Tiny but Charming: A Breakfast Morning at Aneka 57

Last Saturday, my boyfriend and I had breakfast at a random coffee shop I found on TikTok called Aneka 57. We didn’t expect the place to be that tiny—visitors are given a 90-minute time limit when it’s packed and are advised not to talk too loudly, as all tables are close together. Despite the rules and limited space, I loved the ambience! This place has a kind of grandma-house aesthetic that just feels comfortable.

Even though it was labeled as a coffee shop, we didn’t order what was supposed to be its signature drink. My boyfriend and I decided to order the choipan (IDR 23,000), nasi kucing (IDR 17,000), and honey butter toast (IDR 28,000)—all prices included tax.

Choipan: A savory snack made from rice flour and filled with jicama.

It was my boyfriend’s first-ever choipan. I was shocked that he could eat jicama without making a strange face. He was shocked to learn that jicama was edible and not just used as a skincare ingredient.

Nasi kucing: It’s called “cat’s rice” in English. The dish basically consists of rice with savory Indonesian toppings, though the portion is so small that one might mistake it for a cat’s meal.

I liked the nasi kucing, though it wasn’t my absolute favorite. It was my boyfriend’s favorite, and he told me that he would be happy to repurchase it.

Honey butter toast: No need to describe this universal dish, right?!

Well, this one was definitely my favorite! It was crispy on the outside, and soft on the inside. My boyfriend might argue that it was nothing special, but for me, that “nothing special” made it taste exactly like good comfort food—and I loved it for that. I would love to try more of their toasts!

All in all, Aneka 57 is a place I would recommend to anyone in Jakarta! I, for one, am sure I’ll be back to try more of their dishes in the future.

If you like this post, you might also enjoy Why Pison, Thamrin Should be on Your Foodie Radar and Sakura Anpan: Where Time (and Flavor) Stands Still.