August 11, 2024
It turns out that now there are many viral culinary in Blok M. Around the 1980s to 1990s, when I was little, Blok M was very famous as a shopping center for clothes, shoes and accessories. Just to name a few, Melawai, Blok Plaza, Blok M Mall, and Pasaraya, every day it was always crowded with visitors. You could say, Blok M is the center of Jakarta's civilization and also the center of socializing. You weren't a cool kid if you didn't hang out in Blok M. That was probably the trend back then.
In the 1990s, Blok M became even more crowded with the presence of a bus terminal. All buses from outside the city and the outskirts of Jakarta always had routes to Blok M. This is what makes traffic jams unavoidable. Not to mention cases of crime such as pickpocketing, extortion and mugging that occur every day. Jakarta at that time was still prone to thugs indeed.
Blok M is in a state of suspended animation
The above is very different during the pandemic. The pandemic really made all businesses become suspended, not only in Indonesia but also in the world. Especially when in 2020 to 2021 the pandemic emergency status at that time was still total PPKM, government regulations at that time prohibited people from doing activities outside the home.
Due to the pandemic and restrictions on people from doing activities outside the home, it has ultimately changed people's shopping behavior. If previously when shopping had to come to a store or mall, now it can be done online. Many brands have also started to open themselves up to selling online. That is what then made the always busy Blok M area even more dead.
Traders who used to sell in Blok M have started selling online or maybe they have gone bankrupt. The mall buildings, shophouses and shops there have become deserted and sad. This legendary area seems to have lost its soul. The buildings suddenly look shabby and old. Moreover, there was a fire in Blok M Square around 2023. It's really sad.
Viral Culinary Blok M
Alhamdulillah, Blok M in 2024 is back on its feet. It is starting to become a busy hangout for young people, scene kids, adults, families, basically all generations are gathered in Blok M.
Now thanks to social media, the Blok M area which used to be the center of fashion, books, automotive and daily necessities has now turned into the viral culinary center of Blok M. This area is now a destination for meeting and culinary. The concept carried by each place in Blok M is also different. Coupled with easy transportation access, the Blok area becomes more strategic.
The cuisine offered is also different. Starting from cafes that sell beautiful desserts, coffee shops, Kopitiam, restaurants with Indonesian dishes and pujasera (all-inclusive snack centers), to street vendors. The prices also vary, basically representing socio-economic status. Just adjust it to your taste and financial condition. Oh yeah, because this place is currently hyped, so you need to be aware that in every viral eating place there will always be a queue. If it's a weekend, the queue can be 40 to 60 minutes. It's quite tiring to wait.
Here are some viral culinary delights in Blok M that are worth trying, including:
Bakmi Piring. The location is in Pujasera Blok M Square Blok HKS 006. As the name implies, this stall sells noodles served on a plate with pieces of char siu chicken on top. Open from 10 am, don't be surprised if there is already a queue before the shop opens.
Thai Baby. Still in Pujasera Blok M Square Blok F, open from 10 am to 6 pm. Offering Thai cuisine such as tom yum, pad thai and the most favorite is mango sticky rice .
Em Gelato . The location is very strategic, in front of the MRT station or at the exit of the Blok M parking lot. Offering a gelato menu with unique and varied flavors. The price per 1 cup starts from 38 thousand with two flavor choices.
Haka Dimsum. Dimsum that went viral because it offers halal dimsum at affordable prices. It has several branches, but the Blok M branch is always full of queues, especially on weekends . The dimsum menus are priced starting from 20 thousand. The vibe of the restaurant feels like eating at a Chinese restaurant in a street stall.
Those are just a few culinary delights that you should try if you stop by Blok M. There are still many more restaurants and cafes. There are still viral donuts, tiramisu and many more. Because now Blok M has indeed turned into a culinary center, so if you want to explore there, you have to go back and forth. If possible, visit on weekdays , so that the queue is still humane hehehe.
If you have any culinary favorites in Blok M, please share them in the comments column.
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