Indonesian Restaurants in Chicago area?

Hi Everyone,

Are there any Indonesian restaurants in the Chicago area? I know that there once were (August Moon, if I recall), but are there any at the present time? If there are none in the area, where would the closest one be? And this would not include Pan-Asian restaurants with an Indonesian dish or two on the menu.

Thanks loads!

---Aaron

Hi,

Welcome to LTHforum!

Earlier this year I went to a fundraiser dinner sponsored by the Indonesian community for Tsunami victims. My table had members of the Indonesian Consulate present who were responsible for a 14-state region with an aggregate population of 15,000 people. Naturally the discussion drifted to food and the total absence of Indonesian restaurants in Chicago. There is certainly a desire and interest to open an Indonesian restaurant, but so far nobody is willing to take the risk. In their case the stakes are higher when you cannot rely on ex-pat's as the foundation of their business.

I did learn of a few people who would cater an Indonesian meal, though not much more.

I hope someone finds your destination restaurant.

Regards,

It is not Indonesian but Malaysian and I have not been for a while, but if memory serves, you can find some Indonesian dishes at the always-popular Penang, on the corner of Wentworth and Cermak. If you do a search on this board, you should be able to find several mentions of Penang and, I imagine, varying opinions of the food.

Good luck!

Thanks---I had thought as much. I'm working on a story about a group of musicians here who perform Indonesian gamelan music. One member of the group was complaining about the lack of Indonesian music teachers in Chicago. I realized that with not even an Indonesian restaurant in the area, the nil number of Indonesian music teachers should've been no surprise.

I've been to Penang. It's pretty good, although the one in New York is spicier (therefore, better).

---Aaron

We ate at the closest true Indonesian restaurant-Bandung located at 600 Williamson St Madison, WI. Tel 608-255-6910. We made a special trip to eat at Bandung. It was wonderful and authentic. It is located in a strip mall but the place is very nicely decorated and was crowded on Saturday night. I believe that they have a website. Good Luck!

Aaron Cohen wrote:Thanks---I had thought as much. I'm working on a story about a group of musicians here who perform Indonesian gamelan music.

The Wife has been in FROG (Friends of the Gamelan) since the mid-70s. She and the group give several concerts a year (in fact, there's one this weekend). Is that the group you're working with? If not, let me know and I can make introductions to FROG, if you want.

Hammond

Hi David,

Yes, that's the one. My article should run in the Friday, Sept. 23, edition of the Chicago Tribune.

---Aaron

I can't say the things about Panang that I'd like to say, because I would violate the forum rules. Suffice it to say that I don't eat there because of certain aspects of the service.

There is a Malaysian restaurant in Chinatown called Penang that comes pretty close. The nearest all Indonesian restaurant that I know of is called Bandung and is located in Madison, Wisconsin. But I haven't been there yet...