Medan Ciak Sydney CBD- bright orange, no-frills and one of the most authentic tastes of Medan in the city
Medan Ciak is a bright, bustling Indonesian restaurant on Sussex Street in Haymarket, at the edge of the Sydney CBD. It's a favourite with Indonesian students and expats, and queues out the door aren't uncommon, especially on weekends, for a menu that leans on the flavours of Medan, the North Sumatran capital known for its mix of indigenous Batak, Malay and Chinese influences, a point of difference from the Javanese-leaning Indonesian food found elsewhere in Sydney.
The Nasi Padang is the dish to order first: steamed rice piled with beef rendang, fried chicken, vegetable curry, boiled egg, sambal, cassava leaves, peanuts, anchovies and chilli crackers. The Nasi Kapau, served on grease paper and banana leaves with a choice of beef rendang, grilled chicken, fried chicken or beef balado, is another house specialty, and the Mie Pangsit Medan noodles with caramelised pork and wonton draw their own following.
It's a casual, no-frills space, warm wood tones and a colourful mural, built for quick, satisfying meals rather than lingering. Portions are generous and prices stay firmly in home-cooking territory, which is a large part of why it's built such a loyal crowd.
Quick Bites
EAT: Nasi Padang. Steamed rice with beef rendang, fried chicken, vegetable curry, boiled egg, sambal, cassava leaves, peanuts, anchovies and chilli crackers.
PLAY: Grab the rice + 2 choices takeaway box and eat it in nearby Darling Harbour, a two-minute walk away.
VIBE CHECK: Bright orange signage, blond wood, a colourful mural and a queue out the door on weekends — casual, quick and unmistakably Medan.
