UPDATE: Unfortunately, Indonyaki on Maginhawa Street has shut down permanently. However, you can still visit their Novaliches branch at Blk 57 Lot 12 Misa De Gallo Street, Greater Lagro Subdivision. They are open from 11:00am to 7:30pm daily.

My classmates and I would often go hunting for food along Maginhawa Street after our evening classes, and Indonyaki has become one of our go-to places. From their humble beginnings as a tiny street-side stall, they now offer al fresco dining at a relatively large branch. Indonyaki serves good food in big servings, without breaking the bank. It’s perfect for groups, but if you’re dining solo, you’ll be glad to know that most of the for-sharing dishes have rice meal counterparts, too. The restaurant has a chill, no-frills ambiance, and the service is fast and friendly.

We got an order of Indonyaki lumpia for a small vegetable fix. Since it is listed as an appetizer, don’t expect it to be quite as filling as the other items on the menu. The lumpia is served already cut into bite-sized pieces, with garlic sauce for dipping. It makes for a good side dish to your more protein-heavy food, or pika-pika food if you’re just stopping in for a quick snack. One order goes for just Php90.

Nasi goreng is Indonesian fried rice. The rice is mixed with some cabbage, egg, peanuts, and seasoning. Indonyaki’s nasi goreng comes in single cups (Php38) and in large (Php105) servings. The large nasi goreng feeds three to four people. The rest of the food was already savory, so it went well with the subtle spice of the nasi goreng. Indonyaki also offers their own version of Chao Fan (Chinese fried rice), sambal rice, and plain white rice.

If it’s your first time at Indonyaki, the Ayam Goreng is a must-try. A half order (Php170) is good for about three people. Bigger groups should get a whole order (Php330) to be sure that everyone gets a taste. This is not the kind of fried chicken you’d get in a fast food joint. It’s not coated in batter, though the skin is still attached. What appears to be batter at first glance is actually kremes – deep fried spiced flour that is scattered on top of the chicken and adds some crunch to the dish. The spicy sambal sauce complements the rich flavor of the chicken, so make your first bite chicken, sauce, and kremes together, plus rice if you can’t contain your hunger.

Our favorite dish was the beef Indonyaki, advertised on the menu as an “Indonesian version of caldereta”. It consists of tender beef slices and vegetables in a thin, sweet sauce. As is typical of Indonesian cuisine, it’s also spicy, but not overwhelmingly so. For Php150, you get a decent serving that’s great for sharing. If you’re in a big group, you may want to order more than one. It’s suprisingly light, and you might catch yourself on your second or third serving before you run out of rice.

Indonyaki is located at 61 Maginhawa Street, UP Village, Diliman. They are open from 11:00am to 11:00pm. They also have a branch at level 1 of Robinson’s Mall Novaliches Expansion. Contact them at (02)533-4818 or check out their Facebook page.