Can you get 'assassinated' by Jakarta's TikTok food? I tried this viral baked rice for you...
qponx
2026-01-25
Tempted by the viral Nasi Bakarin on TikTok? This honest review investigates if the Jakarta street food lives up to the social media hype. Spoiler alert: it's a major letdown. Discover the disappointing truth behind its pan-fried "baked" rice, excessively salty flavor, and poor service. This article exposes why the viral sensation might not be worth the long wait or the trip, offering a must-read guide for anyone still curious to try it without getting burned by disappointment.
Lately, eight out of ten videos on my TikTok For You page have been about this grilled rice place called Nasi Bakarin, hailed as the pinnacle of Jakarta's street food. Seeing that glistening grilled rice in the videos made my mouth water uncontrollably 🤤. Alright, I looked up the address and drove an hour from the South to the East, all for just one bite!
When I got there, sure enough, there was a line. I thought to myself, 'This must be the real deal.' But to be honest, the place is just a typical, pitifully small roadside stall with only two tables. Forget about sitting down to `Nongkrong` for a while.
How Was the Taste, Really?
I ordered their signature Salted Squid Grilled Rice (Nasi Bakar Cumi Asin)[1] and a mixed flavor one. As for the price, one portion is about 20-26k Indonesian Rupiah.
After waiting forever, I finally got my order. The moment I opened the banana leaf, I was stunned... Where was the legendary smoky aroma? Absolutely none! I later found out they don't use a charcoal grill at all, but pan-fry it on a flat-top griddle like the ones for making burgers[2], Anjay! Can you even call this `Nasi Bakar`?
The first bite was even more disappointing. The rice was a bit undercooked, with a dry and hard texture, completely lacking the soft, moist quality that grilled rice should have[3]. And the salted squid was on another level—insanely salty, it felt like the chef had knocked over the salt shaker. Overall, all I could taste was oil and salt, nothing else. It was a million miles away from the 'heavenly delicacy' shown in the videos.
Some Honest Thoughts
For real, I feel a bit deceived by the social media hype. I heard that when the shop first opened, the owner made the food herself and the taste was `Mantap`, but ever since it got popular, the quality has plummeted[4]. The service couldn't keep up either. A few guys were just chatting on the side, and I had to call out my order several times. So tiring[5]. For this price, given the portion size and taste, the value for money is really low[6].
A Guide to Avoid Disappointment (Save This!)
If you're still determined to go and check it out, here are a few lifesaving tips:
- Highly recommend getting it to-go: The environment is really not suitable for dining in. It's small, hot, and they don't even sell water[7].
- Be mentally prepared: The taste and quality might be a huge letdown compared to your expectations. Don't get your hopes up.
- Avoid peak meal times: Otherwise, the long queue will make you question your life choices[8].
- Check your order carefully: They often mess up orders or forget to include condiments. Make sure to check it on the spot when you get it
- Jakarta's viral 'street food king': Is Nasi Bakarin an influencer-filtered myth or a quality nosedive disappointment?[1]
- Hold up! The 'Nasi Bakar' (grilled rice) is actually pan-fried on a griddle[2]! Talk about a misleading name!?
- A 20-26k IDR salted squid Nasi Bakar [3] so salty the chef dumped the shaker![4] Feature or fail?
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