panic: need Soto (Saoto) ayam

[rdeman]

I really really really really want some Java / Indonesian style soto ayam (or even better yet: Java-Surinamese style) soto ayam (chicken soup)
but I'm in West-London!
Where do I go?

[rdeman]

I have not tried it but... it seems that Brighton has the only real proper Warung of the UK http://www.warungtujuh.com/
They should do a good saoto here!

[limster]

Ate there a few months ago. Pretty good: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/795978

[klyeoh]

limster - any chance of getting a Soto Ayam in London - without taking that long ride to Brighton? Not that I'm hankering for one, but I'm just curious as to how one would taste like over in the UK.

I tried Soto Ayam in Malang (East Java), Surabaya (East Java), Jogjakarta (Central Java) & Nusa Dua (Bali) recently - the soup tasted slightly different at each place, although the "usual suspects" are there - turmeric-tinged chicken soup, chicken shreds, parsley, beansprouts, hard-boiled egg & glass noodles. The version in Malang, which apparently originated from the island of Lombok (East of Bali) had a fishy taste - the owner told me they added a type of smoked fish to the soup for an added taste dimension, whilst another restaurant (also in Malang) added crushed, toasted groundnuts to the soup for some nutty richness.

I just spent 5 weeks in Indonesia in Oct/Nov, it was an exciting culinary journey - the variety of food there was so vast and varied that I ended up posting > 40 threads on Indonesian foods on CH's Southeast Asia board! Here are some threads on Soto Ayam - you can even see the differences from the photos of the dish taken at various places.

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/815952

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/814793

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/804009

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/817640

[limster]

Haven't really seen that many honest-to-goodness Indonesian places in London, but there doesn't seem to be that many. Melati seemed to have a few dishes but the food I had was only ok. Nusa Dua is the other place I;ve come across in Soho, which I haven't been. Haven't tried Bali Bali which is in Covent Garden. The dishes I had at Jakarta in Colindale were somewhat disappointing, but didn't try their Soto Ayam. One of Jim Leff's best finds was the Indonesian Consulate canteen in NYC, perhaps we should check out the embassy here.

[klyeoh]

Agreed. Maybe one can also give advance notice to a restaurant to prepare something "authentic" ;-)

[pete12]

I would like to know where to buy Ayam products outside of London, in Buckinghamshire, they are very difficult to find, not many places sell them.

[zuriga1]

This place may have want you want.

http://www.raanthai.co.uk/retail/Mala...

[pete12]

Thank you for that, sadly it does not give any company location.
It is extremely difficult to buy Ayam products around here, in fact it is virtually impossible and try as I have, contacting different places on line who never reply, it is impossible to find out actually WHO DOES sell these products.

[zuriga1]

Why don't you just order online and have the products delivered to your home? I think they do that. Another good source of Asian products is www.wingyip.com.

Good luck!

[Samuelinthekitchen]

i love that store - could spend days there

[zuriga1]

I buy all my frozen prawns and squid there...so much better than what's in regular supermarkets. Luckily, I have a large freezer in my shed and stock up! Of course, I'd rather have fresh but that's hard to come by where I live.

[gembellina]

It says they're on Merseyside, which is no help to you - but as zuriga says, they deliver!

[gembellina]

why do I never think to order stuff online?? thanks for that!

[zuriga1]

You're welcome.

Living where I do, it's very convenient to order things online.It's amazing what's on offer. I've never had a problem once, and the nice part is that in the UK, things ordered usually come very quickly.. unlike the U.S. :-) I think that place in Merseyside is a good find, but most of the products are also available at Wing Yip, and we like combining a lunch with the supermarket.

[limster]

I'm wondering if the Malaysian version might be a decent substitute....Might be worth checking to see if Malaysian Kopitiam on Charing Cross Road serves it.

[rdeman]

mmm what is the Malaysian name for it?

[limster]

Should be the same - soto ayam.

[rdeman]

I have tried it- the Malaysians seem to use the same names but its really a different soup. Similar, but its pretty far from the Surinamese/Javanese soato I love!