Palembang's best Pempek? God-tier taste, but the server wanted to fight me…
qponx
2026-03-06
Nony 168 in Palembang serves what might be the city's best Pempek. These fish cakes are unbelievably flavorful, paired with a perfectly balanced Cuko sauce. The unique dine-in style lets you pick from a huge platter right at your table. While the food is god-tier, the service is a notorious gamble—you might get a server with a sour face. But for Pempek this good, it's a risk many are willing to take for an authentic taste of Palembang.
Every time I come to Palembang, all my lokal friends point to one place and say: "You have to eat at Nony 168, or it's like you never even came!" Alright, I believed them. But honestly, I almost wanted to leave as soon as I sat down. The service attitude, Anjay… it felt like the temperature in the room dropped several degrees. 🙄
But when that huge platter of Pempek was placed on the table, my "dignity" instantly vanished. The dine-in style is super cool. They bring you a big platter of both steamed and fried ones, you just grab whichever you want to eat, and they count the skewers to bill you when you're done[1]. It has the grand feeling of an all-you-can-eat buffet!
The Flavor, Seriously No Complaints!
Let's start with the main star, Pempek[2]. I swear, this is definitely one of the most flavorful fish cakes I've ever had! One bite, and the outside is crispy while the inside is chewy and bouncy. That pure, fresh fish flavor langsung explodes in your mouth. It's not at all like those half-hearted starchy lumps; you can feel the real fish meat. Mantap! 💯
Next, let's talk about its soulmate, the Cuko[3] sauce. The Cuko here is thick enough to coat a spoon. The balance of sweet, sour, and spicy is simply perfect. It has a strong kick but won't make you choke up and cry. Dunk the golden-fried Pempek until it's soaked in the sauce, take it all in one bite, ah… this is the taste of Palembang!
Oh, right, don't just focus on the Pempek, you have to try their Tekwan[4] too. The broth is so savory it'll make your eyebrows fall off. The portion is super generous, and the small fish balls inside are soft and tender. A whole bowl will warm you right up.
But, Let's Be Real for a Sec…
Okay, praises are over, time to complain. The service is really a game of luck! The Mba (sister) I got that day had a sour face like I owed her a billion, with zero interaction the whole time[5]. But I've also heard from friends who got super enthusiastic servers. So… just Chill, and for the sake of this food, endure it!
Also, the spiciness of their Cuko sauce is just right for an average person like me, but if you're a hardcore chili head who can't live without spice, you might find it not "nendang" (punchy) enough[6].
Editor's Highlights | Pro Tips for Your Visit
- Top Choice for Souvenirs: If you're a tourist looking to bring back some Oleh-oleh (souvenirs), just buy them here! They have vacuum-sealed frozen packs[7]. You can stuff them in your luggage, and they'll last for two days on a flight. Just fry them up when you get home, and the taste is perfectly replicated.
- Dilute the Sauce: Attention! The take-away Cuko sauce is a concentrate[8]. You must dilute it with water at home. Don't be a fool and dip directly, or it'll be so overwhelmingly strong you'll question your existence.
- Be Bold and Sample: If you're at the counter picking out souvenirs, sometimes the staff will generously bring out a whole platter of free samples[9] with all the varieties. Try before you buy to avoid any mistakes, don't be shy!
- Great Prices: The dine-in prices are really not expensive. One Pempek is about 4k Rupiah[10], so you can eat your fill without feeling the pinch. The environment is also clean, with plenty of parking space[11], making it a great spot to bring family and friends.
- Local-certified! Missing Nony 168 is a wasted trip [1]. Explosive fish flavor, crispy/tender. Real fish, no starch! 💯
- The soul is the Cuko sauce: thick, with a perfect sweet, sour, spicy balance. Drench it for that true Palembang taste!
- Need Oleh-oleh? Get the vacuum-sealed frozen Pempek [2]. Lasts 2 days, fries up perfectly. Get generous free samples [3]
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