Rumah Makan Pagi Sore is a popular Padang food restaurant and is indeed quite popular.
All the dishes we tried here had a stronger taste than other Padang food restaurants across Indonesia.
The rendang meat here is not hard fat to eat and has a slightly sour taste, the white beans are delicious and rarely seen elsewhere, the fried chicken is not greasy and the vegetables are simple but flavorful.
Located on Jalan Pondok, Pagi Sore has served some of the best Padang food anywhere since 1947 and even the big fires of 2014 didn’t stop them from remaining a must-visit restaurant in Padang.
Nan Yo Baru Coffee Shop “Liong” is a small, old-fashioned coffee shop on Jalan Nipah 22A.
Selling simple coffee and tea as well as lontong sayur, mie pangsit (noodles with dumplings) and chicken porridge (rice and chicken porridge), the owner is very pleasant and the food is delicious.
It’s best to come here for breakfast, but it’s open all day.
There are several confusing Nan Yo Coffee Shops around town, but we thought this one was better.
Kinol Bistro & Pool is a funky modern restaurant that won’t go out of style in any western cosmopolitan city.
The chic interior design, modern menu with a mix of Western and Indonesian food and a trendy crowd make this place one of the best places in town to eat if you’re not into local warung food.
Located opposite the Morning Sore Restaurant on Jalan Pondok, this hotel has a central location.
At night many stalls open along Jalan Tepiasang near the Morning Afternoon Restaurant.
The range of food on offer is amazing and from good martabak to delicious noodle dishes.
This is an inexpensive place to eat quickly and most will find something suitable.
The kiosk at Jalan Tepiasang is a modern Western-style cafe serving a mix of Western / Indonesian dishes at medium prices in a comfortable environment.
You’ll find all the cool local kids hanging out here surfing the internet and sipping bubble tea. This is a decent place to eat.
These are the 10 most delicious Padang dishes in the city of Padang
People might wonder why Padang food is so fabulously delicious and even top-ranked in the world. The answer is simply due to their multitude of fresh herbs and aromatic spices used when cooking – not to mention the lengthy cooking process, creating distinctive, yet tempting flavors. Most of the typical dishes in Padang can easily be found in “warungs”, or small, family-owned restaurants, across the city.
Here are the top 10 Padang delicacies you shouldn’t miss:
1. Rendang
Rated as the best dish in the world by CNN Travel, in 2011, Rendang has gained fame in recent years. This dark beef curry is so rich in spices that many easily fall in love with it. Arguably, the secret is in the cooking method, which takes many hours – the meat is simmered slowly, with coconut milk and various herbs, such as turmeric, lemongrass, ginger, and chilies. When the liquid evaporates, making the beef drier and more tender, the dish is ready to serve.
Resto Selamat
Address: Jl. Pasar Raya No.7, Kp. Jao, Padang, Kota Padang, Sumatera Barat
Opening Hours: 8 am to 6 pm
2. Sate Padang
Needless to say, Padang has the most cherished type of sate in the entire country, known as Sate Padang. Instead of being smothered with dark peanut sauce, the skewered dish has a translucent, yellow-colored sauce, made of turmeric and rice flour. The fresh diced beef or lamb takes several steps to cook, and is boiled, skewered and grilled over hot coconut shell charcoal.
Sate Danguang
Address: Jl. Pondok, Kp. Pd., Padang Barat, Kota Padang
Opening Hours: 10 am to 10 pm
3. Dendeng Balado
Dendeng Balado is basically thin slices of beef, with a chewy, semi-tough texture, yet a tasty and spicy flavor. The thin slices of meat are marinated in lime juice for about 10 minutes. Then, they are either baked in the oven or dried under the scorching sun. The beef is then fried to a crisp. The final step is adding it to a mixture of chili flakes, shallots, and kaffir lime leaves.
Sederhana Restaurant
Address: Jl. Rasuna Said No.81A, Rimbo Kaluang, Padang Barat, Kota Padang
Opening Hours: 8 am to 10 pm
4. Gulai Kepala Ikan
What’s your first thought when a fish head becomes your dinner’s main course? Don’t be shocked when you see Gulai Kepala Ikan, a Padang curry dish, made of red snapper’s head. In spite of its unusual look, you will find it so delicate and rich in flavor. The basic seasonings include turmeric, ginger, coriander, cloves, chilies, and candlenut.
Gulai Kepala Ikan
Address: JL. Padang Painan, Km. 21, Bungus, Padang
Contact Number: +62 (0751) 446043
5. Ayam Pop Padang
Craving chicken? Then be sure to try Ayam Pop Padang for an unbelievable culinary experience, while in Sumatra. A whole, organic chicken, often called Ayam Kampung, is marinated with seasoning paste (made from shallots, garlic, and candlenuts), then boiled in a mixture of coconut water, lemongrass, bay leaves, and galangal. To add to the taste, enjoy with hot sambal.
Sederhana Restaurant
Address: Jl. Rasuna Said No.81A, Padang Barat, Rimbo Kaluang, Kota Padang
Opening Hours: 8 am to 10 pm
6. Sambal Cabe Ijo
Indonesia has plenty of spicy sambal and Padang is certainly no exception. One of the hot sauces you need to try is the green chili paste famously known as Sambal Cabe Ijo. You can opt for two types – the one with fried anchovies or without. The blend of sour, salty and spicy is an indescribable heaven.
Lamun Ombak
Address: Jalan Khatib Sulaiman No.99, Ulak Karang Utara, Padang Utara
Opening Hours: 7:30 am to 10 pm
7. Kalio Dagiang
At a glance, Kalio Daging looks similar to Rendang. Yet, what sets it apart from its dark curry peer is the cooking process and spices. Beef or cow’s liver is simmered with coconut milk and a seasoning paste made from shallots, garlic, turmeric, kaffir lime leaves, chilies and galangal, for about an hour. It’s really good to devour with hot steamed rice.
Restoran Sari Raso
Address: Jl. Karya No.3, Padang Selatan Kota Padang
Opening Hours: 10 am to 7 pm
8. Gulai Itiak
Editor’s Note: There’s no photo available at the time of writing
Gulai Itiak is a typical West Sumatran curry dish made of duck meat. The vibrant look of the thick gravy surely adds to the taste – additionally, the tender texture of the fowl is another highlight you can’t ignore. It’s usually served with steamed rice, blanched cassava leaves, potato fritters and green chili sauce.
Gili (Gulai Itiak Lado Ijau)
Address: Jl. Sisingamangaraja No.25, Ganting Parak Gadang, Padang Timur, Kota Padang
Opening Hours: 8 am to 11 pm
9. Gulai Paku
Gulai Paku refers to fiddlehead fern curry, ideal for veggie lovers or non-meat eaters. The vascular plant is often cooked with coconut milk and some aromatic herbs, such as ginger, galangal, turmeric, cumin and chilies. The yellowish-green dish is absolutely great accompanied with hot steamed rice, and fried tempeh or tofu.
Kedai Ketupat Gulai Paku Supik Simp. STKIP/YDB
Address: Lubuk Alung, Padang Pariaman, Padang Pariaman Regency
Opening Hours: 24 hours
10. Ikan Teri Balado
Fish fanatics should try Ikan Balado, a spicy mackerel dish, with a lot of chili flakes. To make this seafood dish is quite effortless – you just saute red chilies, chopped tomatoes, shallots, and garlic, in oil. Once they are stir fried, add the fish, as well as bay leaves and lemongrass. Serving this dish with Indonesian corn fritters is definitely recommended.
Apollo Seafood
Address: Kampung Pondok, West Padang, Padang City
Opening Hours: 9:15 am to 2 pm
Padang is where to savor the world’s best cuisine
Padang should be included on your list of Indonesian culinary adventures, since the capital of West Sumatra offers countless mouthwatering foods, from the tender Rendang to the piquant Balado mackerel. Missing out on these delicacies is a big mistake.
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