Nini Thowong Restaurant — Restaurant in Surakarta

A legendary and crowded restaurant in Surakarta that is specializes in their dessert ice menu. I was surprised to know that in front of this restaurant, there is a spacious parking space owned by Ninik Thowong.

Most of the customers who come here are families. No wonder they have long tables. We came here for lunch at around 2 PM. It wasn't lunchtime, but the restaurant was still packed. We were only two people, so it was easier for them to find a table for us. Lucky to have a table in the middle of the crowded restaurant when you're already hungry! 😁

They provide various Indonesian dishes, from rice and gado-gado to soto, and definitely various ice desserts, which made me curious!

Let's see what I tried :

Racikan Selat (IDR 31,000) This menu is served without rice, but I highly recommended to order the rice to fulfill our carbo needs to the fullest 😄 It contains beef roulade, egg, sliced carrots, potatoes, dried crispy potato, along with the pickle in a sweet gravy. I've tried selat for several times in Jakarta, but this one is the sweetest among all.

Es Nini Thowong (IDR 26,000) A refreshing and sweet dessert made with various toppings, such as cendol, jackfruit, some kind of chocolate pudding (I like it the most!) with the shaved ice. For me, this dessert is too sweet, even after I waited until the ice melted 😅 So ya, I would like to say...

I recently visited Nini Thowong and, unfortunately, my experience left much to be desired. While the food is usually good, this time, the tahu acar had raw and hard noodles. This was particularly disappointing since I've ordered this dish before and it was never like this.

We also ordered the gudeg special, which was not bad, and the racikan selat, which was good. The empal goreng tasted good but was tiny and didn't look anything like the picture. Additionally, the prices are not cheap for the portions they serve.

The most frustrating part of the visit was the customer service. When I complained about the tahu acar, they simply told me that's how it is. I know from my previous orders that this isn't true. Their refusal to accept criticism and address the issue was unbelievable. They really need to learn how to handle feedback from customers better.

Overall, this experience was disappointing and I hope they improve their service and consistency...

The mie ketoprak here is a revelation—its broth alone could stand alongside the finest soups anywhere. Clear yet profoundly savory, it carries the unmistakable depth of slow-simmered beef, layered with a natural umami that lingers. The bowl comes generously furnished: supple sausages, crisp tempeh, tender cubes of tofu, golden fritters, and cuts of beef that ground the dish in heartiness. A squeeze of fresh lime adds a subtle brightness, while the accompanying karak lends a satisfying crunch. It is a composition both abundant and balanced, and easily the kind of dish one would return for...