The Best Porridge Restaurant in Jayapura

There is this famous porridge restaurant in Jayapura that is one of a kind. It has such a distinct taste but to me, that is how porridge should be done. Unlike most places that sell porridge, this one is set up like a proper restaurant with blazing air conditioners, modern chairs and settings. It doesn’t feel like your regular porridge shop, it is almost like a café. Mandala is their name and they have several branches around Jayapura and Papua.

I first knew this place from my mom because it’s almost like a routine to her after having a long flight, landed in Jayapura, then headed to one of the branches next to the Airport.

This time, I tried the branch nearby the place I am staying. It is much modern and cleaner than the one next to the Airport. In this branch, they sell porridge, noodles and some rice options. However, the highlight is their porridge that was done well. It’s a typical Chinese congee than Indonesian styled porridge.

The porridge has savory clean taste and hardly any additional MSG to it. As someone who has sensitivity to it, I could instantly tell the difference. While the topping isn’t quite generous to my taste considering the price, it was acceptable for most.

For a price of $2.5 porridge, it’s almost normal price around here and especially in café settings like these. This is why I also don’t eat it every day despite technically could and the clean taste just makes you easily addicted to it.

If this porridge can be brought back home, I would do some takeway so everyone at home could taste how clean this porridge is and how porridge should be. After this that bowl of porridge somehow you feel healthy than feeling extremely too full.

Just as my mom said, " there's something different about this porridge" and she's right. This is going to be my routine too when I am traveling and visiting Jayapura in the future.