TA K I N G I T TO T H E S T R E E T S
BUBUR CIKINI H.R. SULAIMAN CIREBON by RIAN FARISA photographs by DENNIE BENEDICT
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magining myself being a backpacker, my dream destination is where there’s easy access to anywhere, nearby the rapid transit, has decent places to sleep in, and easy to find good food – all within a walking range are. The ever-growing neighborhood of Cikini next to Menteng has all what these tourists need and even for the native Jakartans as well. Within a block where you can find either fast food or local specialty dishes, lies also the rice porridge joint known as Burcik – a portmanteau of bubur and Cikini. For a complete three decades, Burcik has now claimed itself a three-storey building to serve its customers better. While they now also offer nasi goreng and martabak telur, they have never lost the tradition of what has made them grow as big as they are now and it came from a simple but sure, bowl of hot rice porridge. Each establishment clearly has their own characteristic when it comes to rice porridges. But Burcik emphasizes the use of ginger as you can clearly taste and smell right away but thankfully, not necessarily overpowering. The porridge itself tastes a bit flat and I would recommend everyone to mix it alongside the raw egg and some seasoning. True to its word since the beginning of the business, Burcik uses only local ayam kampung or the free-range chicken, fried, and shredded and then topped with emping crackers. To further maintain the originality of the Cirebon-style, Burcik uses only soy sauce imported directly from the city and no additional turmeric soup added on the porridge or even the Chinese-influence with scallions. The porridge itself is cooked only with chicken stock and no additional seasoning. That’s why you will need to add your style into it. With its affordable price, a rather stiff but precise service, and its strategic position; Burcik is indispensible for anyone who gets trapped in Cikini and is famished. People are simply flooding the place from morning and at night for dinner where they would share the martabak telur and each having their own dish of either the Chinese stir-fries or the signature rice porridge.
72 | www.thefoodiemag.com
Looking for a one-stop destination where you can enjoy and choose affordable and fresh rice porridge, fried rice, or martabak telur? Then Bubur Cikini is the right place to start.