Sentimental Flavors of Marco Padang Peranakan Cuisine

I was still full from a whole day of eating and munching when YouTuber cousin suggested having Nasi Padang at Marco. I almost said no, but he insisted, saying this was different—it was Padang Peranakan.

Peranakan cuisine is one of my favourites because it reminds me of the food culture my Amma and Atta passed down through generations. “Okay, I’ll have some from your plate,” I told him.

It took just one bite of fried chicken to transport me back to Medan, the city where my parents were born and raised—specifically to a restaurant my Amma’s family used to take me to when I was young, though I can no longer remember its name.

Too much time had passed between the food and the memory.

But I could still recall sharing meals with YouTuber cousin back then, too. Including how, as a kid, I was endlessly mocked by my cousins’ gang for refusing to eat another Medan specialty—Ayam Pop. Because I practically committed food-and-family sin for not liking the ghastly white chicken beloved by my whole clan.

Fast forward to decades later, back to sharing a plate with this cousin at Marco. I took another bite before excitedly telling Fafa that it tasted like Medan chicken.

What I really meant was that it tasted like my childhood. Or, according to Marco’s menu, Ayam Goreng Bukittinggi (Fried Chicken from the West Sumatera region).

One more bite was all it took for me to order a chicken for myself and a second round for YouTuber cousin and Fafa.

YouTuber cousin also ordered Nasi Sayo (mixed rice), which came wrapped in banana leaves and paired perfectly with the chicken. Out of curiosity, I added Pete Kacamata (fried stink beans) to our order, along with grilled prawns—Udang Panggang Pacak—for Fafa, and Sayur Daun Singkong (cassava curry) to share.

You’d think we’d stop there, but no. We demolished two Martabak (Indo pancakes), Ovamaltine and coconut flavours, between the three of us.

I had been full before I even stepped into Marco Padang Peranakan, but by the end of the meal, I was high on food and childhood memories. No regrets.

Marco Padang Peranakan restaurant address: One Pacific Place, 5th floor, unit 45-46, Jakarta Indonesia.

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