Terang Boelan Afhaalcentrum

Mark Law from That Dam Guide once asked me what is was like to grow up in a Dutch-​Indonesian family. Well Mark, it’s damn tasty! Every day my mother used to make fabulous dishes by using home-​made boemboes (pastes of spices). She sat on her knees with a mortar in front of her and used a pestle to crush exotic spices. The wok was her other ‘weapon’. She used it to fry noodles, prawn crackers or corn patties. I loved the scent in her kitchen, especially when she was preparing beef stews or dishes with coconut milk. As a kid I took everything for granted. Now I realize I should have appreciated her work more. I will never ever be able to cook as well as she did, but I know where to find the tastes and scent of my youth. To me takeaway Terang Boelang feels like I’m back in her kitchen again. Behind the corner you look straight into the kitchen of sweet Mr. Taufik Rachman and his wife. If you’re lucky, they are cooking. Inhale the scent and choose one of the highlights: ajam paniki, chicken in a mild coconut-​lemongrass-​ginger sauce.

The food gods were looking out for me; they directed me right to this gem of a restaurant in the Jordaan. The food, like the owners, was beyond wonderful. I had an incredible combination platter that included the best tofu and tempeh dish I’ve ever eaten (bathed in a rich, spicy sauce). The dish also had fantastic noodles with crispy onions as well as slices of grilled eggplant with a sauce I can’t name but will never forget. I’m already planning on going back tomorrow night to get a To Go pack for my flight the next day.

Family owned and family run … Indonesian gem in the heart of the Jordaan in Amsterdam.
It is a take away place, quite large for a take away, with also a table where you can start (and finish) the great delicatessen they cook right away.
Not a fancy place for what look and style are concerned but GREAT GREAT Indonesian food!!! From mild to spicy to even MORE spicy :) Flavors all over you!!!
The assortment of food is just great and you can zip in and out in few minutes … unless of course there are too many people getting their treats… it is a popular destination for the locals.
The translation of the name is … Moon Light… NICE!!!

Terang is the highest rated restaurant on the Dutch equivalent of Unilocal (
) so I thought I would give it a try. The food was ok but I wouldn’t go back — not that the food wasn’t good, I think if you like Indonesian you would think it was wonderful but I’ve decided I just don’t like Indonesian.
I had a chicken dish that came with rice and some veggies and oddly a hard boiled egg. The food was pretty spicy especially by Dutch standards so be sure to have a glass of water handy!