Warung Bu Ageng

Warung Bu Ageng is a traditional eatery that sells story and authenticity. It is owned by Butet Kartaredjasa who comes from well-known artist-culturalist family in Yogyakarta. The restaurant is named after Umar Kayam's wife (that makes her Butet's aunt). Bu Ageng is her nickname.

Decoration on one side of the wall

Warung Bu Ageng was founded in tourism area, Jl. Tirtodipuran - Mantrijeron Yogyakarta, just across the street from Jl. Prawirotaman. Along those streets you can find many guest houses, hotels, restaurants, art shops and souvenirs (such as Monggo chocolate and batik).

I successfully convinced my father to have family meal here. Serving Javanese home-cooked food, this restaurant immediately stole my parents' heart. The signature dish is Eyem Penggeng (Broiled Chicken a la Umar Kayam), smeared with the famous "bumbu mlekoh". The free-range chicken is first simmered with traditional spices & thick coconut cream and then broiled.

It should be called ayam panggang -- which is known as special food from near town Klaten. A seller from Klaten with a nasal voice used to hawk the dish calling out, "Eyem Penggeng!", that stuck as its name. It was popularized by the late Umar Kayam, who used to write a local newspaper column (Kedaulatan Rakyat). He was also the first to concoct the exclamation "mak nyus" which is echoed nationwide by Pak Bondan Winarno through his culinary show.

So, here are some of the foods...

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Roemi X-traordinary Ice Cream

As its claim, Roemi is an x-traordinary ice cream and cafe restaurant located on Jl. Suroto No. 1 Kotabaru, behind Gramedia Sudirman. It was a game center & internet cafe before it was transformed into a restaurant. You can choose to sit outside on terrace or inside for non-smoking area.

They are specialized in serving various kinds of ice cream. You can choose your favorite mix. Not limited to ice cream, Roemi also provides other type of beverages, such as coffee, juice, milkshake, and squash.

Es Doger Roemi (26.4 K), a traditional ice cream
Composition: melon & durian ice cream, white bread, nata de coco, tape

Strawberry Gelato (18.4 K), an Italian ice cream
Composition: vanilla gelato, marshmallow, cream, strawberry

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Kawaii Sushi

This time we would like to share about another culinary experience. Welcome to Kawaii Sushi...

The restaurant was founded by two girls who used to sell sushi at Sunday Morning event in Gadjah Mada University. They developed their business by opening a Japanese fastfood restaurant located in a gas station in Baciro, Jogja. They chose this location because they can share parking lot, musholla, and toilet with the gas station. Brilliant, isn't it?

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Cinnamon, Bukan Bistro

We just went to a cafe near our boarding house. It's just around the corner, Jl. Cempaka No. 32 Yogyakarta.

The menu offers wide variety of cuisines, really. You can find Thai food (e.g. tom yam), Italian food (e.g. pizza, spaghetti, calamari, carbonara), and even Indonesian food. You can choose to have appetizer and dessert too. There are snacks, pancake, ice cream, salad, and many kinds of beverage.

Hot Chocolate (7.5 K)

(looking at the pattern, we would love to learn this barista-thing)

 

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Pondok Makan Pelem Golek

Last week my father was invited by the owner of Pelem Golek, Mr. Agus, due to a business plan of expanding his family restaurant to teenager-segmented-restaurant. Pelem Golek is a huge restaurant with a natural concept. There's even a waterfall from a river in the backyard. We should walk down a stony path to get there. It reminded me of Tawangmangu.

Pelem Golek is decorated with Javanese ornament and there is a complimentary testimony from Butet Kartaradjasa that is carved in a big wooden board. It is entitled "Proklamakan". The parking area is quite wide and the capacity of the restaurant is up to 3000 people. It's located on Jl. Palagan Tentara Pelajar Km. 7 No. 99 Yogyakarta, in front of Hyatt Hotel.

Mr. Agus treated us free meal that he chose by himself. So, it might be their highly recommended menu. They are: Sup Seafood Tofu Jepang (60 K), Gurame Saus Mangga (8.5 K/oz.), kepiting goreng tepung, & ca kangkung.
*sorry, we can't give the exact name and price for some foods because we didn't get a chance to examine the menu (^_^)v

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Phuket

Phuket is a group of Thai restaurants in Yogyakarta. You can find them on Jl. Dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo, Jl. HOS Cokroaminoto, and in northern ringroad. That's as far as I know.
We went to the one located on Jl. Dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo, in front of Universitas Kristen Duta Wacana. The restaurant is not so big. It's semi-open. We could feel a simple Thai atmosphere here in Phuket, mostly because there are photographs of Bumibol Abdulyadej and some other Thai symbols.  (^_^)

Almost all of the foods are delicious, very tongue-friendly. Maybe it's because of the same characteristic in most of Southeast Asian cuisines: a bunch of spices! For those who don't like spicy food, don't worry, you can easily figure out how spicy the food you're about to order just by looking at the menu. The more chili drawn beside the  name of the food, the more spicy it will be.

 

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Sangam House

 

Sangam House is an Indian boutique and restaurant located on Pandega Siwi 14 (when you find a narrow pathway near gas station on Jl. Kaliurang Km 5.6, it's there).

The front side of the house serves as a gallery. It displays many kinds of Indian souvenirs and handyrafts, such as slippers, bracelets, cloth, etc. But, we were more interested by what's offered behind that gallery: Indian food! As we can guess, Indians love spicy food. So, most of the foods are smeared by fat. Some of them are very similar to Indonesian foods, such as opor, kare, or rendang. Well, maybe a little thicker in seasoning.

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Nanamia Pizzeria

We can find many kinds of pizza here. They serve pizza like the true Italian. All this time, the popular franchised pizza restaurant - with initials P.I.Z.Z.A.H.U.T - make us eat thick bread with various topping and crust. But, Nanamia offers you crispy thin bread with thick layered topping. The price is cheaper than Pizza Hut though. I guess Nanamia has been people's sweetheart here in Yogyakarta, especially for those who love Italian food. The menu is not merely pizza. We can also take lasagna, pasta, or dessert menu like salad, mousse, tiramisu, etc.

 

Carne Pizza

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Pasta Gio

Pasta Gio is an Italian restaurant located in remote area. Even our father, who knows Jogja like the palm of his hand, had difficulties finding the place. Nevertheless, it seems like the restaurant is never running out of customers. I don't know how they could promote it so well.

So, here is the hint. If you start from Jl. Palagan, find T-intersection that leads to Jimbaran Restaurant, go straight until you find intersection, then turn right. When you see "Kumala Hadi" accountant office, then it's time for you to slow down your vehicle. On the left side of the street, you'll meet an alley with red paper lantern (if it's not removed). After you enter the alley, you'll find Pasta Gio right away. 

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Dae Jang Geum Restaurant

The first time we came to this Korean restaurant was with our family. We picked the tatami room instead of the hall and gazebo. The price is ranged from 10K - 250K rupiah. The most expensive meal goes to... ogolgyetang (ayam cemani ginseng). As easily guessed, we didn't take it. I forgot what exactly we ate back then. I could only recall kimchi that is free served, tteokpokki (spicy rice cake), doenjang jjigae (bean paste pot stew), katsu, noodle and this food that tastes like toe. Maybe that's why my brain tried so hard to forget it. (^_^)v

We're so sad that we can't enjoy Korean food. How are we supposed to live in the country of uri nampyeon?? (T___T)

The Front Door of Dae Jang Geum

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Silla Korean-Chinese Restaurant

It's located in northern ring road, next to Happy Puppy. We came here once in a while, mainly on special occasions. Well, we don't do it daily simply because it may rip off our pocket, for heaven's sake! (-_-);

It offers a great number of foreign cuisine from Japan, Korea, and China with a cozy interior. The price ranges from 25 K up to 200s K.

Customers are able to choose whether they want to eat inside or outside tatami. The first time we went to Silla, there is this big tree in the middle of the room that looks really nice. But when we came for the second time, it disappears... I'm not sure why. Maybe some random carpenters passed by and cut down the tree.

About the menu? Hmm... tough question! You may be distracted by so many foreign names listed on the menu. But don't be confused, my friend... you can always ask the waitress before you make your order (you don't want to bet on the wrong food right?). Douzo... dipileh... dipileeh... (^_-)

The Interior Design

(the plant is not the tree we were talking about)

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aSaGaYa

aSaGaYa

(we don't try to be 4LaY when we write this)

This restaurant has just opened recently on Jl. Kaliurang km 5 with a very seductive banner decorated by provocative tagline, "HARGA MAHASISWA." OMG, I just realize that I'm so cheap. Hahaha. Honestly, aSaGaYa is not as cheap as Nagoya and Sapporo. Still affordable though. The average price is 18K.

There hasn't been so much to tell about aSaGaYa for I just ate here once with kareshi. The menu is not as complete as the other restaurant yet, maybe because of newcomer-thing. 

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Sapporo Ramen

Y-fam Eating Ramen

For me, Sapporo Ramen is a highly recommended place to eat. It's so natural for me and kareshi to go there when we feel like eating something nice and cheap. The price are set mostly in 10K or a little more. It fits perfectly with consumer's principle, doesn't it? Haha.

Located on Jl. Kaliurang km 11 next to WS convenient store, Sapporo Ramen offers a simple atmosphere to enjoy our meal. Unlike the other Japanese restaurants we've ever been, the waiters don't yell "irasshaimase" to welcome the customers. Maybe some people mistook it as warung mie ayam.
 (^_^)v

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Nagoya Japanese Fusion Resto

For culinary lovers, we would like to share about some restaurants in Yogyakarta. Actually we can't claim ourselves the real taste-adventurers yet. We don't pick random restaurants to satisfy our hunger... Hellouuuw, we are not some promiscuous women don't grow money on tree.

But, we hope this information will be useful to those who haven't tried and have a will to try various taste. We try to avoid discussing popular franchised restaurants here, such as Hoka Hoka Bento, Pizza Hut, and stuffs. Those restaurants are already well known, even to the Granny's Generation (an extended version of Girls Generation).

Without further ado, let's just get to the point. The first restaurant we'd like to talk about is Nagoya Japanese Fusion Resto

Nagoya

Chicken Donburi

Sushi, Ramen, Onigiri 

*credit to Yayank Tika

It's another restaurant that we visit a lot. You can find it on Jl. Prof. Dr. Sarjito No. 11 Yogyakarta. When you're lucky, sometimes you can meet the owner, Mr. David Cahayanto (although it won't make any difference for your bill... ehehehe). We like to eat here because it offers various kinds of menu with reasonable price (10K - 20K). Our definite order are takoyaki and furaimaki sushi.

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