The best cake in Jakarta, but the main course almost ended me…
qponx
2026-01-24
Union Deli is famous for having Jakarta's best red velvet cake, but is it worth the long lines? This review dives in, confirming the cake is legendary—moist, dense, and absolutely divine. The cozy, New York bistro vibe is perfect for an afternoon treat. However, a big heads-up: the main courses are a major disappointment. Find out why you should stick to the god-tier desserts and how to snag the best afternoon tea deal, skipping the dinner letdown.
Honestly, every time I pass by Union Deli at Grand Indonesia, the line is... Anjay! You'd think a celebrity was visiting or something. Drawn by its reputation as the"best" red velvet cake in all of Jakarta, I had to brave the crowd and give it a try today!
The space inside is indeed not very big, a bit Cozy, with dim lighting and just the right music, it immediately gave off that New York bistro vibe[1]. It's a great place to Nongkrong and chat with friends, the atmosphere is absolutely Mantap. Without further ado, let's get to the main event! The legendary red velvet cake[2] was served, and the size did not disappoint—enough for two people to share. One bite and the cake was moist and dense, paired with a layer of cream cheese frosting that wasn't too sweet or heavy... Mmm, it was worth the wait in line! 🍰
Besides the red velvet, their fried calamari[3] was also a pleasant surprise. The outside was crispy, and the squid inside was super tender—perfect for pairing with drinks. If you want something more substantial, you can try the Cuban sandwich[4]; it's super generous with the pulled pork!
BUT! Pay attention, girls! ⚠️ The cake is divine, but the main courses are... hard to describe. I ordered the steak, which the server said was 250 grams, but what arrived was this tiny piece... I asked the chef, and they said the weight included the fries???[5] This whole thing left me speechless. A friend also ordered pasta, and the flavor was just mediocre[6], not at all up to the standard you'd expect from a prestigious name like Union.
Tips to Avoid Disappointment / Save Money 📝
So, is it worth the hype? My advice is: Treat it as a god-tier spot for afternoon tea, but don't come for a proper meal!
- Go for the afternoon tea set! On weekdays from 3 PM to 6 PM, you can get cake + coffee/tea for only 85k[7]. The value for money is off the charts!
- Expect a line during peak hours! Be prepared to wait for 15-30 minutes, and your dining time might be limited to 90 minutes[8]. If you don't want to wait, either make a reservation in advance or just be Chill and come during off-peak hours.
- Members get perks! If you're a U Rewards member, you can get priority seating when there's a line, which is a nice little perk.
- Don't go too late! Although it says they close at 10 PM, some friends have said they were turned away as early as 9:30 PM[9]. They probably just want to close up early, so everyone, pay attention to the time
- The city's "best" red velvet cake! Moist, dense cake with perfect cream cheese. One bite, pure heaven, worth the queue! 🍰 [1]
- Inside, dim lighting and perfect music create a Cozy NYC speakeasy vibe. Perfect for Nongkrong with friends! [2]
- Red velvet cake is queue-worthy! Mains? A total miss. What a contrast! [3][4]
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