I declare this the best fish cake in Lampung, but driving here will make you rage quit
qponx
2026-03-06
Discover a hidden gem in Lampung, hailed as the home of the best fish cakes! This spot pioneered the must-try Cheese Pempek, featuring an incredible cheese pull and chewy texture. While the Tekwan soup is also a standout, be warned: the parking is a nightmare. It's best to take a ride-hailing service to enjoy this clean, comfortable eatery. They also offer vacuum-sealed frozen pempek, making for the perfect, delicious souvenir to take home.
Honestly, if my local Lampung friend hadn't dragged me here, seeing the parking situation out front—which rivals Jakarta's rush hour—I probably would have just said Anjay and turned right back around. Parking spots? They don't exist. It's all about the art of squeezing in wherever you can find a gap on the roadside. 😂
But once you sit down inside the super air-conditioned shop and smell the aroma of fish cakes filling the air, you instantly feel like it was all worth it! This place is said to be the pioneer of Cheese Pempek (Pempek Keju)[1], so of course I had to try it! The moment you break it open, the melted cheese really gives you that cheese pull, and mixed with the chewy, bouncy texture of the fish cake and the sweet, sour, and spicy Cuko sauce, the layers of flavor are just Mantap!
Besides their signature dish, I also randomly ordered the Tekwan (Fish Ball Soup)[2], and it turned out to be a pleasant surprise. The broth was so savory it blew my mind, the fish balls had a great firm bite, and I felt super satisfied after finishing a bowl. The vibe is that of a clean, comfortable, home-style eatery, perfect for coming to Nongkrong for a bit with friends and family.
Let's be real
As much as I love it, I can't just praise it blindly. To be fair:
- The cheese flavor isn't "aggressive" enough: If you're a die-hard cheese lover, you might wish the flavor was a bit more intense.
- Whatever you do, don't order the shrimp filling: The Pempek Udang[3] was a bit of a letdown. There was so little filling I thought the waiter had brought the wrong order. You can just pass on this one.
- The red bean ice is a bit bland: The Es Kacang Merah[4] is okay for cooling down, but for someone with a sweet tooth like me, the sweetness wasn't quite there.
Key Takeaways (get your notebooks ready)
- 🚗 Parking: Don't drive! Don't drive! Don't drive! I'm saying it three times because it's important. Taking a ride-hailing service is the smartest choice, otherwise, looking for a parking spot will make you question your life choices[5].
- 💰 Price: The value for money is pretty good. A single piece is just 4,500 rupiah[6], and a takeaway set of 10 is 40,000 rupiah.
- 🎁 Souvenirs: Get it! They have vacuum-sealed frozen pempek[7] that are super convenient to take home as gifts—they look good and taste great.
- ⚠️ Heads-up: Some friends mentioned there might be an extra charge[8] for takeaway packaging, so it's best to ask before you pay. Also, online orders seem to have issues sometimes, so I'd recommend just buying directly at the store. Seeing is believing, and it's the safest bet.
- A Lampung local favorite. The moment the aroma of fishcakes hits you at the door, you'll know the hype is real and totally worth it!
- Home of the original Cheese Fishcake (Pempek Keju)[1]! Get that gooey cheese pull, then dip the chewy cake in sweet & sour Cuko sauce. The combo is Mantap!
- Grab their vacuum-packed frozen fishcakes[2] as souvenirs. They're an easy, tasty, and impressive gift to bring home.
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