Ayo Eat

I love the satay. I am going to change the way I cook my satay to how he cooks it. The best is still over charcoal but it’s a lot work. Love the one man show. Definitely a hole in the wall but one of the best food I had in Victoria.

Came here as a recommendation from our friend who's a local. It's the definition of a "hole in a wall" establishment. Only one person takes the order, cooks and receives payment. We opted to have it "dine in" on a small counter. He offered water and was incredibly diligent even though he was also cooking orders. In our short time, we've seen people order and pick up food. A chef from the neighbouring restaurant also made an order so you know it's good. We got the sate ayam which, at the time of writing, is the best satay I've ever had. I recommend this to anyone who wants affordable yet delicious food.

We happened upon this place because of reviews. Like others have noted the wait may be a bit long - however there are plenty of opportunities to spend time until your meal is ready. Don’t be hasty because of the wait - it will so be worth it! We got satay chicken with rice and pickled veggies, I had veggie green curry with rice. The satay had a thick peanut sauce that paired well with the pickled veggies. The chicken was grilled and must have been delicious as he inhaled it in a few minutes. The green curry also had a couple of bay leaves resting in the curry. The spice was a bit below three and wicked good! Very creamy and letting it sit for a few minutes allowed it to thicken up. The veggies were red pepper and thick slices of bean sprouts - all was so tasty! Friends had spring rolls with plenty of veggies and a great dipping sauce. They also had the chicken satay and inhaled it too. They had a green beef curry - massive amount of beef and plenty of veggies with the sauce. Additionally they had a SPICY red mixture that was good too.

everything is so damn good. best to enjoy it while it's hot. you can either eat downstairs or at the small spot they have right on their store.

Hands down some of the best food I've ever tasted. I can taste the spices, all the textures, and the love poured out in his masterpiece. I think we got everything on the menu and will definitely be back. Bless up yourself, Ayo. From the Jamaican empress 🥰

The nasi rendang is phenomenal and probably the best I’ve ever tasted. This place is truly a hidden gem.The host is so friendly and attentive😊

Absolutely delicious Indonesian food. If you are in the area this is a must try stop. The wait can be a bit long once you get your order in but you can spend the time walking around nearby stores. Also be sure to head well in advance of closing as your order might not be taken. Don't let the wait push you away as the food is must try. Our favourite food hands down on the island.

Expect to wait a while for your food. This small shed of a single chef serving homemade Indonesian food is worth the wait. The hype is because it's so well flavoured and authentic - giving you that warm (and spicy kick) type of hug when you crave Asian food. There is no seating for this spot minus two seats attached to the front of the shed. This place is located on the second floor inside the plaza area - very tucked away. A simple menu but maybe that's why it's so successful as well. The owner is very nice and great to have a convo with. Be prepared for your tastebuds to be activated with this meal.

Had nasi campur with rendang also nasi campur with telor balado. Very good and I m Indonesian, very tasty. Not too spicy for my taste. Finding this place is quite tricky. It's located in market square area. Going down the stair after entering the market then go up to Second floor and it's on the corner. It's really more like a take out place. The owner is Indonesian chef. Very nice and friendly. Will definitely come back if I visit Victoria again. Thank you!!!!

We came late and chef whipped out 6 dishes in 20mins. Amazing taste and loved the food.

The shop is hidden left 2nd floor level left corner end. When you first enter from the main entrance turn left pass the first ancient camera store down the hall then turn right you will spot the shop with the sign. Order Sate Ayam and Nasi Compur Rendang Chef / Owner was very friendly informed for wait time 20/30min Chicken Satay - a must try dish , very delicious tat makes you want to order 2nd plate Beef Curry with sambal on prawn crackers - If u can handle high spicy it's a must try dish, the spicy is not crazy hot tat burns ur mouth with continuously heat rather goes away quickly with rice which is great Some parts of food was preheated by microwave was hoping to be fresh. Overall if you love South Asian food, this place is a must try Highly recommended ~ I definitely will go back eat again when I visit Victoria in the near future ~

The food here was really good! Would definitely go back. They serve Indonesian/Thai food. The menu selection is very small only 5 entrées that he has perfected. Be aware that It is on the spicier side. Cute little stall, that only has two bar style seating right in front. But it's OK because it's located in the middle of the square Market where you can find outdoor seating all over. There's only one guy that runs the whole show. He's very nice and an excellent cook! Apparently he used to cook for the Dali Lama and Michelin star restaurant. And decided to start his own thing. Great choice. The chicken satay was very moist and comes with a side of rice and pickled veggies. The green curry was very flavorful. Most of the dishes he gives you a chili satay sauce on the side to make it even spicier if you wanted to up the level of spice. It's super good! And you can tell it's all homemade. With the beef dish could have been stewed a little bit longer to make it more tender. But the flavor was good. It comes with the satay fried chips which gave it really good texture. Glad we got to try some authentic food well in the area.

Amazing, delicious, so flavourful. Spring rolls, chicken satay, green curry, everything I've had here I've wanted to go back for more right away. Just double check hours before heading here to make sure they're open.

Just a takeout window that rolls a five star fresh spring roll with green beans and tofu that filled a hole in my heart I didn't know was missing. Chicken satay with pickles also good. Should have ordered more. When we arrived around 1ish on a Thursday, the chef told us to come back in a half hour when the food would be ready to order, so glad we did. Took our food to a table at the whistlebuoy brewery.

If you ever find yourself on the beautiful island city of Victoria, British Columbia on Vancouver Island in Canada, and craving some great authentic Asian cuisine then AYO EAT is by far the BEST Indonesia eatery you'll find on the island... and mainland for that matter!! I highly recommend stopping for a quick lunch or early dinner... this place is an absolute gem!

Found this tiny stall at Market Square when we were visiting Victoria. Food was delish and authentic (yes, I'm Indonesian). Rendang was tender and perfectly cooked with all the aromatic and delicious spices. Sambal was spot on! Perfect level of spiciness to add to the rendang. Owner was very lovely as well. Overall a great find in Victoria!

Best food i've ever had. Everything on the menu is incredible. My favorite is the Rendang and the Goreng. Bana is an awesome Chef. Check it out next time you are in Victoria.

A small stall where they got 2 seats at the counter. But food is authentic, full of flavors, and amazing! Ordered the green curry tofu, sambal egg and also rendang. Love the small menu which means the chef can focus on perfecting the dishes. Love the authentic taste, no fuss, just simply delivering great tasting food. I miss his food and wish I can just hop on the ferry to go to Victoria to get my fix right now. Keep up the good work! Cant wait to go back!

i got take out from here, knowing that at the end of the day i wasn't going to want to figure out where my dinner was coming from. the owner was very sweet and cheerfully took my order but warned me he had orders to fill before mine and that it would take about 20 min before my food would be ready. i ordered green curry with tofu. there was nothing wrong with the food but i wish there'd been a little more vegetables. the ratio of rice to vegetables seemed off. there was a small amount of tofu, some green beans and slivers of red peppers, but mostly rice. the green curry itself was flavorful with subtle undertones. i had no complaints about the taste. all in all, I wouldn't say the food was bad and it fit the bill for take out but apart from that, i was a little underwhelmed.

Small corner place, packed with huge flavoured dishes. Nasi Campur Rendang. WOW this dish was so good. The different textures, creaminess, crunchiness and just enough spice makes it such an amazing dish. Will definitely come back here next time I'm in Victoria.

Authentic Indonesian foods, love their gado gado in a wrap, sate ayam, heck i love everything on their short menu. This is literally hole in the wall awesome place, a Hidden Gem like other reviewer here said. When you go here, tell him Ade sent you. Very recommended.

A bit pricey for the amount of food given, but Im all for a one man food stand. Loved all the spices and flavors of each bite. A unique place to try while in Victoria. We ordered the chicken satay skewers and nasi goreng. It was great maybe as a snack, but I was still quite hungry afterwards.

Get the spring rolls! Comes with a generous helping of delicious peanut sauce. Perfect snack to fuel your exploration around Market Square. These are made-to-order so give-or-take 10 minutes. Bana was kind enough to keep the spring rolls for us till we looped back to eat 'em!

Awesome traditional Indonesian food !! The super friendly owner is the chef and is Indonesion ! Only delicious food served here !! A must visit !!!

Delicious nasigoreng. Try the homemade sambal sauce it's amazing. Lots of menu options to choose from.

Simply perfect. We came because of huge fish n'chip line ups and could not have been happier. Very fresh. Very delicious. Expertly executed. Inspired my first yelp review!

I cam here because of the yelp reviews... i ordered the satay and the spring roll... satay is SO GOOD... spring roll is ok... they are cheap... and made to order... so expect to wait for your food to be cooked (which means fresh!!!) i will eat the satay again and again... it does come with rice... which i didn't expect... i mean they are good... along with the sauce!! YUM... they are a bit spicy... so if you can't eat spicy... make sure you have some water or milk with you...

I like eating Indonesian food when I visit Vancouver, but I was pleased to discover that Victoria has a Indonesian newcomer situated in Market Square( entrances on Wharf, Johnson, or Pandora). This little opium-den-of-a-space is on the top corner of the square next to the fudge shop. The chef is flying solo, with an endearing smile and apron. The menu is compact, but that makes indecisive people like myself at ease. I shared a green curry with chicken with my friend that was visiting from up island. The chef told us it would be about 7 minutes, so we walked around the square, basking in all the sunny glory. He poked his head out to let us know it was ready. He gave us some chopsticks and a few glasses of water (very thoughtful of him). The curry was more broth-like than I was expecting. It still had coconut milk, but it wasn't thickened like some thai curries I've had. The fish sauce used was potent but sweet in flavour, and I enjoyed the textures throughout. The rice was sprinkled with crispy shallots, and tucked behind was a dollop of great chili paste, really unique bite to it, but not too hot. The curry had succulent bites of chicken(good quality meat), long beans, bamboo shoots, red capsicum's, and toothsome basil leaves. My favourite accent of the presentation was the banana leaf underneathe all this goodness. For only $7.99, I foreshadow this little operation becoming something like many other businesses with humble beginnings. If you put out honest and thoughtful food, word will travel, and soon you will upgrade the space. I really enjoyed this meal. Food: 4.5/5 Service: 5/5 Ambiance: ( only one table, but it was still pleasant, and the chef's interactions added to it) 5/5 http://wheretoeatvictoria.com/

Indonesian food is hard to find in Portland. So I was happy to see that Victoria had a little place with all my favorite foods. Ayo only has a few menu items. All I cared about was the beef rendang and nasi goreng. Both appear to be made off site and reheated in a microwave. then topped with freshly prepared fried egg and sauces. Some people don't like this style of cooking but it is somewhat authentic. I have eaten in Indonesia many times and see a lot of reheating going on. Anyways, the food was great. the nasi goreng was flavorful and the rendang was spicy and rich. I only wish I had brought home a couple extra servings.

It's a hole in the wall. Literally. And a one man operation too. I was recommended this place by someone I was travelling with. The chef/owner is quite an interesting personality too. I had the green curry (vegetarian) as well as the spring roll. The curry is pretty spicy (very similar to Thai curry). If you aren't used to eating spicy, I recommend asking for some extra plain rice to mix with the curry rice. The amount of items on the menu is quite limited, but that's understandable due to it being a one man buisness with very limited space. The fried shallots sprinkled on top of the rice are the best!

Love this little place, whenever we are in Victoria we always make a trip for lunch in Market Square. The nasi goreng and beef rendang are both awesome! Spicy too!

Despite the "meh" food, I'm eager to support Bana's indy business for his kind and gentle approach to people. I read about this local hotspot and was very eager to try it. I went for a dinner. It was a slow Monday and I found the owner (Bana) having a quiet, seemingly in-depth conversation with the lone customer. The woman seemed completely willing to sit there in conversation without need for her food. I instantly felt good about experience to come. How refreshing, an eating experience that's about the human interaction, not just the food. My brief interaction with Bana reinforced my positive impression. The food was unfortunately "meh". Somewhat more greasy (frying based) than I would have liked. Found that I was clearing my throat quite a bit afterwards. I was impressed with how tender and lean the beef was but found the prawn chips to have not been very crispy. (I heard the microwave being used twice while my food was being made.)The sweet and sour preserved veggies were a relief to my conscience (more than a delight) though I wished that there was more. The price for the portion size and service was reasonable though not inexpensive. On a sustainability front, I wished that the containers weren't made of Styrofoam.

Five-star food and inexpensive prices, but only a tiny eating counter and no drinks. Plan on taking your food to the courtyard to eat.

A one-man show food stand! We had the nasi goreng ayam (chicken dish with fried egg) and the nasi campur rendang (beef curry). Both spicy and delicious. Only thing was the wait time. Took a bit longer than expected for street food. Despite that will definitely come back again.

The man is very nice and I really like his spring rolls. Nice bob marley music. Should get more attention.

Man. So dang satisfying! I had the nasi goreng, Erik had the green curry and we shared both. Without relying on saucy-ness this food delivered maximum impact flavor and just enough spice. Go stop by this little doorway and sit down at the picnic tables below and enjoy the sunshine. Hi five!

Authentic Indonesian food (trust me, I'm Indonesian!) that's hard to find in Vancouver where I live. I always, always eat here every time I'm in town. Everything is good here, especially the Nasi Rendang!

This guy can cook up a great meal. A must eat for that authentic taste from the islands.

This is a hole in the wall -- I mean, there is nothing there but a tiny kitchen, but the chef is a master, and produces food worthy of the best Indonesian restaurants outside Indonesia. They say the proprietor/cook has actually prepared meals for the Dalai Lama himself. I've had the Beef Curry and the Fried Rice, and both were superbly prepared, expertly spiced. Take-out doesn't get any better than this.

I got the beef rendang and it was the best rendition I've tasted of this dish anywhere. There are precisely two seats outside to eat if you don't want to go, but I was happy to share my appreciation with the chef and eat beside the takeout window. My first meal during this trip to Victoria and one of the most memorable I'll have had, for sure. Complete gem.

My friends and I were beyond satisfied with our meals here! It doesn't look like much (a literal hole in the wall takeout restaurant), and the menu is small, but the food and flavours were bold and authentic. The price is fair, and the owner is kind and friendly. It was probably the tastiest meal i've had this year, and unique as Indonesian food is not common in this city. I can't wait to go back!

I've been meaning to try Ayo Eat for the longest time and finally got around to it yesterday. I decided to try the Nasi Goreng yesterday and was amazingly surprised. The fusion of flavours was perfect! From the dill chips, to pickled vegetables, chicken fried rice, chicken and hot sauce, it was a perfect combination. Not to mention it is extremely reasonably priced. Everything on the menu is for $10 or less! I ranted and raved to my girlfriend about it all night and ended up taking her back today. I decided to try the Nasi Campur with Beef Rendang, while she had the Sate Ayam. The peanut sauce on the Sate was the best I've had. The sauce on the rice and veggies reminded me of a coconut curry and was absolutely amazing. My beef rendang had the perfect mix of spices and was absolutely fantastic. The chef/owner is an extremely nice guy and very easy to chat to. If you haven't tried it yet, go as soon as possible. You won't regret it.

This is a little take out place with a 5 star quality food which is quite inexpensive. Probably one of the best places to eat in Victoria. Definitely not a tourist trap.

I'm from Jakarta, grew up on good Indonesian food, and Bana's cooking reminds me of home! Makananya enak2, (delicious food). I was visiting Victoria, came upon Ayo Eat by chance, and had the best meal of my visit. Bana is very personable and helpful, and I also enjoyed chatting with him. His menu is small, but I returned to try almost everything; the quality is all excellent. This place is a must! Terima kasih Bana. Sampai ketemu lagih.

Great little "hole in the wall" restaurant. The food ever-so-discreetly captivates your taste buds with every bite. By the end of the meal you'll find you've suddenly fallen in love with beef rendang and nasi goreng! The price is very reasonable - a nice change of pace from everything else in Victoria. Bana's friendly demeanor helps enhance the eating experience as well! This is a definite must-try if you ever find yourself in Victoria.

Let me start of by saying that Ayo Eat is without doubt the best and most authentic Indonesian food I have ever tried in North America. Me and my wife hailed from Malaysia and we thought of giving Ayo a try. Not only we were truly amazed by the superb quality of its food, we both had a great time chit-chatting with chef/owner Mr. Bana. We had Beef Rendang and Nasi Goreng, and there are no words to describe how yum-yum, delicious and tasty it was...we truly love it. We highly recommend for you to try Ayo if you are in Victoria. The next time we return to Victoria to visit, this would be a must stop for us again. Thanks Mr. Bana for allowing us to taste a great Indonesian food in Canada.

Searching for "hole in the wall" while in the vic...just to get a flavor for the local fare. Indonesian pops up! Ok, we try. OK, WE LOVE! Bana is great and his food is pretty tasty. Limited counter seating, otherwise its a mostly takeout operation. Beef dish and the spring rolls are oh so good. Would visit all the time if I lived or worked nearby! Kind of hard to find, second floor of the mall.

Friendly little food stall that excels in everything it does and doesn't skimp on the peanut sauce. Excellent.

I came here because of the great yelp reviews and it didn't disappoint. it's just a takeout joint - no seating except for a small bar in front that fits two people. food is all made to order so ours took about ten minutes. ordered the green curry shrimp and the nasi goreng. both were excellent. how I wish we had a little place like this in seattle, serving up Indonesian fare. alas, we do not. highly recommend.

This is literally a hole-in-the-wall place but the food is AWESOME! Simple but very authentic. The nasi campurs were just delicious (especially the rendang). Bana, the owner is very entertaining, too. We had a great time and a great meal.

The Nasi Campur was great, and the owner was super friendly and helped me decide what to order. I cant wait to go back.

We love this place! It's quite literally a hole in the wall. The proprietor is very charming and the two times we were there, he wore a bright contagious smile and had a goofy sense of humor. The first time we went, we ordered the chicken satay and the green chicken curry. Both were served with rice. The satay dish was also served with a yummy cucumber, carrot, onion salad pickled in a sweet, vinegar sauce (my husband LOVED that). Both dishes were very good and a great value. Lunch for two, about $15. The next time we went, we wanted to try his other dishes. It was late in the day and he was out of a few items so he couldn't do his full five item menu so we shared the beef curry. My only slightly negative comment would be that the pieces of beef were really big. I was expecting smaller chunks of meat in the curry. The curry had a great flavor. It was served with rice and the salad my husband loves. We also got prawn crackers that were great on their own and also very good dipped in the sauce. There isn't much for seating. Two stools right next to his kitchen. Luckily the weather was nice both days we went and we sat out on one of the picnic tables in the courtyard. There's also a covered area to sit and eat if the weather is bad.

I eat at Ayo Eat every time I visit Victoria. And that's only about once a year, but Bana is so awesome that he remembers me, and greets me warmly every time. And the food is out of this world. Everything on the menu is fantastic. Seek it out and enjoy!

Awesome food! Get the Nasi Goreng and the chicken satay skewers - you won't be disappointed.

Amazing! I've had Indonesian food a handful of times, at restaurants they always taste similar to Thai food. Ayo eat shows me what true Indonesian food is with the nasi goreng fried rice ... We told him the chili sauce was amazing and asked to buy some. he doesnt have any for sale, but he gave us a little in a container for free!.

This small take out with limited menu was a very pleasent suprise. Authentic food with incredible taste! Nasa Goreng and Sata made my stay in Victoria very memorable!

Really awesome take away food: we had the rendang, satay skewers and gado gado wrap: all delicious. Small place but nicely located at the corner of the market place, whit some benches to eat your lunch. Highly recommended.