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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Gin Gin Bakery Shop ECO 8 New Menu

If you live around West Jakarta, you’ve probably heard of Gin Gin Bakery Shop, that one kopitiam that’s located in the ECO 8 compound. Gin Gin menu revolves around a variety of typical dishes that one would find in a traditional kopitiam as well as an assortment of cakes and desserts ranging from classic kopitiam baked goods to modern cakes and tarts. The restaurant is spacious, pet friendly and has now become one of the go-to places for the locals around the area.

Last week, I went to Gin Gin with a couple of friends to try their new menus that just launched. In keeping with their friendly neighborhood kopitiam concept, the new menus still revolve around familiar dishes and tasty flavors that remind you of the comfort of home-cooked meals.

Cah Tahu Tauge (35k) | 8.5/10

Simple, straightforward dish with a nice light savory flavors. The seasoning wasn’t heavy-handed and the bean sprouts and tofu were stir fried just the right, making them tender but still retaining that crunchy texture. I’m very picky with my beansprouts (especially the raw ones or the ones with even slightly raw taste), but this one, I actually liked and I kept finding myself reaching for more.

Chicken Chop Curry Rice (75k) | 8.5/10

*With Nasi Porang / Shirataki (95k)
The chicken was tender and had a really nice breading that’s pleasantly crisp and not too hard. The curry was also good. Not too heavy, not too light and it kind of reminded me of the Kari Peng’s curry if you have had one of those before. Although in Kari Peng, the curry is slightly thicker and more gravy-like while Gin Gin’s curry is thinner/more runny.

Mee Sua Kuah Kari Ayam Kampung (65k) | 8/10

The curry broth was also on the lighter side on this dish, reminiscence of Clear Chicken Soto (Soto Ayam Kuning) for me to be honest. The chicken was sweet and tender and the mee sua also has a nice soft silky texture that’s not too mushy. Although it did absorb the broth pretty fast so make sure you eat it soon after it’s served.

Nasi Kari Babi Cincang (55k) | 7/10

*With Nasi Porang / Shirataki (95k)
The curry is actually the same as the Chicken Chop Curry Rice, just different protein on this one. The ground pork itself was good, but the combination of the pork and the curry was just not hitting it for me. For some reason, I like the chicken curry combination better than the pork. BUT, given the low pricing on this one, this could be a good option for a cheap meal or if you’re into pork more than chicken.

Telur Tim 2 Rasa (59k) | 9/10

Steam egg with chicken, mushroom and ground pork in soy sauce. The steam egg was silky smooth. The chicken, mushroom and ground pork were nicely seasoned. Although worth noting, you have to eat the toppings with either the egg or rice because they do taste saltier if you eat them by themselves. But the flavor and saltiness level were more balanced when you eat them with the steamed egg or rice in one bite. Super comforting dish and probably my favorite dish during this meal.  

Osmanthus Tie Guan Yin Milk Tea (42k) | 8.5/10

*Almond Milk substitution adds 15k
Forgot to take picture of this drink but it’s the one on the top right on the photo below. Enjoyed the floral fragrant from the Osmanthus and the milk tea taste was pretty unique and uncommon (in a good way). Could be a little sweet for people who has low tolerance for sweetness, but since mine is not that low, this was still okay for me. 

Misua Kueh Ham Babi (Carrot Cake Style) (60k) | 8.5/10

Eating this dish was like eating fried carrot cake, but with slightly different ingredients. The flavors were pretty bold with that smokey, savory, umami hit. Love the crispy fried shallot/onions they added that gave a nice texture contrast to the dish. Definitely one of my favorites from their new menus.

Since they just released the menus, the restaurant is still taking feedbacks from customers about the flavors so there might be little tweaks here and there in the upcoming weeks for the new dishes. But overall, even as is, the new menus are solid additions to the current menu that they have. A lot of variety for everybody to choose from and that’s also why this place is popular for family meals. Also, they’re currently having a 20% discount launch promo (T&C applies. Check their Instagram for more details) for the new menus until this Sunday (May 3) so go visit Gin Gin this week if you want to use this deal.

 

Gin Gin Bakery Shop ECO 8

Address: ECO 8, Jl. Taman Aries No.8, RT.10/RW.3, Meruya Utara, Kec. Kembangan, Kota Jakarta Barat, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 11620, Indonesia
Hours: Everyday 7am-10pm

Instagram: @ginginbakeryshop

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Kooma Bakery Plaza Senayan

Kooma Bakery is a an artisan Japanese Bakery that first opened in Jakarta last September at Plaza Indonesia. They sell 30+ variety of Japanese breads made with imported premium ingredients from Japan that are baked fresh daily using Japanese traditional technique called ‘Yudane’ that resulted in a very soft, light and fluffy texture for all their breads. 

“Yudane 湯種（ゆだね) is a traditional Japanese approach to breadmaking that is sometimes referred to as ‘water roux’. This technique involves the use of mixing flour and water together. A simple step that makes bread go from good to great - soft, fluffy and stays just as pillowy and fresh long after baking.” —Kooma Bakery

With the variety of delicious breads that they have and the affordable price, people lined up bright and early for these breads, causing the shop to often sells out as early as 11 am (they open at 10 am). And six months after the successful opening of their first outlet at Plaza Indonesia, Kooma Bakery opened its second outlet just earlier this month at Plaza Senayan. And yes, they still sell out as early as 11 am at this location as well so make sure you go early if you want choose from their full line up of breads. 

My first visit to Kooma Bakery is actually to this Plaza Senayan location. I was with my friend who already went during their grand opening a couple of weeks ago and told me that I should try this new bakery that just opened at Plaza Senayan that always sells out their stuff shortly after they open. Since we arrived at Plaza Senayan early—we arrived at the mall around 9:55 am, five minutes before the bakery opens—we ended up lining up in front of the store to get our hands at these delicious breads. We’re actually the first ones in line and after we lined up, there were people who joined in behind us and it was quite a bit of a crowd. Not super long, but pretty long for a weekday I’d say. 

When the clock hit 10 am and the staff opened the store, everybody was just rushing inside to pick their bread. I was pretty shocked at people’s enthusiasm honestly. But I guess it’s understandable because there’s limited quantity for each bread and there were already quite a number of people who were bread hunting with us. And tell me why I entered the store having no idea what this bakery is all about (and have no intention of buying bread when coming to this mall honestly) and ended up walking out of the bakery with almost 300k worth of bread. I blame my friend really for introducing me to Kooma. Just kidding. I’m glad she did because the bread variety that they have are really unique and uncommon and it made me want to try everything. Plus she gave me recommendations on the good ones she tried already and before I know it, I ended up with two full trays of bread (she even helped me carry one of them). Because it was so hectic, not all the bread that I bought I took pictures of (and vice versa) and remember the jot down price but I’ll put the reviews on the ones I tried below.

Tuna Onigiri (28k)

Black Sesame Yuzu (25k) | 6.5/10

Was excited when I saw this flavor since I’m a sucker for all things black sesame but I don’t think this combo works for me. Flavor-wise, I think for me the yuzu flavor was a bit too overpowering so it’s more citrusy than earthy. If you like citrus flavor, you’ll probably enjoy this one. But if you’re like me who were expecting more of a dominant black sesame flavor with hints of yuzu, you might be in for a surprise.

Kare Pan (25k)

Honey Bear

Purple Sweet Potato Bun (25k) | 8.5/10

Purple sweet potato coating on the outside with sweet potato paste and chewy, stretchy mochi on the inside. Not too sweet and definitely a hit for sweet potato lovers. Pretty good!

Melon Pan

Sesame | 9/10

The black sesame paste is really nice and earthy and not too sweet. Love this one. 

Yuzu | 8/10

The bread has a nice and fluffy texture and the yuzu jam and cream combination is tangy, light and refreshing. Also not too sweet.

Matcha Azuki (25k)

Hojicha White Chocolate (26k) | 9/10

There’s no filling on this one but I kind of like that about this bread. The hojicha and white chocolate combo works really well and it’s not too sweet. One of my favorites from my haul.

Mochi Peanut Chocolate | 9/10

Love their mochi. It has a satisfying nice, soft, chewy bite. The combination of the peanut and chocolate also works well. 

Sausage Roll (28k)

Almond Roll

Also, I was looking forward to try their signature Shio Pan (salt bread) but unfortunately they weren’t ready when we were there. Maybe next time. Overall, their bread is really soft and fluffy, even when I ate some of them the next day (and even some the day after that) and their mochi texture is really nice and chewy. And the flavors that they are offering are not something that you usually find at other bakeries. If you’re ever in Plaza Senayan (or Plaza Indonesia) and happened to pass by Kooma Bakery, definitely recommend you to try their breads. A whole lot of variety of flavors and sizes and great for breakfast or snacking. 

 

Kooma Bakery Plaza Senayan

Address: LG Metro, Plaza Senayan, Jl. Asia Afrika No.8, RT.1/RW.3, Gelora, Kecamatan Tanah Abang, Kota Jakarta Pusat, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 10270, Indonesia
Hours: Everyday 10am-10pm

Instagram: @koomabakeryid

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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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