Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Offaly Indonesian: Brains, Lungs, and Feet

It all started with Sinosoul's comment on my IndoKitchen post. "Where are the brains?" he asked, so I shot him a quick email. I know just the place for Indonesian cow brains.

Sinosoul and his lady, Wandering Chopsticks, Kung Food Panda, and Food Marathon joined me at Raso Minang, a food court outpost in the Hong Kong Plaza all the way in West Covina.
Raso Minang is the only place in the area I know of that specializes in this regional cusine from Padang in West Sumatra. Padang food is typically known for its spicy dishes (although here it is of course - to the dismay of some - toned down some). Padang food is also usually cooked at the beginning of the day, and left out in small portions on display so that the customers can grab and pay for what they want. Raso Minang being at a food court though, does it the typical food court way. Cooked items are on the display case and you order a "combo" served with rice and cucumber:
1 item $ 6.99
2 items $ 8.50
3 items $ 9.75

I got a typical Indonesian dessert drink while waiting, Es Doger ($3.50)
It is typically shaved ice with condensed milk, syrup, cassava, and coconut but here the ice and syrup has been blended into a smoothie.
Raso Minang also sells whole coconut (in the shell).

What we all came for: Beef Brain Curry (Gulai Otak)
Pieces of beef brain in flavorful yellow curry. This dish is full of spice but not spicy, the curry is rich and creamy from the coconut milk, and the brain ... well, think sweetbreads. Did I think of mad cow when I was eating this? Of course. But that won't hit til years from now :P

The other items we got was the Beef Rendang (left) and Beef Feet Curry (Gulai tunjang).
These are both spicier than the brain curry, although not as spicy as Food Marathon wanted it to be :P I quite like the rendang here, it's pretty tender and spicy and doused in curry as it should be.

I also got a side order of one of my favorite Indonesian dishes: pempek (fish cakes with vinegar sauce)
This is quite a good rendition of pempek, with chewy and flavorful fish cake with crispy fried skin. A hit with the table and perhaps the best version I've found in LA to date.

West Covina is pretty far, so I wouldn't come here often, but if you're looking for good Padang food in the LA area, or have been dying to try brain curry, well now you know where to go!

Raso Minang
989 S Glendora Ave #15
West Covina, CA 91790
(626) 939-3333
http://rasominang.com/default.aspx
Raso Minang on Urbanspoon
Raso Minang in Los Angeles

8 comments:

SinoSoul

Deependdining.com ain't got ISHT on you missy!

This was such a super memorable meal. The whole time I'm thinking: sesos in tacos? PSYEAH weak sauce.

Wandering Chopsticks

Best brain curry I've ever had. Mmm. I liked the fish cake and the rendang too.

I'd go back. Or we should hit up the Surabaya restaurant, yeah?

gourmetpigs

sinosoul: Haha thanks. But yeah, why have brains on tacos and cover it up w salsa, right? ;)

WC: We should a double-run. I want to hit up Surabaya restaurant too if I'm going to be in that area!

Kung Food Panda

Brain was some good stuff!

Hey, don't forget we got some free food next door too. Free is ALWAYS good!

Gastronomer

I'm so impressed that all of this good food was found in a food court in Duarte of all places! Very cool.

Food GPS

Shoot. I wish you had posted this about three weeks ago. That's when I ate in the same food court...at Janty Noodle. Your meal looks much more interesting.

Aaron

Who knew it took Tony to call you out to go to the exotic Indonesian places

Christine Wu

Whoa... just found your blog and I super envy you for living in LA! Now I'm craving for brain curry..............

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