Fajar Restaurant — Restaurant in Jakarta

I think Fajar has already established a name for itself as a favorite Chinese food restaurant in Jakarta. There are a couple outlets across the capital and today we had the opportunity to try out its outlet in West Jakarta.

We ordered several dishes today starting with the well-known Hainanese chicken and rice. They're both cooked well and delicious but I felt they were lacking fragrance that's diminished the enjoyment of having this classic dish. And for some reason the restaurant only prepares limited amount of Hainanese rice so it's likely that customers might come and not be able to enjoy it.

The fish maw soup was refreshing and the sautéed siomak was deliciously fresh and crunchy. The butter-fried frog legs and crab fuyunghai were standard, in fact we wished more crab meat could've been used to elevate the taste. The lumping udang was OK as some of them were prepared with too much flour, undermining the natural sweetness of the shrimp.

The back of the restaurant has just been renovated recently so it was clean, cool and quite spacious. There were plenty of customers during lunch time on a holiday, even it's almost packed, but the service was relatively quite fast.

Fajar Restaurant, especially this outlet, has a great potential and opportunity to elevate the quality of its dishes to separate them from the pack. How it will improve and maintain its competitive in Jakarta market...

Fajar is another OG Chinese restaurant that has been in business for ages. It has moved several times but the food continues to maintain the nostalgic taste from a while back. The atmosphere is very typical of an old school, Chinese restaurant designed for quick family dinners without the glitz and glam - lots of big tables and a wide open space, with outdated decor.

Personally, since I have been coming here from very young - I have a bias for the nostalgic and comfort of the food but I still think Fajar is a hidden gem with delicious Chinese dishes worth trying. Recommend getting the Steamed Hainan chicken - tender and flavorful. Also always get the beef with kailan which is extremely tender and the aromatic and thick sauce is perfect to smother over a side of their just-as-fragrant Hainanese rice. Both the lumpia udang and the udang mayo are delicious, crunchy and juicy. The asparagus crab soup is also a good starter to try.

Service and staff overall is good - the food comes out extremely quick and the waiters are responsive and attentive. Prices are definitely on the higher side, but it’s good to try a variety of dishes to find the ones you enjoy to make it worth it. I feel like most people come here and order the same specific dishes that they enjoy.

Overall, this is comforting Chinese food that I keep coming back to for the...

Fajar Restaurant has been a hidden gem in Jakarta’s culinary scene since the 1980s, renowned for serving authentic Hainan heritage cuisine. Walking into the restaurant feels like stepping back in time, with a cozy, nostalgic atmosphere that instantly reminds you of classic family dinners from decades past.

Their signature Hainan Chicken is succulent, seasoned just right, and served with a fragrant bowl of rice and clear soup. It’s a comforting dish that stays true to its roots—simple yet satisfying. Meanwhile, the classic mie goreng Fajar comes packed with perfectly cooked seafood, offering a savory and slightly smoky flavor that sets it apart from regular fried noodles.

Another must-try is the Chicken Nanking: tender chicken pieces coated in a light, crispy batter and doused in a subtly sweet sauce, a throwback to old-school Chinese-Indonesian flavors. For a balanced meal, the sapi cah brokoli (beef with broccoli) is tender and aromatic, while the Lumpia udang delivers crunchy shrimp wrapped in a delicate skin—perfect for a quick appetizer.

Overall, the dishes echo the taste of the 80s “in a good way”—homey, comforting, and consistently delicious. If you’re looking for a nostalgic Hainan meal that has withstood the test of time, Fajar Restaurant is a fantastic spot to revisit or discover for...