Who says delicious fried chicken has to be salty & spicy? This Samarinda spot is sweet to the bone
qponx
2026-03-05
Discover a hidden gem inside Samarinda's Segiri Stadium that offers a unique twist on fried chicken. Forget salty and spicy—this spot serves up Javanese-style chicken, marinated in a sweet sauce right down to the bone. Enjoy the crispy skin and incredibly tender meat, but be warned: it comes with a famously pungent shrimp paste sambal that’s not for the faint of heart. It's a must-try for adventurous foodies seeking a truly different flavor experience.
Honestly, if a lokal friend hadn't shown me the way, I probably would have circled around three times and still not found this place. Anjay! It's actually hidden inside a stadium[1], they're so good at hiding! 😂 From the outside, it looks just like an ordinary lokal eatery (Warung), but once mealtime hits, the aroma of fried chicken wafts out, and those in the know will naturally find their way here.
Mind-blowingly Sweet Javanese Fried Chicken 🍗
Their Ayam Goreng[2] is definitely the star of the show, completely different from those flashy, pretentious ones you get in Jakarta! Here, the chicken is marinated in a sweet sauce called `bacem`, and that sweetness is marinated right down to the bone. When you tear open a drumstick, even the juices are sweet. The skin is fried to a crisp, but the meat inside is incredibly tender. One bite, and it's Mantap! The chicken portions are also huge[3], giving you amazing value for your money.
Next, let's talk about its soulmate—Sambal Terasi[4]. ⚠️Warning: This shrimp paste sambal has a super strong flavor; those who love it will be obsessed, and those who hate it will probably steer clear. The spiciness is moderate, but that 'aroma' of the terasi... how should I put it... the smell can linger on your hands for two days, you could call it 'solid perfume' hahaha.
Alright, Time for Some Real Talk…
The ambiance is much better than its old street stall (kaki lima) days[5], at least it's clean and tidy, but occasionally a few flies might come to fight you for your chicken leg[6], so if you mind that, girls, be warned. Also, the rice I had that day seemed a tiny bit undercooked[7], not sure if that was a one-off thing. But for this one-of-a-kind sweet fried chicken, I can tolerate these minor flaws!
Tips to Avoid Pitfalls & Ordering Guide, You're Welcome!
- 📍 How to Get There: Just navigate to Segiri Stadium, the shop is inside the complex and a bit hidden, but because of that, there's usually no queue[8], you can just go and Nongkrong.
- 🌶️ For Serious Sambal Lovers: The default portion of sambal isn't very big, so as soon as you sit down, just tell the owner you want an extra serving (tambah sambal)[9], otherwise it definitely won't be enough for dipping!
- 😋 The Best Combo: A piece of sweet fried chicken, a spoonful of 'heavy-duty' sambal, paired with hot rice—who understands the joy of this carb bomb
- Sweet-to-the-bone Ayam Goreng, unlike Jakarta's flashy versions. Tear it open and the juices themselves run sweet. [1]
- The Sambal Terasi is intensely pungent—a divisive "solid perfume." Its scent will linger on your hands for days. [2]
- A humble Warung in Segiri Stadium. Looks plain, but the fried chicken aroma at mealtime lures in those who know. [3]
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