Indonesian food is a woefully underrepresented and little-discussed cuisine that deserves more of the limelight in Hong Kong.
The majority of Hong Kong’s 104,000-strong Indonesian community is represented by foreign domestic helpers, sourcing their spicy and meaty cuisine on the streets of Hong Kong.
Whilst you can find good Indonesian food in the ethnically rich neighbourhoods of Sham Shui Po, Yuen Long, and Tsim Sha Tsui, Causeway Bay is the ‘hood that Hong Kong’s second-largest ethnic minority group has affectionately branded “Little Indonesia”.
For great-value meals in a bustling environment, head to Kampoeng Chandra, where the menu is plentiful with Indonesian classics like beef rendang (curry), nasi lemak (rice with meat and sambal), and bakso lobster (lobster soup).
Win’s Indonesian Restaurant, located across the street from Kampoeng and neighbouring Pandan Leaf Indonesian Restaurant, serves the classics with a homestyle feel. Their nasi kuning campur (yellow rice with sides) is top-notch, featuring an assortment of salty and spicy meat and vegetable dishes.
On street level, down the road from Win’s, is Warung Chandra, a humble Indonesian kitchen that infuses their dishes with creamy coconut and peppery chilli. Go-to plates include their rich gado-gado (mixed salad with peanut dressing), nasi bebek penyet lalap (rice with fried duck), nasi ayam kremes (rice with fried chicken and spiced crunch), and chicken satay.
