Spending almost 1 million on the Ritz-Carlton buffet? You'll want to read this about Asia Restaurant Jakarta first.

In Jakarta, The Ritz-Carlton's Asia Restaurant has a big reputation, but the online reviews are so divided it made me super curious. Some praise it to the heavens, while others trash it completely. With a"nothing ventured, nothing gained" mindset, I decided to take my wallet and check it out for myself, to see if this meal is truly Mantap or just Anjay!

An Immersive"Disaster" Scene

Straight to the main event—the food!

• Seafood Section: I came specifically for the chilled seafood[2]! The Instagram photos showed mountains of lobsters and oysters, but the reality was… the restocking speed couldn't keep up with how fast people were grabbing them. After a long wait for a new platter, the lobster was already cold and the texture was just average. Anjay, it felt like I was playing some kind of limited-edition drop game.
• Japanese Section: Sashimi and sushi[3] were my second stop. The salmon was reasonably fresh, but the chef's knife skills were a bit *too* good—the slices were thinner than my patience 😅. The variety wasn't great either, a bit of a letdown for a five-star hotel's reputation.
• Hot Dishes & Others: Honestly, most of the hot dishes felt"unremarkable," the kind of standard buffet fare you forget right after eating, some were even bland and tasteless[4]. Seriously, nothing stood out.
• Dessert Section (The Only Redemption!): Just when I was about to lose all hope, the dessert section saved my night! The cakes, puddings, and especially the Gelato here were surprisingly good[5]. Lots of variety, great flavors—it was the best part of the whole buffet.

Some Heart-to-Heart Talk

【Editor's Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls】

If you still want to give it a try, take my advice to save some unnecessary spending:

• 1. Don't be a sucker and pay full price! This place has year-round credit card promotions, especially with BCA, which often has buy-one-get-one-free deals[8]. Before you go, make sure to check for promotions from major banks or on Grab. This is more important than anything!
• 2. Booking in advance is a must! Especially on holidays and weekends, don't just show up, or you'll likely have made the trip for nothing. It's even more crucial to book ahead if you're using a voucher[9]!
• 3. Manage your expectations! If you're going for the heavy hitters like lobster and crab, it's best to call the restaurant when booking to confirm if they're available that day[10]. Don't be fooled by the ads; they aren't served every day.
• 4. If you're there for dessert, just go for it. If you're not that fussed about the seafood and hot dishes, just think of it as going for a fancy dessert buffet. Your mindset will be much better that way. 😂