If you have been to Indonesia especially in Java island then you are most likely have seen or now about the dish called Nasi Campur. This dish is extremely popular while there are many variation and some with different names, they all have the same concept and that is multiple different dishes over rice.

To make it easier to grasp, nasi campur is similar to bibimbap except it is much more complex to prepare since you have to cook several different dishes just to make nasi campur where as in bibimbap many of the ingredients only require boiling or sauteed and much quicker to complete.

Now let’s discuss this legendary place, this restaurant is called Depot Nasi Campur Pojok Tambak Bayan. Now the word depot in English has its own meaning and it’s different in Indonesian, in Indonesian depot usually refers to a restaurant and not a warehouse. Pojok means corner and Tambak Bayan is a street name hence that’s where their restaurant’s name came from. However they now are located about 30 seconds walk from their original place away from the main road

They first started in the year 1967 using what people in Surabaya called rombong which is a push cart but stayed at the corner of Tambak Bayan street (hence the name) instead of traveling in a route like many others and of course I’m sure that you can guess the dish they’re selling. Yup, it is nasi campur!

Now they have since added more to their menu and are now on the 3rd generation and the taste quality I think it’s better now than it was before, maybe it’s just me but I personally think they uses better quality or premium ingredients nowadays compare to 30 years ago when I first tried it which makes sense since ingredients are more available to obtain nowadays then before. Their main restaurant is located in the city center but they now have several branches across Surabaya managed by their family members (I believe they’re about to open the 8th branch in Surabaya and they have 2 in Jakarta).

One of their branch is located not far Juanda International Airport (about 15 to 20 minutes drive), so if you want to try as soon as you land in Surabaya or leaving Surabaya you can 😁

Their nasi campur consist of:

Suun - a type of noodles very similar to Korean Jap Chae
Tahu Krengsengan - Brownish tofu (taste a bit sweeter compare to the other)
Tahu Kare - Yellow tofu cooked in Indonesia curry style which is an entirely different dish (not spicy)
Telur - Brown boiled egg
Meat - Either Beef, Chicken or both

Depending on what you order it may have a different variation but it will also comes with a choice of meat (or 2), at least 2 different kind of tofu, noodles and egg as well as sambal. A fair warning though, their nasi campur is on the spicier side so if you’re not familiar or cannot tolerate spicy food then perhaps you should order something different there unless of course if you’re feeling adventurous then enjoy the food! 😎

I’m not a Michelin reviewer but I flew about 8,500 miles (over 13,500 kilometers) just to get this dish and it’s so totally worth it! It is so good that you get to see 3 generations eating here together which is a testimony of how legendary this place really is.

If you’ve been here, let us know what’s your favorite dish.

Depot Nasi Campur Pojok Tambak Bayan - Legendary Restaurant in Surabaya

Arnie and Fam