Rasa Rasa Kitchen / R2K — Restaurant in San Francisco

I came here completely expecting to love this place given the reviews and loving Indonesian food. I'm not sure what happened but the food was terrible... I got the pan fried noodles and the fried chicken and both were just so bad. When I saw the $17 price tag for pan fried egg noodles I assumed it would be a fresh spin on mi goreng, they turned out to be mediocre stir fried instant noodles with a passable amount of chicken, cabbage and carrots - you can get an amazing bowl of fresh ramen for that price here in SF. I also got their turmeric fried chicken and it had good flavor but it was tiny as hell and quite dry. It was interesting because the chicken was fall off the bone (never had fried chicken that did this), I think they must precook this chicken in some way and then refry it when some actually orders it. As for the size of the chicken, my picture says it all it was two pieces of chicken that were the size of just my thumb, index and middle finger - I was shocked that this is what we were getting for $20 and rice was not even included. While my food was a decent temperature I was there with a group and others were served barely warm food. We got wings and pempek to share as apps and these items were served warm on the outside but cold inside, which I can only assume means they don't really know how to flash fry food. We got the "sweet Thai chili wings"... fyi it's just fried wings covered in may ploy sauce.

The staff was very friendly, I do want to credit them with that but they charge an automatic 18% tip yet you order through a QR code at your table. To clarify it's not like anyone even takes your order at your table. They also give you a pitcher of water and cups to pour yourself at the table. I'm not opposed to tipping at restaurants with service set up like this but I think the option to tip and the amount seems much more appropriate.

Again, I came fully wanting and expecting to like this place and I was shocked it fell so flat. So much so that it makes me think that most of these reviews are friends and family. Two more points for what it's worth 1) I live in the neighborhood so, again, I really wanted to love this place 2) I've spent about 2 weeks in Indonesia which doesn't make me an expert, but I do have a frame of reference for...

Note that there is an 18% service fee with NO additional tip expected (the server literally told me to ignore the blank tip line on the payment screen). I appreciate R2K replacing the tip with a single flat service fee and communicating their policy clearly to customers.

We went for an early lunch on a weekday and there weren’t too many other people in the dining room, so it made for a nice, calm, quiet vibe.

We really enjoyed the food. We had the Sambals + Crackers, Padang Padang Combo, Pan Fried Noodles, and Fried Tempeh. The crackers were airy, crispy, and garlicky, and they were conveniently served in a little bag that can be taken to-go if you have leftovers. The three different sambals offered were fresh and delicious, with different amounts of spiciness. I gravitate towards spicy foods, but be warned, the heat of the hottest sambal is next-level! The Padang combo was delicious and provided a taste of several dishes that are also available individually on the menu. As for the tempeh, I must have been cooking it wrong at home because mine always comes out meh, but at R2K it is sooo delicious with a crisp golden exterior and nutty flavor!

Our server was warm and friendly and walked us through the QR menu ordering process, helped us with menu recommendations, brought us a BIG pitcher of water to help us cope with the sambals, and even dropped off a little freebie at the end of our meal.

Outdoor seating is...

Super excited about this restaurant opening! Have eaten here twice in one week and planning to make my way through their menu. Both times I went (once for lunch, and once for dinner), there’s no queue, food comes super quickly, staff is attentive and really care about what you think and hope you’re enjoying your meal. Food is cooked in front of you in the open kitchen. It’s very flavorsome and about $20-$30pp for a main dish. The ordering experience is convenient - through a QR code and it includes the tip (revolutionary! We love that!). Vibes are good. I’m gonna eat my way through the menu and report back later with my favorites. For now, the Javanese fried rice was great! My vegan friend had an eggplant dish (there were plenty of options for her which was great). The rendang beef bread bowl - the meat is great (tender, soft, flavorsome). The bread bowl is an experience. You’ll like it if you...