Ramen For The Soul (Hang Lekir) — Restaurant in Jakarta

This halal ramen restaurant is said to be popular among ramen lovers because of its unique flavor.

I tried a bowl of ramen called Mala Chicken Ramen. Mala is a spicy sauce consisting of Sichuan pepper, chili, oil, and several types of spices. In Chinese cuisine, this sauce is considered one of the most popular sauces with many regional variations. The sauce is so spicy that it is even implied in its name, the term málà 麻辣 literally means numbing and spicy, caused by Sichuan pepper.

Although the origins of this sauce are still unclear, the most popular theory states that it was discovered in Sichuan in the 19th and 20th centuries, when Sichuan was full of dockworkers who regularly ate cheap foods such as beef stomach, kidneys, and coagulated blood. The sharp flavor and oily layer of mala helped mask the unpleasant smell. Today, mala is used in various stir-fries, stews, and hot pots.

The red color of my Mala Ramen is truly appetizing. Although the aroma of the Mala sauce slightly diminishes the “Japanese-ness” of the ramen, its spiciness suits my taste buds. I enjoyed it with a few pieces of Chicken Kaarage.

The snack I mixed into my ramen was House Gyoza. One portion contains five pieces of gyoza and dipping sauce. The gyoza is baked, giving it a crispy texture on one side and a soft texture on the other. The filling consists of minced chicken and shrimp. The first bite delivers a strong ginger flavor that hits the palate immediately. The combination is perfect when dipped in the sauce made from soy sauce and chili powder.

We ended the meal with dessert: Yuzu Sorbet and Gyoza Apple Crumble, which are sweet and perfect as a palate cleanser.

It’s worth eating ramen here....

A really comfortable place to dine. The food is great, the decor is nice and the staff is very attentive and friendly.

We ordered a few items, and all of them are delicious. The signature Jushi Chicken Ramen has a deep flavored broth which feels really satisfying. The chicken itself well cooked, and the extra marinated egg I ordered compliments it well. I chose the add broth richness option, and I think it pays off in the end.

My brother ordered the Aburi Ramen (Charsiu) and the meat is amazing. Chewy yet tender, and packing with flavor. I think the broth falls behind the Jushi Chicken Ramen, but it’s also great on its own ways.

For Apps we ordered the Spinach and Mushroom Gyoza, and I honestly did not expect that flavor from a Japanese restaurant. It’s a pleasant bite to start the meal. The crispy baby shrimps is generous in its portion and might serve as a well change of taste when you have drank half of your broth.

The only issue I have is I think the appetizers are a bit too overpriced, but other than that all is well.

Overall, a...

Decided to try this branch instead of the usual place I go to in Senopati. This place feels a lot larger and I was placed in the smoking room with my friends but surprisingly it was comfortable enough despite being a non-smoker myself.

The Jushi chicken ramen which apparently was the signature ramen was only okay and I still think the Matcha ramen that I tried previously was much better. My friend got the Aburi Ramen and that actually was amazingly rich in taste. Also tried the Jushi Oyakodon but I have to say it wasn’t really much to my liking as the chicken was simply too chewy and everything else in the rice bowl was just bland.

For dessert, ordered the Apple Crumble Gyoza and the Strawberry Honeycomb Waffle on which both of them were absolutely good.

While I’m not exactly sure what is the hype over RFTS considering their ramen isn’t that overly tasty compared to some Japanese ramen places I know that taste much better and worth your money, I recommend to go for either the Aburi or Matcha ramen if you really have high expectations...