We’ve come to a point where we have everything we could ever ask for under the culinary sun in Jakarta, but what of the capital’s satellite cities Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi? This listicle compiles all that’s fresh and deservedly hyped on the outskirts of Jakarta, whether they’re expansions of F&B establishments we’ve come to love in the capital, or places unique to the satellite cities.
First, we go to the Greater Tangerang Area, encompassing Tangerang City, Tangerang Regency, and South Tangerang City. The latter two’s insane middle class boom in the past few years have attracted some of the biggest names in the F&B scene, which, in turn, have given independent establishments the chance to flourish as well. From Alam Sutera to Bintaro and beyond, here are our top picks.
This listicle will be periodically updated, so check in from time to time!
Zibaa
The food and the decor at Zibaa are ostentatious in the absolute best meaning of the word. Never in our wildest dreams did we imagine we would ever find a restaurant that so beautifully fusions Indian, Mediterranean, Persian and Indonesian tastes in Gading Serpong. The dishes here are small (and affordable!) as the restaurant encourages you to explore its menu, but we have yet to find fish tacos anywhere near as good in all of Jakarta. Wash it all down with chai masala or mango lassi, depending on your mood.
Zibaa is located here. Official Instagram: @zibaa.indonesia
Croco by Monsieur Spoon
It’s fair to say that Bali’s famous French bakery Monsieur Spoon has been well received since it opened its first Jakarta café in May 2021, because it has gone on to open five more since. Not only that, it has launched a chain of sister cafés called Croco, one of which recently opened in Alam Sutera’s Living World mall. Croco may be less glamorous than Monsieur Spoon, but its pastry is equally top notch. Do give Croco’s Croger (Croissant Burger) a try.
Croco (Alam Sutera) is located here. Official Instagram: @cro.co.id
Five Monkeys Burger
You may have heard of Five Monkeys Burger as the chain from Bali that was named one of the world’s best burger joints a few years ago. Well, the chain has moved out of the Island of Gods as it establishes an empire in Java. That includes restaurants in Jakarta and Serpong, all of which offer the same fat, juicy homemade burgers that we loved in Kuta. Also, don’t miss out on the onion rings.
Five Monkeys Burger (Serpong) is located here. Official Instagram: @fivemonkeysburger
Sushi Masa
Sushi Masa in Muara Baru, Pluit may indeed top many best sushi lists in Jakarta, and it’s one of those restaurants that feels so exclusive that few expected it would branch out. Gading Serpong is once again the winner here as Sushi Masa opened its second restaurant at SMT Food Plaza earlier this year. Reviews for its wait staff were less than kind due to a jittery soft opening period, but the food is as exemplary as one would expect from Sushi Masa.
Sushi Masa (Gading Serpong) is located here. Official Instagram: @sushimasa_id
Max’s Vegan Pizza
Its meat and cheese may not be “real”, but the pizza delight absolutely is at Max’s Vegan Pizza. The plant-based pizza chain by healthy food connoisseurs Burgreens is serving South Tangerang by the slice or the whole pie out of Bintaro’s “pocket park” Willow Habitat. For us, you can never go wrong with a Truffle Mushroom Pizza.
Max’s Vegan Pizza (Bintaro) is located here. Official Instagram: @maxpizza.id
Crematology Coffee Roasters
We raved about Crematology when we included it in our listicle for the best Jakarta cafés with intense brews. Our opinion stands for its Serpong branch. Check out the café’s in-house blend, combining prime arabica beans from around the world as well as right here in Indonesia, and stay for the delectable meals.
Crematology (Serpong) is located here. Official Instagram: @crematology
Turning Point Coffee
A literal stone’s throw away from Crematology is the super popular and highly acclaimed Turning Point Coffee. This café does everything right when it comes to brews and food, but it’s a clear standout in terms of its interior design, which has the uncanny ability to transport you to a place of magical tranquility. Oh, and the café is totally obsessed with whales.
Turning Point Coffee is located here. Official Instagram: @turningpointcoffee
Hot Stuff
What the cluck would this listicle be without a fried chicken restaurant? Thankfully, one of the capital’s spiciest and finest, Hot Stuff, has opened a branch in Gading Serpong, tempting you to add “fire” to your order. The chain also recently began serving fried chicken and waffles (in admirable fashion, we might add), though we recommend to tone down the spice for that particular dish so you don’t overpower the maple syrup.
Hot Stuff (Gading Serpong) is located here. Official Instagram: @hotstuff.chicken
Pizza Place
Thank the heavens that Kemang’s beloved Pizza Place has been slowly expanding out of the hip neighborhood. Once again, the people of Gading Serpong are the lucky beneficiaries after the New York-style pizza chain opened up a few months ago. The Gading Serpong branch may lack the charm of the Como Park joint, but the ample breathing room in the restaurant more than makes up for it. As for the pizzas, as always, Pizza Place delivers.
Pizza Place (Gading Serpong) is located here. Official Instagram: @pizza_place
Lyma
Arguably the juiciest entry we have on this listicle. At Lyma, the slow smoked beef brisket (grilled over 14 hours, they say) is the star of the show, whether you let it melt in your mouth as the meat gods intended or put it in your burger or tacos. Parking constraints aside, Lyma’s Bintaro joint is also an excellent hangout spot.
Lyma (Bintaro) is located here. Lyma is also available for delivery only in Serpong. Official Instagram: @lyma.jkt
Paris Baguette
Like Monsieur Spoon, Paris Baguette wasted no time expanding in and around Jakarta after opening its first Indonesian store just last year. Now, a store in Summarecon Mall Serpong (SMS) has become one of seven for the famous South Korean bakery chain, offering French-inspired items with a touch of Korean tastes.
Paris Baguette (Serpong) is located here. Official Instagram: @parisbaguette_id
Roti Kebanggaan Gading Serpong
Roti Kebanggaan Gading Serpong prides itself as a purveyor of roti jadul, which roughly translates to “classic bread,” referring to traditional buns filled with the likes of red bean paste that’s beloved by boomers and millennials during their respective childhoods. Here, the buns are delightfully soft, but without annoyingly sticking to the ceiling of your mouths the way less premium roti jadul does.
Roti Kebanggaan Gading Serpong is located here and here. Official Instagram: @8ungsubakery
One Fifteenth
One of the capital’s pioneers for specialty coffee now has six stores throughout the Greater Jakarta area, one of which is in Alam Sutera. The café is spacious and work-friendly, and you can always expect meticulously crafted brews from a coffee shop whose name is a direct reference to an ideal coffee-to-water ratio.
One Fifteenth (Alam Sutera) is located here. Official Instagram: @115coffee
