Red Wok

Red Wok offer Standard Chinese Menu in addition to Indonesian Menu. But I was there for the Indonesian Menu. I ordered: 1. Empek-Empek Palembang (Deep Fried Palembang Fish Cake). 2. Sate Padang. (A special menu not always available) (Grilled Padangese Beef on Skewers) They were fantastic. The deep fried fish cake was served with Palembangese "Balsamic" vinegar, noddle, and chopped cucumber. The portion was more than generous. And the fish cakes were fresh from the deep fryer. What really hard to get right in this dish, is the Palembangese "Balsamic" Vinegar. There are many Indonesian Restaurants between San Francisco and Houston that messed this up. Mostly the vinegar are watered down and tasteless. But I am happily surprised that Red Wok get this one right. The vinegar has the balance between sweet, salty, and sour that compliment, not mask, the fish cake fishy aroma. Other area where most Indonesian restaurants always miss in their fish cakes are the sprinkling for toasted grated sweet potato. (I'm not sure that the English word for it but back home we call it "ebi") Red Wok also get the simple noodle and cucumber right. The noodle was not mushy but rather firm. But it was cooked all the way. The Italian slang for it would be "Al dente". if I have to nit pick. I only hope there are more cucumber. It's the garnish the keep the palate fresh and clean after all that goodness. I'm not gonna go too detail on the Padangese Beef on Skewers. Since they are not in the main menu. But I'm also very happy to report that they are true to the taste back home. Padangese Beef on Skewers always has the thick spicy sauce. Where it compliments the beef. And again Red Wok delivered authentically here.

We usually get carry out from here. Today we ate in and tried the Indonesian menu & a different Chinese dish. The owners were there. Everyone was super nice and helpful. They gave suggestions on how to eat the dish and recommend condiment. The chicken was quality chunk all white meat. It was delicious. We were stuffed and had leftovers all for under $18.

For sixty-some minutes I was at Red Wok, I felt like I was back home in Indonesia. They have an extensive and diversified Indonesian food option with very reasonable price, authentic flavors, quick delivery, hospitable service and the place is really clean. I went here twice in three days while conducting a business trip in Houston. I have tried a couple other Indonesian restaurants in Houston and this place wins by a large margin - this will definitely be my regular spot! I had their nasi bakar which came with a fried chicken thigh, fried Tempe and tofu, rice with amchoba steamed in banana leaf and sambal. The rice came in a real generous portion and OMG the dish was so tasty I'm drooling just writing this review. I also had their martabak telor which was large to share with 3 adults (this makes a good lunch or light dinner dish) Two days later I stopped here again and had their ikan bakar which is grilled Pompano fish with sweet soy sauce glazed over it. The fish was fresh, good tasting and at a reasonable price. The owner was friendly as well.