Waroeng SS

Waroeng SS Spesial Sambal (or simply Waroeng SS) is big in Indonesia. The casual dining chain – which has around 100 branches and employs 4000 people – works to a very simple brief: make hot sambals. This Carlton store is the chain’s first outpost Down Under.

The menu encourages diners to curate their own rice table with individual items. For a solo meal, you might start with steamed rice, a protein, a side-dish, then one (or more) of 20 signature sambals. (A poster on the wall tells you the heat level of each sambal.) Each item comes on its own plate, and eating with bare hands – Indonesian style – is recommended.

First timers can try fluffy egg omelettes paired with the gentle heat and tang of the tomato sambal. More advanced palates should go for grilled tilapia with deeply savoury shrimp paste, shallot and tomato sambal. Whichever way you go, don’t leave without trying the avocado smoothie.