Pempek Clovelly - Kensington

Been here for lunch and the restaurant was quite packed. I love the food especially their pempek (fish cake). This restaurant is very famous for its fish cakes variety. I came in to have Lenggang (fish cake omelette) and Mie Ayam (chicken noodles), really love the fish cake omelette especially the sauce, just perfect. The chicken noodles was alright. Just be aware though if you come to this restaurant when there are lots of customers, chances are the food might take awhile to come to your table. That was what happened to us when we came.

This family operated Indonesian eatery has been there for ages. Their Pempek (Indo Fish Cake) is one of the most authentic one in Sydney. For those not familiar with this type of fish cake, it is one of the most complex food to describe and to make. More so for the sauce which tastes more like vinegar plus plus. It is probably easier to drive to Kenso and try one yourselves.<br/ <br/ In general I love all type of Pempek here but my favourites are:  Kapal Selam (with Egg inside), Bulet(Ball) , Kulit (Skin) and Lenggang(Omelette).  With the exception of the Lenggang, you can sample one each by ordering their combo meal (Kombinasi).<br/ <br/ If fish cake is not your thing, you should try their Martabak Telur which is Indonesian interpretation of the 'Murtabak '. This dish is very  popular in Malaysia but it actually originates from India.<br/ <br/ Other dish you can try is Bakso Abang Abang, Sop Buntut (Oxtail soup) and of course their Sate Ayam (Chicken Satay).<br/ <br/ Bottomline : Great food. Good service. Good value.

Generally speaking if you compare it with the price in Indonesia, Indonesian food in Sydney is very expensive! However, if you compare it to Sydney’s food prices, they are still pretty cheap. One restaurant that I frequented is Pempek Clovelly. Pempek is a traditional fish cake originated from the city of Palembang in Indonesia. The unique aspect of pempek is that it comes with vinegar sauce. The sauce is a combination of palm sugar, garlic, vinegar, salt, and chili. The sauce is an integral part of the pempek dish. So, if you don’t get the sauce right, you will spoil the taste. For those of you who have never tasted pempek before, I must warn you that the dish is sweet and sour. The sweet and sour taste usually dominates the flavour.

One of the few remaining old school Indo joints on Anzac Parade is still going strong. Pempek Clovelly is run by the loveliest of lovely uncle and auntie. We visit on a public holiday Monday when they are slammed with customers. They're manic but still warm and smiley, bless them. The food is Chinese Indonesian, more towards the Indo end of the spectrum, with lots of pempek (fish cakes) on the menu as per their name, plus some fried chicken, soup and noodle dishes. Once the domain of cheap student eateries, Anzac Parade is heading upmarket and a lot of the family run, old school hole in the wall joints are being replaced with more upmarket restos and chain stores (one of uber favourites, Kaki Lima, has been replaced by a Dominos, oh the humanity). So if you share our love of these places like this we urge you to visit soon, you never know when auntie and uncle are going to retire. Pempek kulit (fish cake skin) $2.50 each plus $1 for noodles . We have to order Pempek at Pempek Clovelly. It's a fish cake with a lovely firm texture and a light crisp to the skin. It soaks up the sweet soy sauce like a fishy tofu puff. Nasi kuning spesial $12 . Yellow tumeric rice with fried chicken, a divine slice of sweet coconuty slow cooked beef, half a fried googy egg and kind of an Indo potato salad potato pieces in a lovely smooth and lightly spiced eggy goo, given a fresh kick with beans. Awesome.

This place has been changed to a new management for the first time but luckily they maintain the flavour and service seems a bit better and more friendly. The price change a bit, almost everything go up $1 per item. Overall still quite good.