An Indonesian restaurant called Padi quietly opened on Sunset Boulevard and has quickly become a favorite among Indonesians living in Los Angeles. Unlike most of the mom-and-pop Indonesian restaurants around the area, Padi feels built by and for the younger generation: During the day, it runs as a cafe with coffee and matcha served alongside a full food menu; by night, it becomes an intimate nook ideal for a low-key date night. The menu represents a compilation of the four co-owners’ favorite dishes, smartly served as small plates to enjoy alongside wines and cocktails. Some dishes take more modern interpretations, such as yellowtail sashimi with dabu dabu (a type of sambal from North Sulawesi) and iconic beef rendang served in the form of a wagyu
sate, but the flavors remain unmistakably and unapologetically Indonesian.
What to order
- Bubur ayam (chicken congee) appears during the day as the ultimate Indonesian breakfast. The congee gets topped with shredded turmeric chicken, fried shallots, cut pieces of you tiao (Chinese cruller), wonton strips, and green onions. A thick broth, a byproduct of cooking the turmeric chicken, lingers on top for extra depth.
- Padi’s yellowtail collar feels reminiscent of dinners on the sands of Jimbaran beach. Cooks glaze the grilled collar with a blend of sweet soy sauce, coconut oil, shallots, coriander, garlic, ginger, and turmeric.
- Padi’s oxtail soup tastes just like what you would find in Jakarta, except here it’s made with wagyu and simmered for hours with herbs and spices. Enjoy this with a side of steaming white rice.
- It’s hard to imagine an Indonesian menu without sate, and Padi has a section dedicated to it with five different options of skewered meats and vegetables. The chicken sate (sate ayam) has been the most classic and satisfying, dressed with sweet soy sauce and peanut sauce.
To drink
In the afternoon, Padi serves up matcha and coffee drinks. The majority of the signature drinks are influenced by Indonesian flavors, including the Kopi Gula Aren, an iced latte with Indonesian palm sugar, and one simply called the Pandan, an iced drink with espresso, pandan-infused milk, palm sugar, and a cream top. You’ll find wines and shochu-based cocktails with a touch of Indonesian influence like a pandan negroni. There are a few non-alcoholic options, like the pandan lychee fizz and one they call Bandung cream soda, referring to a city in Indonesia’s West Java province. The latter is a classic childhood drink in Indonesia called soda gembira (which translates to “happy soda”), made of a pink rose pandan syrup, condensed milk, and soda water.
Insider tip
The parking garage behind the restaurant allows for one-hour free parking with validation, but costs $5 per hour after that.
