After just a few days of vacation in Japan, my husband and I started craving something different from the local cuisine. Luckily, we stumbled upon Terang Bulan, a restaurant serving Indonesian dishes!
Located in Osaka, the restaurant was a fantastic find, especially since I had been craving chili sauce! Keep reading for the full review.
My husband and I visited Terang Bulan, a Balinese-themed restaurant at Ark Mine 1F, 2-2-10 Tokuicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Japan. It's easy to get to, with three nearby metro stations:
The restaurant might look a bit hidden from the front, but Balinese decorations make it easy to spot. Look for the two Balinese beach umbrellas and an Indonesian flag out front.
Terang Bulan is open daily from 11:30 am to 3:00 pm (last order at 2:30 pm) and again from 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm (last order at 10:00 pm).
When we walked in, the atmosphere was very calm. Traditional Balinese music played in the background adds to the luxurious and exclusive feel of the place. The tables and chairs were made of sturdy, shiny wood.
Since we came for dinner, the atmosphere was even more serene with the dimmed lights, making it feel like a romantic dinner with my husband.
The restaurant is big and spacious, perfect for hosting various events or parties like Bonenkai (year-end party), Shinnenkai (new year party), weddings, nijikai parties, joshikai, social gatherings, and other celebrations. So much fun!
The menu here is extensive! They have more than 60 Balinese and other Indonesian dishes, including famous ones like Bakso, Gulai Kambing, Nasi Goreng, and Rendang.
For snacks, they have Batagor, Lumpia, and Stuffed Tofu. I was really hungry, and everything looked delicious. The restaurant even mentioned that we could ask for other dishes not listed on the menu.
They use authentic Indonesian spices to keep the flavors true to their roots. It's perfect for anyone missing Indonesian food while in Japan.
Even though we were hungry, we made sure to order mindfully to avoid wasting food. Here’s what we tried:
First up was Ayam Sambal Matah. It looked very tempting on the plate. The dish consisted of pieces of fried chicken fillet topped with sambal matah.
This Balinese sambal is made from shallots, red chili, shrimp paste, salt, lemongrass, and coconut oil. It tasted good, though I found it a bit mild (not too spicy). The chicken was perfectly cooked—crispy on the outside and soft on the inside!
The presentation was just as I expected. I prefer chicken cut into pieces rather than a whole breast or thigh. Paired with warm, fluffy Japanese-style rice, it was full and delicious. The Ayam Sambal Matah cost 890 Yen.
Next was Gulai Kambing, my husband’s favorite. He always orders this at Indonesian restaurants, and it didn’t disappoint.
The meat was tender and not tough at all. The sauce was thick and full of spices, perfect for a windy and cold Japanese night. This goat curry was 1078 yen.
Since we had been eating ramen, soba, and bento, we hadn’t had many green vegetables. Thankfully, Terang Bulan had options like Cah Kangkung and Oseng Sayur Hijau.
The green vegetable was either Bok choy or Choy sum, cooked with a mix of garlic, red chili, soy sauce, and oyster sauce. The cooking was just right, keeping the vegetables crisp and perfectly green. Fresh and delicious!
Last but not least, we were served various sambals for free. The staff said we could get refills if we wanted more. We tried chili sauce, sambal dadak, and sambal matah. All were delicious!
For drinks, we kept it simple with two glasses of warm tea from Indonesia.
That was our culinary adventure in Osaka, Japan. The food was delicious, and the staff were friendly and all Indonesian! We even chatted and shared stories at the cashier. We hope to visit Japan and eat here again someday. See you in the next travel article!
