Munching on "Submarines" in the Valentines Month |

When crossing Jalan Merdeka in the City of Lhokseumawe, Aceh (Indonesia), I and my family saw the Arjun empek-empek Palembang quiet. Maybe because it's late, the place looks more quiet than usual. We immediately decided to stop by that place, although at first we sought a more beautiful place while enjoying various culinary delights.

Empek-Empek Arjun provides various types of food such as fried rice, fried noodles, or various other types of seafood. But because of the name of the restaurant that sells empek-empek with the main menu, we all ordered empek-empek, a typical meal from Palembang, South Sumatra, which is well known throughout Indonesia.

The culinary lovers in Indonesia certainly know empek-empek (some people call it pempek). Palembang's special food is also found in various regions in Indonesia, including Lhokseumawe. Chefs from Palembang are not always traders. Learn to make soft and easy things from anywhere and is very easy. In the guidebook, only about eight stages can make their own empek-empek.

There are many types of dents, but the most popular are “kapal selam” or submarines in English and lenjer. It's called a submarine, but it's not made of iron, of course. Named the kapal selam (submarine) because it looks like a submarine. Soft chips made from fish meat ingredients. Any fish, usually mackerel and tuna.

The meat of the fish is blended and mixed with flour and then shaped like a submarines. Before frying, it can be filled with chicken eggs or with meat, depending on taste.

In addition to kapal selam, there are also keriting, panggang (not only boiled and fried, but also roasted), lenggang (fried like making an omelette and savory taste), crispy skin (has a crispy texture), sausage (the development of a soft-fried type of soft rice but added sausages in the middle), soft or rounded meat (according to its name the round shape is directly fried without boiling it).

Then there are dos dents (many refer to them as vegetarian dots), and large ducks which are served in large sizes and some are small. For large types of empek-empek, this pempek is generally served by cutting into smaller sizes.

There are still several other empek-empek variants developed in accordance with modern cuisine. But even though the types are many, they are all eaten using vinegar and cucumber sauce which is cut as small as pickles. There are also those who eat it with crackers, depending on taste.

Palembang people have different ways of being different from other regions. They drink the broth like drinking water, not mixing the broth and soft slices in a spoon. Even the way to eat soft and soft depends on your taste.

However, because it is still in loving February, we enjoy “submarines” as comfortable as possible. The quiet atmosphere made us calmer, without much disturbance. And it is suitable for us as a family because we have two sons who love to make noise,[]

Restaurant Information

Empek-Empek Palembang Arjun

Jalan Merdeka, Lancang Garam, Kota Lhokseumawe, Aceh 24355, Indonesia