Pagi Sore – Authentically Indonesian

Friday – one of those days which I get really bored and craved for a good lunch. So I decided to visit Friend S in Raffles Place for lunch. I do that once in a while when I crave for the Nasi Lemak in Golden Shoe. But because it was raining the whole day, I was craving for some spicy goodness and I found Pagi Sore.

Loosely translated to mean ‘dawn to dusk’, Pagi Sore serves up halal Indonesian delicacies and is a 23-years old family business set up by Mrs Liyana Kwan. The spices and marinates Pagi Sore uses are entirely unique recipes from Mrs Kwan’s inventory. The restaurant is packed during lunch hours and it is impossible to come as a big group without a reservation.

We kick off the feast with a non-spicy dish of Ayam Bali (Small $6.80; Big $12.80). The boneless chicken meat was marinated with a sweet and spicy sauce and slowly grilled over hot charcoal till perfection. The charred black look and the aroma made me thought that it was char siew at first. Its tender chunks of lean meat and flavourful crisp skin, is a tantalising appetiser.

Tumis Kangkong Belachan (Small $7.80; Big $8.80) was shiok! The stir-fried kangkong is well-cooked and not too soft, giving it a crunchy taste. Their belachan chilli gives a strong spicy kick to the dish. I would prefer it to be not so watery though.

What is an Indonesian meal without the mandatory seafood? You will be spoilt for choice here with an array of crab, squid, prawns and fish. If there is one dish that you die die must try, it would be the Ikan Otah Kukus ($23.50).

Unlike the usual otahs, the leather jacket fish is steamed under a frond of sweet potato leaf, delicately marinated with spice paste and coconut milk. The fresh slivers of white fresh meat has almost no bones at all and the fish is very fresh and delicious with the scrumptious spicy otah gravy.

Don’t forget to order their banana steamed rice to go with the dishes, the steaming white rice is infused with distinct fragrance of banana leaves, an undeniable pleasure to the senses. Oh by the way, they charge their Keropok ($1) and sambal belachan ($0.30).