Sura Lotte Shopping Avenue Jakarta

Sura is a Korean BBQ bar that’s specialized in Korean-style Hamburg Steak—or Hambak Steak as the Koreans pronounce it—and the first one of its kind in Jakarta. They opened their first outlet in July 2024 at Lippo Mall Puri and expanded into the second one a month later at Lotte Shopping Avenue.

Korean-style Hamburg Steak itself is nothing new. The dish has been served at multiple different restaurants in Korea for years now. Having said that, I did notice that it was making a comeback last year when I started to see a bunch of new Korean-style Hamburg Steak restaurants opened up around Seoul. Most of them adopted similar concept where they have a restaurant with nice modern interior, bar style seating, open kitchen and offers limited menu focusing on the Hamburg Steak. I’ve been meaning to try one of those restaurants but unfortunately haven’t got a chance to until now. But since Sura basically has the same concept as those restaurants, might as well go see what the Hamburg Steak hype is all about since the brand is brought from Korea to Jakarta. 

I visited the Lotte Shopping Avenue location with a friend for a late lunch. The interior is pretty nice and interesting with plenty of seatings available around the room from the bar seating that’s perfect for solo or duo patrons to the cubicle seatings for bigger parties. We opted for the bar seatings since we also wanted to see how the Hamburg Steak is cooked. 

Currently, they have 2 options for the meat: the Wagyu Hambak Steak that’s made with 100% wagyu beef and the Spicy Chicken Hambak. Every Hambak is slow-cooked to order and is grilled and torched for about 15 to 20 minutes to get that smoky juicy meat. And since they have an open kitchen, you can see all the action from your seat while waiting for your order to be done.

The basic set consist of two patties and are served with free-flow white rice, soup, and omega-3 egg. There are also pickles and five different kind of dippings (Korean Suje Ssamjang, Chinese Secret Spicy Powder Ganfen, Yuzu Mayo Sauce, Himalayan Pink Salt & Garlic Flakes, and Sambal Bawang) provided for your steak. 

Double Wagyu Hambak Steak (148k) | 9/10

I ordered the double Wagyu Hambak Steak and not gonna lie, I was pretty impressed with how juicy and flavorful the steak is without dipping it into anything. The smokiness from the all the grilling and the torching definitely added a new layer of complexity to the flavor of the meat. When I dipped the meat into the egg yolk, the overall flavor definitely tasted creamier. With or without the egg yolk, the meat tasted good. 

Another thing that deserves a special shoutout is their Korean Beef and Daikon Radish Soup. I’m a sucker for a good soup and theirs was so goooood. It’s nicely seasoned and the flavor profile is pretty much the same as the ones I’ve had in Korea. Super comforting, especially if you eat if with the rice (their rice is also really good). My friend and I were saying that we can honestly just eat the soup with the rice because it was that comforting.

For the dipping options, I liked the Himalayan Pink Salt & Garlic Flakes and Chinese Secret Spicy Powder Ganfen the best. The Korean Suje Ssamjang and Yuzu Mayo Sauce were alright. The Sambal Bawang was probably my least favorite because it’s spicy and the flavor profile doesn’t really pair well with the Hambak Steak in my opinion. But I do understand why they have that option since we’re in Indonesia after all. Their pickles were also really good and have that authentic Korean flavors in them.

I also tried the Spicy Chicken Hambak that my friend ordered. It also tasted good and the meat was juicy, but it is on the spicier side for me who can’t really eat spicy food. The flavor profile tasted like Sate Lilit Bali if you ever had one of those.

At the end of our meal, the server asked us if we wanted to try their Sundubu Jjigae, a soup option that’s apparently only available on Sundays. We said yes and we each were served with a bowl of pipping hot red soup. Turned out, it was pretty good as well. Super flavorful with generous toppings inside. But since the flavor of the Sundubu Jjigae is stronger than the Korean Beef and Daikon Radish Soup, I feel like if you eat this with the steak, the soup might overpower the taste of the meat. So my recommendation is if after your meal you’re still hungry, ask for the Sundubu Jjigae (and maybe put an egg in) and just eat it with rice. I think it’s going to be better that way. 

Service was really good during our visit. The server explained the menu clearly and checked in with us periodically to see if we need a refill or anything else. She also gave my pregnant friend a boiled egg since she can’t eat the raw egg so that’s something you can probably ask the staff if your don’t eat raw egg. All and all, it was a really good meal and would definitely come back again to this place.

 

Sura Lotte Shopping Avenue Jakarta (4F)

Address: Kuningan, Jl. Prof. DR. Satrio Kav. 3-5, South Jakarta 12940, Indonesia
Hours: Everyday 10:00 am - 10:00 pm

Instagram: @surafromkorea

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Genbu Premium Katsu & Bar Senopati

If you’re looking for a variety of delicious katsu menu and great Japanese Highball on tap, Genbu Premium Katsu & Bar Senopati is the place to be. Genbu announced their presence in South Jakarta by opening their third location in Senopati last December.

Still true to their original concept, Genbu Senopati carries all the elements that their flagship PIK location has—beautiful interior, delicious food and great service (you can read my full review on Genbu PIK here). What makes this location different though, is the presence of a highball machine at their bar that dispenses perfectly portioned, carbonated, and chilled highball from the tap. Imagine having a refreshing highball with their delicious katsu. That’s probably a good way to end the day after a busy work day or simply to chill with a friend or two.

Genbu Senopati has one small private room that could accommodate 6 people for special occasions or if you simply want a more private setting.

The Drinks

Horange-Cha (39k) | 8/10

Instead of ordering my usual Kitkat Mintini, which is usually my go-to for my every visit, since Genbu has added a bunch of new items to their menu, I tried their Horange-cha which is basically a mix of hojicha and orange juice. Pretty refreshing and I like it.

The Food

Salmon Aburi Canapé (59k) | 8.5/10

Chopped Aburi Salmon, Nori, Crispy Wonton.

Started my meal with the Salmon Aburi Canapé. The chopped aburi salmon was seasoned well and it was flavorful. But, unexpectedly, the highlight of the dish for me was the tartar sauce. The tartar sauce was the bomb and it really goes well with the salmon. I’m telling you, you got to dip it to the tartar sauce to get that wholesome flavor (seriously, you won’t regret it). I didn’t really care for the fried wonton because the size is a little bit too big for my bite and the texture was a bit soggy (maybe because I didn’t eat it right away). Maybe if they’re a little smaller and crispier, I’d give this dish a 9. But overall, it was still a great appetizer.

Salmon Rare Katsu (139k) | 8/10

Fresh Salmon, Crunchy Katsu.

Salmon Rare Katsu is another new addition to the their menu. The concept itself is pretty unique. They nailed the raw and fried texture giving it an interesting contrast when you bite into it. The deep-fried crispy breading sticks to the sashimi which is pretty impressive. The sashimi was fresh and tender and the size and thickness of the cut were also just right for a bite size. I do wish that the dipping sauce is a little saltier because it was a bit under seasoned for my personal taste.

A5 Wagyu Katsu Set (990k) | 9/10

A5 Kagoshima Wagyu Cutlet, Moritama Egg Yolk, Cabbage Salad, Rice, Kinpira, Japanese Pickles, Akamiso Soup.

If you read my other review on Genbu, you probably remember how I said that the breading of their gyukatsu was a little bit of a disappointment for me. I’ve given it a second chance after the chef revise the recipe but it still wasn’t as satisfying as I’d like it to be.

One and a half year later after my very first Genbu gyukatsu, I can finally say that their current version of gyukatsu is worth trying for. The chef has been going over revisions after revisions on their gyukatsu recipe to make sure that the breading sticks to the meat and doesn’t fall apart. And he finally did it. The breading does stick to the meat and doesn’t fall apart. It really has came a long way from the first version.

The meat is super tender and (I think is) best grilled to a medium for the doneness level. I still love the salt the most from the three dippings provided. The wasabi is actually also pretty good. It wasn’t too spicy for me and it gave that extra flavor and fragrance to the meat. Really enjoyed this dish.

Liquor on tap

After I had my meal, I ended up at the bar trying the different selections of liquor they have on tap while the chef explained each of the drinks to me.

Kakubin Highball (角ハイ) (120K) | 9/10

First, I tried the Kakubin Highball which is Suntory’s most iconic whisky mixed with soda. Served in a Suntory Kaku Whisky Highball chilled mug glass, the gold colored liquid is very light, smooth and refreshing. I imagine this would make a perfect pairing with Genbu’s dishes because it could help cut down the greasiness of the deep fried katsu.

Matsui Umeshu Brandy Soda (120K) | 9/10

Matsui Umeshu Brandy Soda is a mix between Japanese plum liqueur and brandy with soda. This one is sweeter and even lighter than the Kakubin Highball with a hint of aromatic ginger that came through in the aftertaste. I enjoyed this one as well.

Amaro Spritz (120K) | 8.5/10

Amaro Spritz is made out of Italian Vermouth from Cocchi with soda and orange peel. Very fragrant and the orange peel immediately hit my taste bud after my first sip. Would probably order this if I feel like I need a drink.

Daiyame Shochu Highball (120K) | 7/10

Mixed with an award-winning shochu made from 100% special ripen sweet potato in Kagoshima-Japan, Daiyame Shochu Highball has a unique lychee-like aroma with burnt-lemon after taste. Although it’s still on the lighter side, this one is the most bitter for me out of the four I tried.

Overall Experience

Genbu is probably the only restaurant in Jakarta (that I know) that has a very extensive selection of katsu with premium ingredients as well as menu that’s frequently updated with new interesting dishes. And that’s what makes going back to Genbu fun for me because I get to try different menu on my visits. I enjoyed the food that I had and trying their selections of liquor on tap was a fun experience. I’m not one to drink a lot of alcohol other than the occasional sip when I feel like it, but I have to say their on tap selections might make me inclined to order a drink in the future because they are all so light and smooth.

For those who knows me in real life, they know Genbu is one of the restaurants that I go back to pretty often. I’ve taken a bunch of my friends to try their katsu and every single one of them enjoyed their food. This visit was no different than my previous ones. I had a great meal and service was good as well. Will I go back to eat at Genbu again in the future? You bet I will.

 

Genbu Premium Katsu & Bar Senopati

Address: Jl. Suryo No.25, Rw. Bar., Kec. Kby. Baru, Kota Jakarta Selatan, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 12180, Indonesia
Telephone: +62813 8153 0133
Hours: 11am -12am

Instagram: @genbu.jkt

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Glou Wine & Bistro

French food with Indonesian twists. That’s the kind of food you’ll find at Glou Wine & Bistro, a cozy casual French bistro in Melawai. Opened last September by Jaddi+ in collaboration with Chef Renatta Moeloek and Chef Adam Rizal Pradana as the brains behind the French-(Peruvian-Spanish)-inspired menus, Glou also strives to highlight local produce by incorporating unique ingredients from all around Indonesia into their dishes. The idea translated into every plates that they served, giving patrons an elevated dining experience that is reminiscent of a home-cooked meal.

The Food

Roasted Cauliflower (75k) | 8.5/10

Charred bell pepper sauce, tahini, almonds and pickled shallots.

The cauliflower was roasted nicely, giving that right amount of crunchiness without it being to hard. The sauce was creamy, savory and there’s a smokiness from the charred bell pepper that works wonderfully with the roasted cauliflower. The crispy almond gave a hint of nuttiness and added to the texture of the dish. And the pickled shallots were amazing. Just the right thing needed to balance the cauliflower and the sauce, making the overall dish brighter and more refreshing. This was my favorite dish from my visit.

Bone Marrow Escargots (185k) | 8/10

Escargots in herb and anchovy butter on top of a bone marrow.

The dish is nicely seasoned in butter and herbs with lemon. A nicely executed straight forward dish. We did ask for a bread replacement (I think they gave us sourdough) per a friend’s recommendation because according to her, the bread that came with dish was way too tough and since we aren’t really a fan of tough bread, we followed her recommendation and glad that we did. Also, appreciate that the restaurant accommodated our request.

Fish Meunière (175k) | 8/10

Pan seared whole flat fish with herb butter and lemon, pickled green Pontianak chilli.

The fish was fresh, didn’t taste fishy at all. Nicely cooked where the fish meat is still tender and the flavors are reminiscent of Indonesian flavors for sure.

Steak au Poivre (465k) | 8.5/10

Grilled US Prime steak, unripe green peppercorns from Bogor, andaliman and parsley.

Super tender and juicy meat, sliced nicely sitting on top of a plate full of brown sauce. I asked for a medium for the degree of doneness of the meat and this was one of those rare occasions in Jakarta where I actually get a medium steak on the plate (most restaurants usually served it over or under unless I’m at a nice steakhouse). That was pretty impressive. The green peppercorn sauce was also very delicious. I thought it’s going to be stronger, but the peppercorns were actually very subtle, making the whole dish very enjoyable and again, reminiscent of local flavors.

Overall Experience

The food at Glou Wine & Bistro certainly lived up to the concept of the restaurant itself, a casual neighborhood French bistro that reminds you of home. I actually didn’t know what the concept of the restaurant was prior to my visit because it was a last minute decision to go to try this place. But after I’m done with my meal, the first thing that came to mind was that the dishes and flavors of everything I ordered tasted like French food but with familiar Indonesian flavors infused to them which I was pleasantly surprised.

Service was also wonderful. The server who waited our table was friendly, knowledgeable about the menu and made us feel at home. They adjusted the timing of the food according to our request, checked-in periodically without feeling too overbearing and our glasses were kept full the whole time we were there.

Noise level was a bit high for me since it wasn’t a full house when I was there but as the evening progressed, I did had to raised my voice more and more so that my friend could hear me speak.

All and all, if you’re looking for a casual French bistro restaurant with wine selections, Glou Wine & Bistro is worth checking out.

Glou Wine & Bistro

 

Address: Jl. Wijaya II No.56, RT.5/RW.7, Melawai, Kec. Kby. Baru, Kota Jakarta Selatan, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 12160, Indonesia
Telephone: +62821 7000 1270
Hours: Mon-Sun 11.00 - late

Instagram: @glou.jakarta

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Barcelona Dining & Bar

Barcelona Dining & Bar is a quaint Spanish restaurant that serves various cuisines inspired by the flavors of Spain with a little bit of Asian twists. Offering plenty of seatings inside a two-story building, the cozy interior and the vivid colors inside of the restaurant are reminiscent of places you’d visit in the Southwestern of Europe. The restaurant is also part of Hiro Group’s growing portfolio and is located at One Satrio, an open space lifestyle center at Kuningan, South Jakarta.

The food

Crispy Pig Ear (75K) | 8.5/10

Deep-Fried Pig Ear, Garlic, Daun Jeruk, Paprika Powder, Espelette, Tartar Sauce

The pig ear was fried to a crisp without being too oily. The highlight of the dish was the Tartar sauce for me. You gotta dip it in the Tartar sauce before taking a bite. We even asked for a refill for the Tartar sauce cause it was that good.

Baked Butter Scallop (125K) | 8.5/10

Hokkaido Scallop, Shrimp, Paprika, Butter, Tobiko

The butter sauce was wonderful. The liquid gold was savory, well seasoned and the scallop was nicely cooked. Also, I like the fact that they served the dish with burning charcoal underneath the shell which kept the dish warm and the sauce from being hardened.

Crispy Rice Spicy Tuna (80K) | 8/10

Crispy Sushi Rice, Tuna Tartare, Chili Aioli, Scallion

I like the play on texture on this one. The crispy sushi rice was well-executed, crispy on the outside with moist rice on the inside. The tuna tartare was also good, but I do wish that they’d seasoned a little stronger and it’d be nice if the tartare is chilled to get that contrast in temperature and make the dish more refreshing (just my personal preference though). But overall, this was a good dish.

Wagyu Tounge (280K) | 9/10

Grilled Thick Cut Beef Tounge, Negi Sauce, Chili Oil, Yuzu Foam

Really love this dish. The tounge was juicy, tender and cut in the perfect size. The sauce was savory but fresh at the same time. This was my favorite dish out of all the dishes we ordered.

Crab cannelloni (158k) | 8.5/10

Crab Meat, Shrimp, Jalapeño Pickles, Sauce Américaine, Tobiko

The pasta was cooked al dente. The combination of the pasta, the crab meat and the sauce was really nice and balanced. Although I have to say this dish might be a better option for sharing because the portion is quite big.

Overall Experience

Me and my cousins went to Barcelona during New Year’s day and the 4-months-old restaurant wasn’t too busy. The food was great. Everything we ordered we did enjoy. Their sauce works were also really wonderful because every single dish that we had had a distinct flavor that separate them from each other. Service was also great. The waiter who served our table was knowledgable about the menu. The manager also stepped in to help accommodate our dietary restrictions. Noise level at this place was at a medium just because there weren’t too many people around our table during the time of my visit (I have a feeling it might be high if the place is crowded). All and all, I had really nice meal at this place and probably going to go back again to try their other menu.

Barcelona Dining & Bar

 

Address: CBD One Satrio, Jl. Mega Kuningan Jl. Prof. DR. Satrio No.13, Kuningan, East Kuningan, Setiabudi, Kuningan, Jakarta 12949
Telephone: +6282 28000 3501
Hours: Sun-Thrs 11:00 am -11:00 pm | Fri-Sat 11:00 am - 00:00 am

Instagram: @barcelonajkt

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Issei

Issei is a Japanese restaurant and sake bar that is located on the first floor of the Elysee SCBD building. The restaurant prides itself in its yakitori and sake selections that they serve in house. I visited the place about two months ago for dinner for the first time. The interior of the restaurant is definitely interesting. The first thing I noticed when I entered was is the high ceiling that is decorated with black, wavy, solid curtain like screens which certainly give the restaurant a modern atmosphere. The dining area is pretty spacious with a combination of regular tables in the main area and booth seatings further back in the restaurant if you want some privacy.

“The design is inspired by organic pattern of natural landscape. This idea is translated into free flow curvatures that are applied into the geometry of the seatings and hanging screens.

The dark dominated color palette combined with warm illumination gives an enigmatic yet warm interior atmosphere.

Locally dan naturally sourced materials such as dark stained wood, natural stone and gravel are combined to simulate an experience of being outdoor in the nature.” —Studio Kota via Archdaily

On the mezzanine floor, they have a private room that has more of a cozy dining/living room atmosphere. On one side of the room, there’s a long table that could seat about 10 people, and on the other side, there’s the living room area which can accommodate another 10 people. TV and karaoke system are installed in the room, making this a perfect choice for a small to medium size gathering if you’re looking for a private space.

During my visit, I tried Issei’s All-You-Can-Eat yakitori package. They have two options, the Chicken Yakitori package which costs IDR 169K++ and the Premium Yakitori package which includes beef, pork, and chicken which costs IDR 249K++. I tried the Premium Yakitori package and ordered a bunch of different stuff from the menu. Some are better than the others but overall, they’re pretty good. Here are what I tried (the ones with the ⭐ were the ones I enjoyed the most):

The most unique dish of the night was this Smokey Quinoa Tsukune. Really enjoyed the play on texture between the crunchy quinoa and the tender, juicy meat. Plus, the dish presentation was really fun.

Other additional information that might be useful, parking space is limited at Elysee building. I arrived pretty early for dinner (before 6 I think) and got a self-parking space, but I found out later that after 6pm (cmiiw), they only do valet parking. Or if you prefer to self-park, there’s a parking space across the street but the building’s kind of old according to my friend who parked there. Noise level in this restaurant for me was medium to high due to the live music and the music from the speakers was playing at the same time.

Overall, I think if you’re looking for an All-You-Can-Eat Yakitori place (although I’m not sure how long they’ll have this package for so I suggest you check with them first prior to your visit) or a Japanese restaurant and sake bar, Issei is worth a try.

 

ISSEI

Address: Elysee SCBD 1st Floor #7. Jl. Jendral Sudirman - SCBD Lot 21, Jakarta Selatan 12170, Indonesia
Telephone: +62878 8621 8888
Hours: 11.00 - 22.00

Instagram: @issei.id

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