Calling all Palembang natives! Is this legendary Jakarta Pempek still the real deal?

Every time I ask Jakarta locals where to eat the most authentic Palembang fish cakes (Pempek), nine times out of ten they'll point to this old shop in Glodok—Pempek Eirin 10 Ulu.

The Authentic, Bustling Experience

The moment I arrived, I understood what they mean by"legendary." The shop is incredibly small, and during meal times, it's basically packed shoulder-to-shoulder. The whirring fans can't beat the heat—it's a pure warung vibe. But this bustling, street-side atmosphere is the very taste of old Jakarta!

Without a second thought, I ordered a set of their signature dishes to try.

• Pempek Kapal Selam[2]: The submarine fish cake. The skin is fried to a golden crisp, and when you bite into it, there's a real whole egg inside. The savory fish flavor is still on point, and the texture is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Not bad.
• Pempek Kulit[3]: Fish skin cake! My absolute favorite! It's fried to be super crispy, and the aroma of the fish skin is top-notch. This one is truly Mantap! A must-order item.
• Tekwan[4]: If you're tired of fried food, get a bowl of this fish ball soup for a change of pace. The broth is reasonably savory, served with mushrooms and vermicelli. It's warm and comforting, but not particularly memorable.

Time for Some Hard Truths

A Veteran's Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls 📝

Finally, for the girls who want to check it out, here are a few"no-nonsense" tips:

• 1. Avoid peak hours! Avoid peak hours! Don't even think about coming during meal times, or you'll find yourself in a massive Nongkrong scene. The queue will be long enough to make you question your life choices[7].
• 2. Not for those who can't stand the heat. The main shop's environment is very down-to-earth. For friends who are sensitive to heat and crowds, you can go directly to the branch in the Pancoran China Town Point mall[8]. It has air conditioning, the ambiance is several levels better, and the taste is the same.
• 3. Don't drive! Important note: parking here is basically non-existent[9], and the roads are narrow. Calling a Gojek or parking at a nearby mall and walking over is the only right way to do it.
• 4. Bring cash! Some branches, especially the old one, might only accept cash or bank transfers and not support QRIS[10]. You don't want to be unable to pay, that would be Anjay.