicious, but their Sate Ayam is especially exceptional. Enjoy various Indonesian dishes in this sophisticated space.

Official Website: https://arenacorp.com/restaurant/seribu-rasa.html

1st Place: Rumah Makan Pagi Sore

And the glorious first place goes to RM Pagi Sore! Personally, I have no objections to this ranking, and this establishment dominated the local resident survey!

By the way, Rumah Makan (or RM) means “restaurant” in Indonesian, so I’ll omit it from here on.

Pagi Sore is a Padang restaurant chain established in 1989, boasting numerous awards including the Weekender Food Mania Awards. Their rendang has become so popular nationwide that it could be considered their signature dish.

Their rendang’s taste is incredibly rich with a powerful punch! While providing fragrant spices and a melt-in-your-mouth texture with depth, it takes a different approach from the refined Seribu Rasa. It has a rich flavor that seems to say, “This is what humans instinctively crave!” Rather than being greasy, the beef is so well-cooked it becomes paste-like, creating an indistinct boundary with the fat.

The only downside to this amazing Pagi Sore is that we repeatedly struck out when trying to visit various locations – some were temporarily closed, or the Google Maps information was inaccurate with non-existent locations. Although it was discouraging in the intense heat and sweat, we eventually managed to find our way into Pagi Sore and replenish our minerals through rendang. Since Google Maps can be unreliable in Indonesia, make sure to research thoroughly before heading to any restaurant.

By the way, Pagi Sore sells rendang by the kilogram. Long-term visitors should consider buying in bulk! (Note: bringing rendang into Japan is prohibited, so be careful!)

Official Website: http://www.pagi-sore.com/

Ultimately, Go to Padang

How did you find our introduction to Jakarta’s five best rendang restaurants? While there are many other attractive Padang restaurants in Jakarta beyond those introduced here, you won’t have trouble finding good food during your trip. However, locals unanimously say that “nothing compares to Padang’s rendang.” If you’ve fallen in love with rendang in Jakarta or Bali, make sure to visit Sumatra’s Padang to taste authentic rendang at its source!