Going to Holycow for a free steak: Was it worth it?
qponx
2026-03-04
Wondering if the legendary Holycow steakhouse is still worth a visit? This review dives into a recent experience, describing it as a "blind box" adventure. The article highlights major inconsistencies in food quality, from overcooked steaks and erratic seasoning to lackluster side dishes. Despite the hit-or-miss nature and slow service, the famous free birthday steak deal remains a huge draw. Get the full breakdown and a survival guide on how to navigate your meal before you go.
Holycow! This OG-level steakhouse, back in the day, was the apple of my eye, especially with their free birthday steak promotion—it was basically an annual carnival for meat lovers🎉. But recently, I've been seeing a lot of complaints online, and its reputation has taken a nosedive, which made me curious, so I decided to visit the BSD branch myself to see what's what.
Honestly, the high score of 4.6 and 3000+ reviews on Google were right there[1], making me think I was just overthinking it. And the result? Anjay, this whole trip was an emotional rollercoaster🎢.
A "Blind Box" Experience for Meat Lovers
The restaurant is hidden in a shop-house complex, and if you drive by at night, you could easily miss it if you're not paying attention. The location is a bit hidden[2]. Once inside, the space feels small, even a bit cramped. The seating is mostly long benches, making it hard to Nongkrong comfortably.
After sitting down, I got straight to the point: ordering steak! The menu has quite a few options, and I heard their Wagyu is pretty good[3]. But this time, I stuck with a regular cut to see if they've still got the fundamentals down.
The result... when the steak arrived, my heart sank. I ordered it medium rare, but when I cut into it, it was almost well-done. The texture was instantly tougher by several levels[4]. My friend's piece was even worse; the middle was somewhat tender, but the edges were dry and tough, making my jaw sore from chewing. The seasoning was also very inconsistent. One steak had so much pepper it was like they were giving it away for free, while another was so salty I had to chug water[5].
The most unbearable part was the side dishes: limp, undercooked fries and greasy vegetables. It was really hard to say anything nice about them[6].
To be fair…
Although there's a lot to complain about, in all fairness, when the steak is done right, the texture and juiciness are still on point. All I can say is, eating here is like opening a blind box; the quality of the food seems to depend entirely on luck, fate, and the chef's mood🤷♀️.
But the prices are no joke. A casual meal can easily cost several hundred thousand Indonesian Rupiah per person. Some diners complained about spending nearly 1 million Rupiah only to be greatly disappointed[7], and I believe it. Also, the portions are definitely on the small side, and the meat is cut rather thin, so friends with bigger appetites might need to order more.
The service is also a mystery. We were sitting upstairs and basically had to shout to get a waiter's attention, yelling for ages with no response[8]. The speed of service is completely random; a few main courses could arrive with a 20-minute gap between them. Impatient people will seriously go crazy.
A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls & Saving Money
After all this, I'm not saying you should avoid it completely. If you insist on going, or are just there for the birthday deal, please keep this "survival guide" handy:
- The birthday deal is the GOAT!: On your birthday (H-0), bring your KTP, and you can really get a free sirloin steak[9]! This is currently its biggest highlight. For this free piece of meat, the previous complaints seem a bit more tolerable.
- Communicate before ordering: Many dishes and side dishes on the menu might be out of stock[10], so it's best to ask first before ordering to avoid getting your hopes up for nothing.
- Give up on "rare": If you're a fan of rare steak, you can just give up on that idea here. The restaurant explicitly states they can't do rare[11], so don't make it hard for yourself or for them.
- Order with caution for kids: The corn in the kids' meal might have a lot of black pepper, which is too spicy for little ones[12]. When ordering, be sure to tell the waiter, “Jangan pedas!” (Don't make it spicy).
- Keep a chill mindset: Lower your expectations to the absolute minimum, and just think of it as experiencing a legendary old-school steakhouse. The main vibe is just to Chill～ Mantap
- Holycow!, the OG steakhouse, was a legend for its free birthday sirloin (just show your KTP!) [1].
- When good, the steak is juicy. But quality is inconsistent—a steak lottery with a new surprise (or scare) each time [2][3].
- A 4.6 Google rating from 3000+ reviews [4] makes you ask: is it the real deal or just overrated? You'll have to go see.
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