Javanese Fried Chicken at Ayam Goreng

Ayam Goreng 99, Kingsford

My birth certificate may say I was born in a hospital but I honestly believe that the boy came to life on the sweet campus of the University of New South Wales. It’s where I solidified my friendship with my best mates, it’s where I made a tonne of bad jokes that I occasionally recycle (I care about the environment) and it’s where I reacquainted with my one true love in life: writing.

I spent a tonne of time on campus chilling with friends but I very rarely at on campus let alone the surrounding area. There are so many great restaurants in the local area but this was pre-iFat and I was completely unaware of the culinary delights within my grasp.

Fortunately, my colleague (a former student of UNSW as well) showed me the ways which is what led to me visiting Ayam Goreng 99 in Kingsford.

(Note: My lens was acting up and all photos make the food look like they were served in that weird limbo Harry Potter found himself in when he willingly went to meet Voldemort at the end of the Deathly Hallows).

Ayam Goreng, Kingsford

From the outside, Ayam Goreng checks all the boxes as a hole in the wall Asian restaurant that you’d only visit if nothing else was open and you were inebriated. Dodgy sign, typos all over the menu and display and just a general run-down vibe.

Look, I used to tell people not to judge a book by its cover (mostly because the cover of my book was a pudgy Chinese kid who wanted played card games by myself) but Ayam Goreng has supplanted my spot as the picture for that saying.

It’s the insides that count and I wanted Ayam Goreng’s insides inside me.

Let’s get to the food:

Nasi goreng with chicken at Ayam Goreng 99
Nasi goreng with chicken

Full disclosure: this is only the second time I’ve ever ordered nasi goreng at a restaurant. I’ve always had a bit of a complex when it comes to nasi goreng; I was under the (wrong) impression that it was just an exotic way of saying fried rice. It’s like me calling myself a culinary connoisseur when I’m just a food blogger.

Never ever forget that I’m an idiot who once said that Transformers was one of the greatest movies of all time. There was a smoky flavour throughout the rice that just made me fall in love with this dish. The rice wasn’t lumpy and the chicken, scallops and Chinese broccoli stems all worked really well together to provide the mixed texture that all great rice dishes bring to the table.

Bakmi Goreng
Bak Mi Goreng

For everyone else who doesn’t have a tonne of experience with Indonesian food (like me), let me break it down real quick. The closest cross-cultural comparison to this would be Thai pad see ew but that’s only because of the type of noodles and the presence of sweet soy.

Speaking of sweet, these noodles were sweet.

/review.

Heh. Ok, let me elaborate a little. Once again, Ayam Goreng’s premium woks were on display as the wok hei was persistent throughout this dish. Loved the use of bean sprouts to mix up the textures and the sweet flavour of the soy really brought everything together.

Speaking of bringing things together, can someone bound the next dish to me for eternity?

Javanese Fried Chicken at Ayam Goreng
Javanese Fried Chicken

As per usual, I order fried chicken if it’s on the menu.  I’ve never actually had Indonesian fried chicken before and my work colleagues were raving about it the same way I describe my baby nephew’s penchant for urinating in the most awkward situations ever (he once went potty whilst my sister was at his parent/teacher interview and discussing how he went potty at inappropriate times. That actually happened).

Let’s break down every level. I know it looks a tad burnt but let’s just say it was more like a nice tan than a bronzing hazard. It was totally crispy and devoid of fat. I would compare it to Korean Fried Chicken minus the crunchiness and batter.

The meat. Oh my, I’m glad I got to meat this piece of chicken. I once told a girl I was drunk off her influence and didn’t want to be sober and this chicken was STILL the sweetest individual on the table. It wasn’t sweet to the point of obnoxiousness (like the time I told a girl I was drunk off her influence and didn’t want to be sober) but just the perfect amount of sugary goodness. The meat was also incredibly tender and moist.

This was my first date with Indonesian fried chicken and I’m already so indo it.

Heh.

***

Here’s the TL;DR for everyone who used to lose money to me in cards at UNSW

– Ayam Goreng 99 has 99 in its title because it has 99 problems but its food ain’t one.

– I actually bought Transformers on DVD the very firsr day it came out. Collector’s edition. Never, ever forget that I’m an idiot.

– I waas recently featured on the Webjet travel blog along with the Blonde Tourist, Food Porn Nation and Eilxrrr. Check us out!

Ayam Goreng 99, Kingsford
A restaurant full of people who have yet to discover my idiocy

Ayam Goreng 99, Kingsford
464 Anzac Pde Sydney
Opening Hours:
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays
Wednesday: 11:30 am – 4:00 pm, 6:00-9:00 pm
Thursday: 11:30 am – 4:00 pm, 6:00-9:00 pm
Friday: 11:30 am – 4:00 pm, 6:00-9:00 pm
Saturday: 11:30 am – 4:00 pm, 6:00-9:00 pm
Sunday: 11:30 am – 4:00 pm, 6:00-9:00 pm

Ayam Goreng 99 on Urbanspoon

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12 thoughts on “Ayam Goreng 99, Kingsford

  1. Lol, funny you! If it’s true that looks can be deceiving, then this one fits in! Indonesian flavours are distinct and great. Happy to see a review of the cuisine 🙂

    Gourmet Getaways

  2. And I am yet to try this food that everyone seems to be praising! And just FYI Isaac, it’s probably Bakmi instead of Bak Mee. Just sayin’. 🙂

  3. This is my first time reading your blog, and needless to say I found your puns horribly endearing. It made the article.

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