I am back on Liketu, my go-to place for sharing my food adventures. This time, I'd like to share my review of Pempek and Laksan, two traditional Indonesian dishes that originated in Palembang. Here in my city, these dishes are often considered street food, but there is a vendor that has been selling Pempek since 1984 and is a proper place.
Since my mom is here I wanted to show her this place. So, I recently ordered food from Pempek Nyonya Kamto, which has several branches throughout the city. Pempek is a traditional Indonesian dish made from fish and tapioca flour, shaped into various forms and sometimes filled with egg. It is served with a sauce called Cuko, which has a tangy, sweet, and sour flavor. In recent years, they are now served in many local street food and cost as low as $0.10 but there are also great restaurants and vendors that are selling this dish.
Pempek is just one of many dishes with Chinese influence and a rich history. In fact, it is believed to date back to the 7th century! It's amazing to think about how long this dish has been around. If you're a fan of trying new foods with interesting histories, Pempek is definitely worth checking out.
In addition to Pempek, I also tried a dish called Laksan for the first time. If you're familiar with Singaporean Laksa, the flavor is similar, but with a twist. At first, I thought the broth contained crab or seafood, but it turns out that wasn't the case. The soup itself was extremely savory and flavorful. If you're a fan of Laksa, you might want to give Laksan a try and see how it compares. I don’t think the locals call it Laksa but where I am from, it’s marketed as Laksa. I highly recommend giving it a try, especially if you have not tried it!
My mom and I both agree that the Laksan from that restaurant is our favorite dish. The soup is rich, broth-based, and full of flavor. It comes with noodles and another type of pempek. My housemate, who is from the same city where this dish originates, has told me that the pempek in her hometown will give me foodgasm. I'm tempted to go there and see if her claims hold up. Maybe you’ll see me traveling in that part of the island!