MELBOURNE | Are you a fan of sambal? If so you, you might be aware of Indonesian chain, Waroeng SS Spesial Sambal. They have over 100 locations in their home country, and are known for their affordable, tasty food, and extensive selection of sambal. Last year, they opened their first Australian location, in Carlton. Curious, I popped in for What’s On Melbourne recently to check it our for myself.
The menu is a mix and match, DIY type situation. There’s 20 different sambals, including classics from Indonesia’s diverse regions, and house creations. Each sambal has a flavour profile and heat level listed, to help you choose what works for you. Choose a few different sambal, a few mains and side dishes, and you’re good to go. If you’re not sure what’s what, the staff will happily suggest sambal pairings for the dishes you’d like to eat.
Although heat is a key aspect of the Waroeng SS Spesial Sambal experience, you can choose your spice tolerance of each dish that you order. Popular dishes include the signature gobal gabul omelette (a fluffy omelette infused with shallots, spring onions, and chili), cah kangkung (fresh water spinach stir-fried with savoury seasonings and a touch of spice), and sticky grilled chicken breast or fried duck thigh. Cumi tepung, crispy fried baby squid, is another winner.
For sambal, I’m a big fan of the sambal terasi segar (mentah). It’s an intense and savoury sambal, made with raw shrimp paste, which adds pungent and aromatic depth to dishes. For something lighter, go for the sambal Bali matah. It’s a fresh, vibrant, aromatic sambal made with shallots, red chili, and lemongrass. If you’re a spice fiend, you’ll definitely want to try the sambal bawang cabe merah. Made with fresh spicy red chili and garlic, it’s the hottest sambal on the menu.
Waroeng SS Spesial Sambal is halal, so there’s no alcohol on the menu. It’s not an issue given the teas, juices, and smoothies on the menu. I highly recommend the avocado juice. It’s a refreshing, creamy, Indonesian classic, made with pure, fresh avocado and a little chocolate syrup. It’s very handy to have on the table when you inevitably accidentally go overboard with an overly ambitious, sambal overloaded bite.
Waroeng SS Spesial Sambal
398-400 Lygon Street
Carlton
Victoria 3053
Australia
Telephone: n/a
E-mail: n/a
Website
Open
Sat, Tue – Thu: 11:00am to 9:00pm
Fri: 1:00pm to 9:00pm