Thursday, July 23, 2009

Bakmi Asui - the best noodle yet

In honor of my dad's 4 yrs passing away, we went to eat noodles at his favorite restaurant called Bakmi Asui (Bakmi = noodles). This place is located in Tanjung Duren, Jakarta Barat.

Having been used to Bakmi Yanti in West Covina, tasting this was like heaven and earth. This literally is the best "karet" (chewy) noodles I've ever eaten! Then again, I haven't been in the country long enough to call it best, but it came pretty darn close. This is a type of noodles where the body is somewhat resilient, not soft like regular noodles, and is chewy by that standard thus earning the nickname "karet" or "rubber" noodles.

It has a deep, nutty flavor accented with sufficient herbs and and savory fish sauce. Fish sauce is an "umami" agent, otherwise known as the fifth taste, and once cooked or integrated in cooking it gives you that subtle, pleasant yet powerful savory flavors.

The best part of the dish comes from the thickly sliced, highly satisfying organic chicken cuts. We call this "Ayam Kampung" in Indonesia, where "Ayam" is chicken and "Kampung" is village. These are chickens raised organically, without hormones or additives and so are smaller and leaner than their factory-raised counterparts. They're a lot more expensive, of course, and our noodle bowls were filled to the brim with these chicken cuts. See for yourself.


The pot of gold: goodness chunks of thick sliced chicken over really dank noodles


The broth was serious yummy


Fried meatball and siomay

I observed a hectic kitchen where the workers were either skinning and cutting the chicken or boiling and working on the noodles. I was later told that they buy all fresh chickens and started cooking them at 3 in the morning. Pots and pots of them. They also make their own noodles using a secret ingredient list and method to achieve that rubbery taste. The noodles are served with these thick, deep-flavored chicken broth filled with meatballs or wontons.


Worker rifling freshly boiled noodles


Observe the pile of chicken in the large pot


This guy's job is to process the chicken. Why aren't you wearing gloves, dude?


Hectic kitchen where there were so many things going on at once

Asui noodles opens at 6 am every day and by 11am they'll run out of noodles and chicken, and closes the shop. EVERY DAY. Their volume is nuts. The restaurant has no signage and visible sign posts. I don't even know what street it's on, I can't find the street sign. It's a hole-in-the-wall shop. When I ask for a business card, they all look at me like I was some sort of lost tourist.


A non descript storefront, how the heck am I supposed to find this place again?

The closest street sign to that place is Jl. Tanjung Duren Barat #2. Here's how to get to Asui Noodles:

From Mall Taman Anggrek, go straight till you hit the bridge. Make left, then in 300m once you hit the Police precinct of Tanjung Duren turn right. First 3 way turn right, then first intersection make left. Asui Noodles is right on the hook.

OR

From the left of the Police precinct Tanjung Duren, turn left, straight till you hit 3 way. Asui Noodles is located right on the corner.

OR

Just ask people around that area. They all know where it's at. Asui Noodles has been in business for 30 years.



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1 comment:

I Valencia said...

OMG I sooo miss Bakmi Asui... The noodle! The broth! And that ridiculous something ball goreng... delicious! I will remember the taste as long as I live... And I'm sure Dad too :)