I recently was taken here on a first date and had a pleasant experience. I have been eyeing this Indonesian neighborhood restaurant for quite some time now so naturally getting the opportunity to finally try it was absolutely delightful. We opted for the 15 course dinner that samples through their entire menu. It is a perfect amount of food for two people and I recommend this experience very much. The meal starts with a cozy chicken and noodle broth soup which was so warming and comforting, just what the doctor ordered in this weather. The second round of food was two types of salad and a corn fritter. I loved the pickled salads as they had a nice crunch to them and tasted delicious. The fritters are a good size but a little bit greasier than I liked. The last round is where all the curries are brought out on a hot plate. There's shrimp, lamb, beef rendang, chicken, tofu etc. There's also white rice and skewers of chicken and beef satay coated in a delicious peanut sauce. Some of the curries I liked very much - like the fried tofu and the sauce on the shrimp curry was divine. Beef rendang fell a little flat for me as it wasn't as decadent, thick or spicy like authentic rendang is. The lamb curry had a sweet taste which I found a little odd. The chicken satay was juicy and delicious but the beef satay was rubbery and hard to chew and a weird texture. I definitely expect better from a satay skewer. Our server was kind and kept the flow of the food going. The final course is a little coconut pandan flan which was very very good but the texture is firmer than what I like. Flan should definitely be a bit softer and creamier. Either way it's tough to nail a 15 course dinner expertly but I do think if they made a few needed changes to the quality of food this would easily be a 5 star experience! If you live nearby, definitely give this beautiful cozy family run restaurant a try!! read more

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Side notes: Family-run place, so if you're going to go here with a bigger group, call early to make sure they have the dishes you want. Would recommend the Bakwan, the Empal Goreng, and the Sayur Santen the most, with the Talor Tahu and various Bakwan being very tasty. Rating is for the area (in Queens, this would be an upper 3 as being a milder but tasty Indonesian spot, but worse than Sky/Awang.) I have been to this small family-run Indonesian restaurant a handful of times since my old review back in 2022, and over the many years, I have found some dishes I have loved more than others, of course. From the small plates, I would recommend, as before, the Bakwan for $9, consisting of crispy corn fritters cooked pancake style with scallion. The texture of the dish is wonderful, and the dipping sauces, whether they be the sweet chili sauce or the peanut sauce, work well to help with the slight oiliness. The sate is also pretty tasty. Of the multiple types, the Chicken Satay was the most recent one we had (which is cheaper at $11,) but I think the beef one (for a buck more) is better. We also had the larger Sate Madura a previous time, which was also very tasty. Another tasty dish is the Talor Tahu for $18, listed as a seasoned egg omelete with bean curd, mushrooms, and veggies glazed with Indonesian soy sauce and shallots. The price might look high for a vegetarian dish, but it is quite large, and the mixture of vegetables adds a nice mix of textures, including a good amount of crunch. The sauce is nice as well, adding a slightly sweet flavor, and goes nicely with the soft omelete. One of the most recent dishes I tried here is one of the best, which was the Empal Goreng for $21, listed as sliced beef marinated in sweet Javanese spices pan fried topped with Indonesian soy sauce. There was plenty of beef, which was cut thin and cooked beautifully, with the flavors reminding me a little bit of lemongrass dishes from Vietnamese spots, outside of it also having a slightly spicy kick. There was otherwise some lettuce, and the dish was served with some achar/acar, an Indonesian (and insert ASEAN country here) mix of pickled vegetables including cucumber, carrots, and onions. My other favorite dish here is a vegetarian dish, which is the Sayur Santen for $18, listed as lightly battered broccoli and cauliflower in Indonesian herbs cooked in spiced coconut milk topped with bean curd and carrots. There is a nice mix of textures, with the batter indeed, as listed, being very light, with the cauliflower and broccoli still retaining some crunch. My favorite part of the dish is the bean curd, which absorbs the delicious slightly sweet, and lightly spicy coconut milk. Another group of dishes that tend to be good are the various Belado, a pepper mixture with various spices that is somewhat similar to a sambal. This is available with Ikan, or crispy fish, for $20, or with Terong, or crispy eggplant and tofu, for $18. The crispy fish was a bit less spicy the most recent time, while the vegetables retained most of the kick from previous dinners, so I slightly preferred the vegetables. If there was one part of the menu to stay away from, it would unfortunately be the various kare, or curry. The Beef Rendang for $21, or pieces of beef simmered for hours in coconut milk and spices, is just alright, being a bit too soupy for my style (as I generally prefer drier rendang in general,) with the spices being a bit too light, whether it is the coconut milk or chili. The same can be said for the $19 Kare Ayam, which is also a bit too mild for my liking. From previous memory, I would also not recommend the Ayam Goreng, or their spiced fried chicken as it's a bit dry. The Nasi Goreng, for a variety of prices depending on protein, is also just OK. The dish listed as Indonesian fried rice with protein, scrambled egg, and protein was $18 in our case, for a chicken/ayam version. The portion was plentiful, but it partially lacked the wok hei I associate with this dish. The egg is nice, and there was enough chicken, but it was also a bit too plain. Speaking of light dishes, they have given us the Pandan Coconut Pudding for $7 a handful of times. This is a lightly flavored pudding with a very mild floral (from the pandan) and coconut flavor. Due to the texture and the light coconut sweetness, it reminds me a bit more of some kue you can find in some spots, such as Lady Wong and otherwise. It's a decent final bite. Outside of one particular part of the menu, I have liked this place every time I've been here. The food in general is pretty consistent, outside of maybe the spice level in a dish or two, but this is more expected in a casual spot such as this one. I'll go back again, probably in another few months, and sample more of their dishes. The rating is for the area, as it would be closer to a 4 in Queens, but I would still go back. read more

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Since trying Indonesian food in Amsterdam, I have been searching for good authentic Indonesian food, so I was over the moon when I went to this spot with a group. We called ahead to make sure they would be open when we arrived around 8:45pm, and they were very accommodating when we arrived with a group of 5. It felt authentic, and the food was exactly what I was dreaming about. My husband and brother shared a Rijsttafel, which they said was very good. My husband said it was a 4.25/5, and next time he would want a normal dish. I wish they had a vegetarian Rijsttafel (like in the places we found in Amsterdam), but they had a ton of vegetarian dishes regardless. I went a little overboard and ordered the tofu sate, gado gado, and kare sayur. The tofu sate with the peanut sauce was amazing, but my favorite was the gado gado. I was so happy. That peanut sauce is incredible. The waitress said the kare sayur is a popular dish with vegetarians, but it didn't blow me away like the other dishes. It was a trek to get out here from Manhattan, but I would do it again. The two ladies working at the restaurant were so warm and friendly. I was very happy. read more

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Sister wanted to eat here for her birthday. Ordered the rijsttafel as that allowed us to try tapas version of many of the dishes. Also got the lumpia, cumi goreng, udang goreng, and sage udang. Personally, I enjoyed everything. There were maybe two dishes in the rijsttafel that had too much salt but other than that everything was great and tasty. Was seated right away. And sat outside as the weather was nice. Service was fine as well. Very friendly as well. Wouldn't mind coming back and ordering the bigger versions of some of the rijsttafel read more

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Wow. So impressed. The food tastes like your grandmother had just made it in the best way possible. So fresh. We had the Lumpia and Bakwan (corn fritters) appetizers, and Sate Kambing (lamb w/ peanut sauce) and Empal Goreng. Would recommend any and all. If you're in the area, go! Can't wait to come again soon. read more

Java Indonesian Restaurant - Sate Kambing - Indonesian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Cozy little mom-and-pop Indonesian spot in Park Slope. We tried the noodles, satay skewers, and the Gulai Kambing (lamb in coconut curry). The lamb was definitely the standout. Overall, really good food--just wish it had a bit more kick read more

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Always hard to find an Indo restaurant when we travel, but found this one in Brooklyn and couldn't wait. We took the subway from Manhattan and thereafter, it was just a short walk from the station. We arrived right when it opened at 4pm. The server asked if we had a reservation, which we didn't, but, no worries, she was able to seat us at a table by the window. No qualms or doubt, we wanted the rijsttafel for 2 ($70) My family is Dutch-Indo, so I've grown up eating many Indo dishes and have a high tolerance for spice. I was a little disappointed they did not have the cendol drink on the menu, she said it is very hard to get the ingredients for it. I have made it at home though with ingredients I bought at a Dutch/Indo grocery store. The soto ayam soup was nice, as well as the corn fritters and acar. In fact, those 3 were my fave out of all the dishes served. I found some of the meats in the rendang and lamb to be tough. Some of the dishes started tasting the same to me as well. I did ask for sambal oelek to add some spice and flavor to the sate etc. My friend ordered shrimp bami, which I thought was really good. The service ended with a pandan coconut dessert and jasmine tea. The dessert was ok.... Overall, ok, I have had better. Service though was awesome! read more

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Java is an Indonesian restaurant that serves halal food. I went early on a Sunday evening and the place was busy. It is a pretty small restaurant so it can get full on the weekend. Service was good but a little slow since the restaurant was full. We had the tapas special which comes with 13 small taster dishes, rice, and tea. It's a good way to try many dishes if you are not familiar with Indonesian food. Everything was good but I found the corn fritter and pandan pudding a little bland. I really enjoyed the soto madura, acar salad, and the sates. The acar salad was really refreshing. Most of the food wasn't spicy with the exception of the ikan belado. If you like it spicy, there is chili paste on the side. read more

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I've never tried Indonesian food before. After reading all the great reviews on Yelp about this place and it's authenticity, I decided to give it a try. Walked in here on a Tuesday evening and there was no one inside. Place was a lot smaller than it appeared in photos and there are only about 3-4 tables inside, and one of them was occupied by the owner. It's a small family-runned restaurant and we were greeted by the owner or matriarch of the family. She seemed unprepared for business and was preoccupied. We didn't mind and sat down. We wanted to try the tapas sampler for two but didn't since we didn't feel like it would be worth it. We ordered lumpia, nasi Goreng and Kare Ayam (which is basically mammasen curry with chicken). The lumpia looked like a big patty -- I was expecting more of a thin spring roll like Filipino lumpia. Nonetheless, it was good. The nasi goreng was essentially beef fried rice and the curry chicken tasted like a home cooked meal. While I'm not an expert on Indonesian food so I'm not speaking on its authenticity, the dishes tasted pretty standard to me. Both dishes tasted like a home cooked meal I can make at home, which makes sense since this was a family-run restaurant that's been around for many years in the Park Slope neighborhood. Food is good but nothing outstanding in my opinion. However, don't let my review steer you away from this place -- my rating is solely based on my palate. This restaurant seems to be quite popular so do give it a try and support this small business. Also, note this place is cash preferred. They charge an additional fee for card payments. read more

Java Indonesian Restaurant - Nasi Goreng and Kare Ayam - Indonesian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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My friend and I were exploring the neighborhood and we've never been to an authentic Indonesian restaurant- so why not explore what Java had to offer! We got some nice appetizers: lumpia and corn fritters. We very much enjoyed the corn fritters as they were crispy, filling and soft! The lumpia was very much similar to a Shepard's pie (potato like texture with minced meat and veggies) We also got some drinks to go with the food and both paired well! The creamy and fruity sweetness of the Garuda helped cool the after heat from the Mie Goreng while the subtle floral Teh botol(jasmine tea) went great with my friend chicken and rice dish! Overall a great experience! read more

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Java is an Indonesian family-run restaurant and serving the south Park Slope neighborhood for 30 years. The place is arguably small and it was decorated with some Indonesian artwork, they also have a few tables outdoors but we decided to stay indoors due to really hot weather. For us to try as many of their dishes, we agreed to go all out and ordered the Rijsttafel or tapas that was consisted of 15 dishes shared by 2 people: * 2 Soto Madura soup; chicken broth soup with thin rice noodles * Gado Gado salad; mixed boiled veggies * Chicken sate * Sayur tumis; sautéed assorted veggies * Sambal Goreng udang; jumbo crispy shrimps * Kambing Goreng; lamb dish * Acar salad * Bakwan; corn fritters * Beef sate * Ikan belado; crispy fish fillet * Kare Ayam; curry chicken dish * Beef rendang It was served with a big bowl of white rice. They first served the chicken soup that we truly enjoyed and it was followed by a couple of salads and the corn fritter. They then placed a metal tray on our table with a flame underneath and they then started to put small plates of dishes one by one on the tray (8 dishes in total) not only that we love the presentation, but every single dishes are all delicious and came with different flavors. We then concluded the dinner with a delicious complimentary coconut pandan pudding. There are a few dishes that stood out like the kambing Goreng (lamb) ikan belado (fish) and Gado Gado salad. Since it's hard to find a good Indonesian restaurant in New York City, I was glad to find this place and will come back whenever I crave some Indonesian dishes! read more

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The total package here delivers more than just good food. The menu showcases unique ingredients prepared well. Your meal arrives promptly and hits the spot. Upon our arrival, a friendly employee acknowledged us immediately. This welcoming restaurant showed up in my online queries. read more

I look forward to many more meals at this restaurant. The staff manager must have exceptional standards. Everything beyond the main dish was good, using spices outside my usual choices. Some complaints don't reflect the restaurant I visited. The experience here will meet your needs. read more

This place is incredible. We got the Rijsttafel (the 15 dish special for 2) and it was mind-blowingly good. Words cannot do justice to how delicious this food was. Very reasonable price for the amount and quality of food you get with this special. They also had lunch specials that were much more affordable and looked amazing too. The special Indonesian beverages were a delightful treat. Our server was incredibly friendly and attentive. The ambience of the restaurant was also excellent, a family owned restaurant with beautiful decor and music. Would absolutely come back again and again. read more

My boyfriend was telling me about those Indonesian small plates he had in Amsterdam before that was really delicious and how you get to try a variety of small Indonesian dishes in one meal. Curious if I can find those small plates in NYC, I discovered Java. We got the rijsttafel, the 15 dish tapas, for two people and it was pretty good overall. We started with the Madura soups which was a really nice start and gets you ready for the course. Then the veggie, meat, and fish dishes came out in waves, ending with dessert and jasmine tea. The dishes were all pretty good and it was a cool experience for me to be able to try different Indonesian dishes all in one setting. Will definitely return next time to try out their other entrees! read more

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So I just got back from bali and I needed indo food arrived at Java at 5 07 only to find the restaurant closed . Disappointed i went to the thai restaurant close by. I saw the gate partially pulled up and no sign of life. Tuesday after memorial day. read more

The modest size means staff can focus on quality interactions. Java Indonesian Restaurant serves food at peak freshness. Workers deliver remarkable service. I'll make sure my family knows about this restaurant where food and service both satisfy. The staff shows authentic concern for your experience. read more

I went here with a friend on a Sunday evening. It was empty except for another couple of people (but it was also Labor Day Sunday). The owner (I think?) was sitting at the next table over looking through receipts and chatting with us occasionally about the food and restaurant. She said it usually is busy on weekends, so it's best to make a reservation. The space is pretty small, maybe 10 or 12 two-person tables. I was pleased to see how big the menu was and how many options there were for gluten free, vegan, and vegetarian diets. Whatever mood you are in, whether it is for soup, noodles, curry, rice, you can get it on the menu. The flavors were incredible and the prices were reasonable. Every single thing we got was better than the last. I can't stop thinking about this place I just want to try everything on the menu!! read more

Java Indonesian Restaurant - Bakwan - corn fritters - Indonesian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Each dish demonstrates talent that exceeds normal restaurant standards. There was absolutely nothing to complain about here! Their team displays consistent good nature. Prompt service with tasty options. This restaurant has countless excellent qualities. read more

Let me start by saying they are so nice and the service is great. I always feel like I'm visiting a local family member : , ) Okay back to food! We usually do the tasting menu (and throughly enjoy that). 15 dishes shared for 2, need I say more? This time we decided to get the full sized dishes of the tasting ones we liked: Sate- The chicken was juicy and bite sized. I really enjoyed the pickles it was served with. Bakwan- These are so delicious. Served as three pieces, and are filled with corn, scallions, and carrots. Personally didn't try the paired dipping sauce because I ate them too quickly, but they look to be a sate peanut sauce and a spicy curry. Rendang (beef)- Enjoyed the curry, perfect for summer was not too heavy. Topped with crispy fried onions. Served with rice on the side. Beef pieces were a bit small, just noting, but I appreciated having it bite sized because we were doing family style. Ikan Kuning (cod fish + coconut curry) [ instead of the belado - as recommended because we were already getting a rendang - this was lighter and less spicy] I really like this one! Fish was so tender and worked well with the tofu. A well rounded dish. The veggies in the curry were a nice addition. Drinks- They have a great selection of beers, domestic and imported. They also have some fun Indonesian beverages. Be sure to check those out. I've tried a few of them but "Soda Gembira" is my fav (rose and condensed milk) could also be a dessert ;) Overall - An awesome option in the area. The food descriptions on the menu don't do the dishes justice. They really go the extra mile to make it feel like a home cooked meal - feels familiar and homey. I personally like a richer curry but in the summer I felt this was perfect for an evening out. read more

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maybe because i am spoiled by the quality of food in queens, this spot will not be a return for me. i ordered the ikan belado and got chopped up soggy frozen fish... authentically, it should be a whole fish and it would so crispy and tender. here, its sad and disappointing. soggy, wet, and at least the sauce was decent. i couldn't even finish the fish. i took one bit and was like nope. also, on the salty side. doesn't feel authentic at all. also, got some appetizers and they were alright. at least better than the entree. would not recommend this spot at all. find some other indonesian spots in queens for more authentic and tasty flavors. read more

This is a cute little family own place in Park Slope Brooklyn. They have a small area for outdoor seating on a quiet street but call ahead to check availability. I came here to eat dinner with my family and me and my husband tried their Java special tapas which consists of 35 dishes. We also ordered a fried rice for my 8 yr old daughter since she doesn't eat curry or spice. The tapas was ok. There are a lot of tofu dishes and curry. I wasn't a fan of the lamb as it's too gamey. Some of the beef and chicken was dry. Some of the curry was very flavorful and delicious. The fried was good according to my daughter. It's a big portion and we took half of it home. The staff is friendly but service is a bit slow. Overall, it's an ok meal. Wouldn't try the tapas special again but would come back and try the other curry dishes. read more

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Don't ever judge a book by its cover. The place is small but the owner welcomed us like family. Started with the chicken satay. Chicken was good but next time I'm not getting peanut butter sauce on it. Ordered the beef randang and shrimp frice rice and it was amazing. The chef made it extra spicy for us. Just the way we like it. Nice to find a place we can go to ever week or other week. PS place is halal and they don't serve pork read more

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We've been wanting to try the tapas for 2 here and finally were able to experience it. I've always had good food and experience here but for whatever reason the beef is always a hit or miss. With the tapas for 2 at $65, it was so worth it. You start off with a flavorful soup, 2 salad appetizers and a corn fritter. It was amazing and flavorful. Then comes the heated tray with satays, fish, shrimp, vegetables, chicken, and beef. All delicious but the beef was a bit tough. The pandan pudding was delicious and refreshing to end with along with the jasmine tea. Definitely would come again. read more

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There are very few Indonesian restaurants in New York City, and I happen to be lucky enough to live walking distance from one. Brooklyn forever paying those dividends. On my first visit years ago, my friends and I got the 15-dish tasting course known as rijsttafel (a holdover from colonization that's Dutch for "rice table"). You might want to go that route if you don't know what to order. I remember inhaling the kambing goreng (lamb with mushrooms in a soy-based, slightly sweet sauce). The rest fell between pretty good, with underwhelming options like the gado gado salad and slightly tough rendang. Since then, I've been a repeat customer (both in person and with delivery), armed and ready with prior stomach research all while trying some new dishes. Here are my takeaways: - Kambing goreng: One of my go-to dishes. It's just as delicious as I remembered. I love the deep, richly savory flavor of the sauce with the slightest hint of sweetness. The lamb is wonderfully lean and meaty, and I love the addition of mushrooms and crispy shallots. The beef version (empal goreng) is also tasty. - Ikan belado: I'm kind of obsessed with the flavors of this fried cod filet and fried tofu in spicy red pepper sauce. It's so tasty. My only qualm is that the fish's skin, contrary to its "crispy" label on the menu, is actually quite sad and floppy. It's the end result of freshly fried food being cooked and drenched in sauce. If they found a way to make it crispy that'd be even better. Still delicious though. - Bakwan: These corn fritters are very tasty, especially dipped in sweet chili sauce and peanut sauce (there's also hot sauce but I don't particularly care for this version). They're crispy without being overly fried or super greasy. - Sate: Simple yet tasty with the soy peanut sauce. We usually get the lamb skewers. - Gulai kambing: It's okay... mainly a mild curry with potatoes and lamb. - Ikan ikan: I thought we'd get big strips of fish cake cooked in spicy peanut sauce. Instead we received six small pieces of fish tofu accompanied by hot sauce and sweet chili sauce. Definitely skip this. You can buy a bag of fish tofu at almost any Chinese supermarket for much cheaper and much bigger portions. - Beverages: The garuda is refreshing and fruity. I prefer that over the Jakarta Green Light, a sweeter version made with Indonesian pandan syrup. It's usually pretty empty here, but don't let that deter you. The food is really homey and comforting, and the owner gives off the vibes of a relative serving me tasty food with love and care, which is really what she does. read more

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Indonesian restaurants aren't abundant in NYC and as a result I was really stoked to come across Java in Brooklyn. Located just a couple of blocks from G and F train stop at 15th Street, it is a tiny restaurant in the sleepy part of South Slope next to Prospect Park. It is the quintessential neighborhood restaurant and has been serving up Indonesian classics for close to 30 years. My hungry group and I came midweek to find the restaurant nearly empty, save for a small party. In the evening, the place is dimly lit and pretty ideal for small groups and dates. Our group of 6 took up practically a 1/4th of the restaurant. Considering how tight the seating is, one would think it would be warmer. The heater was definitely not turned on and since we're currently smack dab in the winter, we were a bit cold throughout the meal. Given our tendency to strive for variety, we did the usual thing and ordered a number of items from the menu: bakwan ($5), nasi goreng ($12), beef rendang ($18), kare ayam ($16), kare ikan ($18), mie goreng ($12), bihun goreng ($12), sambal goreng udang ($18), ikan kuning ($18), and two coconut pandan puddings ($10). We initially were going to rock the rijsttafe, which is a set variety dishes ranging from 15-17 courses for $52-62 per two people but were warned by our server that the portions were going to be too small for our tastes. Even the regular sized dishes were modest at best portion wise. The price point may seem high to most people accustomed to SE Asian fare, but this is pretty standard for this neighborhood. I did enjoy most of our food. The bihun goreng was flavorful in all of its thin rice noodle glory and the bakwan corn fritters was such an addicting appetizer that we ended up ordering it twice. I appreciate the kare ikan, a cod fish curry in coconut milk that goes extremely well with white rice. Speaking of rice, the fried rice aka nasi goreng was also well seasoned and I loved the heat it had with every bite. I wasn't as impressed with the beef rendang or the kare ayam. The curry was strangely bland, especially considering that the kare ikan was so much better. The same can be said for the mie goreng, which was substantially less tasty than its fried rice counterpart. The pandan pudding was solid but was not the "perfection" as described in the menu. Service was a little slow, which I was hoping would get better given that there weren't many people there. The older Indonesian lady was sweet overall and they get a pass for being a small family operation. I assume they were taking care of delivery / takeout orders. I am definitely open to coming back when I'm around. There are a number of things that I'd still like to try, especially their Indonesian iced coffee and their sate kambing lamb skewers. read more

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I heard good things about Java's 15 course tasting menu and at $65 for 2 I quickly rose to the top of my "try" list. I visited during the week its a pretty quaint place. Couple tables outside and seating for 20 or so inside. I ordered the rjistafel. Its not quite 15 courses (unless you consider rice a course) but its not bad for the money. The meal definitely starts off stronger than it finishes. The appetizers were really delicious especially the fritters. When the entree courses came out they come all at once and are served on a mobile hot plate. My issue here was the items came out cold/luke warm and I had the option of eating them as is or waiting for the hot plate to heat it up. I was hungry so I went for luke warm to my dismay. Lastly the end the meal with dessert and tea. I like tea to end a meal but the dessert was pretty lame. I think it was green jello or something akin to it but yea it didn't leave much of an impression. I just tasted it and moved on. The folks here are really nice and based on the tasting menu I would definitely come back and order specific items, I just wouldn't do the rjistafel again personally. read more

It very much felt like my world went from being muted and sepia toned to bright and technicolored when I visited Java on a cold winter's night and had a taste of their food. Umami, wok-kissed, spicy, tangy, salty and sweet flavors swirled across my palate in a way that only Southeast Asian cuisine can. Ya girl is what comedian Ali Wong would call a "Jungle Asian" or otherwise Southeast Asian so I hope that lends some credibility to my praises for this quiet little eatery. On the night I visited, there was just a team of one taking orders and attending to our table, but this woman hustled quickly to and from the kitchen to serve our large and hangry party in a timely manner. We all kept our jackets on because the temperature was almost the same outside as it was inside on this cold February night. It definitely made the dining experience pretty uncomfortable but the food was delicious enough to make up for that. Food portions are on the smaller side of what our group was used to for our typical family style dinner formats, but we just ordered more dishes to satiate our large appetites. This is all to say I tried a large sampling of their menu and enthusiastically recommend the corn fritters, Samal Goreng Udang, which is battered shrimp served in a coconut milk curry, and Ikan Belado, which is crispy cod served in a spicy red pepper sauce. The seafood all tasted fresh and the sauces were all multi-layered and seasoned well. We shared some pandan pudding for dessert, which was a light and tasty end to our decadent and filling meal. read more

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I owe this amazing food discovery to Yelp's platform. The meal was enjoyable yet not the best of its type we've tried. Undiscovered place maintaining high quality. I can't recall my last experience with such good staff. This place should attract repeat customers. read more

My partner is Indonesian, and she believes this is the most AUTHENTIC Indo food she has found in America. That should be pretty much all you need to know... The owner is a lovely Indonesian woman who greets every new customer warmly. The place is small but home-y with some classic, and fun, Indo decor. It has all the comfort food Indo dishes that my partner craves - especially recommend doing the Indonesian tapas for 2 (a "tasting menu" that is actually affordable) to try all the classics. They could use a bit more spice in a few dishes, but they do have sambal on the side. And I understand that they have to be careful with all the vanilla white folk like me wandering in. Also highly recommend the Nasi Goreng. Essentially Indonesian fried rice for the uninitiated, and a very tasty, savory version of it at that. read more

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Solid 3.5! Note that this is a very small, locally ran restaurant. Love supporting mom and pop shops! We ordered: Appetizers: Lumpia x2 ($9 ea) Udang goreng ($11) Bakwan ($8) Entrées: Mie goreng ($16) Nasi goreng ($16) Kare Ayam ($18) Beverages: Ice kopi susu ($6) Soda gembira ($6) Teh botol ($3) The appetizers were kind of a miss. The lumpia is not what I expected. Instead of being similar to a spring roll, it's more of a heavy meat pie. The shrimp (Udang) was okay, it kind of lacks flavor and I wish it was crispier. The corn fritters (bakwan) was also a bit of a let down. It's not as crispy as I like nor does it have a lot of flavor. I was looking forward to it ): The entrees were much better! Everything was very flavorful and the portion size was ginormous! I liked the mie goreng and nasi goreng especially. The curry (kare ayam) was a little more watery than expected and very salty and spicy! I wish it was a little thicker and more coconut milk was added. The coffee (kopi) was really good! Reminds me of Vietnamese coffee. The boxed ice tea was also really nice. I'm eh on the soda as it contains rose syrup. Overall, it was decent. The entrees would make a good quick lunch. The family who runs the restaurant is also extremely accommodating and sweet! read more

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Rjistafel is what we got. It's a good way to sample their dishes and decide which one would you get again. It's a tasting menu and they do pace when they serve the dishes. The peanut sauce is the star! I'd put that on anything. Pour that on veggies and you would definitely eat more veggies. The pickled veggies that came was also a fave of mine. Oh yea the fritters and also the lamb dish. Service was great. Love a great mom and pop shop! read more

I wanted to do something small and different for my birthday, so I decided to try this place out with my partner and best friend. It has been a few years since our Indonesia trip, but this food brought me back to that time. Java is a nondescript restaurant on the corner of a medium-density block of South Slope. The restaurant has cute Javanese artwork, and because it was summer going into fall, they had both indoor and outdoor options. The server was the nicest person you'll ever meet -- when my friends swung by on a run to say hi, she offered them glasses of water was well. We decided to go for the rjisttafel (15 tapas dishes) for two people, but they accommodated for three people. We got ten separate dishes ranging from a chicken noodle soup to sweet and sour fish, to multiple curries. All in all, the food was really tasty and nothing was offensive or off-putting. My favourite dishes of course, were the satays, fish, and lamb curry -- the stew just really hits the spot. However, I thought the beef curry was really dry. The good dishes, by far, outnumbered the less good ones. The only thing to note about this place is that it tends to be quite slow, but that might be because we literally got 15 small dishes. However, we were the only ones there, and it still seemed a bit odd to me. We'll be back for normal dishes in the future, and I'll update you on time when that happens! read more

Man....I really wanted to like this place, especially with all of the good reviews this place has. We got the nasi goreng (had to try this first since it's such a classic Indonesian dish), beef sate skewers, and lumpia. Not sure if it was just an off day or what, but I was extremely disappointed with the food. Nasi goreng looked really good and flavorful when we first opened the box, but weirdly enough there was almost no taste to the fried rice. The older I get, the less I like salt. With the nasi goreng, I had to add my own soy sauce and sambal just to get myself to eat more. Beef sate skewers were really dry and chewy, making me question if they were cooked the day before and just reheated. Lumpia - oh the lumpia. I should've known just by looking at the overly deep fried skin / wrapping - no lumpia should ever look like it came from Applebee's or Chili's, and it was also extremely oily. I usually hate throwing away and wasting food, but I had absolutely no interest in saving the food for the next day. read more

Java Indonesian Restaurant - Beef sate, lumpia, nasi goreng. All three we're a pass for me - Indonesian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Amazing Rijsttafel! Went with a group of people and there was more than enough food to go around. Very clean and lively atmosphere. Excellent service, kept checking in to make sure we had everything we needed. Will definitely go back on my next trip! read more

Java Indonesian Restaurant - Rijsttafel - Indonesian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

What an amazing, intimate dining experience! Probably 8 tables-it feels like you are in her home dining(in the best way possible). Such a gracious host and the food is outstanding... I grew up on Indonesia food cooked by family and it's every bit as good. Reasonably priced with beer and wine only. read more

We came for dinner and the restaurant was completely empty. There was no one in the front, so we stood there for a few mins until we had to wave down the lady in the kitchen. She told us to sit anywhere and rushed back for at least five mins before returning with menus. She dropped it off and went back to the kitchen again. We waited and waited until someone took our order and guess what? It wasn't until twenty mins later with the same lady. We realized she was working by herself but really? Apparently, she was taking phone orders and cooking the orders until another employee came a while later. We ordered the 15 dishes meal to share between us. The soup came out first, about 20 mins after ordering. It took a little over an hour for everything else. Let's just say, we waited an hour and a half for the whole meal. Reminder, we were the only table there. I honestly wanted to get up and leave but my partner really wanted to give it a try. Now the food. The food were ok. Actually, no it wasn't the greatest. We probably enjoyed four out of the many. It was definitely not worth the wait. Not at all! There were still a lot left. My Indonesian partner was so disappointed but at least we can say we gave it a try. read more

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Likes - halal food - good food - Acar are Boom! Cucumbers and carrots a still crispy until next day. Tasty Dislike 4pm - 1030pm (Dinner only) read more

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The food was good. Appetizers and starters were very good. just thought the meat should more tender.

I lived in Indonesia for six years and I have been waiting to find a place that has authentic Indonesian food. Java Indonesian restaurant in Brooklyn was like a homecoming for me. We ordered "ayam goreng" or fried chicken, beef rendang and chicken satay. The "ayam goreng" was a crispy chicken breast that came in a rich sauce of kecap manis (dark, sweet soy sauce) over a bed of lettuce. The beef rendang was incredibly flavorful - I could easily taste the lemongrass and spices. It was stewed perfectly with fall-apart beef cubes in a coconut milk based sauce. The rice was perfect to soak up to juices from the rendang and the fried chicken. The chicken satay was tender and absolutely covered in a savory peanut sauce. I also recommend asking for a side of homemade sambal and kecap manis to dip your goodies into. Please come through and support this wonderful business! read more

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