Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Ayam Penyet vs ayam cobek

One of the food that I always eat when in Singapore is Ayam Penyet Ria at Lucky Plaza. Ayam penyet means smashed fried chicken. It is an Indonesia dish from Surabaya (East Java). Ayam Penyet Ria has franchise in Medan too but the one in Singapore tastes better.

The chicken was smashed after deep-frying. It was crispy, sprinkled with bits of fry batter and served with fried tofu and sambal/chili sauce. The sambal was blazingly hot. Everytime Jon and I ate there, we had to order 2 glasses of drink each to cool down the "heat". Some restaurants purposely make the chili sauce extremely hot so customers do not ask for more (and customer would order more drinks = more profits?).


The last time I was in Singapore, I had a chance to try the ayam cobek @ Java Kitchen. Cobek means mortal. Ayam cobek is an Indonesian dish from Bandung (West Java) and it is normally served on mortal. It is almost the same as ayam penyet, both are deep fried and sprinkled with bits of fried batter, but without smashing the chicken.

It was served with deep fried tofu, deep fried tempe (fermented soy bean) and nice soup. The sambal was great, not too mild and not too hot, hence I prefer ayam cobek@ Java Kitchen over Ayam Penyet Ria. I still dream about the sambal. Yummy!


The "kick" factor for most Indonesian food is the chili. If the chili is too mild, there is no "power". If it is too hot, tongue and lips go numb. The right spicy hot will make the food addictive.

What could be better than ice kacang after eating spicy food.


Ayam Penyet Ria
304 Orchard Road
#04-25/26 Lucky Plaza
Singapore 238863
Tel: + 65 6235 7385

Java Kitchen Lucky Plaza
304 Orchard Road
#03-36/37
Singapore 238863

Java Kitchen Katong
228 Tanjong Katong Rd
Tel: + 65 64451766
Tuesday - Friday: 11:30-15:00 & 18:00- 22.30
Saturday - Sunday: 11:30-22:30
Closed on Monday

Java Kitchen Vivo City
Food Republic, VivoCity
Tel: + 65 63769928
Everyday: 10:00-22:00
public holiday's/ Friday/ Saturday 10:00-23:00pm

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