Indonesian Adventure
What this foodstroll is
Our favorite Indonesian food and market in NYC, and other fun things to do near Elmhurst, Queens.
Why this foodstroll works
It’s confused us over the years that Indonesia, despite being the largest country in Southeast Asia and fourth largest in the world, does not have a vibrant dining scene in NYC. Consider the excessive options for Thai, Vietnamese, Filipino, and more recently Cambodian food, and the contrast is even more obvious. But we’re not here to change the world, we just want to eat good Indonesian food once in a while, and Elmhurst, Queens is the answer. The neighborhood is walkable, it has a unique history, and the food options are plentiful.
Strolling
Sky Cafe and Indo Java are only a half mile apart, but a surprising amount of NYC history is packed into this small area. We recommend walking up and down Broadway to get a flavor for your surroundings, stopping here and there. That said, if you’d like to make this Foodstroll an all day affair, Elmhurst is very centrally located. Check out An Afternoon in Corona Park, An Afternoon in LIC, Plane Spotting and Pakistani Food, or The Many Museums of LIC for further reading.
Elmhurst, known as Newtown until 1890, dates back to 1652 when it was formed by a group of English Puritans from Holland. It was the second town in what is know known as Queens County, preceded only by Flushing in 1645. When the British took over New Netherlands in 1664, several Anglican Mission churches sprouted up to help propagate the religion. This English Colonial structure on present day Broadway was once home to St. James Church. Today it is the oldest remaining church building in NYC, dating back to 1736.
Newtown was administered by England after 1664, but it maintained strong Dutch roots. In 1731, a congregation of Dutch immigrants founded The Reformed Church of Newtown. The current Greek Revival building was constructed in 1832, and thanks to its rural heritage, is one of the few remaining all wood church buildings in the city. Wooden construction in more urban areas of New York was banned as early as 1816.
A far cry from its rural past, Elmhurst is now home to single family row houses and apartment buildings. While not quite like the Landmarked Historic Districts of Manhattan and Brooklyn, the side streets are full of attractive residences.
Present day demographics are split nearly 50/50 between Hispanic and Asian. There are playgrounds around, including Veterans Grove across the street from Sky Cafe, and if you’re fortunate you may luck into a local dance fitness routine, a commonplace site in the Far East. Moore Homestead Playground on Broadway is brand new, and pretty nice as far as playgrounds go.
Just two blocks down Queens Boulevard from Indo Java is the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge Number 878. The Elks, as they say, is a fraternal organization dating back to 1868, and it’s past and present members includes six US Presidents! Lodge #878 was built in 1924 in the Italian Renaissance style. It is a NYCL and on the NRHP.
If you are looking to go beyond Elmhurst, the best spot in NYC to watch airplanes land is a 10 minute drive. For more info, check out our Plane Spotting and Pakistani Food article.
Flushing Meadows Corona Park and all it’s attractions are also just a 10 minute drive from Elmhurst. The Queens Zoo inside the park is walkable in less than an hour. The Unisphere (pictured) was built in 1964 for The New York World’s Fair, and the Queens Museum, Hall of Science, and Botanic Garden make Corona park fun year round.
Roosevelt Island is 25 minutes from Elmhurst by car, or two stops on the F train if you can manage a bit of walking. Once home to an infamous Lunatic Asylum and Smallpox Hospital, today the island is full of parks and playgrounds, and the wildly popular Roosevelt Island Tramway.
Food Spots
1. Sky Cafe
Sky Cafe is a small family run spot with an incredibly warm and friendly staff. Their Lontong Sayur, or rice cake soup, seems to have a bit of everything. It’s a little spicy, but our kids love the Krupuk crackers which garnish the top. Ask your server for a complimentary side order.
Batagor is fried fish cake and tofu smothered in peanut sauce. Like landing on the moon and Siamese Dream, it is a pinnacle of human achievement. We typically order one for the table and one to go.
In 2017 CNN polled it’s readership and the results showed Rendang was the world’s most delicious food. This version, Nasi Lemak Rendang, combines coconut rice, anchovies, and pickled veggies with beef rendang.
We can’t make this stuff up. That very same CNN article listed Nasi Goreng as the second most delicious thing in the world, one spot ahead of sushi. The Nasi Ayam Goreng Sambal Ijo, which is fried chicken, not fried rice, is delicious. Kids should watch out for the sambal though. It’s fiery.
Nasi Ayam Goreng Urap is our favorite variation. Again the rice is steamed, not fried, and the veggies with red sambal on the side share easily.
Our favorite noodle preparation is Mie Goreng, or stir fried egg noodles. Both seafood (pictured) and beef are big hits with our kids. Kwettiaw Goreng Sapi, or stir fried flat rice noodles with beef, are also very good.
2. Indo Java Groceries
Indo Java is an Indonesian grocery store with a small kitchen that prepares traditional Indonesian dishes to-go. For their best selection, visit on a Saturday.
They carry a good selection of Indonesian imports like sambals, spices, and pastes. They also sell dozens of all-in-one spice blends for things like Rendang and Mie Goreng.
You’ll also find traditional Indonesian desserts like Kue Lapis, or layer cake, and Klepon, or coconut balls. You might imagine eating some Indonesian sweets, especially their cakes and cookies, with a cup of tea. Indeed several of the country’s most famous desserts are vestiges of their Dutch Colonial history.
Their takeout, which we typically bring to a nearby playground, is some of the best home style Indonesian food in NYC. If you ask, they’ll warm up the food for you when you check out.
Transportation
The R train stops directly at Elmhurst. Otherwise 7, E, and F trains stop at Roosevelt Ave-Jackson Heights, which is about a 15 minute walk down Broadway to the food spots.
One and two hour metered parking is available in Elmhurst around Sky Cafe. Elmhurst is a quick drive or Uber/Lyft from any of the earlier mentioned Queens destinations.
