Samarra Pasar Sate and Wine: Satay Party!

Stepping inside Samarra Pasar Sate and Wine at Jalan Kebon Sirih, Jakarta is like entering a portal to an alternate universe where traditional souk markets are flourishing and minimalism is not yet a trend. The restaurant is named after a city in Iraq on the east bank of the Tigris River, where historians believe is the location of the start of civilisation. Similar to other Tugu Hotels’ establishment, Samarra has so many antiques, so many fascinating decors, and so much history.

Why “Pasar Sate”?

We might have not heard of this very often, but back in the olden days, satays are not easily accessible throughout the day. In some villages in Java and Bali, women would parade to the village square every evening and sell satays carried inside a basket. They would dress up nicely in sarong and kebaya, then promoted their products enthusiastically. This is the inspiration behind Samarra’s “Sate Iboe Sarongan Tanah Djawa & Bali”, which offers every single type of satay that you can possibly imagine: beef, veal, chicken, prawns, tempe, and many more!

But this satay feast is only available for a group of ten or more. What about a nice dinner for two?

Smaller groups and individuals might want to take a look at Samarra’s a la carte menu. Beside the numerous choice of satay dishes, Samarra also serves interesting curries —our pick is the intriguing “Kare Ayam Merah”— and unique appetisers that are unlikely to be found in other restaurants in Jakarta, such as hummus and kibbeh. (We’re willing to bet that some of you are having a what in the world is kibbeh moment. No worries, we totally did too at first.)

For a unique Middle Eastern dining experience in Jakarta, it’s hard to find anywhere more interesting than Samarra. Come and experience it for yourself!

Credits: 
Photo © Samarra
Text by Alexandra Karman