This 4.9-star oxtail soup on Google is a blind box?
qponx
2026-02-25
This Serpong restaurant boasts a 4.9-star rating for its "Elephant Oxtail" soup. While the signature dish is a showstopper with rich broth and tender meat, the overall experience is a gamble. The family-friendly spot has a great ambiance, but be warned: other dishes can be a major miss. With inconsistent food quality and chaotic service during peak hours, dining here feels like opening a blind box. This review weighs if the famous soup is worth the risk.
Friends, who gets it! Lured by the high 4.9 Google rating and the badass name "Buntut Gajah (Elephant Oxtail)", I made a special trip to this spot in Serpong. I was picturing heaps of meat spilling over the bowl and a broth so thick it would coat the spoon. The result... Anjay, this meal was as thrilling as opening a blind box.
Praise First, Then Roast: The Real Experience
Walking in, the ambiance was truly impeccable. The design is quite elegant, comfortable, and cozy, definitely the kind of place suitable for a family gathering[1]. They even have a small children's playground and a prayer room, so families with kids can go for it[2].
The star of the show, Sop Buntut (Oxtail Soup)[3], was served, and its presentation was definitely on point. That huge piece of oxtail had maximum visual impact. The broth was incredibly rich, with a mellow depth that you can only get from long hours of simmering. The meat was also stewed until it was fall-off-the-bone tender, melting in my mouth. Paired with lime and green onions, one spoonful was truly heartwarming. Mantap!
BUT! The happiness pretty much stopped there. We also ordered the Iga Bakar (Grilled Beef Ribs)[4], and it was a total disaster. In one portion, half the meat was somewhat chewable, while the other half was all sinew, so tough it made me question my life choices. I asked the waiter, and he just casually said, "The meat is like this this week"... Excuse me? So coming here to eat is a gamble?[5] Instead, it was an unassuming dish, the Asem-Asem Daging Sapi[6] (Sour and Spicy Beef Soup), that pleasantly surprised me. It was sour and spicy, and incredibly appetizing.
Time for Some Hard Truths
To be honest, the value for money really isn't great. A bowl of soup costs 95k-120k, and while they use the "Elephant" name, the amount of meat in some sets really doesn't justify the price. There are more bones than meat[7], giving it a "pictures are for reference only" kind of vibe. The service is also a major point of complaint. During peak hours, it's just chaotic. The young waiter looked completely lost, didn't respond even after we called for a long time, and managing to set the placemat on fire while serving a dish is something I've never seen before[8].
How to Avoid the Pitfalls & A TL;DR Guide
So, would you take a gamble on this place? Let's chat in the comments! 🤙
- Parking: If you go on the weekend, there's free valet parking[9]. On weekdays, good luck, because parking spots are extremely hard to find.
- Timing: If you want a proper meal, definitely don't go during peak hours! Go off-peak! Off-peak! Off-peak! Otherwise, what awaits you is chaotic service and a long wait.
- Ordering: Before you order, make sure to ask what's available and what's not. A lot of items on their menu are often 'sold out'[10].
- What to Order: Go straight for the signature oxtail soup (Sop Buntut); you basically can't go wrong with it. As for the grilled ribs and such, it all depends on your luck that day. It's purely like opening a blind box.
- Elegant vibe with a surprise children's playground & prayer room. Perfect for families—let the kids play while you dine in peace. [1][2]
- Get the Sop Buntut. A can't-go-wrong choice with rich broth, fall-off-the-bone oxtail, and a hint of lime. Pure comfort. [3]
- The Asem-Asem Daging Sapi is a surprise hit. Its sour and spicy flavor is a fantastic appetite starter. [4]
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