A Love Letter to Nasi Goreng, Jakarta's Street Food Staple

"The crown jewel, though, was nasi goreng gila, which translates to “crazy fried rice.” No one really knows who invented it, but most people point to a single neighborhood in Central Jakarta, Menteng, where at night you’ll find dozens of sellers—including a particularly well-known one named Nasi Goreng Obama, for its proximity to the school the American president attended in his youth. Nasi goreng gila, a hodgepodge of whatever’s on hand—sausage, corned beef, offal, about a pint of chopped chilies—is basically Jakarta on a plate: Chaotic, overwhelming, addictive. It’s the kind of dish that cuts through booze like a cold shower. It became our go-to on late nights—everyone had an opinion on where to find the best stuff, but we were generous in giving each its turn. “Nasi g” became shorthand for the last stop before heading home."