Restaurants in Jakarta for cheese lovers
When it comes to cheesy food and desserts, as delicious as pizza and cheesecake may be, they’re not the only ones that’d make lovers of cheese jump with joy.
From Ojju’s rolling cheese drumsticks to Gulu Gulu’s cheese milk tea, you’re bound to be surprised by the variety of cheesy food mouthwatering melted stretchy cheese can be turned into at these Jakarta restaurants.
1. Say Cheese To The Wheel – freshly made cheese wheel pasta
Image credit: @cheesewheeljkt
Cheese wheel pasta, in which just-cooked pasta is mixed in a hollowed-out cheese wheel, is considered a luxury in Jakarta, but what Say Cheese To The Wheel offers is relatively affordable. If that isn’t enough to catch your attention, the pasta itself is freshly made at the store too.
Image credit: @cheesewheeljkt
Try the cheese wheel tagliatelle (a flat noodle-like pasta similar to fettuccine) with beef bacon at Rp. 65,000 (~USD4.53) or cheese wheel penne with wagyu ribeye at Rp. 69,000 (~USD4.81). The creaminess of the melted cheese goes well with the chewiness of the pasta. Meanwhile, vegetarians can go for the cheese wheel tagliatelle with sauteed mushroom at Rp. 59,000 (~USD4.11).
Apart from the selection of pasta dishes, you can also opt for grilled cheese toast at Rp. 44,000 (~USD3.07) or smoked brisket toast at Rp. 78,000 (~USD5.44).
Address: Jl. Terogong Raya No. 75F, Pondok Indah, Jakarta
and Dharmawangsa Raya, Jakarta (GoFood or Delivery only)
Opening hours: 12PM-8PM, Daily
Telephone: 08111195959
2. Ojju – tasty Korean chicken rolled in cheese
Image credit: @chriistin7
K-pop isn’t the only South Korean cultural product that’s made a huge splash in Indonesia. Korean-style fried chicken has also become popular and for the past few years, more and more people have flocked to Korean restaurants for it. Ojju stands out because not only does it sell the much-loved chicken, but it also wraps it in cheese.
Ojju’s rolling cheese is its most famous dish as the experience of watching cheese being rolled around a piece of juicy fried chicken alone is Instagram material. You can get the chicken drumsticks for Rp. 69,900 (~USD4.87) or Rp. 149,900 (~USD10.44). A mozzarella add-on costs Rp. 32,900 (~USD2.29).
If you’re not much of a chicken person, you can still experience this messy yet super satisfying culinary experience by getting the Beef Ribs for Rp. 129,900 (~USD9.04) or Rp. 249,900 (~USD17.41)
Instagram | Website (online ordering) | GrabFood | GoFood
3. Smørrebrød Sandwich Shop – a cheesy treat you can eat on the go
Image credit: @smorrebrodjkt
Smørrebrød may take its name from the traditional Danish open-faced sandwich, but this sandwich shop offers its own twist that will appeal to carb cravers.
Unlike the minimalist Danish version, Smørrebrød goes all out with the cheese and fillings, which closely resembles the North American grilled cheese sandwich. You’ll forget about geography once you take a big bite out of the classic grilled cheese sandwich (Rp. 45,000, ~USD3.13) with its generous layer of stretchy cheese. If you want your sandwich to come with bonbon potatoes and a drink, get the combo (Rp. 62,500, ~USD4.35).
For a more festive cheese sandwich that’ll restore your energy, it’d be a good idea to order the crispy chicken melt (Rp. 62,500, ~USD4.35) or the combo for Rp. 75,500 (~USD5.26). The crispness of the chicken works to intensify the texture of the bread.
Address: Gandaria City Mall, Second Floor, Jalan Sultan Iskandar Muda, Kebayoran Lama Utara, Kebayoran Lama, South Jakarta 12240
Opening hours: 10AM-10PM, Daily
Telephone: 02129236334
4. Ayam Geprek Mas Eko – a layer of cheese on crispy chicken and sambal
Ayam geprek mozzarella
Image credit: @geprekmaseko
If you thought classic ayam geprek couldn’t get any more wholesome, think again because Ayam Geprek Mas Eko takes it up a notch by adding a layer of cheese that surprisingly works well with the chicken meat. The cheese neutralizes the chili kick and it also makes the overall flavor unique.
Ayam geprek keju
Image credit: @jimmyjanto
Ayam geprek, or “crushed crispy fried chicken,” is an extremely popular dish that’s typically served with rice and intensely spicy sambal that’s not for the faint-hearted. The combination of the crispy skin and tender chicken just never gets old.
Try the ayam geprek keju, which is served with shredded cheddar cheese for Rp. 12,000 (~USD0.85) a piece, and if you prefer an oozy blanket over your chicken, then ayam geprek mozzarella (Rp. 16,000, ~USD1.13) might be more up your alley. To complement the chicken, get a serving of rice for Rp. 5,000 (~USD0.35).
Address: Jalan Tanjung Duren Utara IV #223B, Tanjung Duren Utara, Grogol Petamburan, West Jakarta 11470
Opening hours: 10AM-10PM, Daily
Telephone: 085750795423
Instagram | GrabFood | GoFood
5. Bakso Boedjangan – enormous cheese bombs in warm broth
Image credit: @baksoboedjangan
Bakso is the Indonesian word for meatball. It comes in different sizes and textures, and it’s such a popular dish that you can get it at street vendors or fancy hotel buffets. Bakso Boedjangan’s success can be attributed to its innovative take on this timeless dish.
While the place offers regular bite-sized meatballs served in a bowl of clear broth, it also has the billiard-ball-sized bakso keju. It has the appearance of a regular gigantic bakso, but inside, there’s a cheesy treat waiting to dissolve in your mouth. If you want a more stretchy texture in your bakso, you should definitely try the bakso mozzarella. Each bakso is Rp. 16,500 (~USD1.15). Order it with a pool of spicy broth if you want a stronger kick of flavor.
Bakso Boedjangan has about a dozen branches spread across Jakarta, so if you happen to work or live in the most-visited places, you’ll never be far away from some cheese meatballs.
For the full list of locations, click here.
6. Martabakku Menteng – martabak and a blanket of mozzarella
Image credit: @ardalaksana
Martabak is an Indonesian stuffed pancake that’s either sweet or savory. Like chocolate, nuts and even matcha, cheese is a common filling for sweet martabak because it matches its buttery and spongy consistency.
The crispy savory type, however, is rarely given a makeover. So Martabakku Menteng came along and introduced a layer of melted mozzarella (Rp. 30,000, ~USD2.12) on top of an already delicious snack.
A basic egg martabak, or martabak telor, is Rp. 60,000 (~USD4.24). For Rp. 75,000 (~USD5.30) you can get a fancier one filled with either chicken, corned or smoked beef, or tuna. If you’re ready for something a little edgier, try the Mr. Mac (Rp. 105,000, ~USD7.41), which as you may have already guessed is savory martabak stuffed with some good old mac and cheese. These martabak are perfect for potluck parties because much like a pizza, they’re designed to be shared.
Locations include Cikini (Menteng), Grand Indonesia, Ahmad Dahlan, Keman, Pecenongan, Senopati, Lebak Bulus, and Tebet.
7. Hokkaido Baked Cheese Tart – soft on the inside, crusty on the outside
Image credit: @jalanjalanbuncit
If you want to know what a combination of cheesecake a pie would taste like, look no further and head to Hokkaido Baked Cheese Tart. Picture soft cheese resting in a delicious crust. The pretty mini tart tastes as good as it sounds.
While it’s definitely a sweet treat, the savory quality of cheese adds balance to the overall flavor of the tart even for those without a sweet tooth.
The cute little tarts are Rp. 20,000 (~USD1.39) each and come in a number of flavors. You can’t go wrong with the simple but tasty original cheese tart, but you can also get the dark chocolate cheese sensation or for a Japanese touch, the red bean matcha delight. There are also fruity versions such as pineapple cheese and durian cheese.
Branches are open in Jakarta, Tangerang, Bekasi, Bogor, Karawang, and Bandung.
8. Gulu Gulu – milk tea, but make it cheesy
Image credit: @guluguluid
The milk tea trend has only grown over the years, and if you think there’s nothing more that could be possibly done with the drink, Gulu Gulu will surprise you with its truly one-of-a-kind innovation. With over 40 outlets across Jakarta, this chain specializes in cheese tea.
It offers both cold and hot options for most of the items on the menu. For Rp. 25,000 (~USD1.74), you can have a taste of a regular-sized cheese classic milk tea. Other drinks include Taiwanese cheese royal milk tea (from Rp. 32,000, ~USD2.23) and classic cheese coffee milk (from Rp. 28,000, ~USD1.95). Similar to baked cheese tarts, these drinks also blend sweet and savory flavors, but in liquid form.
For an extra Rp. 5,000 (~USD0.35), you can ask for additional toppings such as cheese foam and boba.
For the full list of locations, click here.
Restaurants in Jakarta for cheese lovers
For your next quest for cheesy delicacies, and order from any of these restaurants – they all do delivery whether on their own platforms, GrabFood, or GoFood. Even while we’re stuck at home, here’s to exploring the many possibilities cheese can bring to both local and international cuisine.
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- Jakarta cafes for your morning #dirumahaja fix
Cover image adapted from: @chriistin7, @smorrebrodjkt, and @cheesewheeljkt
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This article was originally published by Dwiputri P. in November 2020. Updated by Xin Tian K. on 24 May 2021.