Kata Kita

266 Latrobe St
Melbourne, VIC 3000
https://www.katakita.com.au/

Kata Kita is a cute af spot doing some of the most flavoursome Indonesian food around. Focussing on stuff cooked over flames, the menu is a smoky celebration of big proteins made to share. Party food in other words, to match the exuberant atmosphere. Dinner here is loads of fun, though with one letdown – the dichotomy of the service. When you can get it, it is absolute top-of-the-line, with fun and knowledgeable staff who are more than happy to help make your visit a memorable one. Unfortunately, they’re so busy that even with them zipping relentlessly around the dining room, it took 20 minutes just to get our dessert order taken. But that’s hardly their fault. As long as you’re not too fussy about the little things, Kata Kita is a great time.

Rating: 13/20 – casual fun times.
To-order: anything that comes with a bunch of relishes and sambals.
Bonus points: they have heaps of non-alcoholic drinks here, even moreso than the boozy ones – huge win in my books!

Signature dish number one: the Nasi Campur Babi Guling ($28). Both the roasted pork belly with crackling and the lemongrass pork skewer were delicious, but what really makes this plate sing is the range of pickles and sambals, which adds a bold, complex fieriness to every bite.

Signature dish number two: the Ayam Betutu ($25), consisting of smoky chicken roasted in banana leaf, served alongside an aromatic ginger and garlic-infused rice that’s good enough to eat by itself. Once again, don’t skip the sambal.

I was initially going to get the stir-fried water spinach, but we were recommended by our waiter to get the Crispy Chinese Broccoli ($17) instead, which would complete what he dubbed ‘the holy trinity’, along with the pork and chicken. And who am I to argue with that? And of course, the bloke was bang on with his suggestion – this was unlike any other stir-fried greens I’ve ever had, and insanely delicious to boot. Super crispy and infused with a sweet soy, this is an incredibly moreish way to get your veggies in.

Snack-wise, there are both traditional and more modern options. If you’re not keen on satay, the Smoked Kingfish Gohu ($8ea) is their excellent take on sashimi, the firm, delicate fish contrasting with the bold sweet and spicy flavours.

For afters, the Kolak Biji Ubi ($14) is a traditional dessert of chewy sweet potato balls, floating in an addictively sweet and salty pandan coconut milk.

The drink selection here is excellent, and for a warm day, the tropical vibes of the Pelanggi ($13) hits just right, the combination of mango and coconut water sweet, but not too sweet.