At first I didn’t even know I would like it so much.
It's called Masakan Padang or Nasi Padang (Padang cuisine), cuisine originates from the Minangkabau region of West Sumatra, Indonesia. This cuisine very popular here, a favorite for its distinctive flavor, known for its use of coconut milk and rich spices. It's perfect for almost everyone's palate. Nasi Padang is usually served with a variety of side dishes, which customers can choose from. And it’s served in restaurants mostly owned by migrating Minangkabau people in Indonesian cities.
But over 20 years of my life, I didn’t have a chance to liked these dishes. I don’t know how to put it into words, but when I first tried Nasi Padang, I wasn't immediately hooked. Because almost all of Indonesian dishes are rich in spices, right? So somehow I couldn't really pinpoint what made Nasi Padang tastes more special. I remember when I was interning somewhere, my friend asked me with a surprised reaction, “You don’t like Nasi Padang?” and then I replied something like it wasn’t that I didn’t like it, but I couldn’t find a reason to be addicted to it like most people.
Until recently, when I lived out of town, this cuisine become my go-to option that I bought almost every day. First, because I was so bored with crispy chicken, which is a very easy-to-find food. Another reason was because I never bought Nasi Padang with my own money–back then, it’s only my family members bought it, so I got to try it. That was bothered me, which I scared that it would cost quite expensive, so I couldn't afford it as an "everyday meal."
However, I found this small restaurant with a sign saying "10,000" on the front, so I gave it a try. Rp10,000 is about $0.65, which is quite affordable. They have various menu selections, just like any other Masakan Padang restaurant. That day, I realized that I also never been to Masakan Padang restaurant before🤣 I actually wanted to try each menu everyday, but I ended up just ordering Rendang over and over again.
Rendang is a Padang specialty made from beef cooked with various spices and herbs for a long time, so its deliciousness is undeniable. But this restaurant also have a chicken option, so I ordered it since I don't really like beef. Other dish to accompanying Rendang was jackfruit curry and cassava leaf, which is so delicious. Now I'm just wondering why I didn't realize how good this cuisine was sooner haha
I ended up eating the same menu for almost every day during my last week lived out of town. And somehow I didn’t get bored even once. In every Masakan Padang has a distinct Indonesian flavor. The spices and herbs are blended together to create a mouth-watering flavor. I'm glad I discovered a new menu as one of my favorite dishes😁 Anyway, thanks for reading :)