Rendang Republic
Indonesian restaurant · Lakeview ·
Indonesian street food with signature beef rendang and Chicago-inspired hot dogs.
Indonesian street food with signature beef rendang and Chicago-inspired hot dogs.
"Rickshaw Republic specializes in authentic Indonesian street food. It’s why the name alludes to the rickshaws street peddlers use to carry things around. Rickshaw is unique because hardly anyone else around is doing authentic Indonesian food. It’s a real family affair, with mom and one son in the kitchen and dad and the other son handling everything else. It’s impressive they make it work, especially when I consider how my family would treat each other in a hot kitchen with a bunch of sharp knives. They’ve managed to successfully share a bit of Indonesian food and culture straight out of Lincoln Park. The restaurant may look generic from the outside, but one step in and it’s far from that. You’ll immediately be taken in by the artwork and colors on the walls and ceilings, and the intrigue will follow you to the menu. You’re not expected to be an Indonesian street food pro - that’s why you should ask for recommendations and let the waitstaff guide you through your meal. We particularly recommend doing the rice table so you can try a lot of different things. Food Rundown Rice Table Unless you’re trying to dine alone or with one another person, the rice table is absolutely the way to go. For $35, which is a great deal, you’re going to get entirely too much food and a chance to try a lot of different items. It’ll basically be Rickshaw’s greatest hits, including many of the items below. Krupuk The most addicting prawn puff crackers ever. They don’t taste like much, but have just enough prawn flavor that we can’t stop eating them. It’s dangerous. Bala Bala Spicy fried vegetable fritters. Great batter and a satisfying veggie inside. Try not to fill up on prawn crackers and fried veggie fritters - it’s easy to do. Sate Ayam Basic grilled chicken breast satays. Rather uneventful, to be honest. Everything else is way better and more interesting. Nasi Kuning Yellow coconut rice that’s got a seriously sweet coconut taste. Fantastic stuff. Rendang Caramelized beef curry with spices. Excellent curry flavor and fall-apart beef. Be generous with it over some rice. Urap More coconut, and it’s a good thing. This cold coconut salad is refreshing and flavorful in an otherwise heavy meal. Babi Kecap Decent at best braised pork belly. We wouldn’t order it on its own. Not enough flavor for us, and it ultimately comes off as tasting too rich and fatty. Gulai Kale Pro tip - everything with coconut is delicious. Same goes for this kale and tempeh in a creamy coconut curry." - Sam Faye
"Wrigleyville’s most impressive new line-up isn’t on the Cubs, but at this Indonesian spot with a few tables and a small counter. Juicy coconut buttermilk fried chicken sandwiches have a podcast-worthy crunch. Duck Inn chicken hot dogs painted with sambal aioli and zippy acar acar relish could make a beef frank loyalist question their fidelity. And the namesake rendang plates with shrimp chips, spicy sambal, and collard greens are an excellent mix of bold and rich flavors. Like every dish we've tried here, they're worth facing any gameday crowds." - adrian kane, john ringor, nick allen, adrian kane, nick allen, nick allen, john ringor, john ringor, nick allen, john ringor, nick allen, nick allen, nick allen, john ringor, john ringor, john ringor, john ringor, john ringor, adrian kane, john ringor, john ringor, john ringor, john ringor, john ringor, john ringor, john ringor
"Wrigleyville’s most impressive lunch lineup isn’t on the Cubs, but at this Indonesian spot with a few tables and a small counter. Juicy coconut buttermilk fried chicken sandwiches have a podcast-worthy crunch. Duck Inn chicken hot dogs painted with sambal aioli and zippy acar acar relish could make a beef-frank loyalist question their fidelity. And the namesake rendang plates with shrimp chips, spicy sambal, and collard greens are an excellent mix of bold and rich flavors. Like every dish we've tried here, they're worth facing any 1pm game-day crowds." - adrian kane, john ringor, nick allen, veda kilaru
"As the city’s only known Indonesian restaurant, Rendang Republic doesn’t really have to do anything unique to stand out. But this Wrigleyville counter-service spot’s tight menu is full of excellent dishes that channel both the sambal and galangal-infused flavors of Indonesian cuisine and the spirit of classic Chicago handheld dishes, too. photo credit: Kim Kovacik photo credit: Kim Kovacik photo credit: Kim Kovacik photo credit: Kim Kovacik Pause Unmute Its namesake dish is incredible in its traditional form—rich beef rendang blanketing nasi goreng or chewy noodles, with a whole entourage of punchy condiments and vegetables like spicy sambal and collard greens. But the rest of its menu is where Rendang Republic’s personality truly shines. photo credit: Kim Kovacik photo credit: Kim Kovacik photo credit: Kim Kovacik Pause Unmute The Duck Inn-do hot dog slathered in pickly acar acar relish and sambal aioli is a fantastic Chicago dog-inspired sausage that looks right at home in the hands of Cubs fans stopping by before first pitch. And the rendang sandwich with tangy giardiniera is a delicious twist on a beloved staple, even though it might not be soaked enough for those who prefer italian beefs that look like they were stuck in a torrential jus storm. photo credit: Kim Kovacik photo credit: Kim Kovacik photo credit: Kim Kovacik Pause Unmute Unsurprisingly, Rendang Republic’s small dining room gets busy with hyped-up, jersey-clad Imanaga and Crow-Armstrong clones during home games. And even when baseball is on hiatus and there are only a few college kids at the counter seats or one family at a table, a meal here is always exciting. Food Rundown Daging Sapi Rendang Plate The rendang plates have plenty of customization options, but this is our favorite order (take notes): Beef rendang, nasi goreng, both red and green sambal, and both shrimp and garlic chips. The rich flavor of coconut milk, aromatics, and spices is fully infused into the tender beef chunks sitting on top of the sweet and nutty fried rice. And when you mix-and-match the sambal, vegetables, and other components, each spoonful takes exciting combinations of freshness, heat, and acidity. photo credit: Kim Kovacik Ayam Rendang Plate The chicken rendang is a close second to the beef. It’s equally juicy, but has an overall lightness compared to its richer, meatier counterpart. We like pairing it with the chewy noodles too, but still like to get both sambal and chip options. photo credit: Kim Kovacik Duck Inn-do Dog This uses a chicken sausage instead of an all-beef one, but that’s fine. The Duck Inn sausage is thick and flavorful with a snappy casing, and the maximalist mountain of sambal aioli, tomato, and green onion give each bite bursts of spice and zip, plus some crunch from fried shallots. Also, since Wrigley Field actually lets you bring personal-sized food items, take one of these to a ballgame to ditch the concession lines and make all of your friends jealous. photo credit: Kim Kovacik Beef Rendang Sandwich The bun holds up well against the saucy beef and the tag team of giardiniera and sambal aioli help brighten everything up. Bring this to Wrigley, too. photo credit: Kim Kovacik IFC Sandwich There’s not really an elegant way to eat this behemoth of a sandwich, but it’s so good, it’s worth embracing the messiness. The coconut buttermilk battered chicken thigh has a perfect craggy shell yet juicy inside. A trifecta of green papaya slaw, pickles, and sambal aioli helps balance out the salty fried bird by making sure each bite gets some sweetness and acidity. photo credit: Kim Kovacik Vanilla Pandan Latte Rendang Republic also serves coffee and pastries (from Umaga Bakehouse), and their Vanilla Pandan Latte made with their own nutty and sweet housemade syrup is great as a pick-me-up or dessert with a little caffeine boost. photo credit: Kim Kovacik" - John Ringor
"Indonesian food isn’t abundant in Chicago, but Rendang Republic has brought a special kind of Indonesian street food to an unlikely neighborhood: Wrigleyville. John Avila’s Minahasa broke barriers at the former Revival Food Hall, and this Chicagoan, a restaurant veteran at the Duck Inn, has reloaded, gone back to the motherland for research, and come back revived. Rendang Republic is an all-day cafe with Indonesian hot dogs, an improved version of the restaurant’s flagship entree (Avila has even put it in a sandwich, a tribute to the Italian beef). Avila’s has also brought back Minahasa’s egg rolls, a popular item that uses his mother’s recipes." - Ashok Selvam
