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Wanted to try this place for a while and I finally had a chance to do so this evening Pretty nicely decorated with Indonesian art and background; cozy little restaurant with limited seating inside but there is a covered area if the weather is right. Food is interesting with mostly spicy Indonesian spices and very interesting fusion We ordered 2appetizers and 2 entrees and there were pretty small portions because we finished it all which is a rare thing. Portions sizes are pretty skimpy and the price is a little bit... so overall I say go try it but it's about average
Hearty food packed with flavor, not for the peanut-allergic :). We were driving by on burnside and saw the open sign and the outdoor patio tables and figured it was worth a try on a sunny spring evening. We opted for solely vegan, the menu also includes meat and egg. Getting in: there is no dedicated parking so look for street parking and expect to probably walk a little bit. There are a handful of patio tables out front with a wee bit of shade overlooking Burnside. More tables inside past the bar. The peanut tamarind sauce on the Gado Gado was out of this world, rich and dripping with flavor, as was the tempe. Seriously, I've eaten a LOT of tempeh in my life and this was tender and slightly sweet. Both the tempe and tofu were fried but not greasy and lightly spiced. I didn't know what to expect from "vegetable stuffed tofu" and was pleasantly surprised. The shredded veggies tasted slightly fermented or lightly pickled? And then encased in a thin layer of tofu and friend. At first I was bummed that there was no accompanying sauce with the appetizers, but they honestly don't need anything extra (tho a lil dip in extra peanut sauce made the tempe even more delicious). We also splurged on some n/a drinks - a limeade that was tart and sweet with fresh squeezed lime juice, and a lovely little cup of spicy and slightly sweet tamarind ginger tumeric juice that was a sucker punch of flavor.
Food: 4 stars Service: 1 star We came here for my mom's birthday, and since she's vegetarian, we chose a place that vegetarian-friendly. All the food we ordered was very tasty. The only thing I would complain about is the amount of potatoes. The dishes that contained potatoes seemed to have a lot more potatoes than meat. It was deceiving when I tried to get a piece of pork belly, and it turned out to be another potato. My favorite thing we got was martabak talor. It was perfect. The drinks we got were yummy and flavorful. The service, though, was rough. The server (a white man) was very impatient and rude. He gave us looks and seemed frustrated when we weren't sure what to order yet. We were the only patrons at the time, so I'm not sure why he was in such a rush. When we left, one person in our group thanked him, and he looked but didn't respond. On instinct, I thanked him too (to be polite, not to make a point), and again, he looked at me but didn't respond. We'd be back to try more of the food, but if we see that server is working, we'd turn around and leave.
Been meaning to try out this place for a while and my experience was great! I never had Indonesian food before so wanted to try something new. Came here with some friends for a birthday dinner and it was also their first time as well. Everyone generally enjoyed all the food but the faves were the stir fried pork belly and the curry. I had the fried chicken and it was a good mixture of crispy and juicy which I enjoyed. Everything came out fairly quickly and the restaurant had a nice vibe to it. The owner (I think) gave me some wafers as well as a little birthday gift which was very kind. Loved that they also gave coffee candy when it was time to pay. Would come back again
What a nice surprise! Stumbled upon this as read that the interior was great and the food was very authentic. Almost too authentic as the menu was a little confusing and took a while to navigate. I looked up photos on Yelp to see what they were. The appetizer of an egg wrapped in pastry was delicious... the Martabak Telor Mini... two pieces for $9. Husband got the beef stew special of Soto Betawi $22, and I got the fried chicken called Ayam Goreng $19. It was $2 more for the coconut rice but it was really dry and not great. The service was on the spot. The decorations were great and felt like you were in Indonesia!
Food-For the appetizer, we tried the Martabak. It was a crispy pastry with eggs and green onions. It was good. Ordered the Nasi Campar, subtituted regular steam rice for the coconut rice. Very flavorful with beautiful plating. We also had the Kari soup with rice noodles. Flavorful, but the noodles soaked up the soup and it was kind of soggy. Service-Attentive. The server was a little awkward. They start tipping at 20%. Tip-My rice plate included the tapioca cracker. I would not have ordered one for the appetizer because it was too much. The cracker had a weird flavor that could be described as "cardboardy with a hint of grease." Overall, I am glad to have tried Wajan. Now it's checked off on my list of "to try" places.
As a Filipino I enjoyed this food a lot. We got the beef rendang as well as some other noodle dish I forgot the name of (but was delicious regardless) I don't know if the food was super duper authentic (coming from our Indo friend that took us here) but it tasted great to us and we'd come back anyway. Service was fast and ambiance was pretty chill.
I stopped at this restaurant while driving to Portland, and I'm really glad I did. The food was fresh, delicious, and exceeded my expectations. The service was friendly and welcoming, and the atmosphere was comfortable and relaxing. It was the perfect place to take a break during a long drive. I would definitely stop here again next time I'm passing through. Highly recommended!
It's been a few years since I've been back here, but this is definitely one of my favorite restaurants in Portland. I ordered the nasi campur with fried chicken and the rendang sapi. The nasi campur comes with a variety of sides that go well with the rice. It came with a fried hard boiled egg, eggplant in sweet and spicy sauce, curried jackfruit with long beans, tempeh, and the fried chicken and a crispy tapioca cracker. The fried chicken was not breaded but it was very tender regardless. The fried hard boiled egg had nice texture with the sweet and spicy sauce. Long bean and eggplant are fine. nice that they have a variety of sides. The tapioca cracker is very hard to bite - has flavor though. Tempeh was good. Rendang sapi came with rice, beef braised in spicy curry, green onion and shallot omelette, also came with fresh tomato and cucumber, serundeng (roasted coconut seasoning), and sambal ijo. The rendang was ok, but the flavor was helped by the sambal. The egg was not overcooked and had good amount of green onion flavor.
As a huge fan of Indonesian/lao/southeast asian cuisines... I might be a bit biased... but I was a HUGE fan of this place. Everything we ordered isn't included in the picture attached, but wow, every single item was G-A-S, gas station! Every dish is so unique and seasoned soooo well. Even the vegetarian dishes we ordered were SO tasty (ahaaa). But fr, we went to a handful of restaurants during our short stay in the PDX area and this was by far my favorite joint--I've recommended it so many times. Just look at how fire that picture looks!
Indonesian place that I've been longing to try! It is quite different than most menus you see. If you've had a lot of Indonesian food, it might be pretty typical. There is almost no parking, except a small lot that can fit two or three cars - limited street parking. Staff greeted us upon entering with menus, but let us choose a table. It was pretty chilly inside, even with a little heater close by. Everyone was friendly. Kopi Milo coffee was delicious, similar to a Vietnamese coffee with sweetened condensed milk. We shared the gorengan starter, chose the tahu isi(stuffed tofu) and the bakwan jagung(corn fritter). The stuffed tofu was incredible! A little deep fried tofu triangle packed full of veggies - a little hard to split. Fritter was also tasty - but a little greasy. They don't come with a sauce, and definitely felt like they needed one. Our main choice was the Nasi Campur, added ayam (fried chicken - on bone). Five stars for presentation! The large tapioca cracker was not my jam, but my lady loved it. Added Fried chicken was delicious, a tender thigh piece that came apart with a spoon - with a nice dry rub. I loved the fried egg in chili sauce, along with the eggplant. Tempeh was some of the best I've had - but I'll say I'm usually not a fan. Coconut rice was tasty! Jackfruit is not for everyone, lol. The whole dish feels dry though. I imagine in the humid jungle climate, this meal would be perfect. Just need a cold one, beer was limited to three rotating drafts. We might head back to try some more items. They do have specials.
4 years ago
Portland does southeast Asian cuisine so well. This spot is up there with the greats like Eem and Hat Yai. Expect colorful dishes and hearty, spicy, curried, coconut flavors in each bite. We got two classic plates and beef satay, recommended by the waiter. The beef satay had the most amazing sweet and flavorful peanut dressing. The braised beef dish (Rendang Sapi) was perfectly tender and the fried chicken was moist with crunchy skin. New fav spot! read more
3 years ago
This was comfort food at its best for me . I love simple dishes with traditional ingredients and I feel Indonesian food excels at that . There are so many components: sambals, pickles, condiments, and stews, with garnishes like fried shallots ,krupuk crackers ,local herbs, lemongrass and galangal. Needless to say I was delighted when fellow YES member Martina suggested Wajan for dinner and I am so happy we got to experience this cool place with such cool folks . Although ,I was looking forward to the Mural covered walls indoor , but the restaurant still hadn't opened proper indoor dining and hence we were seated outside on the back patio , which honestly wasn't that fun . It was a super chilly evening and the heaters were not doing their job well . I was hoping that the drinks would warm us up , but alas there wasn't much selection there . we had - Ungu - The Butterfly pea Flower gave it a subtle purple color and the Coconut Rum, Gin, Crème de Violette together made it a good pick. Hijau -Honestly I am not a fan of Charteuse or Absinth and hence wasn't a fan of this drink either , but my hubby seemed to like it alright . He also paired it with a rum which he seemed to enjoy . Gorengan - These are deep fried fritters and you can customize your order for 2 picks of your choice . we had the Tempe and the batter fried banana and loved both . Our main dish was the Nasi Uduk which is rice with all of the fun sides -deep fried hard boiled egg ,pickled vegetables in turmeric peanut sauce, sweet and spicy stir fried tempe and tapioca cracker. We added the fried chicken to this because my hubby can`t have a fried chicken on the menu and not order it. The dish hit the spot just right . Rice is a staple food in the Indonesian diet and the goddess of rice, Dewi Sri, is highly revered in Java and Bali and Wajan doesn't take its rice legacy lightly . For me the lightly coconut ,lemongrass and lime leaf flavored rice was the MVP for this dish. Highly Recommended ! I finished of my dinner with a glass of Bendrek Medan which is a N/A beverage with a liberal dose of pepper and cardamom . This drink did actually warm me up and I loved the intoxicating cardamom aroma. Service was fast and efficient and prices reasonable. Parking is a pain around the restaurant ,as there are very limited spots right outside . read more
Love this casual spot - walked here with my sis to have some Indonesian food - our were born and raised in Indonesia so this was a nice little trip down memory lane to the times when we used to go to Indonesia to visit family. We sat outside as we had her dog with us. They had a water bowl for dogs which was welcoming. Love the picnic tables that they have - adds to the whole vibe of street eating when we were in Indonesia. Our mom is an amazing cook so it's hard to find good Indonesian that satisfies what we feel is good Indonesian food. The presentation of the food was really lovely - the Nasi Uduk that my sis ordered was tasty - all of the items on the plate were yummy. We ordered the chicken satay which was good as well - the chicken was a little bit tough, and I do wish that they used some kaffir lime leaf for their peanut sauce which I think would make a big difference, but it was still good. I ordered the bakmie noodle dish - the side broth that goes with it was excellent and I found the noodle dish to be interesting - tasted like maybe it was seasoned with 5 spice - which is not what I was expecting but I enjoyed it. I also got a side of their emping...my sis has never been a fan of emping which is a fried chip that is made from a particular nut. She finds it bitter but I really like the flavor. I asked for a little salt and I sprinkled the salt on there which made it even tastier. It needs a little salt. Their es cendol which is a coconut / Pandan jelly - the green squiggles / palm sugar drink was really great. The jellies were softer than I am used to, but felt very fresh, and the palm sugar tasted like it had ginger in it which added to it all. Loved the steamed Pandan cakes that are topped with fresh coconut. Not too sweet and a lovely way to finish the meal. The service was very friendly as well. read more
With how hyped this place was, I was expecting a lot more. With that being said, the food was tasty with good flavours, but not memorable. Nothing about the meal made me feel like I need to come back for more. The service was quick though and staff was nice. The restaurant itself is small and quaint with some amazing wall art. read more
3 years ago
Delicious! I can't wait to go back and try everything on the menu! Authentic Indonesian food and the perfect lunch spot. We started with the fritters and a few skewers and then I got the Bubur Ayam (porridge with chicken). The flavor was out of this world and I'm already planning my next visit read more
3 years ago
We just arrived in Portland & this was our first meal there. We were greeted by their great staff & was recommended to order the Nasi Campur Beef Rendang & Martabak Telor. I was in awe when they brought out the Nasi Campur. It was beautiful to look at & delicious when devoured. The dish does look larger in the picture, it is smaller in size and good for one person as a meal. The Martabak Telor was flavorful & a nice snack. I love Cendol because it is sweet from the palm sugar, creamy from the coconut milk & the pandan tapioca noodles made it a wonderful treat. I would highly recommend visiting Wajan if you are in Portland. read more
4 years ago
I'm always on the search for humble Indonesian food that reminds me of home. We ordered the nasi campur and the bakmi. Everything was so good and authentic!! The bakmi (noodles) was my favorite - the food wasn't overly salty and truly reminded me of the cooking back in Indo. The nasi campur was good but I wasn't a fan of the yellow curry part with jackfruit because it tasted like a normal yellow curry. However - overall vibe and flavors were great!! I would highly recommend if you're looking to try authentic Indonesian food! read more
1 year ago
Having enjoyed lots of Indonesian food during many trips to Amsterdam, I was excited to discover that Portland finally has two Indonesian restaurants. A friend who also loves Indonesian food joined me and we decided to experience Wajan first. It's a small but very quaint restaurant decorated in spice colors. There are murals on the wall, dark cinnamon and brown print on the tables in the small dining area, a separate bar, and several picnic tables outside for when the weather permits. Small china dishes in various prints and tiny tin cups really add to the charm. The adult drink menu is very limited so don't go expecting a full bar. We both drink red wine and there was just one option, a Pinot Noir which was fine. We ordered the Martebak, a fried egg pancake, as appetizer and it arrived super fast and looked beautiful with a hot green pepper on top for decoration. However, it was really greasy even after we patted it with some of the paper napkins on the table. Other than the oily fried flavor, I couldn't taste anything. For dinner we ordered the Nasi Uduk which is a plate of assorted proteins and veggies. We added chicken which was a fried thigh that was very dry. On the platter was a lot of jasmine rice, a deep fried egg (which neither of us ate), fried tempeh (no flavor), Chinese eggplant with a spicy chili sauce (very good) and pickled jackfruit (didn't care for flavor or texture.) it also had a large circular tapioca cracker which tasted similar to a rice cake. Overall the dish was bland, the only flavor was the sauce on the eggplant. I wish they put the sauce over the entire dish. Between the two of us, we left half. We also shared the Rendang Sapi, a dish centering on braised beef in a spicy curry. The beef was tender and flavorful. This dish also came with a very large portion of Jasmine rice topped with an omelette. I didn't really taste the grated coconut in the description; I wish I did as I love coconut in my savory meals. This was a nice dish, nothing I would crave enough to come back for, but it satisfied us. The waiter was superb. Courteous, friendly, efficient - everything you admire in an outstanding service person. We enjoyed our evening because we hadn't seen each other in awhile and had a lot of catching up to do. As far as the meal, it was just OK. Based on the reviews, we were expecting food that had an abundance of spice and flavor, which we didn't experience. We will give the other Indonesian restaurant a try next time. read more
1 year ago
Wajan is the place to go if you want to taste real Indonesian cuisine. Please relocate to LA so I can have you all the time The Nasi Campur with the crispy pork belly is so delicious and went super well with the yellow curry (Kari). The noodles inside of my yellow curry were cooked to perfection surrounded by juicy chicken pieces and hearty potatoes. The food here is beautiful and delicious. I love that it's just a random tiny place that you'd never guess has such amazing food. I walked out of this place feeling happy and my soul felt so good and warm 10/10 spot. read more
2 years ago
Great food. As spicy as you want it and not expensive. The jackfruit curry soup was lovely. But the onion pancake (Martabak telor mini) was like an explosion of flavor! read more
Finally checked out wajan and it was a lovely experience. We haven't had this kind of Indonesian food before and were pleasantly impressed. The sweet peanuts and anchovies were packed with flavors and not very fishy and it's a perfect drinking snack. The martabak telor mini were amazing and our favorite thing tonight. It's perfectly crunchy on the outside, juicy with had complex flavors inside. Nasi uduk was also good: really enjoyed the fried hard boiled egg with sauce and when mixed with coconut rice. We added fried chicken to it and loved how there's no heavy breading on it; the chicken was juicy inside and not dry at all. The other entree we ordered was their special Soto Medan: it's a coconut soup with spices, shredded chicken, and bean sprouts, served with rice. It was surprisingly light and refreshing but not outstanding and the price is high for this item imo. We tried both desserts they had tonight: one was a (warm) cassava cake that was sweet and chewy, one was a (cold) sweet potato cake. They were both really good. Cocktails were tasty too! Service was prompt and the food came out pretty quickly. Definitely recommend giving them a try! read more
3 years ago
I went with my coworker who is from Indonesia. This was my first experience with this kind of food. Let me put it this way: I will drive from Salem just to come back here! The anchovies with the peanuts were my favorite! read more
I'm new to the area and I haven't eaten much Indonesian food but this is the best food I've had so far in Portland. The flavors are strong and seem authentic. I'm surprised Portland even has this considering the food scene is kind of so-so compared to LA's. The background 70s indo music is the perfect groove to enjoy this delicious food to. read more
So, before you eat here, please be aware that Indonesian cuisine is probably the spiciest in the world. Here's a quick translation of the pepper ratings on the Wajan menu: None: normal people can eat this (there are, fortunately, a few meals for folks with sensitive taste buds). One Pepper: hot Two Peppers: really frikkin' hot Three Peppers: you will regret this both right away and the next day. I hope you also ordered plain rice and maybe a nice shaved ice. Four to Five Peppers: I can't honestly imagine how hot these would be. Set the table on fire maybe? There's nothing on the menu with this rating ... yet. Beyond that ... amazing Indonesian food, with many dishes I've never seen before. Also affordable; we finished dinner for $20-25 apiece, including tip. The first two items on the menu are full plates, and those plates are filling. The menu now encompasses a fair variety of stuff, with choices for meat-eaters and veggies (and even vegans), bland folk and hotheads, and plenty of gluten-free options. And the menu changes regularly so you don't get bored. If you are into hot, then make sure to order some of the optional side sambals. The decor is also pretty charming, and the staff are very helpful even when the place is slammed, which it has been lately. read more
7 years ago
I came here with a bunch of friends, and we ordered family style to be able to sample most of the items! I was super excited for an Indonesian place to open up because it's been a long time since I've had some. My favorite dishes of the night was the babi kentang (pork belly), the kari ayam (curry), and the ayam goreng kalasan (fried chicken). Pork belly had lots of flavor, but don't be like me and accidentally eat the peppers or else you will have a bad time. The curry had good flavor and a bit of a kick to it. The fried chicken was super crispy and flavorful. The sweet tea was pretty good. I really enjoyed the skewers -both the chicken and pork. Loved the pickled veggies that came with them. Sauces are super tasty, but the skewers are definitely overpriced at $7.50 for 3 sticks of meat. I think overall the experience was disappointing because I hyped myself too much. I was especially looking forward to the rendang, but the beef was dry and didn't have enough sauce. I thought it was weird they served it with an omelette, since that's not very traditional? Basically, the portions were all super small, considering how much you pay for each dish. You can definitely finish 3 entrees between 2 people. This is somewhere I would recommend to try once for taste. If you're looking for somewhere you get the bang for your bucks, look elsewhere. read more
I'm from Indonesia and it's so hard to find authentic delicious Indonesian food in the US. When I came upon Wajan on Yelp I was so excited! The portions are hearty, the food is so good, and the entire experience reminds me of the home cooked meals my grandmother used to prepare. I tried the kari ayam with noodles and the bakmie and both were great. The kari had the spicy rich broth and the bakmie noodles were perfectly cooked. I had the cendol for dessert and the texture and pandan taste were spot on. If I lived in Portland I'd be here whenever I feel a little homesick! read more
3 years ago
So I've been here twice now and the food is delicious! The prices are great and the food is so so so good. The service is also excellent, Oskar was our server and he was very helpful and nice. I would definitely recommend coming here, the atmosphere is very lovely and it's just a great restaurant overall! read more
5 years ago
Probably The most authentic indonesian restaurant in Pacific Northwest. Sometimes the have hard-to-find traditional indonesian snacks and meals. It is the place to go if you want to taste real indonesian cuisine. read more
Indonesian food is hard to find in Portland but now we have a great place to get authentic food. Get here before the hipsters find out, they will fill this place up faster than you can say "pour-over coffee". They still have the soft opening menu but more delicious items are coming soon. Do not skip the sweet tea, it will brighten your day better than your favorite inspirational that you never live by. Enjoy the new neighborhood hot spot! read more
5 years ago
My second trying Indonesian food. It's not bad. I think it's not my taste but my group really liked it. Our group ordered up a bunch of different dishes to share. I didn't order the foods so I don't know what the names of the dishes are. Just refer to my food photos. They also serve dessert and beers here. I believe there was only outdoor dining only. We preferred to sit outdoors anyways. read more
2 years ago
Our waiter was nice and friendly and had a long conversation with us. The food was flavorful. I just wished they would have asked how spicy we would have liked our meals because my mom had a hard time eating her shrimp dish because it was extremely spicy. read more
2 years ago
5 years ago
Had some good food at this place. The pork belly/potatoes with the spicy eggplant was delicious, and the fried chicken was on point. The appetizers we got were good as well - including some truly incredibly chicken satay. It was a little hit or miss though, the fried egg was a bit bland, and the tapioca crackers really didn't taste like much of anything. The desserts rocked, steamed pandan cake and shaved ice with sweet pandan noodles were both awesome. There are outdoor seating options in the form of a more enclosed backyard and totally open air picnic tables in front of the restaurant. We elected to go with one of these, which meant more sounds and smells of the road mixing with our meal. And wind. But hey, that was our own fault. Overall the food was unique and delicious. read more
4 years ago
Yes , food is delicious and price is reasonable I'm indonesian and I took my family there as it was our first visit in portland .one And only the best Indo restaurant!! Highly recommended!! read more
4 years ago
I am not Indonesian, but I have been there three times. I also live in an Indonesian neighborhood in Queens, NY, so I eat Indonesian cuisine quite often, I even cook some of my favorites at home. With Wajan I did not know what to expect. I was visiting Portland (my home town) and found this place just a couple of blocks from where my grandparents lived. I was immediately charmed by the room and its naive style murals, and other Indonesian artifacts. But those things did not prepare me for how good the food is. I had the sate babi, ayam goreng, and sayur nangka, along with a couple of things for desert. Quite simply, I was blown away by how delicious and authentic everything was. They were also very accomodating of my peanut allergy (a challeng in an Indonesian restaurant). The waitstaff were really friendly and efficient. The next time I visit Portland, and I hope that is soon, I will definitely make another trip to Wajan. Highly recommended! Terima kasih Wajan. Semua enak sekali! Saya akan kembali tahun depan :-) read more
Food is absolutely delicious. No indoor seating right now. But they have outdoor heaters under a covered porch. Server was nice and informative but service was a little slow. Never got a refill on my water the entire time we were there They also use paper plates which got pretty soggy and flimsy at the end. Luckily for the plate I ate all of the delicious food. I would definitely come back here. read more
5 years ago
For what it's worth, the food tastes great and the style and service are as well. If you're looking for authentic Indonesian, you'll be disappointed because some ingredient Ed and spices are not allowed to be imported into the US, so yeah... I lived there 5 years and just returned and wasn't sure what to expect, but these dishes taste far from what they would in Indo, but not bad in taste either. Good for what they are. I recommend. Parking can be found down the neighborhood to the left of the restaurant. Prices are great for as much as you get. Definitely an Indonesian portion that will fill you up too. read more
Venturing out for lunch after a second lockdown today, Day 2 of permitted dining following the State turnabout allowing restaurants to serve outdoors, Wajan made for a vividly memorable outdoor dining panacea with a full bar even, featuring Genever| gin and fermented SE Asian coconut flower | Batavia Arrack on the menu! Direct sunlit picnic table right off Burnside and 50th, gave us a burst of nature's heating lamp on a gorgeous balmy 55-deg winter afternoon. Officially my first bite of Indonesian cuisine, and it had my taste buds a-popping on a sensory discovery; savory, sour, sweet, fiery, crispy, soft, chewy, crunchy!! The entryway is now screened by the new ordering station topped with one full menu on the counter. With just one other Indonesian power in town (Gado Gado/Uma's Takeaway) exposure to unfamiliar dishes is likely, and with such a complex menu, it's recommended to study the menu glossary online before getting in line to order. We let a lady go ahead so we had time to ponder and delve into the unknown. PLUS there was a special in each: entree - a beef coconut spicy soup, $4 sip--Jamu ginger-tumeric drinking tonic served warm, and dessert, all of which also needed explaining, to consider. MAINS Nasi Uduk $14.00 (rice plate) + Babi Kentang $5.00 (pork belly) Coconut rice with all of the following: Telor balado (deep fried hard boiled egg in sweet and spicy chili sauce), acar kuning (pickled vegetables in turmeric peanut sauce), tempe orek (sweet and spicy stir fried tempe), krupuk aci (large tapioca cracker) + Babi Kentang (marinated and stir fried sweet and salty pork belly and potatoes). The latter salty pork belly was my fave and would order this alone next trip so I'd have heaps more. It's addictive sweet-salty-chewy texture with small sauce seeped diced potato would be an excellent accompaniment to sample more Genever and Arrack on a longer evening out. The egg had a coating that firmed up the exterior cut of the hard egg, but was expecting more punch from the sweet spicy chili saucebut it really just tasted like an extra firm boiled egg. Picked long green beans, carrot and cukes gave savory crunch as did the crisp tapioca crackers, bite sized shrimp tasting chips although billed without any crustacean. Ayam Goreng $13.50 Indonesian style fried chicken, Kremes (seasoned crunchies), Lalapan (fresh cabbage, tomato, cucumber), Kecap Manis (sweet soy sauce), Sambal Terasi (shrimp paste chili sauce) and rice. It's a much milder and more beautiful triangle trimmed Hat Yai coriander-forward fried chicken but ultra moist with tender crunch further enhanced by the deft crisp of Kremes. Like wow, how do you execute that level of velvety moist yet crisp wedge so balanced in seasoning, having always found H-Y's seasoning overly pronounced? Server suggested you shred the chicken and make cabbage cups with the rice. Hubby went deaf and got knuckle deep in that heap, leaving the cabbage as a mere garnish afterthought. I must admit having tried both ways the cabbage so thick you do lose the magic of tender crunch appeal by not going direct to mouth lol. Sambal was delicious tangy fire, more yum. JUICE - Teetotaler today :/ Genever Arrack attack next time :) !! Jamu $4 Ginger-Tumeric tonic served warm doubles up with plenty of heat from the ginger too, somewhat sweet but well tempered by some form of acidity - coconut vinegar or lemon maybe? It was a slight chore to get it all down, served in a juice sized glass, but I really did enjoy it. Think Kombucha, no bubbles, lots of spice, served warm, well maybe not?! ha ha Pro-tip, plastic utensils used here as with many outdoor dining and carts. Do the planet and the businesses a solid and invest in some reusable bamboo utensils. Our set equipped with a straw & brush cleaner, chopsticks, large/small spoon, fork, knife and toothbrush, rolled in a cloth snap wrap set us back just $7 last holiday stocking stuffer, kept in the car, hand and dishwashed, used year-long and still going strong ;) Oh yeah and pack a blanket for the chilly weather, it's a new must for outdoor dining! With 6 or more picnic benches and an outdoor covered patio, full bar featuring lesser known ABVs, you'll love transporting your tastebuds to SE Indonesia, come fly away to a welcome escape from our Covid-induced domestic travel border. read more
5 years ago
If you're looking for more "homemade style" food, Wajan is the place! I was wavering between a 4/5 star review, but some of the prices were a little high for some of the smaller items. I went with a few friends during a less busy hour, and they had plenty of seating in a sheltered outdoor patio-like area adjacent to the restaurant. Parking is not too difficult to find on the city sidewalks, but there are, unfortunately, only 2-3 ish parking spots next to the restaurant. As I have mostly had Malaysian foods, some of the menu items were familiar but spelled slightly differently than what I am used to. We ordered quite an array (various appetizers, entrees, and even a dessert). Here is a list of items ordered, and commentary per item: 1. Es Cendol - one of my all time favorite desserts in Malaysia, this version was topped with a generous serving of diced jackfruit. The ice was well shaved, and the cendol was soft and flavorful. 2. Teri Kacang - a wonderful blend of peanuts and anchovies that was a great combination of sweet and salty 3. Sayur Nangka - this was my first time eating something like this. Typically, I consume jackfruit fresh/raw, not cooked, but I thought currying this was a great way to reduce the very strong jackfruit flavor and introduce some texture to the curry 4. Telor Balado - each egg was $2.50, which was a little much as I used to have friends who would make these at home. However, it was yummy and paired with sambal, it was a great side dish 5. Bakmie - this one was a little too salty for me. Out of all the dishes that we tried, this was probably my least favorite, as the pork was too salty and I felt that, compared to the other dishes, it was not as flavorful 6. Ayam goreng - The chicken was fried extremely well. The crisp exterior is 10x better than any American fried chicken, and they did a great job maintaining the juiciness of the actual chicken. This, topped with some crunchies gave this chicken even more texture and crunchiness 7. Rendang sapi - The rendang was quite delicious! The beef was tender, and not stringy, sometimes difficult to achieve as it has to be cooked for a while. The spices were well balanced, and I really enjoyed the flavors. 8. Rojak - I think this dish can be confusing for many, if you are not a fan of spicy, sweet, salty, sour flavors all sort of mushed into one, but I think this is the beauty of rojak. I love the fact that the sweet but slightly spicy sauce balances so well with the various veggies and fruits on the platter. This one is definitely not one to try if you are not a fan of many various tastes at once, but it is definitely one of my favorites Each of the main dishes (ayam goreng and rendang sapi) came with coconut rice (you can "upgrade" from regular rice instead of buying an additional coconut rice). We all felt like the coconut flavor could have been stronger, as it still just tasted like mostly rice. read more
5 years ago
Wow! Probably one of the only places I'd ever consider 6 stars if I could. I love that it's just a random tiny place that you'd never guess has such amazing food. Do not let the looks deceive you. I've been traveling the US a lot and I've only been in Portland for a few weeks now. Out of probably 20 restaurants I've tried so far I'd consider this hands down #1. I'd even go so far as to say this place now holds a space in my top 10 if not my top 5 restaurants I've ever been to in the US. As a person that absolutely loves Indian and Thai type dishes trying this cuisine for the first time I'm just blown away. We tried Lontong Cap Goh Meh, Martabak, Sate Ayam, Kari and a warm drink with ginger and turmeric which I forget the name. Every single dish was so incredibly flavorful and if you like spice you can optionally get a side of hot chili paste to mix in that genuinely brings the heat where I'm often left disappointed in the level of spice. Highly recommend checking this place out. Hands down now a top recommendation and I'll be sad to not have this place near by when I leave Portland. read more
3 years ago
More info about Wajan
4611 E Burnside St
Portland, OR 97215
North Tabor - Center, Northeast Portland
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(503) 206-5916
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http://wajanpdx.com
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Ask the Community - Wajan
Do they make reservations or is it all walk in?
From my understanding based on previous visits, they make reservations, so please call them to do so. (Each time it was a larger party (4+))…
Do they have a lot of mild-spiced options?
They can make things mild, and the flavors aren't so much spicy hot. They are more unique and flavorful.
Do they have gluten-free option?
Does it taste just like Indonesia? I've been living in Jakarta since 2016 and returning back to Portland next week with my wife. She's from Manado.
It tastes like Medan and Jakarta :)
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Wajan - indonesian - Updated July 2026
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