5 Recommended Legendary Restaurants Since the Pre-Independence Era

Squeezing in a bit of travel while on a business trip can be tricky. One way to ensure that you get a little bit of traveling while enjoying the city in between a business trip is by going on a culinary journey. Besides, food can be a way to better get to know a city as it can unite people. Spoil your tastebuds with a set of delicious, classic, and iconic menus from legendary restaurants and shops since pre-independence.

Here are 5 recommended legendary restaurants since the pre-independence era

1. Tiptop Restaurant (Medan)

Tiptop is a restaurant that has become the pride of Medan residents since its establishment in 1929 from a bakery called Jangkie, located on Jalan Pandu. Not until 1934 did Jangkie Bakery occupy its current location in the no less legendary Kesawan area and change its name to Tiptop Restaurant.

Even though it has changed its name and image to a restaurant, Tiptop still serves bakery staples like bread and cake. In fact, they have still used the same baking oven since 1934. Besides bakery staples, Tiptop Restaurant also serves a variety of Asian and European-inspired menus, like Bistik, Hurasen Salad, Semboi Fried Chicken, Fried Mushroom and Bambo Shots, Saucjsebrood, and many others. Don't forget the various desserts that will sweeten up your day.

2. Kopi Es Tak Kie (Jakarta)

Kopi Es Tak Kie is a vintage coffee shop located in Gang Gloria. They have been serving iced coffee long before modern coffee shops mushroomed in the country. Since 1927, Es Kopi Tak Kie has made a name for its creamy, sweet, and delicious iced milk and coffee and its plain ol’ black coffee. Apart from these two coffee drinks, this shop also serves rice porridge, chicken noodles, and mixed rice, mostly eaten for breakfast or brunch. You can also buy some market snacks in the Chinatown area and enjoy them with a cup of coffee.

3. Sumber Hidangan and Braga Permai (Bandung)

If you enjoy a vintage atmosphere, you may spare some time to stop by Braga Street in Bandung. There are two legendary restaurants in that short span of a street; Sumber Hidangan and Braga Permai. Sumber Hidangan, or in the past known as Het Snoephuis, has been in service since 1929, serving warm bread and ice cream. If you ever go there, we recommend you try the bitterballen and the refreshing raspberry sorbet.

After Sumber Hidangan, make sure that your next stop is Braga Permai. Established in 1918, this restaurant used to be named Maison Bogerijen. This establishment is perfect for a weekend lunch gathering or weekday meeting with your colleagues. If it’s your first time coming, make sure you sample both Indonesian and Western menus, like the Tongue Steak and the ever delicious Lobster Thermidor.

4. Toko Oen (Semarang dan Malang)

Toko Oen first served its customers when the Oen Tjoen Hok couple opened a cake shop in Yogyakarta in 1910. It was only in 1934 that they had branches in Jakarta and in 1936 in Semarang and Malang. Until now, only Toko Oen Semarang is still managed by descendants of the pioneer. The ownership of Toko Oen Malang has been changed since 1990, while two other shops closed decades ago.

Toko Oen Semarang and Malang have almost identical menus, combining Indonesian cuisine with Western and Chinese touches. One of the most iconic menus is frog chicken, aka gevulde kip, croquettes, various pastas, and oxtail soup. Also, sample a variety of flavored ice creams and pastries that are too good to pass up.

5. Mak Beng (Bali)

Established in 1941, this food stall is located in Sanur Area, Denpasar. There is only one food served in Makbeng, it is fried fish with white rice accompanied by a portion of fish soup. How fresh! The fish used in Mak Beng area are sea fishes, like skipjack, snapper, or mackerel caught by local fishermen. However, you can’t choose which fish you want. But don’t worry, because no matter what fish you get, the food served in Mak Beng is always way too delicious to eat from time to time.

Not just delicious, the five legendary restaurants above contain a value. Almost all the legendary restaurants are not only suitable to be visited between business trips but also suitable for casual visits with friends and family.

To ensure you travel comfortably and conveniently, you can use a car rental service to roam around the city.  The limited time to visit culinary and tourist destinations should not be wasted just looking for a parking space or waiting for public transportation.

Choose a trusted car rental service with excellent service, as TRAC offers. Your comfort and safety while traveling is a priority factor, especially at the end of the pandemic. Therefore, TRAC always implements the SMART Protocol, which includes; cleaning the fleet before and after duty, equipping the fleet with a barrier between the driver and passengers, and placing hand sanitizers in all units.

Reserving a car rental or seba bus service from TRAC, looking like they are in a rush. You can directly place an order through the TRACtoGO application, which can be downloaded through the Google Playstore or the Apple App Store. To find out more about TRAC's prime car rental services, contact the Customer Assistance Center at 1500009 or email rco.nasional@trac.astra.co.id.