Shalom

We were planning to go to the Supermentor lecture at UNSW at around 6pm. Initially we wanted to take the public transport because I remember trying to get parking around Kingsford area is very difficult. After some arguments about walking to Merrylands station (LOL), we ended up driving the car all the way to Kingsford. Thankfully, there were plenty of parking when we arrived there at 5pm!

In the car, I said, "Let's have dinner around Kingsford after the lecture". I didn't have any clue about Indonesian restaurant's opening hours around that area when I said that. After I checked, most of them would close at 9pm - what a pity! So, because we would arrive early, we decided to get take-away Ayam Goreng 99, unfortunately the shop doesn't open until 6pm! I thought, perhaps it's not our luck to get Indonesian food that day. But I really want it!!

From a blog review that I read about Ayam Goreng 99, I found out that Shalom restaurant is not that far away from there. So we went to Shalom instead while waiting for Ayam Goreng 99 to open.

The interior of the restaurant is really nice and comfy. I love that they hang traditional pendant lamps (it actually looks like the lamp that I fell in love with at Bunnings), and use traditional Indonesian vintage enamel home-wares as decorations. There were a couple of tables with bench-style seating, it reminds me of warteg.

I was hoping they would have bakwan malang because I've been craving for that since my first trimester! Unfortunately they didn't. Their menu is revolves around various Indonesian traditional food such as ayam goreng, soto, ketoprak, various traditional snacks (e.g. batagor), pempek, mie ayam, iga penyet, etc. Since we already planned to get Ayam Goreng 99 take-away, I ordered something else that's not either ayam goreng or ayam bakar and something that I can't make at home. My choice came down to bakso and batagor.

BAKSO

For those who don't know, bakso is Indonesian meatball soup. It's usually served with vermicelli or egg noodles and pangsit goreng (fried wontons). I think their meatballs is good. They were generous with it too - they give 6 meatballs in a serve! Usually you will only get 5 meatballs at a bakso joint in Indonesia. The pangsit goreng was really nice too (I love myself pangsit goreng in a bowl of bakso!)

Unfortunately I have more negative things to say about the bakso as a whole since I am very particular about my bakso (FYI - I'm a bakso die-hard fan!). I like my bakso soup clear and free of any condiments, but this one looks like it has been added sweet soy sauce. The most disappointing part: the taste of the soup is also a bit off - I suspect it's because of the vermicelli noodle. Sometimes vermicelli noodles can be a bit smelly and I think that smell got mixed with the soup. You have to ask for the sambal bakso (chilli sauce) as it doesn't come along with the bakso when they serve it, but I have no issues with that. And the sambal bakso tasted nice.

BATAGOR

Batagor is an abbreviation from: Bakso Tahu Goreng, Sundanese and Indonesian: "fried bakso and tofu". I had ordered the batagor as a take-away for husband because I thought he would not be breaking his fast before 6pm, hence the plastic container (LOL). It turned out Maghrib was at 5.40pm and I had not finished my bakso, so eventually husband enjoyed his batagor at the premise. 

The batagor yesterday was quite a disappointment too. The only plus point is that it is crispy. The taste is not like what I had expected. In fact, I think the batagor that is sold at street vendors in Indonesia tasted much much much better. I couldn't taste the fish at all although I did spot the fish filling inside the tofu. And the peanut sauce, it's missing one important ingredient: lime. I don't think it has to be the kaffir lime, but it is definitely missing that citrusy aroma.

***

The bakso was $10 and batagor was $5. I also ordered the big bottle of Teh Botol, so the total damage was $17.50.

If I can rate this restaurant, I will give 3 out of 5 stars as a whole. Although I'm quite disappointed with my first experience at Shalom (yes, this is my first time there), this won't be my last. There are still other menu that I would like to try like the iga bakar or the tempting desserts (they have es durian, yum yum!).