Om Jay's Empek-Empek—My Husband's Favorite
Weekends are always full of surprises, with so many family events to attend. The long drive in the recent hot weather didn’t stop us from being lazy, though. So last Saturday, my husband and I went to one of our family events, and on the way back, he suggested we stop by one of his favorite food spots—empek-empek.
Empek-empek is a very popular dish. It originates from the city of Palembang. I’ve made empek-empek before, but only a simple version at home. This time, however, I’m heading straight to the best empek-empek spot in Lhokseumawe.
Om jay’s empek-empek is one of my husband’s favorite and most delicious empek-empek spots. He often takes me here, and the menu here isn’t extensive—just a few items—because the food here is truly delicious, and the specialty is, of course, the empek-empek.
The place is very small—just a tiny shop with a simple sign and a food cart bearing the seller’s initials. Coincidentally, when we went there yesterday afternoon, it had just opened since it’s only open from the afternoon until evening. Inside, they were still tidying up, so we chose to relax outside instead.
Well, there are only four items on the menu here: submarine empek-empek, lenjer empek-empek, adaan empek-empek, and tekwan. You really have to try all four of these—everything here is delicious. The tekwan and adaan are also tasty, though our favorites are the submarine empek-empek and the lenjer empek-empek.
Besides that, the drink menu was pretty simple—they only sold Bottled drinks—so my husband and I decided to order a bottle of tea and some cold mineral water; simple but refreshing, especially when enjoyed with the empek-empek.
Our order arrived shortly after; I ordered the "lenjer" empek-empek, and my husband ordered the "kapal selam" empek-empek. These two dishes are indeed the best sellers—many people order them because they’re the most popular here.
These two best-selling dishes are quite affordable and come in generous portions that are sure to leave you feeling full.
1. What is Submarine Empek-Empek?
Submarine empek-empek is a well-known variant of the traditional Palembang dish. It’s called “submarine empek-empek” because it contains a single egg that’s boiled inside. During the boiling process, the egg sinks, but once cooked, it floats to the surface.
I’m not entirely sure about the exact reason, but what’s certain is that the empek-empek is enjoyed after being briefly fried, then sliced and served with cuko sauce.
Of course, the one I ordered is also served with cuko sauce; the cuko sauce itself is a palm sugar-based sauce cooked with spices. The sauce is thin but very flavorful—spicy, savory, and sweet. The finishing touch for the empek-empek is a slice of cucumber. The cucumber slice makes the flavor more authentic and fresh; just look at how appetizing it looks when enjoyed.
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As I mentioned, the submarine-style empek-empek contains an egg filling, so it’s quite filling even though the portion is just one piece—but it’s quite large. The price is quite affordable; for just IDR 15,000 per portion of this submarine-style empek-empek, you get a satisfying serving.
2. What is empek-empek Lenjer?
Empek-empek lenjer is a type of empek-empek that is long and oval-shaped, like a sausage. This empek-empek is made from the same dough as kapal selam empek-empek, but without eggs. For those of you who don’t know, empek-empek isn’t made from flour alone, but from a mixture of ground fish—specifically.
Although this empek-empek doesn’t contain eggs, it has the same texture and flavor as the “submarine” empek-empek because they’re made from the same batter. And of course, it’s served with a savory, spicy cuko sauce and It’s also served with slices of cucumber.
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This is my order. I ordered both of these empek-empek on purpose so I could tell you which one is the best-seller and what the differences are between them. The price is the same as the "Kapal Selam" empek-empek—15,000 IDR—and you get a special portion from the shop.
Well, friends, in addition to empek-empek, there are also various kinds of crispy crackers here that you can enjoy with the empek-empek. The crackers are priced at IDR 5,000 each, and you can choose any kind you like.
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Now, what I’m enjoying here is a type of cracker that’s quite delicious—known as reginang—made from glutinous rice cooked with spices and then sun-dried under the scorching sun. It’s then deep-fried; the flavor is quite authentic and savory, and it’s incredibly crispy when you bite into it.
For a special treat, try mixing these crackers with the empek-empek—I guarantee you’ll experience an extraordinary flavor sensation.
Here’s my experience enjoying some truly delicious special empek-empek. The place is located in Lhokseumawe on Darussalam Street, Aceh Province, Indonesia.
About The Author
A woman, firm and stubborn who is called "Nurul", born in July 1993, comes from Indonesia, Aceh province. My daily activity is work.
Besides working, I have several hobbies, namely reading, writing, cooking, gardening, making crafts, and traveling. From this hobby of mine, I will develop some inspiring content for all of you. I am also very happy to discuss positive new things with all of you.
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How wonderful it is that weekends give us the chance to reconnect with family and enjoy simple moments, such as a good meal. The memories we create in these little places, like the empek-empek shop, are the ones that truly nourish our souls. The simplicity of a limited menu, yet one brimming with flavour and tradition, is a reminder that true happiness often lies in the basic and authentic. The experience of sharing those dishes with your husband, savouring the warmth of each other’s company and the richness of the culinary culture, is a gift that transcends time. May you continue to explore and celebrate those moments of connection and flavour.
Weekends are always more enjoyable when spent with loved ones.
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