The Taste Of Sate Jando Gasibu Bandung, Which Is Always Crowded With Buyers

Legendary Satay from Bandung, Sate Gendong Mbok Ayu Ngatemi on Jalan Hayam Wuruk, Bandung, West Java. (ANTARA/Ida Nurcahyani)

BANDUNG - One morning in one corner of the city of Bandung, precisely on Jalan Hayam Wuruk, Citarum, behind the Gasibu Building, a long line of people snaking their way.

At the end of the queue, a long table of grilled satay smoked incessantly, spreading the sweet and savory aroma to lull those in line.

Opened from 07.00 in the morning until around 16.00, the Jando Gasibu satay, which is actually called "sate gendong Mbok Ayu Ngatemi", never takes a day off and always serves buyers seven days a week.

This Eid week, the satay carrying Mbok Ayu Ngatemi has even been open since the second day of Eid yesterday.

There are approximately six employees who swiftly serve buyers who have been patiently waiting in line for hours. They work in two shifts a day. Most of them are Mbok Ayu Ngatemi's own children and grandchildren. One of Mbok Ayu Ngatemi's children, Agung Gumelar, said that her mother used to sell jando satay, beef breast meat, by carrying her since the 1970s in the Gedung Sate canteen complex.

"Then my mother moved to the back sidewalk here for more than 20 years," said Agung while busy arranging and flipping the satay on the grill, reported by Antara, on Saturday, May 7.

The taste of the sate carrying Mbok Ayu Ngatemi is very distinctive like satay in general, which is spiced with peanuts and combined with legit lontong. The difference is, Mbok Ayu satay has a slightly fresh rujak aroma.

Sate carrying Mbok Ayu Ngatemi chose the jando meat, namely the beef breast as its mainstay because it has a distinctive chewy and savory taste.

Jando fat is white, it does look like fat on other parts of the cow's body. But the difference is, when burned Jando fat will not completely melt or become charred but instead becomes juicy, chewy and legit.

Because of its famous delicacy, potential buyers are willing to queue for hours in a neat line to taste a serving of warm satay.

There are three variants of satay namely chicken, beef and jando satay. The pieces of meat are large and full of lean meat.

"The recommendation is to mix it up, so it doesn't feel bad. It's often called satay jando because people like the jando part because it's said to be chewy and tasty," said Agung.

A serving of mixed satay contains 10 skewers plus rice cake, which is priced at Rp. 30 thousand, while chicken or jando satay is priced at Rp. 25 thousand.

Within a day, at least 4000 skewers were sold out. You don't have to worry about running out when you're in line, because the boxes of marinated satay containers are ready to be grilled.

"We don't open branches anymore, only here. Now there are many who claim to be named Ayu satay too, but the one carrying Mbok Ayu Ngatemi is just this."

One buyer from Depok, West Java, Umar Holik admitted that he was curious about the satay carrying Mbok Ayu Ngatemi after repeatedly seeing his reviews on the culinary YouTube channel that he usually watched.

"I've been to Bandung many times and have passed by Citarum here and I really want to try it but I get lazy when I see the long queues. Usually it's a bit quiet in the afternoon, but I think it's better to eat in the morning," he said.

After trying the satay, Umar said his curiosity was finally satisfied. "It tastes really good. The portion is just right for me, the pieces of meat are big and the seasoning is delicious. It doesn't hurt to wait in line for an hour," he said.

He added that specifically for the jando part, the satay melts immediately and gives off a savory yet chewy taste when you bite it. No fat taste left in the mouth.

"I'll be here again, I think," he said excitedly after finishing one and a half servings of jando campur satay.

Meanwhile, another buyer from Bandung, Krisna, admitted that he had been subscribing to the satay carrying Mbok Ayu Ngatemi for a long time.

"It has a distinctive taste, the peanut sauce is just right and the pieces of satay are large without the fat that makes you addicted," he said.

However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Krisna was a bit worried about the health protocol when he had to queue for his favorite satay.

"I was a little afraid to stand in a line that was too close. But everyone was obedient to wear masks and didn't talk to each other. After all, it's been vaccinated, God willing, it's safe," he said.

If you want to enjoy this viral satay, be prepared to queue. At least prepare yourself to stand for about an hour when crowded. Around the satay there are sometimes traveling coffee sellers, orange juice or even Tahu Gejrot as a snack to accompany you so you don't get bored while waiting in line.

But don't worry, the location of the Jando Mbok Ayu Ngatemi satay is right under the shade of the Citarum trees so it won't get too hot.

For dine-in, there are only a few short, colorful plastic chairs available for customers who want to eat satay at that location. Without a table or accompanying drink, the average customer wraps satay or eats in their respective vehicles.

The benches were placed on the sidewalk right next to the ditch on the side of the road. Even so, jando satay lovers do not mind and are still enjoying their favorite culinary while enjoying the leafy atmosphere of Bandung.

However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, don't forget to continue to apply health protocols when waiting in line by keeping your distance, always wearing a mask and avoiding chatting.