SEMAJA Celebrates Rasa Merdeka through Toko Oen’s 90-Year Culinary Story

Some food memories have a way of sticking around and Toko Oen is a good example. For 90 years, the restaurant has been part of Indonesia’s culinary landscape, known for its Indo-Dutch cooking and old-school favourites that have been enjoyed by generations of diners. This August, SEMAJA welcomes Toko Oen as part of Rasa Merdeka, its annual celebration of Indonesian food and culture.

Running from 7 to 31 August, the collaboration features a selection of Toko Oen-inspired creations at SEMAJA Menteng. The menu revisits some of the restaurant’s classics with new flavours and presentations while still drawing from the original recipes. The result is a mix of dishes that connect Toko Oen’s Indo-Dutch roots with ingredients and flavours that feel very much at home in Indonesia.

One of the more playful creations is the Rendang Bitterballen, which fills the classic Dutch-Indonesian snack with slow-cooked wagyu rendang. The Nastar Botterkoek follows with caramelised pineapple, cinnamon and raisin reduction layered with an egg wafer crisp, Toko Oen cheese crumbles and signature ice cream. Both dishes look to Toko Oen’s classics, with Indonesian flavours playing a bigger role in the new versions.

The bar gets its own take with Pandan Ananas, a highball made with pandan bourbon and homemade coconut soda, served with an Ananas (Nastar) bite. The pandan comes through nicely in the drink, with the coconut soda keeping things light. The pineapple bite adds a sweet finish and works well alongside the highball.

The collaboration also includes a chance to hear more about Toko Oen’s story. On 20 August, An Afternoon with Toko Oen brought Ibu Jenny, the restaurant’s third-generation owner, and her sons to SEMAJA for an afternoon conversation hosted by Ray Janson. The session explored Toko Oen’s long history, from its place in Indonesia’s dining culture to what it means to carry a family culinary tradition across generations. The afternoon also featured angklung, sasando and traditional dance performances.

For Rasa Merdeka, SEMAJA and Toko Oen revisit 90 years of culinary history through a new menu. Toko Oen’s classic dishes meet SEMAJA’s contemporary style, with the collaboration turning well-known flavours into something worth discovering again. For a taste of where Toko Oen has been and where SEMAJA can take those flavours next, this August is a good time to stop by.

For reservation and further information, contact +62 811-272-723 (WhatsApp) or follow @semaja_id on Instagram.

SEMAJA
Jl Gereja Theresia No. 41,
Menteng