Benhil Market, 'Takjil' Heaven
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Sabtu, 13 Juli 2013 09:45 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - During Ramadhan, 'takjil' hunting (opening snacks for breaking fast) has been a tradition. Many new places which are only appeared during the fasting month offers sweet traditional snacks. They also become a 'must-try' snacks for culinary lovers.
Bendungan Hilir (Benhil), Central Jakarta, is one of the seasonal markets which serve various snacks typical to various Indonesian regions. Among the snacks are lemang tape ketan and ketupat santan (rice with coconut milk) which is originally from Padang. Another local snacks such as pastel, dadar gulung, molen bananas, and many other mouth-drooling traditional pies at the cheap price ranging from Rp2,000 to Rp5,000 per piece.
Meanwhile, sweet soups and drinks such as banana kolak, green pea kolak, cassava kolak, and salak-seed-shaped sticky rice are also served for only Rp8,000 per portion.
Twenty-eight year-old Fitri, who work at Jl. MH Thamrin, stops by the market frequently despite of traffic jams. "The snacks are unique, and easy to find. In other places, the snacks are usually served with heavy meals and have to be eaten at the place, but that's not happen here," she said. Fitri carried some plastic bags filled with pies and glasses of kolak. "(These are) for my family at home," she added. Ami (48) who live in Pejaten, South Jakarta agreed to this. "I come here frequently since last year, because it is complete, the price is also standard and lots of choices," said the woman who bought Cendol Durian Ice and roasted fish.
For fast breaking menus, Benhil market also serves various kind of roasted fishes priced from Rp14,000 to 36,000 at Ikan Bakar Usep (Usep Roasted Fish). Yayan's gepuk daging (mashed beef) priced at Rp8,000 per piece is the best choice to be eaten for fast breaking or kept for sahur (breakfast before the sun rise). In addition to that, pempek Palembang also available for Rp15,000.
Benhil snack market starts to open from 11.00 to 18.30 local time. The visitors will normally crowd the place from around 15.00 until sunset.
LINDA TRIANITA