Thariq Ahmad
Sep 23, 2026"The Ultimate 2 a.m. Jakarta Fix You stumble out of CGK at some ungodly hour, jet-lagged and hollowed out, craving something that feels like a warm embrace from a stranger who actually knows how to cook. Nasi Padang is Indonesia’s ultimate comfort food — bold, spicy, unapologetic, built for appetites both local and weary. Most of the soulful little warungs demand a native gut and perfect timing and while the bigger chains are safer for tourists, but good luck finding one that’s still alive after midnight. That’s where Restoran Garuda on Jalan Agus Salim earns its keep. While its daytime rival Sederhana shines as early as breakfast, Garuda stays open, steady, and unpretentious in the middle of the city’s late-night food chaos. The rendang is dark, rich, and properly fierce. The ayam pop arrives juicy and fragrant. And the keting — that addictive, chewy, spice-laced whatever-part-of-cow-it-is, the star of every Padang joint, is executed to perfection here, served piping hot, no matter if it’s 2 a.m. or 5. It’s not the most refined plate in Jakarta, but for reliability when your body clock is screaming and your stomach is louder, Garuda delivers. Four stars for being there when it counts."