Taste: 9/10, Service: -1/10! I truly love and hate this Jakarta fish cake.
qponx
2026-01-25
Discover Pempek NONY 168, a Jakarta spot with a serious love-hate reputation. The food is phenomenal: authentic fish cakes like the rich *Kapal Selam* and crispy *Kulit* are paired with an unforgettable sweet and spicy *Cuko* sauce. However, the experience can be marred by notoriously bad service and a hot, dusty dining area. This review gives you the essential tips on what to order and how to brave the visit for a taste that’s truly worth it.
Friends, who gets it! I went there because of its 4.6-star rating and 1200+ reviews on Google, but the moment I walked in, I was almost knocked out by the heat and wanted to leave...🙄
This famous Pempek NONY 168 is located on the side of a major road in Ciledug, South Jakarta, with a semi-open layout. The first floor is really hot and dusty, making the dining experience a bit hard to describe[1]. At that moment, my heart sank: Am I about to be disappointed this time?
The taste is truly Mantap! One bite brings you back to life!
Thankfully, as soon as the fish cakes arrived, I instantly forgave half of it!
The signature fish cakes (Pempek)[2] I ordered were truly impeccable. The fish flavor was super rich, and the texture was chewy and bouncy, not at all like those doughy lumps of flour. Especially the submarine (Kapal Selam), the egg yolk inside was perfectly runny; and also the fish skin (Kulit), which was fried to a fragrant, crispy perfection. Dipped in their signature Cuko sauce[3], the balance of sour, sweet, and spicy was just right, so delicious I wanted to take a portion of the sauce home! Anjay!
I also tried the Tekwan fish ball soup[4], and it was so savory it'll knock your socks off! Both the fish balls and the broth had an incredibly rich fish flavor. Finishing a whole bowl was super comforting. Oh, by the way, their red bean ice (Es Kacang Merah)[5] portion is huge, I'd recommend one serving is enough for two people.
But! There are also a lot of things to complain about…
To be honest, while the food is good, the experience was really... emmm...
The biggest pitfall is the service. The cashier was stone-faced the whole time, looking like I owed her a million bucks, and got impatient when I asked a couple of questions while ordering[6]. It completely ruined the experience, and no matter how good the food was, my mood was cut in half.
Also, although most people praise it for being authentic, I heard from a friend who is a Palembang lokal that there's still a difference in taste compared to the main NONY 168 branch back in their hometown[7], which might slightly disappoint the"purists."
✨【Tips to Avoid Pitfalls & How to Order】✨
Alright, for the girls who want to go Nongkrong, here are the key points. Save this, you won't regret it!
- ✅ Must-Order List: Go for the Pempek Kapal Selam and Kulit[8] without a second thought! The Tekwan[9] is a must-try!
- ❌ Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls: Don't have any expectations for the service, just be Chill about it. If you're dining in, definitely don't sit on the first floor! It's hot and dusty[10]!
- 💰 Price Reference: The value for money is pretty good. A small fish cake is only around 5,500 Indonesian Rupiah[11], so you can eat to your heart's content.
- 🚗 Practical Tips: Driver-friendly, there's a parking lot out front[12]. They also sell frozen, packaged fish cakes[13] that you can buy to fry at home, which is awesome!
- ⚠️ Heads-up: If you're coming specifically for the grilled fish cakes (Pempek Panggang) or Otak-otak, you might be disappointed, as it seems they don't offer them here[14].
- Google's 4.6-star (1200+ reviews) drew me in. Despite the heat, their **super rich, Q-elastic** fish cake with **perfect soft-boiled yolk** was pure bliss! [1]
- Their soul **Cuko sauce** perfectly balances sweet, sour, spicy. It's a perfect match with crispy **fish skin** – you'll want to take it home! [2]
- The **Tekwan fish ball soup** is super fresh, with rich fish flavor. Small fish cakes are just **5,500 Indonesian Rupiah** – incredible value, feast away! [3][4]
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