Hey Kuro Green Garden Residence

One of my favorite salt bread brands in Jakarta Hey Kuro just opened their second location at Green Garden Residence last week. What made this location different than their first outlet in PIK is that in addition to their delicious signature salt breads, they also offer a variety of coffee and non-coffee menus that you can enjoy inside their cozy cafe. The cafe is actually conveniently located inside Ola Padel so you can play padel and get some salt bread or coffee from Hey Kuro in one trip.

If you don’t already know, Hey Kuro specializes in savory and sweet mochi salt breads (I believe they’re the first one who sells mochi salt bread in Jakarta). The brand first started in August 2024 by two sisters who were inspired by the food they tried during their travels which led them to experiment with different recipes in their kitchen. Their salt breads is one of their most successful recipes as well as their mochi that is made from scratch daily, making everything taste deliciously fresh.

The cafe has a very nice charming facade with Kuro (the black cat mascot) painted on one of the windows.

Fun fact: Do you know that Kuro means black in Japanese and black cat is considered lucky especially for women and businesses? That’s why the owners picked Kuro as their mascot. Then why Hey Kuro as their brand? Because they wanted to create something that feels friendly and welcoming and something as simple as a ‘Hey’ is definitely one way to conveys that. So when you say Hey Kuro, it almost like you’re casually calling out to a cute black cat you want to be friends with.

I went to the Hey Kuro Green Garden Residence last week during their soft opening. When I walked inside the cafe, one of the owners immediately greeted my with a smile and it felt like I’m meeting a friend who I haven’t seen in a while. What’s funny though, I never actually met her in real life prior to this meet. I got to know her because she follows me on IG from a couple of years back. And then one day, she messaged me about trying one of her products from her other bakery and that’s how we got to talking online. At some point, we also found out that we have mutual friends in real life which was a pleasantly nice surprise. So after all these years, it was really nice to have finally met her at her cafe in real life.

🍞 Mochi Kinako Custard (29k)| 9.5/10

One of my favorite flavors from their sweet salt bread lineup. The mochi (all their mochi actually) has that nice soft chewy bouncy texture that I really like and the kinako custard is also very good. I usually get one of this every time I buy something from Hey Kuro.

🍠 Crazy Mochi Ube (29k)| 9/10

The mochi-style salt bread is really soft and chewy. On the outer part, it’s coated with fluffy ube castella and on the inside there are ube ganache and real ube paste. Not too sweet and tasted really nice. I enjoyed this one.

The interior is pretty spacious, decorated with modern chairs, simple wooden furnitures and shelves and warm lighting that make it feels like I’m hanging out at a friend’s cozy living room.

🌼 Floral Tea (35k) | 9/10

Chrysanthemum Tea, Rosemary

A light and refreshing drink. The chrysanthemum was fragrant with underlying hints of rosemary. The Rosemary was not too strong and actually complimented the chrysanthemum giving it an added layer of flavor and a fun sensory experience. The lightest option out of the non-coffee options if you want something not too sweet and without milk. My favorite out of all the drinks I tried during this visit.

 🍫🥥 Coco-a-Nut (39k) | 8.5/10

Cocoa, Coconut Milk Blend, Cocoa Powder, Sea Salt

This chocolate drink is not as sweet as it looks like actually. They use coconut milk as well so it tasted a little smoother and lighter than the usual chocolate drink. Perfect for one of those days when you crave some sweet chocolate drink but don’t want it to be super sweet. My second favorite out of all the drinks I tried during this visit.

🍵 Macha Nana (60k) | 8.5/10

Ceremonial Matcha, House-Blend Milk with Caramelized Banana

The Macha Nana tasted like a light dessert drink that reminded me of Banana Pudding, but not as heavy or as thick as Banana Pudding though. The banana flavor wasn’t too overpowering so you can still taste the matcha flavor. And the body is light enough so you don’t feel super full drinking one full glass of it.

☕ Kumquat Mont Blanc (55k) | 8.5/10

Batch Brew with North Sumatran Cream, Topped with Orange Zest

If you know me, you know I don’t usually drink coffee. But the barista was saying that their coffee is not too strong and I should try this one and so I did. And I’m glad I did because it’s actually good. The cold brew arabica is not too bitter and strong and the cream was super good. They nailed the texture and the flavor of the cream and the orange zest really brighten up the whole sip. A very balanced drink where everything works together. I’m no expert in coffee obviously but I really enjoyed this one and wouldn’t mind having this again on my next visit.

🍞 Mochi Miso Caramel (35k) | 9/10

(Top Left) One of their new sweet flavors. The miso ganache and salted caramel sauce actually have that salty and sweet flavor combo that makes every bite tasted fun (although it’s still more on the sweeter side than the saltier side). I like the contrasting textures of the softer fillings and mochi inside and the crunchy wheat puff toppings on this one too.

🍞 Truffle Mac ‘n Cheese (35k) | 8/10

(Top Right) New flavor in their savory salt bread lineup. The Truffle Mac ‘n Cheese filling is pretty tasty and generous. I think portion-wise, this was one of the bigger ones and a fairly fulfilling piece of salt bread.

🍞 Flossy Salty (28k) | 8/10

(Middle Right) The chicken floss is actually a bit too spicy for my weak self who can’t handle my spice but it was pretty good. My dad actually ended up finishing the rest of this one. He enjoyed it and also said it’s good.

🍞 Luncheon Crunch (35k) | 9.5/10

(Left one the plate) I’m a sucker for all things with luncheon meat so when I saw they have this one on the new flavors lineup, I was super excited. And yes, it was gooood. The chicken luncheon meat was not too salty and it went well with the salt bread. If you have it at the cafe, they’ll actually give sweet mayo sauce on the bread. But since I took mine to go, I told them not to put the sauce on top so it won’t get soggy. Even without the sauce it was still good for me. Will definitely order again the next time I go visit.

🍹 Floral Pandan (38k) | 8.5/10

Chrysanthemum Tea, House-Made Pandan Syrup, Basil Seed

(Top Right) Sweet and refreshing drink that’s perfect for a hot day in Jakarta. The pandan flavor was fragrant and took center stage of every sip. What makes this drink interesting is that you get that hit of Chrysanthemum flavor at the end. And the basil seed added an extra layer of texture to the drink. I actually enjoyed this one too and I imagined this could also be the perfect drink to have when you play Padel. 

If you’re looking for a salt bread spot that offers coffee and non-coffee menus inside a cozy cafe where you can hang out at around West Jakarta, I’d definitely recommend Hey Kuro at Green Garden Residence.

 

Hey Kuro Green Garden Residence

Address: Jl Green Gdn Residence No.2 Blok C5, RT.3/RW.4, North Kembangan, Kembangan, West Jakarta City, Jakarta 11610, Indonesia
Hours: Monday to Saturday 10:00am - 07:30pm | Closed on Sundays

Instagram: @heykuro.id

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Kiri Matcha & Garden Plaza Senayan

Kiri Matcha & Garden is a new matcha flower cafe that just opened two weeks ago at Plaza Senayan. Located at Level P4 Atrium of the mall (just below the cinema), Kiri Matcha shares their space with Floé Flowers, a premium florist that sells fresh flowers and bouquets. The cafe has a modern, minimalist, Japanese-inspired look and decorated with flowers around the space, giving this whole having-matcha-in-the-garden vibes. Their ceremonial matcha are imported from Uji and Kagoshima and their signature drinks—The Signature Bloom Series—are created with 36-hour infused green tea that is blended with imported floral and fruits. A pretty unique signature menu for a matcha place. They also serve a selection of desserts made by their in-house pastry chef who studied at Le Cordon Bleu that you can order to pair with your matcha. 

Sho Matcha Latte (35k) | 8/10

Stone-milled blend harvest, vibrant mild umami, smooth nutty notes, slight fresh astringency with a clean finish. 

Nice matcha latte. Not too bitter, not too heavy, not too sweet. The tasting note is pretty spot on.

Mochi (29k) | 7/10

Flavor Selections: Matcha Chocolate Walnut, Matcha Red Bean, Houjicha Chocolate Walnut, Houjicha Red Bean 

The mochi was okay. The filling was a little on the heavy side and the mochi was a tiny bit too thick for my liking. 

Signature Basque Cheesecake (85k) | 7.5/10

Brown Butter Crumbs, Brie Basque Cheesecake

The flavor was pretty good, but the overall texture was just a little bit too soft/gooey for my personal taste. I know some people actually prefer this type so give it a try if you like a softer Basque Cheesecake with gooey middle.

Camembert Cheese Tart (75k) | 8/10

Silky Camembert Custard, Parmesan Tart

Nice cheese tart with more texture contrast compared to the cheesecake. I enjoyed this a little more than the other cheesecake. The taste also reminded me of Kaasstengels when I had it.

Misty Jasmine (76k) | 8.5/10

Top grade raw Chinese Jasmine, Homemade Jasmine Cream

The jasmine tea was really fragrant but didn’t overpower the matcha and rather complimented it quite nicely. The mix actually very enjoyable, especially for me who love jasmine tea. The homemade Jasmine Cream was also pretty good. The texture wasn’t too heavy and it’s not too sweet. This is probably the menu I’ll order again if I go back for another visit.

Island Rose No.36 (76k) | 8/10

Australian Dried Tropical Fruits & Rose Petals, Homemade Sea Salt Cream

Similar comments to the Misty Jasmine but between the two, I still prefer the Misty Jasmine a little more just because of my personal preference of liking Jasmine flavor more than Rose. But if you like Rose flavor more than Jasmine, this is definitely the one you should order. 

 

Kiri Matcha & Garden Plaza Senayan

Address: Main Atrium, Plaza Senayan Mall, Jl. Asia Afrika Gelora Bung Karno No.8 Level P4, RT.1/RW.3, Senayan, Kecamatan Tanah Abang, Kota Jakarta Pusat, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 10270, Indonesia
Hours: Everyday 10am-10pm

Instagram: @kirimatcha.id

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Hvala Jakarta

If you’re a Singaporean or an Indonesian who has been to Singapore, there’s a good chance you’ve probably heard of Hvala (pronounced as ‘fa-lah’), one of the OG matcha spots in Singapore that has been around for more than a decade. With five locations in Singapore, they are now expanding beyond Singapore and opened their first international location in Indonesia.

Hvala Jakarta opened their door to the public yesterday (Sunday, April 19), bringing their matcha creations from Singapore to Jakarta. The cafe occupies a pretty spacious building with matcha bar, indoor and outdoor area with ample seatings for solo patrons as well as bigger groups. 

Their menu focuses on a variety of matcha drinks and desserts that are similar to their outlets in Singapore. For their ceremonial matcha powder, they offer four different choices for you to choose from. Three of the powders—Hikari, Sei, and Haru—are from Japan and one powder—Panda—is from China. And instead of the usual 3-4 grams matcha powder per cup, at Hvala they actually use 7 grams of matcha powder per cup with the option of additional extra shot, topping it up to 9 grams per cup. You can choose anything from straight matcha, tea latte, flavored tea latte, ice blend, cold brew, to brewed tea and pair it with the selections of desserts, gelato and sliced cakes that’s on the menu. 

I came here with my friend to try their matcha drinks and desserts and here are what we ordered:

🍵 Iced Sei Matcha Latte (140k) | 8.5/10

Advanced Ceremonial Grade. Notes: Nori, Cocoa, Toasted Nut.

Their Iced Sei Matcha is very balanced. Tasted all the flavor notes and it wasn’t too bitter. Enjoyed this drink.

🧇🍨 Dairy-Free Waffles (120k) | 8.5/10

Dairy-free waffles drizzled with golden syrup, with a sprinkle of fragrant genmai (toasted rice). Served with a gelato scoop. 

The waffle has a bit of a chewy texture and not too sweet. For the gelato, we chose the White Chrysanthemum Sobacha and the Matcha °3 gelato. I think this was my first time trying a White Chrysanthemum Sobacha flavored gelato and it’s actually pretty good. It’s a little on the sweeter side for my personal preference but still okay if you eat it with the waffle. The Matcha °3 gelato actually balanced out the sweetness pretty well because it’s not too sweet. Overall, this is a great dessert for sharing.

🍨 Warabi Mochi with Black Sesame Gelato (110k) | 10/10

Warabi mochi served with a gelato scoop.

So excited for this menu because I got two of my favorite things in one cup and they didn’t disappoint. This was really gooood. They nailed the Warabi mochi’s texture and flavor and it has the right amount of sweetness. The black sesame gelato has the perfect balance of nuttiness and sweetness as well. Will definitely order this again next time I go back. 

🍵 Ice Blend Hojicha (120k) | 9.5/10

Another one of my personal favorite. Their Ice Blend Hojicha was goood. I actually enjoyed this the most out of all the drinks we ordered (but also a disclaimer, in general I think I prefer hojicha than matcha). It’s not too bitter and the nutty flavor was well balanced. A great choice for a dessert drink, especially on a hot sunny day.

🍵 Iced Sakura Matcha (100k) | 8/10

Was skeptical at first and thought that I wasn’t going to like this one because I tend to not enjoy floral flavored drinks too much but it was actually pretty enjoyable after I tried it. There’s definitely a hint of that floral flavor in the matcha, but it wasn’t too overwhelming so the matcha flavor still shone through. A good option if you want something light and floral that reminds you of spring.

🍵 Iced Banana Pudding Matcha (120k) | 8/10

The banana pudding is vegan.

First time trying Iced Banana Pudding Matcha and at first I thought it’s going to be matcha with hints of banana pudding flavor. But surprisingly, the banana pudding flavor really came through. This tasted like a dessert drink and a little heavier than the other matcha drinks that we ordered. If you like Banana Pudding, you’ll probably enjoy this one.

All and all, I really enjoyed the drinks and desserts that we ordered. Service was also pretty good during our visit. The staff was friendly and attentive and we didn’t really wait too long for our orders. Other thing to note, parking space is limited in front of the cafe but they have valet available for your convenience. 

Given that the matcha craze still going on right now, Hvala Jakarta is probably going to be one of the go-to spots for matcha enthusiasts in the city.

 

Hvala Jakarta

Address: Jl. Kyai Maja No.59, RT.2/RW.5, Kramat Pela, Kec. Kby. Baru, Kota Jakarta Selatan, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 12130, Indonesia
Hours: Everyday 10am-10pm

Instagram: @hvala_idn

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FELT Coffee Cheonggyecheon • 펠트커피 청계천점

FELT Coffee (펠트커피) is a Korean coffee brand that has made a name for itself in the Korean coffee scene. Started as a roasting factory in 2015, FELT Coffee has been supplying high quality coffee beans that are sourced directly from farmers around the world to coffee shops across the country. They also have opened well-designed cafes where customers can enjoy their specialty coffee made by experienced baristas in a more casual setting. 

FELT Coffee Cheonggyecheon (펠트커피 청계천점) is one of the two locations they have in Seoul where you can go to for their good cup of Joe. Located alongside Cheonggyecheon Stream (청계천)—a 3-minute walk from Gwanghwamun Station Exit 5 (광화문역 5번출구)—the spacious cafe has a clean, modern, minimalist interior that’s decorated with wooden furnitures and eye-catching deep red floor-to-ceiling theater curtains that are covering the walls.

I came here on a rainy Wednesday night after grabbing dinner at a nearby restaurant and the place was pretty quiet. Given that the cafe is surrounded by office buildings and tourist attractions that usually close in the evening (and it was raining) the lack of crowd was understandable. The cafe’s probably busier during morning or daytime I’d imagine. My friend’s coffee was pretty good and so was my Black Milk Tea. We stayed for a bit to talk and for introverts like us, the atmosphere of the quiet cafe was actually pretty enjoyable. 

With the majority of cafes in Seoul that usually open pretty late, FELT Coffee Cheonggyecheon (펠트커피 청계천점) is one option you can go to if you want to grab a morning coffee because they open at 8 am. Their coffee is pretty good and you can buy their beans to take home or for souvenirs if you are visiting Seoul.

 

FELT Coffee Cheonggyecheon • 펠트커피 청계천점

Address: 서울 중구 청계천로 14
Telephone: 02-3789-5946
Hours: Mon-Fri 08:00-21:00 | Sat-Sun 10:00-21:00 | Last Order: 2045

Instagram: @felt_seoul
Felt Coffee Website

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Protokoll Roasters Yeonhui • 프로토콜 연희점

Protokoll Roasters Yeonhui (프로토콜 연희점) is a specialty coffee roastery cafe that is located in Yeonhui-dong (연희동). 

“PROTOKOLL is a specialty coffee roastery whose name originates from the German word meaning “storage” and “record.” It is a space that captures the process of documenting through the lens of coffee.

Records are preserved in thick notebooks, in moments of contemplation, and in the act of putting pencil to paper—remaining in all visible and invisible forms over time. From roasting profiles and extraction recipes to individual sensory impressions, we create a diverse archive shaped by every coffee experience.” —Protokoll

I found this place when I was doing my research on cafes around Yeonhui-dong area and the interior of the cafe was what first caught my attention. The cafe occupies the second floor of a pretty spacious building and is set up like what feels like an open floor architect firm. The coffee bar is made out of wooden architect drawers and their coffee and desserts display/cashier is set up on a drafting table. Pretty nice setup. The main seating area is filled with 8 sets of table of four with additional single seatings along the side walls next to the windows. The wooden furnitures combined with the metal chairs, study lamps and concrete walls really give the whole space a clean and modern vibe. 

The place has been on my cafe-to-go list for a while but since their menu is very coffee-centric, I thought it’s probably better for me to go with a friend who drinks coffee rather than alone so I can find out if their coffee is good. And the day finally came when my friend who works at a coffee bean company happened to be in Seoul and asked me to bring him and his colleagues to a good coffee spot. And so I took them to Protokoll Yeonhui, wanting to hear what they think about their coffee. 

We went on a Monday around 2 pm and the place was full. I was honestly surprised since it was a weekday (later I found out it’s even busier during the weekends so be prepare for that if you’re planning to visit). There was a wait list going on so we put our name down for a table. While waiting, I noticed that there were a lot of people who are studying/working on their laptops. Given how the cafe is set up, I guess it makes perfect sense why this place is popular for remote studying/working. Good thing we didn’t have to wait too long because 15 minutes later, we got a table. 

Since I don’t really drink coffee, I ordered their Earl Grey Classic (₩4,000) and it was good. I think cafes in Korea have great teas in general. The rest of the group ordered their Cafe Latte (₩6,000) with different kinds of coffee beans they have in rotation. The group’s verdict was they all think that Protokoll’s cafe latte was pretty good and the ratio between the coffee and the milk was great. The group gave an 8/10 rating for their coffee orders so I guess my coffee spot recommendation was a success.

If you’re looking for a great coffee spot or a place where you can study or work around Yeonhui-dong area, Protokoll Roasters Yeonhui (프로토콜 연희점) is definitely a good option to check out. 

 

Protokoll Roasters Yeonhui • 프로토콜 연희점

Address: 서울 서대문구 연희로 109 2층
Telephone: 0507-1389-6159
Hours: Everyday 09:00-22:00 (Last Order 21:30)

Instagram: @protokoll.roasters
Protokoll Website

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