IWS Noodle Cafe

Is it a boutique or is it a restaurant? That will surely be the first question to pop into you head when you see IWS noodle cafe. It all happened one day when the owner decided to experiment and put in a couple of seats and tables, and it has expanded since then and now the place is dominated more by furniture and people cramming in to try to get their noodles rather than chokers or earrings. Once IWS was a Jewellery and bag store where the 'Real housewives of Jakarta' used to gather around after an exhausting shopping session. But gradually you see more families, corporate types coming in.

Located inside Dharmawangsa Square, the cute boutique store adorned in classy damask wallpapers has been a constant cause of commotion during lunch hour due to their sapid noodles. At a glance, their noodle dish seems like there is nothing special to it; just a typical bowl of egg noodles, with chicken bits and two baso with broth on the side. But the key is that as soon as you get your serving of their Mie Komplit Baso and Pangsit you must smell it first. The intense whiff of the sesame oil makes this dish super appetising and get you instantly hooked. You can also equally enjoy this dish with Kwetiau or Bihun noodles. It is not surprising for first comers to order their second bowl after the last slurp of the first bowl.

Other than their noodles, IWS Noodle Cafe is also known for their homemade siomay and pempek. They even have a plump otak otak where you are convinced at the first bite that there are more contents of real fish meat rather than flavoured flour. You must try this as a starter. Aside from their savoury dishes, IWS's traditional cakes are simply irresistible.

The unique thing about IWS Noodle Cafe overall, will have to be that they know the flavours they want to achieve, they are consistent in that and lastly they enhance that flavour a tad bit more. As we mentioned from their noodles, desserts and even to their Es Tawar, which has got a kick of 'cincau' taste to it, is simply symbolic.