Ajwad Resto — Restaurant in Jakarta

My wife and I recently found ourselves dining at Ajwad Resto, a Middle Eastern restaurant nestled in Condet. With Ustadz Khalid Basalamah at the helm, the visit promised to be a unique experience, and we weren’t disappointed.

The size of the restaurant was perfect - not too vast to feel empty, yet not so small that it felt crowded. However, potential visitors should bear in mind that parking may prove a slight challenge due to limited spaces.

The unique aspect of Ajwad Resto is its combination of a restaurant and a store. It sells a variety of items ranging from books and perfume to frozen Middle Eastern food and clothing. We found ourselves purchasing an Al Rehab perfume, an original and high-quality fragrance, and a selection of manhaj salaf sunnah books. The selection of books was well-curated, adding a personal touch to the shopping experience.

As for the food, we ordered Kambing Bakar Madu with Kabsah Rice and Mandhi Rice with Ayam Goreng. Our choice of drinks was Habhab Bittamar, a blend of watermelon, dates, and mint, and Ajwad Mocktail, a creative twist on Sop Buah with an interesting addition of dates.

The Kambing Bakar Madu was a standout dish - tender, generously portioned, and flavorful. As someone who enjoys strong spices, however, I felt the Kabsah and Mandhi Rice were somewhat mild. We unfortunately missed the opportunity to try the Biryani, as it was sold out during our visit.

The drink selection was equally satisfying. The Habhab Bittamar offered a unique and refreshing blend, and the Ajwad Mocktail was a delightful surprise.

An additional point of note for some visitors is that the restaurant doesn’t play music. For us, this added to the ambiance and our overall dining experience.

In summary, our experience at Ajwad Resto was largely positive, with just a few minor drawbacks. If you're interested in Middle Eastern culture, a fan of Ustadz Khalid Basalamah, or simply enjoy trying new culinary experiences, it’s definitely worth a visit. The service was excellent, and the shopping element added a unique dimension to the whole experience. The authenticity in the menu, the original Al Rehab perfume, and the carefully curated book selection all contribute to the charm of...

Let me begin with the positive and neutral feedback. The server was nice and knowledgeable. The food was not too bad but not excellent either. The food was just okay. Everything, from appetizers, main course to the desert was served at once, not in a particular order because they had to prepare everything based on the number of guests. Here is my really bad experience because of LACK OF CUSTOMER SERVICE. I truly believe that the employees need a serious training on customer service skills. The management is very unorganized. It is sad that a restaurant with a good potential is managed VERY POORLY. I made a reservation 15 days in advance on May 15, 16, 17 and continued trying to communicate with the employees for a family reunion on May 30. It was such a difficult proses. My messages were never returned nor responded. I contacted all 3 different phone numbers listed on their website. I finally was able to speak to Bachtiar and advised him that I need to update the number of guests the next day. He never answered my phone call even if the whatsapp status showed they were "online". My call was even declined a few times. I expressed my concerns to two other contact numbers to make sure that my reservation for 27 people was confirmed. When I finally arrived from the USA, and Bachtiar denied that I have the reservation for 27 people. I had to show all evidence and told him that he's responsible for not answering my multiple messages and phone calls. Other employees in the store, just like Bachtiar, pointed fingers to one another. My family came from all over west Java, and it was chaotic! We're finally accommodated and had three separate tables. I was almost double charged for one of my guest's separate order that was already paid. I was also asked to pay for someone else's order, but I got that straightened out. HOPEFULLY, THE MANAGEMENT CAN FIX THEIR PROBLEMS AND DO BETTER...

HORRIBLE!!! This place is a joke. This is NOT Arabian food. It is Indonesian food PRETENDING to be Arab food. I lived in Kuwait for two years and have been to Dubai many times. Trust me, NO ARAB WOULD EVER EAT THIS FOOD. They would send it back. From the ridiculous "Arab bread" which was some kind of strange roti, to the tiny, tiny, TINY, two pieces of mutton that came with my "Lamb Mandhi". By the way, Lamb Mandhi shouldn't come with sambal! lol. Like I said, this is Indonesian food. The owner and manager should be ASHAMED of themselves. The upstairs dining room, the carpet is filthy and falling apart, how could this be if this restaurant just opened in a new location???? I know, because they rushed to open this restaurant and start taking money from customers, it is almost STEALING because everything they offer, none of it is like it appears on the menu. Their motto is "Original Arabian Food" and it is the biggest lie possible. The shop downstairs is a mess, boxes everywhere and little product ready to buy. We took a taxi almost three hours total round trip to come here and we will NEVER come here again and I will tell everyone I know how horrible this place is. As I said, the owner and manager should be ASHAMED. This is not Islamic to run a business like this. It is basically a big lie. Avoid...