I Ate a 'Blind Box' Indonesian Meal at Duta Mall, Banjarmasin
qponx
2026-03-05
Curious about the hyped-up Rona Nona in Duta Mall? This Indonesian restaurant is a real 'blind box' with wildly mixed reviews. This honest review dives into their menu, highlighting the must-try Spiced Fried Duck and the risky, hit-or-miss Signature Fried Rice. Get the full scoop on the lively open-atrium setting, the mid-to-high pricing, and some crucial heads-ups on potential pitfalls like portion size and hygiene before you decide to visit this controversial spot.
Every time I come to Banjarmasin, fans always ask what's good to eat in Duta Mall. There's an Indonesian restaurant called Rona Nona with a high Google rating of 4.8, but I've gotten just as many DMs telling me to avoid it as I have recommending it... So naturally, my curiosity was piqued, right? Today, I'm here to check it out for everyone!
Live Report: Half Bustle, Half Being Watched
The location of this place is a bit unique, right in the mall's atrium across from the XXI cinema, a completely open area. The good thing is that it's spacious and bright, but the downside is that there's not much privacy[1]. With people coming and going, it feels like you're being 'watched' by passersby the entire time you're eating. If you're looking for a quiet date spot, this probably isn't it; but if you're here to Nongkrong with your friends while shopping, the lively atmosphere is actually pretty okay.
The menu focuses on Indonesian home-style cooking (Nusantara flavor), and I ordered a few of their super popular signature dishes:
👍 Spiced Fried Duck (Bebek Goreng Rempah)[2]: This one gets a definite thumbs up! The duck was fried to be crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and the spice flavor had completely penetrated the meat. The best surprise was that it came with three different sambal sauces; the sambal matah (raw shallot and lemongrass chili oil) was a particularly nice touch. Eaten with rice, it was simply Mantap!
🤔 Signature Fried Rice (Nasi Goreng)[3]: This one was a bit of a mystery. I thought it was okay, but my companion found the rice too moist and soft, and the flavor a bit bland. I scrolled through the reviews and found that opinions on its taste are extremely polarized. It seems like ordering it is purely a gamble on the chef's mood that day—it's really like opening a blind box.
💡 Salmon in Rich Soup (Salmon Lodeh)[4]: This is an innovative dish recommended by the restaurant, where they put Western-style salmon into a traditional Indonesian vegetable coconut milk soup, Lodeh. The idea is very bold, and as for the taste… it was decent, nothing special. You can see their ambition to create fusion cuisine.
Let's Be Real: The Downsides Beneath the Hype
Alright, enough with the praise, let's get real. The biggest problems with this place are “inconsistency” and “value for money”.
First, the price. It's considered mid-to-high range for a mall restaurant, but the portion sizes are seriously a bit mini[5]. For someone with my appetite, one main dish only left me about 60% full. Plus, they add an extra 10% tax and 5% service charge to the bill[6], so the average cost per person isn't cheap. It'll hurt your wallet a bit.
What really grossed me out were the "horror stories" I received from several fans before coming, saying they found "extra ingredients" like cockroaches and mosquitoes in their food[7]. Anjay! I was lucky and didn't experience that this time, but just thinking about it made me compulsively double-check my food while eating, which really ruined the experience. I really hope the restaurant takes the hygiene issue seriously!
A Guide to Avoid Pitfalls, You're Welcome!
Finally, here's a mini-guide for the girls who want to give it a try:
- Ordering Guide: Go for the Bebek Goreng Rempah without hesitation; you basically can't go wrong. But if you have high standards for fried rice, be cautious about ordering their signature fried rice[8], as the taste is too hit-or-miss.
- Final Reminder: After the food arrives, don't just focus on taking pictures. First, quietly inspect your food… you know what I mean.
- Watch the Bill: The menu price isn't the final price; remember to budget for the 15% tax and service charge.
- Temperature Alert: Some reviews mention that the food isn't hot enough when it's served[9], which might be because it's plated too quickly. If you're looking for that steaming hot, fresh-from-the-wok feeling, you might be a little disappointed.
- Bebek Goreng Rempah: Crispy yet tender spiced duck. Comes with 3 sambals—the sambal matah over rice is Mantap! [1]
- Open-air dining mixes kitchen buzz with the street-side fun of being 'watched' by passersby. Perfect for a Nongkrong stop.
- The recommended Salmon Lodeh puts Western salmon in a traditional Indonesian veggie soup. A bold fusion move! [2]
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