Tokio Kitchen

Last Friday, me and my family were having our late lunch at Tokio Kitchen, Central Park Mall. Tokio Kitchen is kinda like a Japanese foodcourt, located beside the Urban Kitchen at 2nd floor of the Mall. I've been there several times before, but for the others, it was their first time.

Btw, I forgot to keep the bill, so I won't write the price here. 

On my last visit, I tried their okonomiyaki and fell in love with it. So that's exactly what I ordered again, Salmon Okonomiyaki. The portion was big, I think it's too much for one person, but it was delicious. I love the thick dough and crunchy fresh vegetables inside. Unfortunately, I also recommend this to my sister, but she didn't like it. She said that the vegetable taste was too strong.

My dad ordered a Salmon Teriyaki Onigiri. He always ordered salmon or gindara teriyaki in every Japanese restaurant, but the onigiri here brought a whole new taste in the teriyaki, since they mix the rice with carrot and parsley. It also looks delicious, but I didn't try it.

Since my sister didn't like the okonomiyaki, she ordered something else, Salmon Nigiri. I can't eat raw foods, so I didn't taste it either, but the salmon on the top looks fresh and tempting, rite?

Overall, I like this restaurant. The food fits my tastebud and the price's worth it. Even though I forgot the exact price, but I think it's 30-50k for each portion. Come and try yourself :)

Tokio Kitchen
Central Park Mall, 2nd floor
Jakarta, Indonesia
http://www.facebook.com/TokioKitchen?sk=info 

[Manado] Rumah Kopi Gembira

After the great meal we had in Tondano, we still had one more food destination: Rumah Kopi Gembira at Kawangkoan. Kawangkoan is another sub-district, it's about 30 minutes more ride from Tondano. On the way to Kawangkoan, we passed by the famous Tondano Lake. It is the second biggest lake in Indonesia, after the Toba Lake.

Then we arrived at Rumah Kopi Gembira. It is crowded, as usual. It's always crowded, especially on weekends. Manado's citizen just love to ride 2,5 hours to this coffeehouse, having coffee/tea, some breads, and nuts, and go straight home. Yeah, that's how this coffeeshop worth it, 2,5 hours ride. Amazing, isn't it?

So these are what we ordered there:

Bakpao Babi (Biapong Ba in Manadonese, Pork Bun(?) in English)

I am a big fan of Manado's Pork Bun. There are a lot of Pork Bun makers and sellers in Manado, but for me, this is the best pork bun ever. This is the reason I always asked my parents to go here everytime we go to Manado. The bun is soft and the pork inside had the best taste. I've tasted numbers of various pork buns in Manado, but nothing can be compared with this one. By the way, Manado's pork bun is different with chasiu pao. It used not the red meat, and it always had a piece of egg inside. Some use lard inside, some don't. I prefer no lard.

Kaya Toast

My mom doesn't like pork, so she ordered this. I think their kaya toast is very traditional. They made the bread and the kaya jam themself. The bread was rough, like the old time bread, and the kaya jam feels pure. Personally, I don't like rough bread, but my mom likes it.

Coffee Milk 

This is a nice company. It warmth our body in the middle of the cold weather in Kawangkoan. (Yes, Tondano and Kawangkoan is located in the mountain, so it's cold)

After satisfying our belly with such a nice snack, we went home. On our way home, we passed Tondano again, and my grandma would like to buy some flowers. Tondano's cold weather makes it a perfect place to grow flowers, so there are some flower kiosk just on the side of the road. Here are the pictures. Enjoy :)

[Manado] Tondano Boulevard

From Ananas Cafe, we picked up my grandma and uncle at my grandma's house and went straight to Tondano. What we seek is not fancy lakefront restaurant, but the small restaurants in Tondano Boulevard.

Tondano Boulevard Street

The ricefield view from the restaurants

Tondano Boulevard is a small and long street splitting a huge ricefield into two parts. The street is filled with lots of small restaurants in both sides. But all the restaurants have the same signature dish: Sate Kolombi.

Kolombi is a snail that lives in the ricefields. It's maybe kinda like escargot. lol. You know, our family usually don't like to eat unusual animals, but it's different with kolombi. Even my lil sis, who doesn't like most of Manado's food, likes this.

So meet the famous Sate Kolombi Bakar Rica (Kolombi Satay). It's hot, it's chewy, and it's addictive. A must try food when you come to Manado.

Beside Sate Kolombi, there are other dishes too. These are what we ordered that day. The Grilled Tilapia Fish (Mujair Bakar Rica) is my second favourite dish.

Grilled Corn

Again, Perkedel Nike

Kolombi Woku, not as delicious as the satay

Grilled Tilapia Fish (Mujair Bakar Rica)