I recently had the chance to try LYMA Cideng, a cozy smokehouse-style spot tucked away in Central Jakarta—and it definitely left an impression, especially if you're into slow-cooked meats.
The Brisket This is clearly the star of the show. The brisket is smoked low and slow for hours, and it shows in the tenderness—it literally falls apart with a fork. It's juicy, well-rendered, and melts in your mouth. The smokiness is present but quite subtle, so if you’re looking for a Texas-style deep smoke, this might lean a bit too light. Thankfully, they serve it with sauces (like honey mustard and BBQ) that pair well and elevate the flavor. The portion is satisfying and comes with a side dish.
The Quesadilla I also tried the brisket quesadilla, and it’s a fun twist—crispy tortillas stuffed with that same juicy brisket. It’s cheesy, savory, and comforting. A great option if you want something easier to share or snack on. The flavor is milder than the brisket on its own, but it works well as a lighter bite.
Service & Atmosphere The place has a casual, rustic vibe with limited seating. It gets busy, especially in the evenings, so expect a bit of a wait. The service can be a hit or miss—friendly, but not the most attentive during peak hours. Nothing that ruins the experience, but something to note.
Final Verdict If you're a brisket fan, LYMA Cideng is definitely worth a visit. The meat is quality, the atmosphere is chill, and the menu has variety without being overwhelming. It’s not perfect—but for a local spot smoking meat this well, it’s...
Read moreLYMA vs LC Smokehouse Friendly Staff(English very limited) Extensive menu and reasonably priced
Food: 2/5 Brisket 200g: lightly smoked, well seasoned, with some tender and dry pieces. Not very fatty, more on the leaner side.
2/5 Beef Ribs(Small) : boiled, smoked and grilled. Fall off the bone, but lack the meaty texture and taste.
1/5 Beef Tongue: smoky, but tasted like it was boiled and smoked. Texture was way too soft and broke apart easily. There was no meaty bounciness.
1/5 Sauces tasted more commercial, then homemade.
2/5 Double Cheese Burger(USA Meat): Did not taste like USDA. More like local meat mix with USDA. The outer layer was nicely Charred, but the inside had a mushy texture. The bun, cheese and sauce made it palatable.
Verdict: LC is still the best in Jakarta, but do give LYMA a try and decide for yourself.
I Will definitely visit LYMA again for their smoke oxtail and taco’s.
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Read moreA small place yet very cozy to bring families to dine in. Clean and neat, and responsive staff is a plus. But.. too bad they took too long to served our burgers without communicating the problem at first
We ordered: Beef brisket 200g (with potato wedges) Very tender and smokey beef, tried out their BBQ and honey mustard sauces, great sauce works well with the meat.
Cheese burgers This one is just average, let me tell what's wrong. Patty was not well cooked and american cheddar cheese was not melted properly. But I understand, the kitchen was busy as only 1 person handling all the order, so we've waited for 20 minutes to get our 2 burgers, and other 20 minutes to served another 2 🙂
Tacos De Lengua I loved this one, very tender and the combination of sweet, sour, and salty at the same time is perfect
Lyma Nachos Huge portion of Nachos! With cheese and beef toppings make this perfect...
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