The Astronomer, June, and I haven’t dined on Indonesian food ever since the incredible food stalls behind the Duarte Inn permanently shut down. Dining at Borneo Kalimantan, along with our friends Andrew and Miri, reminded us how much we adore the cuisine and its awesomely sweet, savory, and funky flavors. We need more Indonesian fare in our lives.
Pro tip: Make sure to have plenty of greenbacks handy because this restaurant is cash-only.
We shared three orders of the Roti Prata ($3.99)—two at the start of the meal and one near the end. Wonderfully flaky and rich, the breads were served with a spice-tinged curry dipping sauce.
Also great was the Chicken Satay ($7.99), which were served in a pool of peanut-y goodness with a smattering of fried shallots on top.
The Gado-Gado ($7.99) was our lone attempt at ordering something virtuous. With plenty of tofu, greens, and cucumbers, the salad just about fit the healthful bill, minus the peanut sauce covering every surface.
My dining companions and I weren’t sure what to expect when we ordered the Rojak ($8.99), a traditional fruit and vegetable salad dressed in a fermented shrimp paste and palm sugar sauce. We were pleasantly surprised by its bold and refreshing flavors, especially the pineapple and jicama bites.
I liked everything about the Ayam Muda Goreng Penyet ($8.50) save for the headlining Indonesian fried chicken. I was hoping for a bone-in rendition, but alas, this was all hacked up bits.
The best dish of the night was the Mie Karet Indo ($7.99), a hearty bowl of house-made noodles prettied with barbecued pork, fish balls and cakes, shallots, scallions, and a marinated egg. Served on the side was a bowl of steaming pork broth. We loved this dish so much that we ordered another toward the tail end of the meal. Leaving hungry would’ve been a travesty.
Like I said, we need more Indonesian fare in our lives.
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Borneo Kalimantan
19 South Garfield Avenue
Alhambra, CA 91801
Phone: 626-282-4477
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