With an abundance of fast-food readily available, it does actually become more difficult to find authentic and healthier options, unless you are willing to spend a little bit more than usual. So when we heard about a restaurant that specialises in home-cooked authentic Chinese food with an emphasis on the ever so healthy herbal soups, we were willing to give it a shot. (When it comes to the benefits of drinking herbal soups, we do not think you would wish to contest with over 2 centuries of Chinese philosophy that herbal soup can actually balance the Chi energy within you and also has several other curative functions).

As you walk into this venue, the ambience is already calming. It sort of feels like you are visiting a traditional courtyard with dark wooden stools and tables, which are arranged so there are little corners for privacy.

Usually herbal soups are an acquired taste for the non Asian citizens as they include ingredients such as very pungent ginseng, wolfberries and the slightly bitter roots. Fortunately to our relief, the Soup Restaurant makes these herbal soup so enjoyable as they let the these herbs simmer for hours to create a very clean and refreshing broth. We find it extremely informative and helpful that they go to great lengths to explain the health benefits for each soup they serve. There are many delicious soups to choose from, such as the Abalone Soup or Lotus Root Soup, however, the ultimate stamina soup, thanks to its ginseng power, has to be the double boiled Waisan and Ginseng Root Soup. This clear and tasty broth seems like it is cleansing your soul as you are drinking it and apparently people usually do not digest the roots and the ginseng, but we figure if it is good in the soup, it must be even better ingested.

Even though their specialty are their soups, their star dish is actually the Samsui Chicken and for those who enjoy Chicken Hainan (and really who doesn�t?) this is a clear choice! You can dip the chicken meat generously in the pounded fresh ginger sauce and wrap it in a crunchy lettuce leaf, and it is just simply divine. Another great dish to try is their deep fried venison, which is served with chopped onions, peppers and chilies. Venison may not be the usual choice in a meal, but they are packed with protein and are very low in saturated fat which makes this meat even more enjoyable to feast on. We recommend that you try the venison with the Teochew Olive Rice which is known to stimulate your appetite and aids in the process of slimming. What could be better than eating food that not only nourishes you but also has health and slimming benefits?

So if you are feeling Zen-ish and reckon it is time for your body to deserve a good treat after all the unhealthy options you have had in the past and you want to save the trouble of visiting the traditional medicine men in north Jakarta, you must pop down to Soup Restaurant and try their amazing food.