V Rating: VVV
Where: 151 Avoca Street, Randwick
When: Lunch: Mon - Fri: 12pm - 2.30pm. Dinner: Mon - Sat: 6pm - midnight.
Tel: (02) 9398 6990.
Price: Veggie Mains: $8.90 - $11.90.

The business card for Java Cafe carries the slogan ‘excellent Indonesian cuisine.’ Could not have said it better myself.

Java is my favourite Indonesian restaurant in Sydney. The food is authentic, the waiting staff are lovely, the atmosphere is thriving and the atmosphere screams relaxed cafeteria.

It’s also easy to find on busy Avoca street - just look for the bright yellow sign and the shop window with a giant palm tree.

The good news for vegetarians is that there are 13 vegetable dishes. Our table ordered gado gado, semur terong (fried battered eggplant in a sweet soya sauce) and sayur lodeh.

The vegetables in the gado gado were fresh contrasted well with the thick, sweet peanut sauce.
My favourite dish of the night was the sayur lodeh (a coconut milk vegetable stew). It was packed with tempeh, eggplant, potato, corn, beans and carrot. The coconut milk base was light and slightly spiced.

One of my favourite things about Java is that they serve great tempeh. Although we didn’t order it this time around, I’d recommend the fried tofu and tempeh dish.

Java is not a glamourous eating experience. If that’s your thing, try Jimbaran further down the road.

However, it can’t be beaten for great value, authentic Indonesian food. The only catch is that a lot of people in Sydney are in on the secret, so make sure you book a table to avoid a half an hour wait.

Share This