Hardena - Authentic Indonesian in South Philly

 

 Hardena Authentic Indo in South Philly [14:00m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Hardena was one of the most interesting restaurant experiences we’ve had in a long time. Located at Hicks and Moore Streets in South Philly, this modest Indonesian eatery is popular with local expatriates and visitors alike. If you don’t like some adventure in your meals, then this place is not for you.

On the recommendation of an Indonesian cab driver, we headed to South Philly on a recent Saturday night wondering what we might find. Hardena was located just three blocks off Broad St. in a typically cramped urban neighborhood. Situated on the bottom floor of a home, the restaurant featured bars over the windows and a dimly lit exterior. When Tushar hopped out to make sure that they were open, Patti pointed out “This is going to be either really good, or really bad.”

Entering the tiny dining room we were greeted by a confluence of delicious aromas, as well as the gaze of a few curious regulars. It became immediately clear that food is the focus here; the atmosphere was more consistent with a takeout shop, especially once we saw the constant flow of patrons picking up food to go. Realizing that there were no printed menus, we knew that we were in for a “freestyle” dining experience.

Mrs. Widjojo bade us a warm welcome from behind the serving line in the rear of the restaurant. Her sunny, inviting manner brightened the room and beckoned us to inspect the variety of foods displayed behind the Rijstaffel, where a variety of foods are displayed and then served with rice. Without labels, we’d normally be a bit reluctant, but Ena put us at ease by selecting a several dishes for us to try. Of course, she didn’t know what she was in for, since that gave Tushar a license to start peppering the poor woman with questions. Actually, I think she enjoyed speaking with a non-regular who had knowledge of near-eastern cookery.

After some discussion, we opted for two appetizers and then shared several different entrée items. We started with one order each of the chicken and lamb satays, which were introduced to Indonesian cuisine through Arab traders. Marinated and grilled on a skewer, each order of five was served with a soy-based dipping sauce and a cucumber & carrot salad in a sweet vinegar dressing. The flavors were an excellent combination; the peanut and coconut milk combined with a hint of lemongrass were right on.

For round two, Ena suggested a combination of Beef Rendang, Tempeh and “Spicy Fish” served with rice. As we jumped into our meal, each of us gravitated toward different items; I favored the beef while Patti and Tushar were drawn to the Tempeh. The Beef Rendang was a stewed beef featuring coconut and hot chili flavors that offered a spicy bite as an aftertaste. The flavor combination is what hooked me. The Tempeh was delicious, combining the flavors of cumin and coconut with the firm, yet yielding consistency of tofu. While the “Spicy Fish” was good, we felt the other two items were exceptional.

During our multiple visits to counter, Patti also managed to find a new favorite snack food: a fluffy rice Frisbee. Patti compares it to a traditional cheese curl without the cheese. Everyone agreed that it was tasty and the package destined for a take-home snack didn’t even make it out the door…

Overall, our meal at Hardena was both a great meal and fun experience. Ideal for the adventurous, the armored exterior coupled with the no-frills interior may be off-putting to some, but the good food and inviting hostess is well worth it.

For more info. check out this 2005 review by Philadelphia Weekly 

[Tags]Philadelphia, South Philly, Hardena, Indonesian Food, Podcast[/Tags]