I’ve tried two different varieties of Indonesian bebek goreng in the last two weeks.
It’s encouraging because in Indonesian restaurants around here, the deep-fried duck was always the missing ingredient.
The recently opened Wartek is one of the locations that serves bebek goreng.
The restaurant is the newest venture from the owners of Subang SS15’s Kotak Plus. In addition, they have numerous other brands that offer Indonesian cuisine such as bakso, ayam geprek, and more.
Located at the cluster of single-storey shop lots in Ara Damansara, it joins popular places like Restoran Dudu Yummy and Jo’Tesha Northern Colours.
The concept is like the Indonesian warteg or warung Tegal where the everyman can select from a variety of cooked dishes laid out in a spread.
Wartek adds some contemporary elements to liven up the idea a bit. There’s no simple cabinet made of glass and stainless steel to store the dishes. Large glass dishes are used to serve the food here, and the décor is sleek and dark wood.
The dining area is further brightened by a tiny skylight that lets in natural light. Since the back of the building is closest to the parking spaces, access is also available from both sides.
Since it’s an all-day eatery, breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served there.
Lintong sayur, gado gado, and fried beehoon are served for breakfast. Additionally, toast can be served with half-boiled eggs. Along with various kuih, there are packets of nasi lemak on the counter.
Lunch is served with a variety of cooked dishes starting at 11 a.m. There’s bebek or ayam madura with soto betawi and nasi lemak or nasi uduk.
For dinner, there’s sate ayam madura with lontong and fish soup served with rice and fried fish.
Wartek’s Nasi Lemak Bebek Madura is definitely the head turner here.
Who can resist crispy duck with a fork tender meat, topped with serunding. Well, I couldn’t!
It’s meant to be slowly relished, down to the small bones that are shatteringly crispy. You eat the meat, mixed with the fluffy fragrant rice and the two types of sambals.
There is the Madura-only sambal hitam, which is a spicy dish. The other red sambal gives the entire dish a deadly kick of chillies.
With a serving of duck, rice, and sambals costing just RM16.80, Wartek’s version is extremely affordable.
The Soto Betawi (RM15.80) is the other item that you must have with your meal. This version, in my opinion, is the best I’ve tried in the Klang Valley.
Tender beef slices, diced potatoes, tunjang, and cow’s lungs are all mixed together in this beef soup, which also contains coconut milk. Savor it with emping and rice.
Nasi Uduk is a simpler option, costing RM6.80. With its coconut milk-cooked rice, crunchy ikan bilis, fried peanuts, and sambal, it might resemble nasi lemak. But it has more stuff in it, like omelette strips. stir-fried French beans, crunchy tempe, and fried beehoon.
There’s also a selection of cooked dishes at the counter. Choose your favorite additions to your meal.
I’ve only tried their Perkedel, Gulai Tunjang, Dendeng Balado, crunchy Tempe Goreng, and Daging Rendang so far.
They have a crispy version of dendeng that combines the crunch of sambal with red chilies. With a creamy gravy and a gelatinous tendon, gulai tunjang is a decadent dish.
It’s also worth noting that drinks like coffee and tea start from RM4. It’s a huge cup though which justifies the higher prices.
Wartek, 3, Jalan PJU1A/42A, Ara Damansara, Petaling Jaya. Open daily: 7am to 9pm. Tel:03-78315333. Instagram: @wartek_ara
* This is an independent review where the writer paid for the meal.
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