Warung Makan Alice: First Indonesian restaurant opens in Alice Springs

A new restaurant offering in the Red Centre aims to not only serve up a delicious plate of food to locals, but a slice of Indonesian culture as well. Their journey.

Scenes from the new Indonesian restaurant, Warung Makan Alice.

A new restaurant offering in the Red Centre aims to not only serve up a delicious plate of food to locals, but a slice of Indonesian culture as well.

Alice Springs’ first Indonesian restaurant, Warung Makan Alice, will deliver an authentic balance of flavour, culture and fragrance to Alice Springs.

The restaurant opened its doors on Wednesday, January 10.

Its menu offers punters a variety of classic Indonesian dishes.

Warung Makan Alice opened its doors on Wednesday, January 10, 2024, serving up a variety of classic Indonesian dishes. Picture: Supplied

One of the dishes served at the newly-opened Warung Makan Alice. Picture: Supplied

Co-owner Andy Gunawan said he couldn’t “do justice” to the menu by giving just one example of the shop’s cuisine.

“But if I have to choose one option, it will be the nasi goreng as it is already famous as is – it has balanced flavour and fragrance,” he said.

Mr Gunawan said the restaurant had its first start as a well-received coffee truck in the community.

“We have been planning to open a restaurant since the beginning of 2023,” Mr Gunawan said.

He said the first word in the restaurant’s name, Warung, meant “stall” or “food stall” – with the second word Makan, meant “eat” or “to eat”.

“It is not only food we are serving, it is piece of our culture,” he said.

“Back in Indonesia, people who open a warung are normally people who don’t have much, but give everything to the business.

“That’s what we are doing right now, introducing our flavour, culture and hard work to Alice Springs community.”

Warung Makan is located at 64 Hartley St, Alice Springs.